looking to upgrade MR2 for a Noble M12?? pointers?
Discussion
hi,
first time ive used PH, but not new to car forums, so hello!
couldnt find a noble owners club, so thought id post here considering the huge number of topics....
anyway, ive owned a mk2 mr2 for the last 6-7years, slowly getting stuck for things to work on, as much as i love the car, maybe time for a change. Currently running a shade over 400hp and 360lb (in a 1250kg car, so isnt to shabby!).
However am looking for something a little smaller, still mid engined, lighter, little newer, rare and is a track weapon. turbos are also something i crave...hense the noble seems to be an ideal upgrade!
i know the noble is lighter, around 1000kg, so power to weight is decent, so id expect similar (if not better) performance to my present car in real world driving...however track, id expect a noble to be awsome.
im really looking to find out common problems with the noble, and costs to resolve these issues, potential modifications to improve power/handling? costs?
i realise this will be in another league cost wise compared to an old toyota, but just after general experienced info really...
ideal world id be after a GTO-3R (would need lotto win for a M400), is this really a big improvement over the early 2.5s?? worth the extra money?
i am in a very much 50/50 situation here, mr2s have been my (car) life for a long time, pretty cheap to run, but feel it may be time to look elsewhere depending on if the noble is likely to blow my mind or not in terms of performance (compared to my present high powered and reliable mr2) ....
i have looked at TVRs also, much cheaper initial outlay it has to be said, but reliability is a killer i hear....also looking at the Exige.
any pointers would be great....
thanks
jim
first time ive used PH, but not new to car forums, so hello!
couldnt find a noble owners club, so thought id post here considering the huge number of topics....
anyway, ive owned a mk2 mr2 for the last 6-7years, slowly getting stuck for things to work on, as much as i love the car, maybe time for a change. Currently running a shade over 400hp and 360lb (in a 1250kg car, so isnt to shabby!).
However am looking for something a little smaller, still mid engined, lighter, little newer, rare and is a track weapon. turbos are also something i crave...hense the noble seems to be an ideal upgrade!
i know the noble is lighter, around 1000kg, so power to weight is decent, so id expect similar (if not better) performance to my present car in real world driving...however track, id expect a noble to be awsome.
im really looking to find out common problems with the noble, and costs to resolve these issues, potential modifications to improve power/handling? costs?
i realise this will be in another league cost wise compared to an old toyota, but just after general experienced info really...
ideal world id be after a GTO-3R (would need lotto win for a M400), is this really a big improvement over the early 2.5s?? worth the extra money?
i am in a very much 50/50 situation here, mr2s have been my (car) life for a long time, pretty cheap to run, but feel it may be time to look elsewhere depending on if the noble is likely to blow my mind or not in terms of performance (compared to my present high powered and reliable mr2) ....
i have looked at TVRs also, much cheaper initial outlay it has to be said, but reliability is a killer i hear....also looking at the Exige.
any pointers would be great....
thanks
jim
Edited by jdmTurbo on Tuesday 14th December 14:00
Edited by jdmTurbo on Tuesday 14th December 14:00
Most nobles tend to be between 1100 and 1200kg, I know I topics before people often said 1150 but I weighed mine on a calibrated weighbridge and got 1100 bang on.
The noble is a car you will spend a lot of money on, but it's worth it, beast on track and not much will beat it. As many will tell you there are alot of upgrades to do to make it reliable in a track environment with gearbox/diff and cooling department and the list grows as you up the power.
Buy one for road use you shouldn't see many problems if it's had the one or two essential upgrades... Fuel pump and wiring, intercooler and a decent exhaust.
The noble is a car you will spend a lot of money on, but it's worth it, beast on track and not much will beat it. As many will tell you there are alot of upgrades to do to make it reliable in a track environment with gearbox/diff and cooling department and the list grows as you up the power.
Buy one for road use you shouldn't see many problems if it's had the one or two essential upgrades... Fuel pump and wiring, intercooler and a decent exhaust.
