M14

[Alan_Leamy]

Will the M14 have ABS and an airbag?

[AMG Merc]

Alan_Leamy said:

Will the M14 have ABS and an airbag?

No, a chocolate bikky and a teabag (sorry Alan but couldn't resist and have no idea!).

[Marlon]

Doesn't mention either in the web-site specification. How much dosh and how heavy would ABS and a couple of bags be? I think the argument for "purity of the driving experience" (not that I've heard Noble use it) looses credibility on a 75k motor, so presumably there's a financal motivation?

[DanH]

Marlon said:

Doesn't mention either in the web-site specification. How much dosh and how heavy would ABS and a couple of bags be? I think the argument for "purity of the driving experience" (not that I've heard Noble use it) looses credibility on a 75k motor, so presumably there's a financal motivation?

I doubt they'd be particularly cost efficient at the volumes noble work at =/ Don't think the weight would be too serious an issue, more the setup/development time etc. 4 channel ABS wouldn't be a bad thing to have though.

[yellowshed]

With people like Bosch who say it's a £1m please, sir! to develop, calibrate and validate (such a safety system has a huge validation requirement) an ABS system, work out how much per car that would cost if Noble only make 75 M14s per year and want to recoup the cost in less than 2 years? Still reckon you can afford an M14? I'm afraid the costs are similar for airbags. It's the same for small volume manufacturers as the big boys, but when the big boys sell 100,000 unit/year, the costs are acceptable.

Hope this helps,

YellowShed

[lucozade]

Although relating to TVR I found this an interesting article that may answer some questions over safety:

www.pistonheads.com/tvr/default.asp?storyId=8303

[Marlon]

Ah, but that's TVR-Safety which is about as convincing as TVR-HP! From what I hear, TVR was in absolutely no position to pay for such luxuries towards the end of Wheelerdom; possibly a case of denial

[DanH]

Yep Wheelers excuses really didn't ring true. In the end its a financial issue, so if you want abs/curtain airbags/etc why not buy a car with them? It wouldn't be a noble anymore if it had all the niceties of a porker - it'd be porker.

[Alan_Leamy]

Ahh Dan will you stop. Less of the Marque purity crap. Dont want a Porker, I enjoy my M12 too much. By your logic if and when Lee ads ABS or an airbag to one of his models, will you then walk away from the brand. I dont think so.

[DanH]

Alan_Leamy said:

Ahh Dan will you stop. Less of the Marque purity crap. Dont want a Porker, I enjoy my M12 too much. By your logic if and when Lee ads ABS or an airbag to one of his models, will you then walk away from the brand. I dont think so.

'Walk away from the brand' - that implies that I get overly invested in a given marque. Its not about the brand for me, I just like great cars, of which the m12 is one. I'd happily own a GT3 if I could afford one - need I remind you Lee drives a 911?

No my point was simply that if Noble adopt all the little things people say they want, you'd end up with a car very similar to a 911, so why not buy one?