Pro's and cons of a Noble.............
Discussion
Thinking of upgrading car and was going to get a Monaro then went back to what I've always wanted and thinking again about a VX220 Turbo. Then whilst looking through Autotrader/Pistonheads, realised a VX220 isn't what I've always wanted, I've always wanted a Noble !!
Thinking they were well out of my price bracket second hand ones have now come down to within my reach.
Don't know 'masses' about them but the only ones I could afford would be the older 2.5 litre. Just wondering what the pro's and con's were of this model and what people feel towards them ??
I know you shouldn't buy something like this is you can't afford to run it or are worried about the costs but what are the servicing costs on average ?? (excluding any unforseen bits that may need replacing) Are they reliable ??
Regards,
Simon.
Thinking they were well out of my price bracket second hand ones have now come down to within my reach.
Don't know 'masses' about them but the only ones I could afford would be the older 2.5 litre. Just wondering what the pro's and con's were of this model and what people feel towards them ??
I know you shouldn't buy something like this is you can't afford to run it or are worried about the costs but what are the servicing costs on average ?? (excluding any unforseen bits that may need replacing) Are they reliable ??
Regards,
Simon.
Hi Simon,
Check out www.GTO3.com for servicing costs etc.
As for pros and cons...don't worry about it, any cons are far outwieghed by the pros. Read the Evo magazine article on what to look out for (I'm sure Owen (Obes) will e-mail it to you if you ask him nicely
)
Martin.
Check out www.GTO3.com for servicing costs etc.
As for pros and cons...don't worry about it, any cons are far outwieghed by the pros. Read the Evo magazine article on what to look out for (I'm sure Owen (Obes) will e-mail it to you if you ask him nicely
) Martin.
Simon, I may have a few pointers for you! Before I got my 3R I had the pleasure of owning for 4 years a HSV GTS-R ( basically an up-spec 410BHP 4 door Monaro VXR).I love them both!
The HSV was without doubt the best car I have ever owned,quick,safe,rare,well balanced for a big car,practical, reliable and never had a service bill of more than 400 quid,170mph+( for what its worth)and did 28mpg( normally 18-22) on 700mile round trip to Cornwall 4 up.
However............I'm a sucker for ( normally British) 2 seaters, and after driving a Noble a couple of years ago it was only a matter of time before I convinced myself, er; wife, that although we have 2 small kids, we didn't need 3 big cars at the family home. Got my Noble in July and I'm completely sold on it, just hope I drive it enough to justify having it.Compared to my previous TVRs its on a different planet in starting (always does),stopping (really does) and going(
does!),and build quality in all areas and factory back-up. And of course the handling is just far too good for me to comment knowledgably enough.
If its an only car, I'd have to say the Monaro, for £25K ( absolute rock bottom early Noble money with maybe a few bills looming?))you can get a year old CV8 with a Wortec re-map, exhaust and rip-shift which will give you a near 400BHP 4 seater with an exhaust note in the top 3 of anything I've ever heard, with 2 years warranty still left,( my friends done just that swapping a M3) but if your lucky enough to have a second car then the Noble you're gonna love, it's an awesome junior supercar.
As with both, theres a lot of homework worth doing on both cars, have search on this forum and pop across to the HSV/Monaro area as well.
Simon, noticed in your profile that you're in the South-East. On the 22nd of Jan there will be the biggest gathering of HSV's/Monaros ever at the Ace Cafe (North Circular, near Brent Cross).www.hsvdriversclub.co.uk and on the 29th there is the first Noble owners club track day at Brands Hatch! I think you'll find them very handy. Thank god they don't clash as I'm hoping to get to both.
Enjoy the hunt, either way you can't lose!
>> Edited by sjc on Wednesday 28th December 09:39
The HSV was without doubt the best car I have ever owned,quick,safe,rare,well balanced for a big car,practical, reliable and never had a service bill of more than 400 quid,170mph+( for what its worth)and did 28mpg( normally 18-22) on 700mile round trip to Cornwall 4 up.
