03/53 Noble M12 or New TVR T350C?
Discussion
Well my beloved scooby is sold (333bhp,improved handling etc etc etc),so time to move on ^. Roughly a 40k budget & it's narrowed down to the above choices. With a 3 year warranty I'm really edging towards the TVR but would like an objective view if possible (Owners who have had both?) hence posting same q. on both TVR & Noble sections.
If the motoring press is to be believed the M12 will handle better yet in the 2003 Autocar handling test the T350 was significantly faster round rockingham (confusing?).
I really like the look of the TVR but there's something dragging me back to the noble, just not sure what it is.
I know the easy answer is 'Drive both & make your own mind up' but TBH a test drive with a Dealer bod sat next to you is not the same as enjoying a car day to day. Also if I were in London not Yorkshire I would've had 1/2 a dozen drives in each by now but they're a bit thin on the ground oop north
Bit of a long 1st post so thanks for reading!
BTW, this is not a troll to start a Noble v TVR thread as you will have noticed I haven't really mentioned what exactly I'm looking for from my next car, so will pick the bones out of any replies with my longish list of priorities!
Cheers
Steve
If the motoring press is to be believed the M12 will handle better yet in the 2003 Autocar handling test the T350 was significantly faster round rockingham (confusing?).
I really like the look of the TVR but there's something dragging me back to the noble, just not sure what it is.
I know the easy answer is 'Drive both & make your own mind up' but TBH a test drive with a Dealer bod sat next to you is not the same as enjoying a car day to day. Also if I were in London not Yorkshire I would've had 1/2 a dozen drives in each by now but they're a bit thin on the ground oop north
Bit of a long 1st post so thanks for reading!
BTW, this is not a troll to start a Noble v TVR thread as you will have noticed I haven't really mentioned what exactly I'm looking for from my next car, so will pick the bones out of any replies with my longish list of priorities!
Cheers
Steve
I test drove them all (350, cerb, tusc-s, 355 etc) and something just grabbed me back to the Noble everytime. I knew it was the one after 30 seconds on the road in my new toy.
It has a different prescence and soul. Very hard to explain. Its more of a drivers car IMO. Nothing posey or flashy but it obviously still gets noticed (a lot
)
You do have to drive them though, and you will know.
Plus, if you get one then you will also receive a ceremonial sword and lifetime membership to one of the most exclusive clubs in the universe!!
GN
It has a different prescence and soul. Very hard to explain. Its more of a drivers car IMO. Nothing posey or flashy but it obviously still gets noticed (a lot
) You do have to drive them though, and you will know.
Plus, if you get one then you will also receive a ceremonial sword and lifetime membership to one of the most exclusive clubs in the universe!!
GN
Firstly, get yourself a copy of this months EVO - it has a Noble buying guide.
Secondly, really, you have to test drive them both. If you can't find a dealer that will let you have a hour+ drive, then ask another.
Of course, after that, you'll buy a Noble, but then you knew I would tell you that didn't you
J
Secondly, really, you have to test drive them both. If you can't find a dealer that will let you have a hour+ drive, then ask another.
Of course, after that, you'll buy a Noble, but then you knew I would tell you that didn't you
J
I've never owned a TVR but a lot of my friends have had them, some with good experiences, some with bad. I've had my Noble about a month now and it's been in the garage twice. However, this is not as bad as it sounds - the problems are fairly minor and I like to take care of it. That's the way I feel about my Noble, and the way I think everyone feels about theirs: it's like a pet dog that feels more 'mine' than any vehicle I've ever owned (a dreadful analogy but I'm slightly drunk). Noble's are far rarer than TVRs and this, for me, makes it feel special. It feels like I'm part of something unique.
That's not the reason I bought mine but I'm SO glad I did. It was the M12 or a Tuscan and I know I made the right choice. No doubt Tuscan owners will say the opposite.
I wonder if that's been remotely helpful?
That's not the reason I bought mine but I'm SO glad I did. It was the M12 or a Tuscan and I know I made the right choice. No doubt Tuscan owners will say the opposite.
I wonder if that's been remotely helpful?
STiste said:
If the motoring press is to be believed the M12 will handle better yet in the 2003 Autocar handling test the T350 was significantly faster round rockingham (confusing?).
Have you got a scan of that autocar article? I've got the car magazine from last year where the noble caned the crap out of ALL comers in Brundle's hands at Anglesea. The T350 came out very baddly and he hated it. Granted it was the m400, but it did 48.8 vs 53.1 from a T350. Thats an enormous difference.
To be honest you need to decide for yourself, not look to journos for reassurance. If you were to dig more, I think you'd find more comparisons going Nobles way.
