Will it fit in a garage?

[afzala]

Hi All

I've just signed up to Pistonheads, having recently sold my Porsche 993 to finance building work on my house. It's hard work not having a car, and having to rely on the wifes car in the meantime. I've been reading through old EVO mags that I have, and also recently saw a repeat episode of Top Gear, and have got into the idea of getting a Noble (Albeit after the summer when I can save some cash again). Anyway, I've been reading this forum with interest, and have enjoyed reading about the cars more and more. I am convinced I will get an GTO -3R or M400 as my budget will allow for this. My alternative would be a Ferrari 355, but to be honest, reading your articles has convinced me that I would be missing out on a fantastic drivers car if I didn't get one.
I recently popped down to Mole Valley dealership to see one in the flesh, and my eyes lit up when I saw it in the flesh, it's truly awesome.
However, I always thought that it was a small car (Elise sized..) but it proved to be a big, wide car. My concern is that I won't be able to fit it into my garage, which was barely big enough to get my 993 in. It's not the end of the world, but not ideal. It's another reason I dodn't want the 355. Can someone let me know how much of a door opening is required, i.e wide will my garage have to be to let the car in, and allow me to get in/out of it?
Thanks..and I hope to be a regular contributor one day.
If anyone lives near Gants Hill in Essex, i would love to see an M400 up close if you could help out, i.e will I fit in it (I'm 6'2)
Thanks

A

[honestbob]

The door opens 1m. I can just get in and out at 0.7m although I'm not that tiny.

[alex s]

afzala said:

Hi All

I've just signed up to Pistonheads, having recently sold my Porsche 993 to finance building work on my house. It's hard work not having a car, and having to rely on the wifes car in the meantime. I've been reading through old EVO mags that I have, and also recently saw a repeat episode of Top Gear, and have got into the idea of getting a Noble (Albeit after the summer when I can save some cash again). Anyway, I've been reading this forum with interest, and have enjoyed reading about the cars more and more. I am convinced I will get an GTO -3R or M400 as my budget will allow for this. My alternative would be a Ferrari 355, but to be honest, reading your articles has convinced me that I would be missing out on a fantastic drivers car if I didn't get one.
I recently popped down to Mole Valley dealership to see one in the flesh, and my eyes lit up when I saw it in the flesh, it's truly awesome.
However, I always thought that it was a small car (Elise sized..) but it proved to be a big, wide car. My concern is that I won't be able to fit it into my garage, which was barely big enough to get my 993 in. It's not the end of the world, but not ideal. It's another reason I dodn't want the 355. Can someone let me know how much of a door opening is required, i.e wide will my garage have to be to let the car in, and allow me to get in/out of it?
Thanks..and I hope to be a regular contributor one day.
If anyone lives near Gants Hill in Essex, i would love to see an M400 up close if you could help out, i.e will I fit in it (I'm 6'2)
Thanks

A

I am in chingford, pm me if you want a closer look/drive in one (not an M400, but same power )
Alex

[afzala]

Thanks for the responses.

How wide is a Noble? i.e I now need to see if width+0.7m is possible in my garage

thanks
A

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

1850mm. To be honest if you only just get out of a 993 you've little chance in a Noble. Worth trying if you can, but I'd guess not.

[C&C]

afzala said:

Thanks for the responses.

How wide is a Noble? i.e I now need to see if width+0.7m is possible in my garage

thanks
A

Hi - I had the same problem when thinking about getting one. I believe that an M400 is 1885mm wide from mirror to mirror (the widest bit) - which fits exactly with the following:
I've just been out and measured exactly how much space I actually have in my garage with the M400 parked there at the moment.....

Width of entrance to garage .... 2090mm
Width of garage when inside garage (wall to wall) .... 2415mm

Distance of passenger side mirror from wall .... 100mm
Distance of driver's mirror from wall .... 430mm
Distance of rear edge of driver's door from wall .... 550mm
Distance I have to actually open the door .... 540mm
(I have a sheet of polystyrene on the wall to open the door against which is 10mm thick) - you'll need something like this to rest the door against - most common option is a piece of carpet.

Obviously I try to park as close to the wall on the passenger side as possible.
I've never had a problem with running into the wall by getting too close (had the car for over a year now)

The most useful tip is to wind the driver's window down before getting in/out, as it gives a fair bit extra space, and makes the process easier.

