3 or 3R.........to be or not to be?

[Mr Noble]

Hi gentleman,

Could someone help me with a little info please. I am finally in a position to buy my much awaited (18 months of hard saving) Noble but have a big dialema as wether to go for a GTO3, indigo, standard 2003, 3.5k full dealer history available now from Kerridges or to wait a few months more and try to find a 3R for around £40k+.

Apart from the lights, LSD, 6 speed box and wheels, are there any other differences?

Is there much difference in driving at all?

I do prefer the look of the 3R's front clam but wonder if they are worth the extra £5-10k over a 3.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Greg

[MisterX]

Mr Noble said:

Hi gentleman, Could someone help me with a little info please. I am finally in a position to buy my much awaited (18 months of hard saving) Noble but have a big dialema as wether to go for a GTO3, indigo, standard 2003, 3.5k full dealer history available now from Kerridges or to wait a few months more and try to find a 3R for around £40k+. Apart from the lights, LSD, 6 speed box and wheels, are there any other differences? Is there much difference in driving at all? I do prefer the look of the 3R's front clam but wonder if they are worth the extra £5-10k over a 3. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Greg

I think it comes down to a personal preference. I also like the lights on the 3R (though a bit put off with reports re the seals), but will stick with my GTO3. If I was a first-time buyer I would probably go for a 3R or a late GTO3, ie the newer the better. IMO if you are contemplating paying up to £10k extra for a used 3R its probably not worth that much extra.

[AMG Merc]

Mr Noble said:

Hi gentleman, Could someone help me with a little info please. I am finally in a position to buy my much awaited (18 months of hard saving) Noble but have a big dialema as wether to go for a GTO3, indigo, standard 2003, 3.5k full dealer history available now from Kerridges or to wait a few months more and try to find a 3R for around £40k+. Apart from the lights, LSD, 6 speed box and wheels, are there any other differences? Is there much difference in driving at all? I do prefer the look of the 3R's front clam but wonder if they are worth the extra £5-10k over a 3. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Greg

Greg, it's a personal thing - if you can see yourself in a '3' and don't mind a 5-speeder sans LSD and trackday sump* (*remember you won't be able to track is with full confidence that the engine will stay in one piece) then go for it - they represent excellent second-hand VFM after all!

"Apart from the lights, LSD, 6 speed box and wheels, are there any other differences?"

...just some soundproofing.

Is there much difference in driving at all?

... none, and the grin is identical! :-)

[Mr Noble]

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WWW/cars_search.asp?page=1&modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&make=NOBLE&model=ANY&variant=&keywords=&min_pr=75&max_pr=&mileage=&agerange=&postcode=cb1+3sa&miles=1500&max_records=50&source=0&photo=1&sort=3&ukca

Not sure if the hyperlink is working, may have to cut and paste.


2nd car up, the indigo GTO3
Does anyone here know anything about this car? Is is a good buy. Would just need to do a deal on getting a TD sump fitted, and I could be

[AMG Merc]

Mr Noble said:

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WWW/cars_search.asp?page=1&modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&make=NOBLE&model=ANY&variant=&keywords=&min_pr=75&max_pr=&mileage=&agerange=&postcode=cb1+3sa&miles=1500&max_records=50&source=0&photo=1&sort=3&ukca Not sure if the hyperlink is working, may have to cut and paste. 2nd car up, the indigo GTO3 Does anyone here know anything about this car? Is is a good buy. Would just need to do a deal on getting a TD sump fitted, and I could be

It appears that it has a trackday sump?!

[Mr Noble]

Sorry for making this thread so wide!!??

I meant the indigo one 2nd up from the bottom. The one at Kerridges. £37995

Looks like a good deal if I could get a TD sump fitted as part of a deal. My thoughts are weather I am better off saving up another £5k or so for a 3R like the silver one on the next page. Its only got 2000 miles and is up for £44.

How many 3R's would you think have been sold to date, in total by Noble? Are there figures on how many cars exist in all model formats?

>> Edited by Mr Noble on Tuesday 15th February 13:31

[chillidog]

Mr Noble said:

How many 3R's would you think have been sold to date, in total by Noble? Are there figures on how many cars exist in all model formats?

It's been discussed before - search the Noble forum to find the answer.

