RE: joust's Noble M12 GTO
Discussion
Glad you like it. More piccies at www.lotus-elise.org.uk/m12/
I presonally would have gone for the portifino blue or azure blue, but given I managed to find this one without an 8 month wait I compromised
J
I presonally would have gone for the portifino blue or azure blue, but given I managed to find this one without an 8 month wait I compromised
J
Interesting. I hadn't realised that Noble had forgone electric windows in a Lotus Elise stylee.
I think the Noble M12 is the one car that could turn my head from TVR in a few years times when I decide what to replace my Chimaera 500 with.
I'll be interested in seeing how the Noble shapes up on economy and reliability. If it does reasonably well I might even consider selling the TVR and the Corrado (gasp!) to buy one and use it as my daily driver.
I think the Noble M12 is the one car that could turn my head from TVR in a few years times when I decide what to replace my Chimaera 500 with.
I'll be interested in seeing how the Noble shapes up on economy and reliability. If it does reasonably well I might even consider selling the TVR and the Corrado (gasp!) to buy one and use it as my daily driver.
Great Pics on the url you provided, Joust! I know that the M12 is compared a lot to the Esprit. Was just wondering if you had ever driven an Esprit and could give a side by side comparison of the two...
What's the engine sound like? Looks like the easiest car in the world to work on what with the way everything opens up. Very lucky guy, you. Enjoy!
ErnestM
What's the engine sound like? Looks like the easiest car in the world to work on what with the way everything opens up. Very lucky guy, you. Enjoy!
ErnestM
quote:
Interesting. I hadn't realised that Noble had forgone electric windows in a Lotus Elise stylee.
The windows only wind half way down (if you look at the outside the door changes angle there and so the window can't go any further), so sticking an electric motor in there would just be a waste really!
quote:
I think the Noble M12 is the one car that could turn my head from TVR in a few years times when I decide what to replace my Chimaera 500 with.
Looked at lots and lots of TVR's - but once I drove the Noble I just had to have it. I was "brought up" on Turbo cars (Esprit 4pots, Quattros, Lancia Delta Integrale etc.) and there is nothing in this world for me that compares to the noise of a waste gate at full dump, and a turbo at full boost (think F15 fighter and your close
) quote:
I'll be interested in seeing how the Noble shapes up on economy and reliability. If it does reasonably well I might even consider selling the TVR and the Corrado (gasp!) to buy one and use it as my daily driver.
It's a pussy cat around town - but get a pair of shoes that don't rub your heel. You are so low your heel will be sore on the throttle if you don't.
It's a very torquy engine low down - so driving around town in 3/4th isn't that bad - just don't go shopping with a passenger - you won't get much inside it!
If you look at the car profile I'm keeping a running tally of costs and petrol - needs to be updated with the weekend but it's averaging ~25mpg on a combination of long runs and hard work twisty bits, and that ain't bad (my X5 only does 17-18...)
Joust
quote:
Great Pics on the url you provided, Joust! I know that the M12 is compared a lot to the Esprit. Was just wondering if you had ever driven an Esprit and could give a side by side comparison of the two...
Yep - my brother had 3 esprits and I got to drive most of them.
It's very similar to a sport 300 in terms of handling. The 'on limit' is dead easy to find and play with. It doesn't give way suddenly like a S4, just progressivly lets go with either the back or front (or both) depending on what you are doing with the throttle.
There is no lift of oversteer that I can provoke yet - a big bind of most Lotuses in my experience - backing off half way around a corner just makes the car tuck in tight - rather than provoking the rear to attempt a kamakazi overtaking of the fronts!
quote:
What's the engine sound like? Looks like the easiest car in the world to work on what with the way everything opens up.
Think F15 fighter on take off
Think Esprit turbo 4 pot on speed, H and coke at the same time for wastegate dumps
Think "oh my god" on full throttle
I'll try and get some sound samples up in the next week or so....
quote:
Very lucky guy, you. Enjoy!
Here is some more piccies (from the VW meet day)...
Have a look around the threads - there's a few links. Mine are at
Full Res (1600x1200 screen needed)
www.lotus-elise.org.uk/vw%20ph%20meet%2022-09-02/
Medium Res (fits 800x600 screen)
www.lotus-elise.org.uk/VW%20PH%20Meet%2022-09-02%208x6/
Have a look around the threads - there's a few links. Mine are at
Full Res (1600x1200 screen needed)
www.lotus-elise.org.uk/vw%20ph%20meet%2022-09-02/
Medium Res (fits 800x600 screen)
www.lotus-elise.org.uk/VW%20PH%20Meet%2022-09-02%208x6/
quote:I understand what you're saying. Still, it is very useful to be able to put the passenger window down when you don't have a passenger on board.
The windows only wind half way down (if you look at the outside the door changes angle there and so the window can't go any further), so sticking an electric motor in there would just be a waste really!
Oh well, I suppose I could live with it.
quote:
What a great color (colour) for the Noble.
...I'll have the exact one (with left hand drive and federalized) whenever Noble make the foray into the US. Absolutely stunning!
ErnestM
well you would say that would`nt you
look similar to a Lotus V8 i have seen on here some place ,,, it is a beautiful colour (color) (I've been found out)
I have a penchant for blue I guess...
I traded an email or two with Noble a few months back (and they sent me out a brochure - very nice people). They seem to think bringing the M12 to the US won't be difficult, so we shall see I guess.
With the demise of the Esprit not to far in the future, and no M250, this car seems like the hier apparant. Looks like it has been built using a Chapmanesque philosophy as well.
Enjoyed the Esprit comparison too, Joust. Thanks
ErnestM
I have a penchant for blue I guess... I traded an email or two with Noble a few months back (and they sent me out a brochure - very nice people). They seem to think bringing the M12 to the US won't be difficult, so we shall see I guess.
With the demise of the Esprit not to far in the future, and no M250, this car seems like the hier apparant. Looks like it has been built using a Chapmanesque philosophy as well.
Enjoyed the Esprit comparison too, Joust. Thanks
ErnestM
quote:
25mpg !!
I'm getting about 150 miles out of a full tank at the moment
Ah - is your's doing the "I'm empty when I have 20l left in it...."? I've managed to get the needle way under zero without running out of fuel.
I calculate the MPG by briming the tank each time and keeping a track of the miles done between each tank.
However, for a 60l tank, mine says 0 when I can only put 40l in it - and hence get about 160-170 miles between full and 0.
J
quote:
I also do get lift-off oversteer, but admittedly this was at Silverstone
Mmm - not the sort of driving I do on the roads around here!
J
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