An Open Letter to Noble Automotive
Discussion
Peter, Adam, Dave,
Thank you for a great day yesterday.
After Mandy welcomed me into the Noble factory yesterday morning I had a long chat with Peter Boutwood about (amongst other things ) his hopes for the car, manufacturing plans etc. everything he said was positive and it all made sense. But to be honest all I wanted to do was to drive it or at least to see it!
After a brace of coffees I moved downstairs and there it was, long, low and very very (carbon) black.
The new car is not the finished article but it is very well resolved and beautiful in the same way that a shark is, all the changes Peter and the guys talked about made sense and I'm sure my reaction will be positive when I see the final production version.
I tried to do the "It's a cross between a whatever and a something" thing but I couldn't there are hints of other supercars but it's not derivative and it is clearly a Noble.
I love its long low back and the rear view is just awesome ... with 335 tyres and the exhausts moved back outboard to improve downforce from the venturi.
The interior is good too, with a little more work it will be very good indeed. (PS thanks to trimman for doing a great job both on the M600 and on fixing my carpet whilst I went to Bruntingthorpe) and in the centre console there's a switch that reminds you of the Ferrari Magnietto to give three levels of performance - but this being a Noble the TCS and ABS are both left in your right foot. The dials are a model of clarity and the whole thing has a cohesion that reminds me more of Range Rover than of Noble.
So we fuelled-up the M600 and jumped in. It's a little more difficult to get in and out of than the M12/400 but not too difficult and to be honest the extra side protection afforded by the high thick sill will be confidence inspiring.
We chased the mule about 20 miles cross country to Bruntingthorpe. First impressions were of outrageous power and torque under very tight control. The car handles country bumps and crashes better even than an M12 (and much better than an M400) in fact it's better than many mass produced saloons. Visibility is outstanding and the car is QUIET (almost eerily so .. I asked the team to add back some noise). The car is beautifully screwed together and I could imagine using it every day with no qualms.
Arriving at Brunters we got pretty much straight to work. Unfortunately I wasn't able to use more than 5,000 revs as the car is being taken abroad for "extensive" testing very soon but the thing is a dream, it flatters you and at the speeds I was going (up to 145ish) makes you feel supremely confident AND you can still talk to your passenger without shouting.
Precision is better than the M400, ride better than the M12, the car is forgiving and very very fast ... watching a Caparro overtake the M600 on the straight (going about 200 mph) then watching Peter forget the rev limit, overtake it through a bend (M600 on road tyres and Caparro on slicks) then pull out about 3 seconds on a lap was breathtaking! As was overtaking superbikes that were trying hard....we don't know who was driving but all the same it was fabulous to watch.
Niggles?- the brakes aren't quite there yet but that was part of the reason for me being there, to give customer feedback and the gear change isn't quite perfect ... but it's damn close and I'm assured both will be sorted very soon.
Basically this car is going to be up there with the very best (I mean the very best) nothing I have ever driven comes close unless you count the Mule which was a whole barrel of fun and didn't have a rev restriction! Forget your Gallardos your 430's and your Porsche Turbos this is going straight into the big boys league. Makes you proud to be British.
Now all I need is my delivery date .... Peter?
Nick
Thank you for a great day yesterday.
After Mandy welcomed me into the Noble factory yesterday morning I had a long chat with Peter Boutwood about (amongst other things ) his hopes for the car, manufacturing plans etc. everything he said was positive and it all made sense. But to be honest all I wanted to do was to drive it or at least to see it!
After a brace of coffees I moved downstairs and there it was, long, low and very very (carbon) black.
The new car is not the finished article but it is very well resolved and beautiful in the same way that a shark is, all the changes Peter and the guys talked about made sense and I'm sure my reaction will be positive when I see the final production version.
I tried to do the "It's a cross between a whatever and a something" thing but I couldn't there are hints of other supercars but it's not derivative and it is clearly a Noble.
I love its long low back and the rear view is just awesome ... with 335 tyres and the exhausts moved back outboard to improve downforce from the venturi.
The interior is good too, with a little more work it will be very good indeed. (PS thanks to trimman for doing a great job both on the M600 and on fixing my carpet whilst I went to Bruntingthorpe) and in the centre console there's a switch that reminds you of the Ferrari Magnietto to give three levels of performance - but this being a Noble the TCS and ABS are both left in your right foot. The dials are a model of clarity and the whole thing has a cohesion that reminds me more of Range Rover than of Noble.
So we fuelled-up the M600 and jumped in. It's a little more difficult to get in and out of than the M12/400 but not too difficult and to be honest the extra side protection afforded by the high thick sill will be confidence inspiring.
We chased the mule about 20 miles cross country to Bruntingthorpe. First impressions were of outrageous power and torque under very tight control. The car handles country bumps and crashes better even than an M12 (and much better than an M400) in fact it's better than many mass produced saloons. Visibility is outstanding and the car is QUIET (almost eerily so .. I asked the team to add back some noise). The car is beautifully screwed together and I could imagine using it every day with no qualms.
Arriving at Brunters we got pretty much straight to work. Unfortunately I wasn't able to use more than 5,000 revs as the car is being taken abroad for "extensive" testing very soon but the thing is a dream, it flatters you and at the speeds I was going (up to 145ish) makes you feel supremely confident AND you can still talk to your passenger without shouting.
Precision is better than the M400, ride better than the M12, the car is forgiving and very very fast ... watching a Caparro overtake the M600 on the straight (going about 200 mph) then watching Peter forget the rev limit, overtake it through a bend (M600 on road tyres and Caparro on slicks) then pull out about 3 seconds on a lap was breathtaking! As was overtaking superbikes that were trying hard....we don't know who was driving but all the same it was fabulous to watch.
