Just breaking the ice.

[kenny.R400]

Morning Chaps, fellow Petrolheader here. Having done the rounds over the last 25 years of all things British,oddball and noisy I'm now looking towards a Noble.
I've always reverted back to my main love Caterham after going astray, and at present have the holy Grail of 7's tucked up in the garage, A Caterham Jonathan Palmer Evolution (JPE).
I'd been after one for many years having owned numerous 7's and finally found a beauty a while back.
Sadly though due to it's very unuser friendly mannerisms compared to my other 7's, Loti and TVR and it's lack of windscreen,roof and the dismal last 2 summers we've had, the car has covered just 160 miles in that period, and each time I got out of it I ached immensley and had "vibrating white bum piece" syndrome for a week.........I must be getting old.

Car is immense, simply brutal but I now fear the time has come to give in gracefully...and go for a more a more comfy,yet equally exciting British icon

So, the Noble. The JPE sale would fund a GTO 3 r, so that's what I'm looking towards.
So chaps, rather than doing the usual "newbie" thing and asking a host of daft questions are there any owners in the Northwest (Wigan/Southport) who would be up for an informal tyre kick one day soon......you can kick mine and I'll kick yours Just want a little bit of a confidence boost before I start in earnest.

I've read a lot over the weekend of the main issues posted here with regards to possible problems and I'd like to get an owners view on some of these issues.
One thing that always attracts me to the 7's is when you are buying there is not much hidden and festering in unkown crevices..you can see what's what unlike the TVRs............is the M12 similar?

Many thanks fellas
Kenny

[Lucozade]

Hi Kenny,

I'm in the NorthWest (Lytham St Annes), not far from you.

I've got a 3R you can take a look at, not exactly standard but should give you a good insight into the bits and pieces available via many of the good chaps here. It's not for sale

Maybe if there are a few others not so far away we could arrange a 'NorthWest meet up'.

[kenny.R400]

Sounds brill, most of the events I've been planning to do this year have been rained off, so it'd be nice to get out with somewhere to actually go. We were having a big bash at Woodvale in August but that's bit the dust too..........be great to meet up.
Thanks
Kenny

[gbk]

Hi Kenny

Not got a 3r but have an m400 and will be at Anglesey on Sunday 1st July withh Bookatrack if you fancy a spin round the circuit or even just a chat. Owned from new in 2005.

Cheers

Barry

[kenny.R400]

What a kind offer, many thanks Barry. Would seriously like to take you up on that but as per usual I'm scuppered for that particular date, what a bloody shame.

Again thank you
Kenny

[GC1]

Kenny did you come and talk to us at Cholmondely ? if so nice to meet you and look forward to welcoming you to the noble fold soon.....

we hope to be at some more events later in the year,Ormskirk festival of speed and Tatton park show.
come along and say hi you never know you might have a new noble by then.....

[GC1]

As for owners Kenny,

theirs 3 around Elsmere port,1 in Warrington,1 in Congalton and 1 in Leyland then me in Morecambe.Then theirs a couple stoke way and then your into midlands...

Thats enough to warrant a pub get together....

[arabian]

Hi, i'm not based in the north, but went from a caterham to a 911 to a Noble. Whilst i still hanker after a 7, and will one day add that to my garage, I'd never swap the Noble for one - hope that gives you the confidence to make the swap !

[kenny.R400]

Cheers lads, we'll have to get some sort of meeting set up hopefully. I've done it before and jumped ship as I say, only to revert back to the 7 fold, in truth I'd still probably find space for a more user friendly lower powered car if funds and the Chancellor allow

I love the Brit thing to be honest, OK I know even Caterham are technically now Malaysian but you get my drift.

Of all the times I've jumped ship I've always missed that incredible mid range thump of a high powered 7 and it's razor sharp handling.

The Noble seems to fit the bill, it's mid range torque must be incredible I realise now I've done some homework and I'd hazzard a guess it's nothing like as boat like as the 2 TVRs I bought.......don't get me wrong I loved them but the 7 was worlds apart.

Another big problem for me is the OH, she just refuses point blank to go in the 7...once bitten and all that, she bloody snarls at it when she ventures into the garage

Really looking forward to meeting up with one of the lads maybe and getting some serious info., I'm certain the Noble would be the best of both worlds and may even end my plight of being a Billy no mates at shows and events when all the other Wags are there

Yep, stunning looking motor, seems to have the performance and handling to carry it off and it's a flippin rare and good talking point............can't wait to see one in the flesh...........actually there was one at Woodvale last year.