However............I'm a sucker for ( normally British) 2 seaters, and after driving a Noble a couple of years ago it was only a matter of time before I convinced myself, er; wife, that although we have 2 small kids, we didn't need 3 big cars at the family home. Got my Noble in July and I'm completely sold on it, just hope I drive it enough to justify having it.Compared to my previous TVRs its on a different planet in starting (always does),stopping (really does) and going(
does!),and build quality in all areas and factory back-up. And of course the handling is just far too good for me to comment knowledgably enough. If its an only car, I'd have to say the Monaro, for £25K ( absolute rock bottom early Noble money with maybe a few bills looming?))you can get a year old CV8 with a Wortec re-map, exhaust and rip-shift which will give you a near 400BHP 4 seater with an exhaust note in the top 3 of anything I've ever heard, with 2 years warranty still left,( my friends done just that swapping a M3) but if your lucky enough to have a second car then the Noble you're gonna love, it's an awesome junior supercar.
As with both, theres a lot of homework worth doing on both cars, have search on this forum and pop across to the HSV/Monaro area as well.
Simon, noticed in your profile that you're in the South-East. On the 22nd of Jan there will be the biggest gathering of HSV's/Monaros ever at the Ace Cafe (North Circular, near Brent Cross).www.hsvdriversclub.co.uk and on the 29th there is the first Noble owners club track day at Brands Hatch! I think you'll find them very handy. Thank god they don't clash as I'm hoping to get to both.
Enjoy the hunt, either way you can't lose!
>> Edited by sjc on Wednesday 28th December 09:39
Thanks for the advice sjc. The monaro would be the most ''sensible'' but as i don't use a car during the week I can risk something else a little more impractical. My second car is a Ginetta G33, now thats what you call impracticle !! Anything would be more civilised and more practical than that but shes not going anywhere !! Sounds to good and too British to let her go !! Looking at prices again I could go upto 30K so that would buy me a private GTO-3. Servicing seems reasonable too, just got to find out about insurance now..........
Regards,
Simon.
Regards,
Simon.
The early 2.5's make a great buy and with a few choice upgrades can be made quicker than standard GTO3's and 3R's.
There are a few 'be aware' points with the 2.5's though. Early cars were fitted with a MM ECU which wasn't the hardiest of things and whilst there are a few 12's still running with them without issue most exhibited some problems and were upgraded for the later MBE 975 ECU or a similar aftermarket system such as the OMEX unit JNM offer.
The standard 5 Speed Open Diff gearboxes are a little chocolate with diff failiure common, best fix is to find a car fitted with the optional ATB Limited Slip Diff which is a much stronger unit. The standard 5SP can also be replaced with the later 6 Speed box and M400 gear linkage if required.
As with all M12's and M400's exhaust gaskets can be troublesome due to high EGT's and limited ambient airflow over the front banks turbo. Non-M400 spec exhaust manifolds can and do fail around the welds and front bank turbo's on cars subject to often heavy (i.e. lots of track use) can fail after around 20,000 miles. Circa £400 for a turbo rebuild and 7 hours labour to replace.
A track sump is a must have if your planning on using the car to its full potential.
In terms of upgrades the full power upgrade from a certain aftermarket tuner will see a 2.5 above 350bhp and consists of a new engine managment calibration, fitment of electronic boost control, upgraded fan assisted intercooler and BOV.
If you'd like any more info feel free to drop me a mail.
Best Regards
Matt
P.S. There's a bargain to be had here! www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/50647.htm
There are a few 'be aware' points with the 2.5's though. Early cars were fitted with a MM ECU which wasn't the hardiest of things and whilst there are a few 12's still running with them without issue most exhibited some problems and were upgraded for the later MBE 975 ECU or a similar aftermarket system such as the OMEX unit JNM offer.
The standard 5 Speed Open Diff gearboxes are a little chocolate with diff failiure common, best fix is to find a car fitted with the optional ATB Limited Slip Diff which is a much stronger unit. The standard 5SP can also be replaced with the later 6 Speed box and M400 gear linkage if required.
