Top speed on your M400?
Top speed on your M400?
Author
Discussion

Mike SA27

Original Poster:

52 posts

247 months

Sunday 18th September 2005
quotequote all
has anyone taken their M400 to top speed? I have taken it to around 250kmh and then it gets a bit too wobbly. I think the car is a bit too light for high top speeds and the grear ratio's are a bit too short.
what are your opinions? thanks!

Ash M400

3,836 posts

265 months

Sunday 18th September 2005
quotequote all
I have, and it felt absolutely solid.

In fact, the faster I went, the better it felt. Downforce?

Have her checked out.

Mike SA27

Original Poster:

52 posts

247 months

Sunday 18th September 2005
quotequote all
so you've taken her to 300kmh?

well our other cars feel much more stable at those speeds and i have more confidence when doing so in them as to the noble.

m12_nathan

5,138 posts

283 months

Sunday 18th September 2005
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Will it even do 300kmh?

ThatPhilBrettGuy

11,810 posts

264 months

Sunday 18th September 2005
quotequote all
m12_nathan said:
Will it even do 300kmh?

With a 15-20MPH wind behind, yup. Probably.

adrian w

15,117 posts

252 months

Sunday 18th September 2005
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Nope, 161 on a good day, standing 1.5 miles, tried it 3 times.

Mike SA27

Original Poster:

52 posts

247 months

Sunday 18th September 2005
quotequote all
hence why i said, don't you think the gear ratio's should be a bit longer?

joust

14,622 posts

283 months

Monday 19th September 2005
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Personally I think 6th should be shorter.

At Brunters yesterday the car was pulling "like a train" all the way through fifth, but once into 6th it slowed down to a "+1mph per 1/2 second" sort of rate.

My speeds were around the 160 mark, however, it's clear given the traps being further down the runway (I could brake to a stop easily 500 yards, if not slightly more, before the end) I would have been into the 170's.

An interesting fact is that I ran against Tony's Diablo VT, and they were, off the line, totally matched up to 100+mph, with the Noble then gaining an advantage. It was only after 150ish did he managed to pull past me.

So, given a 3 mile rather than 2 mile straight, I recon you'd get 175-180, and if you put the traps in a "Noble optimised" position at Brunters (the Diablo, amongst others, has appaling brakes and hence they were set quite forward for safety) you'd be into the 170's (which is what I believe Micknall has registered).

J

>> Edited by joust on Monday 19th September 07:48

stuh

2,557 posts

297 months

Monday 19th September 2005
quotequote all
joust said:
Personally I think 6th should be shorter.

At Brunters yesterday the car was pulling "like a train" all the way through fifth, but once into 6th it slowed down to a "+1mph per 1/2 second" sort of rate.

My speeds were around the 160 mark, however, it's clear given the traps being further down the runway (I could brake to a stop easily 500 yards, if not slightly more, before the end) I would have been into the 170's.

An interesting fact is that I ran against Tony's Diablo VT, and they were, off the line, totally matched up to 100+mph, with the Noble then gaining an advantage. It was only after 150ish did he managed to pull past me.

So, given a 3 mile rather than 2 mile straight, I recon you'd get 175-180, and if you put the traps in a "Noble optimised" position at Brunters (the Diablo, amongst others, has appaling brakes and hence they were set quite forward for safety) you'd be into the 170's (which is what I believe Micknall has registered).

J

>> Edited by joust on Monday 19th September 07:48


That's impressive against the VT. Did you get a chance up against the bonkers Viper?!

micknall

826 posts

273 months

Monday 19th September 2005
quotequote all
Mike,

As Ash says, high-speed stability has never been a Noble problem (my stock demo for journalists is to put my hands behind my neck at 170mph). If it feels anything less than safe at 150+, get it checked out.

Theoretically, any six-speed Noble will attain 191mph due to its relatively tall gearing, but the reality is that the car's aero will stop the fun some way before that. A shorter sixth would perhaps optimise the car's V-max potential, but it would also spoil its relaxed gait under normal driving conditions.

Simon Hucknall
Press Officer
Noble Automotive Ltd.

joust

14,622 posts

283 months

Monday 19th September 2005
quotequote all
stuh said:

That's impressive against the VT. Did you get a chance up against the bonkers Viper?!
No. It only had a few runs as there were some technical problems, and it was so loud the track owner, 5 miles away at his house, heard it on it's first run!!!! As he's been having problems with the locals running was kept to a minimum.

