R500 to M400

[Evotim]

Hi guys, been a while since I posted on here, sold my M12 2.5 back in 2003. Im looking to potentially come back into Nobility, well its a toss up between and M400 and the new Nissan GTR. After having my Caterham R500 for the last two years I've come to the conclusion I really dont use it enough (road use only) so was curious having not driven an M400 ( and with test drives impossible to come by) if anyone can comment on the road real world (not track) performance differences between the two? Also how reliably and easily can I get the M400 up to 450bhp + (trying to get near to the magic 500BHP per ton the R500 has)

Thanks

Tim

[NobleGuy]

Evotim said:

Also how reliably and easily can I get the M400 up to 450bhp + (trying to get near to the magic 500BHP per ton the R500 has)

Hi mate. There are upgrades that will get you between 450-500bhp and from the general feeling I get of those posting on here that have done it, they've found their solutions to be reliable (certainly in the short to medium term) and worth the money. Longer term it's difficult to judge as there can't be too many that have run that kind of power for say 3 or 4 years.

[NickyTwoHats]

450 bhp from any 3.0 Noble is achievable. You'd need to look ideally at a 6 spd (the 'box is the reason mine is held to 390/426 bhp) and then assuming you start with a "stock" car the upgrade will cost you £4,500 - £7,500 depending on what you want done.

[NobleGuy]

NickyTwoHats said:

450 bhp from any 3.0 Noble is achievable. You'd need to look ideally at a 6 spd (the 'box is the reason mine is held to 390/426 bhp) and then assuming you start with a "stock" car the upgrade will cost you £4,500 - £7,500 depending on what you want done.

Is the problem with the 5-speed the upper limit on it? If so is it possible to stretch those ratios a bit to gain some top end?

[F.C.]

Torque will be the deciding factor for higher power engines. you can map the ignition around the g/box but once you go the "whole hog" you'll need a shot peened and strengthened box to handle the torque.
F.C.