GTO 3R a few questions

[2ba 355]

Hi All,
I have been following posts on here with much interest as I am considering buying another car. My situation is this. Last summer I sold my 355GTB , which I loved , but as we are emigrating to NZ I felt it was time to move it on. The 355 was extremely reliable and gave me some great trips to Le Mans etc. Servicing was relatively cheap ( £500.00 for an annual and a full service with belts was £1850) This always included free collection and delivery by covered transporter from Graypaul ( I live near Salisbury !) I achieved a good resale price after 2/12 years ownership.

As it looks like we will be here longer than we thought ( the vagries of selling a house in the UK !!) I am very interested in a 3R for perhaps 6 months or longer as I could then do some track days ( something that I would not do in the 355 ,as it can put buyers off )

What is realistically happening to the values of these now ? As I see some nice mileage 03 / 04 plate cars at anything from 40K plus at dealers to 35K private. Please don't shoot me down in flames for asking these questions !! I am just concerned that they may continue to depreciate strongly ??
Has anyone here recently sold their car to a dealer or privately ?? Is this a car that sells privately ??

I really like the car and I know that if I drive one I will love it and then my heart will overtake my head !! I have owned a 993 C2S before and then a Caterham R300 . The whole Noble concept really appeals to me ! I just don't want too get badly stung particularly if I own one for a shortish period of time. I know some of you will say it can happen with any make of sports car. True, but the Noble for me is more of an unknown quantity on the second hand market due to its relative newness in the market place ??

Are they colour and interior sensitive ?? I like the darker blues with the alcantara personally. If it's ok, I was thinking about coming along to your driving day at Brands and seeing the colour combinations in the flesh. Your owners club seems great !

Again, please don't be offended by my questions on resale, I am just trying to get a realistic idea of what owners have experienced and what the difference between selling your car to a dealer or managing to sell privately and the real prices achieved.

Look forward to your replies
James

[alex s]

If you are after a Noble to track for a few months and then sell on, without taking a large hit, my suggestion would be to go for a gto3 or a sorted 2.5 as with these it seems most of the hit has been taken. Also the cheaper the car at the end, i think the easier it will be to sell on privatly. If you buy from a dealer and at the end sell to a dealer, you are gonna lose big time, any car, any maker - fact of life.
My suggestion would be to buy outside of the dealer network and have the car inspected by one of the dealers before hand.The history of these cars is usually easy to trace. that should save you around 3k in dealer margins to start.
My 2p's worth!!

[2ba 355]

Hi Alex,
Thanks for the reply. I mentioned the 3R because they have the LSD and 6spd box as Std I believe. Was the 3R much more new than the 3 ??
Cheers
James

[BrianJ]

Many 3's also have 6 speed and LSD and they also have the alcantara you want. As an owner from new looking to sell, I can confirm that the depreciation has been colossal..

[ufo 2 nob]

Depreciation is titanic,they drop quicker that a w_ _ _es draws.They are also as difficult to sell as a house,make that a large house!!! in Salford.

It took me a year to sell my pristine example 3r 4000 miles with all the bits and no track use.

Most buyers that enquired ended up buying off a dealer as they were all worried about a private purchase with this sort of car.

I had to do a sale or return in the end with Kerridges.Must say very helpful people.

Great cars but track use can be expensive.Heavy on tyres, brakes and the Grp bodywork takes a battering.

You wont disguise a heavily tracked Noble without lots of paint.

I got 41k for mine last September and it looks like i would struggle to get 35k now,so thats still a grand a month in depreciation since then.

I too have had many red cars and not lost a penny!!!bought used of course!

[2ba 355]

Thanks for the useful and honest info UFO. Are Noble selling many new cars now ? If the numbers and relative exclusivity of the Noble can't help it , I wonder with all the great press they get why they appear to be harder to sell second hand ?? Maybe like most things, they need some " history" behind them ?? I agree with a lot of people on here who have said a longer factory backed warranty would benefit used sales in general . Also the option to buy a used factory backed warranty is a good selling tool on any used performance car, particularly with a private sale. I bought a factory backed "power" warranty with my 355 for extra peace of mind as it was my first Ferrari.I purchased my car privately. It keeps the cars in the main dealer network for servicing ( surely a plus point if you are dealer ) I really think Noble could benefit from offering a factory approved used warranty and as many of you have said, would be quite happy to purchase one.

It may have been hard for Caterham in the early days , and they were selling a car that already had some history behind it.

Any more views ?

[ufo 2 nob]

I do not know if they are selling many new ones but with a 3-4000 mile example showing 20 Grand saving over new i very much doubt it!!!

I have not seen an 05 plate 3r for sale yet second hand.That could be because sales have slowed a bit on the later plate new cars with poor residuals bringing new buyers into the used market instead of new!!!