Help Needed please please
Help Needed please please
Author
Discussion

zacey boy

Original Poster:

23 posts

204 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
hello all, I went to view a Noble GTO 2.5 litre last night, really nice, 16k on the clock on a 52 plate, had my mechanic look around it and he it was really nice.

Just wondered if you could give me any help advice or anything regarding the standard GTO is the re sale as good as the 3R i know there less expensive. Mechanically are the sound. Please post any information about them.

If it comes back good im going back tomorrow to buy it :-)

Please help many many thanks

Zac

ollygogs

166 posts

222 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
if you give more info ie reg some one will come along and tell you all about that car as most on here know somthing about most of the nobles out there

zacey boy

Original Poster:

23 posts

204 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
O cool it BV52 ZBE

Adrian W

15,491 posts

257 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
There seem to be a lot of Nobles in essex all of a sudden

zacey boy

Original Poster:

23 posts

204 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
Are the GTO's a good car even though there the 2.5?

Adrian W

15,491 posts

257 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
zacey boy said:
Are the GTO's a good car even though there the 2.5?
All Nobles are good cars, some will argue that the 2.5 is has better balance, in reality it's a fairly academic point, buy to your budget. I think the only weak point on the 2,5 the Magnetti Marrelli ECU can fail, some have been converted to run MBE or Omex, you may want to check.

Lakelord

1,756 posts

233 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
The other weak point about the 2.5, GT03 and early 3R's is that they had an 'open diff' which is prone to break. If the car you're viewing hasn't had a limited slip diff fitted, to do so will cost you a fair few quid as the engine has to come out. Doesn't mean you shouldn't buy it but use it to haggle and as Adrian rightly says, "buy to your budget."

joolski

813 posts

254 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
zacey boy said:
Are the GTO's a good car even though there the 2.5?
A few things which you should take into account when buying a 2.5L M12.

If it's original, it will have an open diff. If you don't tend to drive in the rain, or are sensible when its damp you should have no problems.
The problem with the open diff is that when one wheel starts the spin, the other one looses power, when the spinning wheel finally gains traction, it can cause a jolt which damages the diff.
If you are sensible, and just use it a sunny day car, it's not going to be a problem.

It might have the original exhaust, you can tell as it exits through the bottom of the diffuser rather than above it. If it does, get rid of it. There are a number of options available, Noble motorsports do a very nice one, and Rousch do one too.

Baffled sump, if you are going to take this car to a track, it'll need a baffled sump. If not, then it's not going to be a problem.

Cooling was an issue on the earlier cars, make sure it's had the factory fan upgrade.

Other than that, the original 2.5L car is pretty sound, and having done well over 100K in one, if you take care of it, it'll take care of you :-)



Hope this helps....

--Jool


fhwong

1,233 posts

266 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
One could argue that a 2.5 is easier to sell as they are cheaper and more people can afford them so the market is larger.

But yes when I was looking at a 2.5 what worried me was the lack of LSD and ECU problems.

Make sure it has AC. I have mine on nearly all the time as it gets hot in there with the engine behind you!

AMG Merc

11,955 posts

282 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
zacey boy said:
is the re sale as good as the 3R i know there less expensive.
Hi Zac, although 3Rs and M400s are updated from early 2.5s and 3.0s (some would say, more desirable - your call in the end) the fact that the M12 model line isn't in production anymore means that any chersied/good examples will be sought after and will hold their price, IMHO.

sean_goodman

536 posts

232 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
fhwong said:
One could argue that a 2.5 is easier to sell as they are cheaper and more people can afford them so the market is larger.

But yes when I was looking at a 2.5 what worried me was the lack of LSD and ECU problems.

Make sure it has AC. I have mine on nearly all the time as it gets hot in there with the engine behind you!
do the tunnel mod mate

mgbond

6,749 posts

261 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
So to Sum up (I have been trhough all of this so I know how expensive it can be).

1.Make sure it has had the ECU upgrade - if not and it still has the Marelli ECU then +2k is needed to change this.

2. Fan upgrade is visable as the old way was fans connected to radiator and in the upgrade the fans are connected to a shroud above the radiator (so fans are not touching rad) - This is cheap to rectify say £200

3. Diff (mine went in the dry on a roundabout and a slippery patch of something. LSD upgrade would be desirable as this is expensive - approx £2k if you cut chassis bar or £3-4k if engine removed.

4. Exhasut for 2.5 is fine and this only needs to be changed for asthetic reasons and if more power is wanted - I was kindly given a 3R exhaust and fitted that.

5. Track Day sump is only required if going on track but just make sure Oil levels are checked weekly - If it comes with a TDS then its a bonus but again one can be fitted by cutting a chassis bar or engine out, the cutting route cost me £900 at Noble when they were doing a deal I think you would be looking at a few hundred more thse days.

There are lots of improving mods that can be done but none to expensive if you want to get your hands dirty but are not essential when buying.

AC con I belive is std in all cars but check that it works - also check that you can get cold and hot hir from the vents without the air con on and all fan speeds work. Check that cooling fan come on when car warms up (check what the dial reads - should coming in on the dial before gauge reads 100).

There are other niggles and part numbers and some fixes are on the Nobleparts website that you will have to register and let thephilbret guy know once you have made purchase.

I'm happy to give more advice if you want to PM me and I'll give you my number.

Bondy

zacey boy

Original Poster:

23 posts

204 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
thats great mgbond, I know this sounds really cheacky but would it be possible if you phoned the guy that is selling it and ask him them questions as i'm rubbish at doing it, if i give you his number would that be possible?

Would be really greatfull

You seem to know alot about them and need some expertiese on it.


Bittercars

276 posts

218 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
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Why rush into it??
There are others for sale on Pistonheads - including my GTO3 !!

NickyTwoHats

2,093 posts

270 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
Wow. £16K if the car is "proper" that's the performance bargain of the bargain of the century!

sean_goodman

536 posts

232 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
NickyTwoHats said:
Wow. £16K if the car is "proper" that's the performance bargain of the bargain of the century!
think he means 16,000 miles on the clock and not £16k purchase price

TOENHEEL

4,501 posts

256 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
sean_goodman said:
fhwong said:
One could argue that a 2.5 is easier to sell as they are cheaper and more people can afford them so the market is larger.

But yes when I was looking at a 2.5 what worried me was the lack of LSD and ECU problems.

Make sure it has AC. I have mine on nearly all the time as it gets hot in there with the engine behind you!
do the tunnel mod mate
Whats that? ive lost 3 stone since buying my 3R it gets that hot and im to tight to turn the air con on ha

sjc

16,384 posts

299 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
NickyTwoHats said:
Wow. £16K if the car is "proper" that's the performance bargain of the bargain of the century!
You really have got jet lag haven't you!"

mgbond

6,749 posts

261 months

Thursday 17th September 2009
quotequote all
zacey boy said:
thats great mgbond, I know this sounds really cheacky but would it be possible if you phoned the guy that is selling it and ask him them questions as i'm rubbish at doing it, if i give you his number would that be possible?

Would be really greatfull

You seem to know alot about them and need some expertiese on it.
Yeah, don't have an issue with that. is it a private car?

Bondy

zacey boy

Original Poster:

23 posts

204 months

Friday 18th September 2009
quotequote all
Sorry mate for not getting back the guy has sold it last night. Im going to keep looking though, ho hum. If I have any questions ill post up, thankyou so much for all your help everyone much much appreciated