I've done most things to my car myself on the drive with a couple of jacks. Borrowed a hoist to take the engine out to change clutch and send gearbox away for work, it is easy to work on as the clamshells remove with ease.
I came from a the t350 which wasn't reliable and a ball ache to work on in comparrison,
Just go drive one and find out where your nearest dealers/service centres are for help/advice, there's only so many around and the garages/people on the forum know the history of most cars quite well.
Plus there's always us lot to ask if you get in a pickle.
I came from a the t350 which wasn't reliable and a ball ache to work on in comparrison,
Just go drive one and find out where your nearest dealers/service centres are for help/advice, there's only so many around and the garages/people on the forum know the history of most cars quite well.
Plus there's always us lot to ask if you get in a pickle.
hey there.. get it bought.
I love MR2s, and race them hence the name, the noble is streaks ahead in so many respects. you only need to look at the chassis as a starting point! Having said that the MR2 is bullet proof and that is definitely not the case with the Noble.
MR2s are amazing little cars, completely underestimated by most but the Noble is something special.
the Noble is wider than the MR2 and a little longer. This is from memory having had both cars on my trailer. its definitely a good few inches wider but not much longer.
you will never look back if you test drive a Noble
Cheers
James
If you really want some power to weight advantage and still stay dry and relatively reliable an early S2 Elise-Exige conversion with Honda 2.0/2.2 lt Vtec and supercharger will see you easily north of 500 BHP per tonne, some of these cars weigh in at <800Kg. so win-win.
The Noble on the other hand has presence beyond most road cars available at the price.
My choice would be M400 with a few mods if you have the budget, and a Honda'rd?? Lotus if you don't.
Just remember the Noble can bleed your wallet dry quite quickly (but it is worth every penny)
The Noble on the other hand has presence beyond most road cars available at the price.
My choice would be M400 with a few mods if you have the budget, and a Honda'rd?? Lotus if you don't.
Just remember the Noble can bleed your wallet dry quite quickly (but it is worth every penny)
Just keep both....I did.
My thoughts ... My MR2 when running 300BHP seemed about as fast as the noble in a stright line, though I have since had the noble mapped back to spec from the 305BHP it was running, so probably explains that. The power delivery is much smoother on the Noble so difficult to really tell. As you know you can do a lot to Mr2 and can make it handle very well, the Noble always feel more agile.
Noble will probably cost more to run mine has been about £1500 a year for service and bits, but I have been lucky up to now (and there are people who have had very big bills). I had to change the turbo on the MR2 (early rev 3 ceramic) and not on the noble, but generally the MR2 in standard spec is pretty bombproof in comparison.
I love my Noble, but it wasn't the massive step I thought it would be when I drove the Noble. Still not selling though, nothing makes me smile as much, well very little anyway.
Rob.
My thoughts ... My MR2 when running 300BHP seemed about as fast as the noble in a stright line, though I have since had the noble mapped back to spec from the 305BHP it was running, so probably explains that. The power delivery is much smoother on the Noble so difficult to really tell. As you know you can do a lot to Mr2 and can make it handle very well, the Noble always feel more agile.
Noble will probably cost more to run mine has been about £1500 a year for service and bits, but I have been lucky up to now (and there are people who have had very big bills). I had to change the turbo on the MR2 (early rev 3 ceramic) and not on the noble, but generally the MR2 in standard spec is pretty bombproof in comparison.
I love my Noble, but it wasn't the massive step I thought it would be when I drove the Noble. Still not selling though, nothing makes me smile as much, well very little anyway.
Rob.