As with all M12's and M400's exhaust gaskets can be troublesome due to high EGT's and limited ambient airflow over the front banks turbo. Non-M400 spec exhaust manifolds can and do fail around the welds and front bank turbo's on cars subject to often heavy (i.e. lots of track use) can fail after around 20,000 miles. Circa £400 for a turbo rebuild and 7 hours labour to replace.
A track sump is a must have if your planning on using the car to its full potential.
In terms of upgrades the full power upgrade from a certain aftermarket tuner will see a 2.5 above 350bhp and consists of a new engine managment calibration, fitment of electronic boost control, upgraded fan assisted intercooler and BOV.
If you'd like any more info feel free to drop me a mail.
Best Regards
Matt
P.S. There's a bargain to be had here! www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/50647.htm
Thanks Matt, thats the sort of thing I was after, any sort of ''beware of this'' type of thing. I've seen that car, its about 5 grand cheaper than anything else and yeah - looks a bargain and looks clean too!! A few more miles than the rest I suppose and already has 4 owners (which slightly concerns me). Can I ask where people get their insurance for a Noble??
Hello AMG Merc
Long time no see, do not like these short days & long nights, not condusive for runs. Just renewed my policy this week on my other high performance vehicle (Renault Scenic diesel, but it is 2 litre) and after talking to High Performance Bristol they are doing a deal on the insurance for that as I already have the Noble with them, I don't know what sort of deal they may be able to do for you but I have found them very helpful. I deal with David Oates, may be worth a try.
Long time no see, do not like these short days & long nights, not condusive for runs. Just renewed my policy this week on my other high performance vehicle (Renault Scenic diesel, but it is 2 litre) and after talking to High Performance Bristol they are doing a deal on the insurance for that as I already have the Noble with them, I don't know what sort of deal they may be able to do for you but I have found them very helpful. I deal with David Oates, may be worth a try.
medusa said:
Hello AMG Merc
Long time no see, do not like these short days & long nights, not condusive for runs. Just renewed my policy this week on my other high performance vehicle (Renault Scenic diesel, but it is 2 litre) and after talking to High Performance Bristol they are doing a deal on the insurance for that as I already have the Noble with them, I don't know what sort of deal they may be able to do for you but I have found them very helpful. I deal with David Oates, may be worth a try.
Thanks Terry, will add these to my ring-around list!
BTW, five Nobles joined me on the London Tunnel Run this past Monday so the runs are not quite dead right now!
Hope to see you on the 29th.
simonb9 said:
I've seen that car, its about 5 grand cheaper than anything else and yeah - looks a bargain and looks clean too!! A few more miles than the rest I suppose and already has 4 owners (which slightly concerns me). Can I ask where people get their insurance for a Noble??
Simon, don't know if you emailed me for details or not? But car was registered as a demo car for Gordon Lamb, before 2 owners in 2 years, then I bought it. Had kind of decided to keep it, as all enquirers seem to think they are entitled to a discount off my asking price
No big bills due on this car Used Tesco's for my insurance but they put 2nd year renewal up ridiculous amount so now with privilege, £660 for me & wife with full business use
At least one person recognises a bargain, thanks Matt! :cheers:
simonb9 said:
Thanks Matt, thats the sort of thing I was after, any sort of ''beware of this'' type of thing. I've seen that car, its about 5 grand cheaper than anything else and yeah - looks a bargain and looks clean too!! A few more miles than the rest I suppose and already has 4 owners (which slightly concerns me). Can I ask where people get their insurance for a Noble??
Simon, just a small point on the old ECU issue. Many, like mine, have been 'fixed.' I couldn't tell you what this actually involves, but I'm informed that it means they can't fail in the way that the earlier units used to. So long as the car has had this fix, you shouldn't let the old ECU put you off. I've never had a moment's trouble from mine, and it is more than powerful enough already
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