Quick question from a Noble newbie

[r400c]

In the process of finding a late 3R and have only looked at a couple so far ... just one question:

Coming from TVRs with Borg Warner T5 gearboxes and more recently from my Caterham R400 with Caterham's own 6 speed box, I was a little surprised by the feel of the 3R gearbox. Is it common for the gear stick to feel almost loose and have a lot of play in it when it is in neutral (when car has only done 3000 miles)?

Any feedback on how your gearchange feels gratefully received!

[Matt_FP]

The gear linkage on the M12 GTO/3 and all but the latest 3R's is of the cable variety and has a fair few links in it. This does lead to a slightly detached feel to the gearchange. With practice you learn the characteristics of 'your gate' and after this it poses little problem.

If its very bad and imprecise its likely to need a touch of remedial work to tighten it back up again.

M400's and late 3R's use a modified linkage where the gearlever itself is sprung rather than the selector which leads to a much much slicker/rifle bolt type change.

Best Regards
Matt

[Edited To Clarify as I don't make it clear above, all M12's/M400's are of the cable change variety]

>> Edited by matt_fp on Tuesday 23 August 13:46

[DanH]

... but retrofitting the new selector is a couple of grand! Better to buy a car with it on already if you want it

[joust]

As people have posted the latter 3R and M400 gear linkage is better, but saying that there have been reports that Plans, Vegantune and by myself with Mole Valley all know how to make things "so much better".

The cable linkage really does need to be adjusted correctly, and the bushes, washers and other bits replaced when worn. If you get one of the above guys to give it a look I am sure they can get it feeling "much better".

Saying that you do reprogramme your brain after a few hours of driving. In all the time I had the M12 I never felt "oh - that's change was horrible", but then I never really said "oh - that's a nice change action" either.

J