I will be going to Tatton again, I went this month too..be great to meet up.

Many thanks for all your input
Cheers,
Kenny

[wessexrfc]

Give you a bit of an idea what to expect from a mildly modified Nob chasing a couple Cats

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVMaerp6xRw

[kenny.R400]

Hmm, don't know what to make of that video, sorry I watched it now............My Mrs hasn't put you up to this I hope, I've already been told off for "rabbiting on about Nobles"

Have to say, with 600+ horsepower that should be chasing Force Indias, not little 7's;)

[TuxMan]

Hi Kenny , welcome , you will find plenty of info and help on the Forum , I too progressed from a 7 type to a Ultima then finally on to a Noble , have chased quite a few 7's on track and the main difference seems to be over 90mph when the Noble just seems to have the edge , brakes and apex speed seem to be similar although normaly I've driven to the track with the stereo and air con on

Tux

[NobleMartin]

Hi Kenny
I used to have a R500 and now own a couple of Nobles one is a 3 R that is on the road and you are welcome to have a ride in it as i live in Cheshire. You could also have a look round one that is completely striped ie engine and box out floor removed ,screen and dash out and all suspension removed ,so you can see how it's put together,also striped engines etc
Give you a good insight into how the Noble is put together.,

[GTO600]

NobleMartin said:

Hi Kenny
I used to have a R500 and now own a couple of Nobles one is a 3 R that is on the road and you are welcome to have a ride in it as i live in Cheshire. You could also have a look round one that is completely striped ie engine and box out floor removed ,screen and dash out and all suspension removed ,so you can see how it's put together,also striped engines etc
Give you a good insight into how the Noble is put together.,

Martin, make sure the top secret engine is well hidden please

[sundance002]

kenny.R400 said:

Hmm, don't know what to make of that video, sorry I watched it now............My Mrs hasn't put you up to this I hope, I've already been told off for "rabbiting on about Nobles"

Have to say, with 600+ horsepower that should be chasing Force Indias, not little 7's;)

Those 2 little 7s. run 260 hp with 6sp sequential boxes and slicks and still couldn get within a second of my times on road tyres. I also have a 7 but with 310 bhp. using a Honda K20 engine.

[kenny.R400]

Cheers Lads,
Tuxman, interesting to hear your thoughts and comparisons. In all honesty I've now stopped competing and have only done a handfull of trackdays in the last 5 years. I would just be using the Noble for sunny blats and something to polish over the winter I've got to admit. As I say I'm just looking for something that has that added bit of comfort (as per your description of how you get to a trackday) compared to me, and also something that is not a millions miles away from the urgency and nimbleness of the 7.
I also don't act silly on the road, I always saved the heroics for the track..........however when I bought my first TVR a couple of years back I was gutted when pulling on to the M58 motorway I thought I had the chance on the long sliproad to embarrass the Type R that had hassled me through the 30mph zones........no chance the bugger stayed with me......daft I know but it made me think what the point was of having it then.......the current 7 would have put 100 metres on it before legal motorway speed was reached..........I'm sure the Noble would also be a "pride saver".........these tintops are getting quicker by the day and having something that looks like it should be at Le Mans but is easy meat for a Seat Leon or some big German oil burner go's against the grain

Martin, would really like to see what you're up too in the garage.......maybe one nice sunny weekend we could get together, it'd be appreciated, thanks for that.
Were you ever a club member Martin when you had the R500?.......we may have already met up.

Sundance,I think the video didn't really show off the prowess of that particular Noble. If it were carrying 630hp then the track certainly didn't lend itself to the car stretching its legs, must have been very frustrating for the driver.

As you'll already know yourself though the driver and circuit knowledge makes a lot of difference on these video clips. You can often see a 130hp 7 humiliating bigger stuff on the right circuit yet you can find footage of 260 powered cars being hassled by Scoobies..........I've a feeling a GTO 3 would have had a better run at it in that particular clip, I may be wrong.
The Honda powered 7 you have, is it a Caterham?........must be fun.

Thanks again for the comments, all very much appreciated......really looking forward to seeing one shortly and comparing notes.

Cheers.