Niggles?- the brakes aren't quite there yet but that was part of the reason for me being there, to give customer feedback and the gear change isn't quite perfect ... but it's damn close and I'm assured both will be sorted very soon.
Basically this car is going to be up there with the very best (I mean the very best) nothing I have ever driven comes close unless you count the Mule which was a whole barrel of fun and didn't have a rev restriction! Forget your Gallardos your 430's and your Porsche Turbos this is going straight into the big boys league. Makes you proud to be British.
Now all I need is my delivery date .... Peter?
Nick
NickyTwoHats said:
Precision is better than the M400, ride better than the M12, the car is forgiving and very very fast ... watching a Caparro overtake the M600 on the straight (going about 200 mph) then watching Peter forget the rev limit, overtake it through a bend (M600 on road tyres and Caparro on slicks) then pull out about 3 seconds on a lap was breathtaking! As was overtaking superbikes that were trying hard....
......Peter? 
in spades. When you see a T1 pulling 2.75G's around corners you know it's a different league speed wise.The caparo was (they were .. there were two) certainly trying ... it span out in front of me when I was "chasing" it and I had to take avoiding action.
I think either it was being driven by a customer who couldn't bring himself to use the (down)force or they were trying something new .. they had a full pit and eight - ten mechanics (who didn't seem to want to make eye contact in the cafe at lunch time). The car looked as if it was having real trouble keeping the back wheels on the ground entering corners.
Also met with Mrs Ron and Son of Dennis and his driving trainer during the day I'm told he's trained Hakkinen and Coulthard so I might buy some of his time shortly after the car arrives.
I think either it was being driven by a customer who couldn't bring himself to use the (down)force or they were trying something new .. they had a full pit and eight - ten mechanics (who didn't seem to want to make eye contact in the cafe at lunch time). The car looked as if it was having real trouble keeping the back wheels on the ground entering corners.
Also met with Mrs Ron and Son of Dennis and his driving trainer during the day I'm told he's trained Hakkinen and Coulthard so I might buy some of his time shortly after the car arrives.
"....... pulling 3 seconds a lap against a Caparo"!
Either the Capparo had problems or they put something in all those coffees you downed.
Sorry, the M600 (or whatever it is called) may be a fantastic car (and we know the USA version) (the Q1)) is a fantastic (and tangible car) but to think that anything on road tyres could put 3 seconds a lap on a properly driven and sorted Capparro on slicks is just deluded. Loyalty is one thing but your posting suggests loyalty gone a tad too far.
Come on we all love our cars and wish Noble everything but posting outrageous claims like that will do nothing but invite ridicule.
Regards
Paul C
Either the Capparo had problems or they put something in all those coffees you downed.
Sorry, the M600 (or whatever it is called) may be a fantastic car (and we know the USA version) (the Q1)) is a fantastic (and tangible car) but to think that anything on road tyres could put 3 seconds a lap on a properly driven and sorted Capparro on slicks is just deluded. Loyalty is one thing but your posting suggests loyalty gone a tad too far.
Come on we all love our cars and wish Noble everything but posting outrageous claims like that will do nothing but invite ridicule.
Regards
Paul C
Ash 996 GT2 said:
Pissed off.
Have owned an M12 GT0 3R and M400 and bugger all from Nobel.
Yup, that is spelt Nobel.
A Noble person/company would have invited me.
How to win friends and influence people.
NOT.
Ash, do you have a deposit down..N2H has...for some time and I believe has been chasing for info for some time.Have owned an M12 GT0 3R and M400 and bugger all from Nobel.
Yup, that is spelt Nobel.
A Noble person/company would have invited me.
How to win friends and influence people.
NOT.
paulcundy said:
"....... pulling 3 seconds a lap against a Caparo"!
Either the Capparo had problems or they put something in all those coffees you downed.
Sorry, the M600 (or whatever it is called) may be a fantastic car (and we know the USA version) (the Q1)) is a fantastic (and tangible car) but to think that anything on road tyres could put 3 seconds a lap on a properly driven and sorted Capparro on slicks is just deluded. Loyalty is one thing but your posting suggests loyalty gone a tad too far.
Come on we all love our cars and wish Noble everything but posting outrageous claims like that will do nothing but invite ridicule.
Regards
Paul C
Read the whole quote....Either the Capparo had problems or they put something in all those coffees you downed.
Sorry, the M600 (or whatever it is called) may be a fantastic car (and we know the USA version) (the Q1)) is a fantastic (and tangible car) but to think that anything on road tyres could put 3 seconds a lap on a properly driven and sorted Capparro on slicks is just deluded. Loyalty is one thing but your posting suggests loyalty gone a tad too far.
Come on we all love our cars and wish Noble everything but posting outrageous claims like that will do nothing but invite ridicule.
Regards
Paul C
Either a customer not using the (down)force or a problem with the car...
Fact is I saw it overtaken and pulled away from.
Paul - I've seen you overtaken by slower cars than a Noble ... does that open me up to ridicule too?
Ash 996 GT2 said:
Pissed off.
Have owned an M12 GT0 3R and M400 and bugger all from Nobel.
Yup, that is spelt Nobel.
A Noble person/company would have invited me.
How to win friends and influence people.
NOT.
Ash I've called the factory every few weeks for two years or more. Asked for delivery dates and news and generally pestered them. As soon as the other guys got a drive in prototype 1 I started asking for a drive and eventually I wore them down.Have owned an M12 GT0 3R and M400 and bugger all from Nobel.
Yup, that is spelt Nobel.
A Noble person/company would have invited me.
How to win friends and influence people.
NOT.
It was worth the wait and the effort.
I'd suggest you ring and ask for what you want. They can only say "no".
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