In favour of the T350, they do look stunning!
p.s. A 3 years warranty is a good thing, more than Porsche offer as standard although the latter let you renew the factory warranty for 850 a year. Its not much good though if the cars aren't better made too though, TVR engine rebuilds can take a very long time if it has to go back to the factory. Maybe the spotty oik has remedied that though?
>> Edited by DanH on Monday 9th May 23:27
TVRs are gorgeous, noble styling divides opinion...certainly much more impressive in the flesh than photos. On looks and interior (if it holds together) the TVR is probably better.
Also depends if you want the top down motoring or not...Tivs are great for pootling with that deep throated gargle sound track in the foreground. But the noble sound track is even more intoxicating...the twin turbos chattering like a couple of darth vaders in the back (sounding best when you "lift off" of all things, with the air being released through the filters)
Reliability seemingly much, much, much better with noble than TVR...even if TVR's come with 3 year warranty they have still to iron out many bugs (check out some of the diaries on piston heads)..even if the factory pays for the work you could still face plenty of time without your pride and joy!
But most of us here like to drive our cars, and here the noble wins hands down...simply no contest...I have owned a tuscan and driven a few other Tivs and to be honest they kind of scare me, where the noble exudes confidence and driveability. I also had an accident in my tuscan where in mild acceleration in a straight line the rear end completely spun round on me (oil on road?) and I ended up in a lamp post...car was a right off, but I'm still bemused as to how it could have happened.
Finally, check out this little noble community for a bit...a friendlier more helpful bunch of car nuts you will be hard pushed to find (and that includes the factory and dealers who are just beyond enthusiastic about the car)
A hard life, trying to make such a decision, but I'm very happy I made the Noble decision
Also depends if you want the top down motoring or not...Tivs are great for pootling with that deep throated gargle sound track in the foreground. But the noble sound track is even more intoxicating...the twin turbos chattering like a couple of darth vaders in the back (sounding best when you "lift off" of all things, with the air being released through the filters)
Reliability seemingly much, much, much better with noble than TVR...even if TVR's come with 3 year warranty they have still to iron out many bugs (check out some of the diaries on piston heads)..even if the factory pays for the work you could still face plenty of time without your pride and joy!
But most of us here like to drive our cars, and here the noble wins hands down...simply no contest...I have owned a tuscan and driven a few other Tivs and to be honest they kind of scare me, where the noble exudes confidence and driveability. I also had an accident in my tuscan where in mild acceleration in a straight line the rear end completely spun round on me (oil on road?) and I ended up in a lamp post...car was a right off, but I'm still bemused as to how it could have happened.
Finally, check out this little noble community for a bit...a friendlier more helpful bunch of car nuts you will be hard pushed to find (and that includes the factory and dealers who are just beyond enthusiastic about the car)
A hard life, trying to make such a decision, but I'm very happy I made the Noble decision
Ok, the question comes up very often.
Simple answer really.
TVR - Get the TVR with its long warranty (you will need it!) if you want to be constantly taking it back the dealer. Bits will fall off on a regular basis and that straight six engine does not hold up at all. You may be without your car for long periods of time.
Noble - Get the Noble because it just works. Starts first time everytime. It's great fun all round and on a track they are simply awesome.
Best way to compare them in my view is to see that the TVR forums are all about things that are going wrong. The Noble forum is all about "how can I make it go faster" !
As Paul says it's a NO BRAINER !
Simple answer really.
TVR - Get the TVR with its long warranty (you will need it!) if you want to be constantly taking it back the dealer. Bits will fall off on a regular basis and that straight six engine does not hold up at all. You may be without your car for long periods of time.
Noble - Get the Noble because it just works. Starts first time everytime. It's great fun all round and on a track they are simply awesome.
Best way to compare them in my view is to see that the TVR forums are all about things that are going wrong. The Noble forum is all about "how can I make it go faster" !
As Paul says it's a NO BRAINER !
I test drove the 3R and T350C a while back - still not sure what I'm getting next but my tuppence worth is:
The Noble had more road presence, cars almost veering out of my way on a dual carriageway, and the acceleration and noise of those turbos was quite unbelievable. However (and I know I'm probably posting this on the wrong forum and will get slated) the TVR just seemed more solidly made, plus all the fancy interior and everything makes the drivers seat a very special place to be.
From my point of view the Noble was a better drive but the T350C was very good, but also the T350C is very practical and as it would be my only car that is a major factor - the 3 year warranty just seals it for me in favour of the Trevor.
I guess it depends on what you need it for, as a regular road car and no track use, it would be the TVR for me. For purely a fun driving machine I'd go for Noble everytime.