I won't say that getting in/out is the most elegant of operations, but it's not that difficult and it's a small price to pay for driving one of these cars.

Although not as tall as you, I am 6'0" tall and just over 15 stone, so not particularly thin!

Away from the garage space issue, in terms of size to fit comfortably in a Noble, there are people on here a few inches taller than yourself who do not have issues.

Hope this helps.

Conrad.

[AMG Merc]

[quote=C&C]The most useful tip is to wind the driver's window down before getting in/out, as it gives a fair bit extra space, and makes the process easier.
[/quote]

Agree - it makes it much easier

[afzala]

Thanks for the extra tips, my garage has similar dimensions as I've just measured it, that has made my day.

Alex - I would like to take you up on your offer. I can't PM just yet as I have to wait 24hours as a new member before I can use the PM function. Will be in touch shortly


Thanks everyone
A

[joust]

[quote=C&C](I have a sheet of polystyrene on the wall to open the door against which is 10mm thick) - you'll need something like this to rest the door against - most common option is a piece of carpet.

[/quote] Get a few carpet tiles from a carpet store and nail them into the wall. That way you can confidently open the door to it's full width which makes things much much easier.

Remember, the width is a bit of an optical illusion as the car is so low, it's actually narrower than my Z4M in practical terms (and easier to get out of in my garage!)

J

[nineiron]

I,m 6,4" And I fit into my M400!!! Perfect!!!
Its the air intakes on the side of the car you need to watch as you drive into the garage!!
Mine just fits!!!

[m12_nathan]

Not sure if it is an optical illusion Justin - the Noble is wider than the Z4?

In answer to the original question - it depends if you have a modern house with a minimum sized garage like I do - could drive it in but would have to get the wife to bring my dinner out to eat in there as the door would not open (stupid pillers inside the garage in just the wrong place).

You could always leave it outside...

[joust]

nineiron said:

I,m 6,4" And I fit into my M400!!! Perfect!!!
Its the air intakes on the side of the car you need to watch as you drive into the garage!!
Mine just fits!!!

The air intakes are no wider than the wing mirrors, but you do need to keep things 'straight' after the mirrors as if you turn you can easily take a side pod off (as Micknall found out early on with the M400 press car!)

J

[joust]

m12_nathan said:

Not sure if it is an optical illusion Justin - the Noble is wider than the Z4?

Nope, the Z4M's mirrors have about 1/2 an inch each side of the garage in the cottage, and the rear wings are only 2" or so away. The Noble, which as we have both cars down at the cottage, has a good 2" each side of the mirrors and it is far easier to drive in.

m12_nathan said:

In answer to the original question - it depends if you have a modern house with a minimum sized garage like I do - could drive it in but would have to get the wife to bring my dinner out to eat in there as the door would not open (stupid pillers inside the garage in just the wrong place).
You could always leave it outside...

If it's flat then of course you can always line it up, get out and push it in. They are very easy to push in if it's flat

J

[m12_nathan]

BMW claim that wing mirror to wing mirror it is 70mm narrower than the figures quoted above, weird.

Either way it's not the width of the car that is an issue, it is the length of the doors and the way the windows are angled - the winding down the windows tip is a good one!

[joust]

m12_nathan said:

BMW claim that wing mirror to wing mirror it is 70mm narrower than the figures quoted above, weird.

I know that, but that isn't the way it fits in!
Winding down the window is a good option, the Z4M can have it set in the ECU to wind it down every time you open the car door
J

[V6GTO]

joust said:

the Z4M can have it set in the ECU to wind it down every time you open the car door
J

Perfect for English weather!

Martin.

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

The GT redefines the size of garage needed! Its a good tip about the window. It gives a good 2 to 3 inches, which could well be enough.

Shame the windows aren't electric as reaching in and winding them up isn't the easiest of jobs in some cases.

[Adrian W]

If it wont fit.....................build a bigger garage, it's important to get your priorities right.

[AMG Merc]

Adrian W said:

If it wont fit.....................build a bigger garage, it's important to get your priorities right.

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

Adrian W said:

If it wont fit.....................build a bigger garage, it's important to get your priorities right.

Tell you what, you buy me a nice plot of land in Wapping and I'll do just that.