I think Tony (996_hasgone) was gobsmacked that the Noble actually could pull away from it

The Ascari was also there, and whilst it had greater 0-30 traction (mainly as I like my clutch to last), I destroyed it in the corners, and it was only after 130+mph did it start to seriously pull away. Given the Ascari costs four times the Noble, the M400 demonstrated it's credentials.

P.S. I got the unoffical VMAX out of the long lefthander in front of the lone 747-400 - I managed to exit there at 135mph GPS verified according to one of my passengers who went rather "green" afterwards, a massive 20mph more than the indicated on a Porsche 964 Carrera 4

J

joust

14,622 posts

283 months

Monday 19th September 2005
quotequote all
micknall said:
Mike,
As Ash says, high-speed stability has never been a Noble problem (my stock demo for journalists is to put my hands behind my neck at 170mph). If it feels anything less than safe at 150+, get it checked out.
I do that (well, just lift them off the wheel) at VMAX - spooks everyone

micknall said:
Theoretically, any six-speed Noble will attain 191mph due to its relatively tall gearing, but the reality is that the car's aero will stop the fun some way before that. A shorter sixth would perhaps optimise the car's V-max potential, but it would also spoil its relaxed gait under normal driving conditions.
80mph at 3000rpm is a lovely way to travel.

J

ThatPhilBrettGuy

11,810 posts

264 months

Monday 19th September 2005
quotequote all
joust said:

P.S. I got the unoffical VMAX out of the long lefthander in front of the lone 747-400 - I managed to exit there at 135mph GPS verified according to one of my passengers who went rather "green" afterwards, a massive 20mph more than the indicated on a Porsche 964 Carrera 4

I did around 130mph and it was a nice amount of g-force. Unfortunately by the end of the next corner I was splitter-less and had rather a lot of grass in the front! Ah well, the joys of finding the limit..and going well past it.

Anyone know of some place good with glass fiber in Essex? Go a couple of cracks that need looking at.

tony_996hasgone

3,160 posts

282 months

Monday 19th September 2005
quotequote all
joust said:
An interesting fact is that I ran against Tony's Diablo VT, and they were, off the line, totally matched up to 100+mph, with the Noble then gaining an advantage. It was only after 150ish did he managed to pull past me.
...errrr, I think I slowed down at 100mph to adjust the wing mirrors to see where you were!!!! Only joking, they were pretty well matched apart from the braking and the cornering!

Simon (Micknall), I've got a couple of photos for you, which I'll get Phil to either host or send over to you ...good recommendation of pub grub btw. Thx.

joust

14,622 posts

283 months

Monday 19th September 2005
quotequote all
tony_996hasgone said:

...errrr, I think I slowed down at 100mph to adjust the wing mirrors to see where you were!!!! Only joking, they were pretty well matched apart from the braking and the cornering!
Was that also when Jamie was re-arranging his hairdo???

They were amazingly well matched though, apart from as you say Mr Lamborghini needs to ring Mr AP for some serious advice on the braking department and Mr Noble for the same in the handling stakes!

J

seasider

12,728 posts

273 months

Monday 19th September 2005
quotequote all
ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

I was splitter-less and had rather a lot of grass in the front! Ah well, the joys of finding the limit..and going well past it.

And reading a thread i realise i did meet "ThatPhilBrettGuy" i thought i had missed

If you buy me pint i wont let on about how you fared against the old RV8

i said i'd pop in the forum it's actually on my favourite list...

>> Edited by seasider on Tuesday 20th September 07:33

ThatPhilBrettGuy

11,810 posts

264 months

Monday 19th September 2005
quotequote all
joust said:

They were amazingly well matched though, apart from as you say Mr Lamborghini needs to ring Mr AP for some serious advice on the braking department and Mr Noble for the same in the handling stakes!

And Mr Noble needs a lesson in Lambo noise. When booting off the line our cars sounded like they were compressed air powered (which, I guess they are in a way).

joust

14,622 posts

283 months

Monday 19th September 2005
quotequote all
Funny enough I was mentioning the same to many a person. It's a shame Mr Tubi can't be convinced to do an exhaust system.

J

tony_996hasgone

3,160 posts

282 months

Monday 19th September 2005
quotequote all
joust said:

....and Mr Noble for the same in the handling stakes!
...think you misunderstood me ...Mr Noble has got his handling absolutely bang on!!

joust

14,622 posts

283 months

Monday 19th September 2005
quotequote all
No - I meant Mr Lambo should talk to Mr Noble for handling advice (at least that's how I think it reads, probably missing a comma or two!)

J