Edited by mr2turbo300 on Wednesday 15th December 17:29
hi thanks for reply!!
thats the thing, im already running 400hp and 360lb with my mr2, and theres more room for another 50-75hp with a bit more boost, cam tweak and remap...its been like this for the last year, only needing plugs and some fresh oil in that time! (tho i did upgrade a few other things to, lol, ARBs, cv joints (to take some drag radials), wideband etc etc)...techincally hasnt cost me more than £70 to maintain the car over the last year excluding mods!
i know its going to be hard to find something that will match that for straight line speed for sensible money to...
mmmm...
but i can appreciate a lighter car needing less power and being more nimble, and going to something else will am sure get me some buzz back...its very tricky.. i do enjoy B road usage, mr2s great, just after something newer, rarer, aarrhh!
thats the thing, im already running 400hp and 360lb with my mr2, and theres more room for another 50-75hp with a bit more boost, cam tweak and remap...its been like this for the last year, only needing plugs and some fresh oil in that time! (tho i did upgrade a few other things to, lol, ARBs, cv joints (to take some drag radials), wideband etc etc)...techincally hasnt cost me more than £70 to maintain the car over the last year excluding mods!
i know its going to be hard to find something that will match that for straight line speed for sensible money to...
mmmm...
but i can appreciate a lighter car needing less power and being more nimble, and going to something else will am sure get me some buzz back...its very tricky.. i do enjoy B road usage, mr2s great, just after something newer, rarer, aarrhh!
jdmTurbo said:
hi thanks for reply!!
thats the thing, im already running 400hp and 360lb with my mr2, and theres more room for another 50-75hp with a bit more boost, cam tweak and remap...its been like this for the last year, only needing plugs and some fresh oil in that time! (tho i did upgrade a few other things to, lol, ARBs, cv joints (to take some drag radials), wideband etc etc)...techincally hasnt cost me more than £70 to maintain the car over the last year excluding mods!
i know its going to be hard to find something that will match that for straight line speed for sensible money to...
mmmm...
but i can appreciate a lighter car needing less power and being more nimble, and going to something else will am sure get me some buzz back...its very tricky.. i do enjoy B road usage, mr2s great, just after something newer, rarer, aarrhh!
If you are looking for a noticeable performance improvement combined with newer/rarer/track day weapon then as F.C. mentioned earlier you need to look at the M400 as this easily ticks all the boxes (and more). Unfortunately for those very same reasons it's the most expensive model.thats the thing, im already running 400hp and 360lb with my mr2, and theres more room for another 50-75hp with a bit more boost, cam tweak and remap...its been like this for the last year, only needing plugs and some fresh oil in that time! (tho i did upgrade a few other things to, lol, ARBs, cv joints (to take some drag radials), wideband etc etc)...techincally hasnt cost me more than £70 to maintain the car over the last year excluding mods!
i know its going to be hard to find something that will match that for straight line speed for sensible money to...
mmmm...
but i can appreciate a lighter car needing less power and being more nimble, and going to something else will am sure get me some buzz back...its very tricky.. i do enjoy B road usage, mr2s great, just after something newer, rarer, aarrhh!
mr2turbo300 said:
Just keep both....I did.
Edited by mr2turbo300 on Wednesday 15th December 17:29
A man after my own heart... i just bought a new range rover and a mini cooper s (for round the town fun) which takes my total to 6 cars... things are getting silly now. anyone want to by my old range rover and/or a 89' VW Scirocco!!!!
JDM... get it bought
cheers
J
gunghochef said:
Karting track???? My Exige s2 was anything but boring, far superior to any mr2 ive driven, exellent power to weight ratio and a brilliant first sports car.ote=The devil]Avoid the Exige route, they arent anything special unless you take it on a karting track
jamescmr2 said:
MR2s can be a bit of of a spinning top when they get going... i spun mine 360 on the exit of a roundabout on my way home from goodwood, 4 days after buying it lol. i was lucky i hit nothing. gotta laugh about it now
J
Were these spinning MR2's pre revision 3 - only nearly spun mine once in the 13 years I've owned it. I heard the pre rev 3's were more of a handful ?J
mr2turbo300 said:
jamescmr2 said:
MR2s can be a bit of of a spinning top when they get going... i spun mine 360 on the exit of a roundabout on my way home from goodwood, 4 days after buying it lol. i was lucky i hit nothing. gotta laugh about it now
J
J
Were these spinning MR2's pre revision 3 - only nearly spun mine once in the 13 years I've owned it. I heard the pre rev 3's were more of a handful ?
Mine was a rev 4 1998 :-). drive it harder ha ha
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