[AMG Merc]

[redacted]

[DanH]

I think they have to cut and reweld part of the chassis to retrofit the sump. Some places will do a cleaner job than others. Its not cheap though, so you are far better served to find a car with the spec you want now. Upgrades add up seriously quickly in terms of cost. I won't tell you how much my car has had spent on it with upgrades. Its makes me upset and I didn't even pay for it.

On the plus side I think I've got the perfect spec for a GTO3 now (listed in profile if you want to know what to look for), although arguably a set of nitrons would be good for track.

Personally I'd hold out and take a GTO3 if you can find one specced right, otherwise keep saving and get the R if thats the only way to get the 6spd box, LSD, sump. All assuming you might want to track it.

Of course if you are happy with a standard 3 then go for it.

[bradders]

Greg,

You Have Mail.

Cheers, Mark

[obes]

I'd get in one ASAP if I were you mate. There are differences, but compared to almost anything else on the road you still get a stonkingly fast car with stunning handling, even if you buy a 2.5. (no bias here at all...nope not a jot.....)!

O.

[Mr Noble]

Thanks for the pointers and e-mails guys. You have helped confirm my thoughts, I think that its worth holding out for a 3R and saving a little longer. I am sure there will be a perfect Indigo or black 3R for £40k around the corner.

I can't wait to meet you all at a track day. I am booking some drift and skid training up in Norfolk in the next month or so. Never had too much action in my Elise but I feel after a test drive in a 3R the other week that these are very different animals!

They need a lot more

PS. What are Nitrons?

[chillidog]

Mr Noble said:

I am booking some drift and skid training up in Norfolk in the next month or so...

Have you decided who you are doing this through? - it's just that I'm looking for the same sort of thing.

Oh and see www.nitron.co.uk

>> Edited by chillidog on Tuesday 15th February 16:07

[Mr Noble]

www.st-racing.com/

His name is Shawn, ex-lotus driver. Seems like a nice guy and seems to know his stuff. Do you fancy booking up for the same day? Would be nice to do it with someone else, especially someone else how owns a Noble!

He e-mailed me details. As follows:

Hi Greg

Yes I can help you in focusing on skid control and track/racing driving.

My back ground is 15 year racing and 6 years with Lotus as a race & driving trainer

We do the skid control course at either Watton or Fakenham. Stage one concentrates on car control, understeer and oversteer and then clients can move on to stage two, which concentrates more on power-on oversteer and drifting. We use MGF's for the training as we have found that many of our clients find it hard to use the evo's, however, we plan to add these at a later stage. To book the car handling course, we simply need your home address, so that we can send you the forms and we can then provide you with dates / venues available.

With regard to track instruction, it is best that you give me a call and then we can discuss your requirements in detail.

If you would like more info about us, look at the website st-racing.com or call me on 01508 480055

Many Thanks

Shawn Taylor
Shawn Taylor Racing
-----Original Message-----
From: Greg R Noble [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: 08 February 2005 22:46
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Skid training.


Hi Shawn,
I got your details from Fiona at the driver training agency where I enquired about doing some training focusing on skid control and advanced car control to be more focused on track driving. I have done some track driving and do 30k miles a year on the road, have owned an Elise for 2 years and am about to buy a Noble M12. Before I take the Noble to the track, I would like to do some skid training in someone elses car!

Can you help.

I live in Cambridge, where does it all take place?

Look forward to your response.

Greg Noble

[chillidog]

Greg

Thanks for the info (I haven't heard of them before) - I'll have a chat with st-racing to get some more detail of what's on offer.

[Mr Noble]

Chillidog, not sure if yu have seen this one yet. The st racing does seem like good VFM. What others have you found?

www.driftacademy.co.uk/

[chillidog]

Mr Noble said:

Chillidog, not sure if yu have seen this one yet. The st racing does seem like good VFM. What others have you found? www.driftacademy.co.uk/

I hadn't seen this one except as as news item on PH.

ST Racing are sending me some info - Shawn says that they are waiting to clarify dates for the course (probably end of March/beginning of April) and that you get approx 40 minutes driving time in the car. As you say this seems reasonable VFM as you're using their car so maybe I'll try get something arranged in ealy April after the Noble Owners do.