The Noble had more road presence, cars almost veering out of my way on a dual carriageway, and the acceleration and noise of those turbos was quite unbelievable. However (and I know I'm probably posting this on the wrong forum and will get slated) the TVR just seemed more solidly made, plus all the fancy interior and everything makes the drivers seat a very special place to be.
From my point of view the Noble was a better drive but the T350C was very good, but also the T350C is very practical and as it would be my only car that is a major factor - the 3 year warranty just seals it for me in favour of the Trevor.
I guess it depends on what you need it for, as a regular road car and no track use, it would be the TVR for me. For purely a fun driving machine I'd go for Noble everytime.
In terms of solidity I find the noble pretty damned solid. Its just not as pretty with bits of glued on leather everywhere
3 year warranty is interesting as it suggests that they have more confidence in their product, however I read the t350 forum last night and its got people complaining about their state of their brand new cars.
In the end its a personal choice I'm sure he'll enjoy either. With any hand built car, any car in fact, you can always get a bad 'un and have a crap ownership experience. Its just a case of playing the odds.
I looked at both M400 and Sagaris at the motorshow last year. Basicaly decided that if TVR couldn't get the finnish right on a show car, what hope had their road cars (the show car had 1/4 lights that weren't square in their recesses). Decided then that I wanted a Noble. Then I drove one, and agreed to buy it after 5 minutes.....
if your going from a Scooby, I think that you'd prefer the Noble. I came from a 320bhp EVO 6, then Grp N Escort Cossie.
Don't get me wrong, I quite like TVR's, and their interiors are gorgeous, but I just liked the Noble more as an all round car
if your going from a Scooby, I think that you'd prefer the Noble. I came from a 320bhp EVO 6, then Grp N Escort Cossie.
Don't get me wrong, I quite like TVR's, and their interiors are gorgeous, but I just liked the Noble more as an all round car
I've looked/drove a couple of Nobles, they are better built than any TVR, new or old.(I used to have a Tamora).The Noble drives much better on any type of road and are easier to drive in town too.
The only reason I haven't chopped the 911 is the lack of practically and storage space. The luggage space/bags are more or less useless.
The TVR on the other hand is miles more practical than the Noble, but I don't like the build quality or the overly point steering.
The Noble is not an everyday car to me, I'm sure some one will post and disagree, but with no boot I had to dismiss it. I need something with some sort of storage/boot, so I'll have to stick with the 911. It's such a pity, I really fell for the M12
I will have one day though, the noise and handling are spot on.
>> Edited by bumcrack on Wednesday 11th May 12:10
The only reason I haven't chopped the 911 is the lack of practically and storage space. The luggage space/bags are more or less useless.
The TVR on the other hand is miles more practical than the Noble, but I don't like the build quality or the overly point steering.
The Noble is not an everyday car to me, I'm sure some one will post and disagree, but with no boot I had to dismiss it. I need something with some sort of storage/boot, so I'll have to stick with the 911. It's such a pity, I really fell for the M12
I will have one day though, the noise and handling are spot on.
>> Edited by bumcrack on Wednesday 11th May 12:10
bumcrack said:
The luggage space/bags are more or less useless.
I beg to differ. I actually fitted 3 bottles of Moet in one of the small bags going to a wedding on Saturday!
The wife is having reservations about 2 weeks @ LeMans and then round France though.
I agree wouldn't use for every day.
Adrian
Steve,
Please don't regard this as an excuse, but the car used on the 03 Handling Day was a pre-prod 3R with what was very much a pre-production gearshift. All the testers commented on the time this cost them around Rockingham.
You'll notice that in subsequent tests (like that in Car) the Noble has beaten the T350. Admittedly, we used the M400 model, but it beat the T350 by a clear 4.32 secs on the 1.1 mile long Anglesey circuit. And there's no way the M400 is THAT much faster than the 3R model - I'd say 1.5 secs on the circuit mentioned.
Simon Hucknall
Press Officer
Noble Automotive Ltd.
Please don't regard this as an excuse, but the car used on the 03 Handling Day was a pre-prod 3R with what was very much a pre-production gearshift. All the testers commented on the time this cost them around Rockingham.
You'll notice that in subsequent tests (like that in Car) the Noble has beaten the T350. Admittedly, we used the M400 model, but it beat the T350 by a clear 4.32 secs on the 1.1 mile long Anglesey circuit. And there's no way the M400 is THAT much faster than the 3R model - I'd say 1.5 secs on the circuit mentioned.
Simon Hucknall
Press Officer
Noble Automotive Ltd.
silversix said:
The luggage space/bags are more or less useless.
I beg to differ. I actually fitted 3 bottles of Moet in one of the small bags going to a wedding on Saturday!
The wife is having reservations about 2 weeks @ LeMans and then round France though.
I agree wouldn't use for every day.
Adrian
Arh, living the dream
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