Discussion
Although they are as different as chalk and cheese, I can offer a comparison of sorts.
A Noble would kill a Cerb around a track.
My reasoning is that I encountered a couple of Nobles on tracks over the 6 years I had my Caterham. The best one, the 3-litre 6-speeder, was about 2 seconds off my pace at Castle Combe, and we were both at the limits. I was running on ACB10 tyres too, which really gave me an unfair advantage.
On the 3 occasions I encountered Cerbs on tracks, including the Bruntingthorpe long circuit where higher top speeds normally prevail, I was "several" seconds faster than them.
Mind you I was significantly faster than a (supposed) 1001bhp Skyline too. It came out of the corners in a ball of tyre smoke from all 4 tyres (of course). It was somewhat hairy.
The Cerb has it on top speed (autobahn), by a good 20+mph. In fact, it's better than that because the Noble struggles to realise its last 20mph anyway. So, by the time you're at 140mph the Cerb is going to light the way home.
Noble's probably got a better reliability record, but here's the thing... does a Noble sound as good as a 4.5 litre V8? Oh, and there's NO luggage space in a Noble. No boot and no little storage bins scattered around the bodyshell. You take your luggage with you in the cabin. They have special luggage for this but fancy carriers cannot make a luggage hole a bigger hole. It put me off slightly because I want to use my "toy" car as a tourer. The Noble is so focussed on track days there are no compromises toward "normal" use.
I did say they were chalk and cheese though. The Cerb is a fab GT car. Perhaps the Noble compares better with the Sagaris?
I'd still like a Noble one day. Probably when my son's a bit older and his mother is bored with our talk about cars, we can go out together. At the moment though, a Cerb enables us to go out as a family so it's on my shopping list.
Oh, and a 2nd Noble costs roughly double what a 2nd hand Cerb costs if you go on the PH ads.
A Noble would kill a Cerb around a track.
My reasoning is that I encountered a couple of Nobles on tracks over the 6 years I had my Caterham. The best one, the 3-litre 6-speeder, was about 2 seconds off my pace at Castle Combe, and we were both at the limits. I was running on ACB10 tyres too, which really gave me an unfair advantage.
On the 3 occasions I encountered Cerbs on tracks, including the Bruntingthorpe long circuit where higher top speeds normally prevail, I was "several" seconds faster than them.
Mind you I was significantly faster than a (supposed) 1001bhp Skyline too. It came out of the corners in a ball of tyre smoke from all 4 tyres (of course). It was somewhat hairy.
The Cerb has it on top speed (autobahn), by a good 20+mph. In fact, it's better than that because the Noble struggles to realise its last 20mph anyway. So, by the time you're at 140mph the Cerb is going to light the way home.
Noble's probably got a better reliability record, but here's the thing... does a Noble sound as good as a 4.5 litre V8? Oh, and there's NO luggage space in a Noble. No boot and no little storage bins scattered around the bodyshell. You take your luggage with you in the cabin. They have special luggage for this but fancy carriers cannot make a luggage hole a bigger hole. It put me off slightly because I want to use my "toy" car as a tourer. The Noble is so focussed on track days there are no compromises toward "normal" use.
I did say they were chalk and cheese though. The Cerb is a fab GT car. Perhaps the Noble compares better with the Sagaris?
I'd still like a Noble one day. Probably when my son's a bit older and his mother is bored with our talk about cars, we can go out together. At the moment though, a Cerb enables us to go out as a family so it's on my shopping list.
Oh, and a 2nd Noble costs roughly double what a 2nd hand Cerb costs if you go on the PH ads.
tvr_edd said:
Out of interest, what caterham did you have with what engine spec?
It started off as a 1999 SLR (I bought it new) but it "suffered" Winter upgrades every year until I sold it with a 1900cc Scholar K block, DVA head and 244bhp. It was lively-enough. It also made a lot of torque for a small engine. 178lbft/1886cc is close (apparently) to the theoretical maximum for a 4-valve-per-cyl engine. 
It was amazingly fun to drive, but I just fancied a GT car, which is why I'm after a Cerb now.
carl_w said:
mars said:
Noble's probably got a better reliability record,
No, it hasn't.My comment was a little "loose" I suppose, and was based on having read through both forums (Noble and Cerb). It appears as though the range of issues failing on Cerbs can be levelled at poor build quality, and most owners being left to sort them out themselves or via the fabulous indie garages. Nobles appear to be screwed together better by the factory, but I concede that if they were lunching gearboxes and diffs originally then the bills are likely to be just as eyewatering as those facced by Cerb owners.
I drove a Noble M12 3litre when I was looking around for a car. It definitely felt well planted and nicely put together - the steering was very precise, but no more feel than in the Cerb. Fast too. Good stereo spaceship wooshing noises from the turbos. Not as insane feeling as a Cerbera. Didn't feel as quick & power delivery from the Cerb I prefer (feels more aggressive). Gearbox felt porridge compared to the thick T5 in the Cerb. I prefer the loud madness & gunfire soundtrack of the Cerb compared to the turbo noise. There's no luggage space. Interior is dull (good seats tho) though I believe they have a more 'proper' roll cage than you have in the Cerb & they have built in harnesses. Costs a lot to buy & I expect running costs the same as a sorted Cerb. I'd like one when they get a bit cheaper/I get a bit richer as a track toy.
Edited by big_treacle on Thursday 23 November 10:14
It often amazes me how people (including myself) could compare a Cerb and a Noble when they are looking for a new toy car. They are so different and are aimed at vastly different markets.
It must be something about the fact that they were both built "to drive". There's something rare in their ability to raise blood pressure.
Love them both.
It must be something about the fact that they were both built "to drive". There's something rare in their ability to raise blood pressure.
Love them both.
TooTall Paul said:
mars said:
A Noble would kill a Cerb around a track.
I did a novice track evening at Brands in the summer. Only 2 things overtook me in the 2.5 hours.
A mod'd (sp?) Skyline (IIRC around 700bhp) which overtook me whilst I had an instructor on board and pulled away from me down the straight. (didnt see him again on the track. He may have had a problem?)
And a blue Noble, that went past me. And again. Oh there he goes again. etc. I think you get the picture? The Noble driver was no mug behind the wheel which helped his cause.
killerscum01 said:
Hi all,
My mate just sent me an e-mail, subject: i need a toy now!!!!. with a couple of pics of noble m12's
so i got wondering how a cerbie would fair against one of them,
What do you think?????
Bart
My mate just sent me an e-mail, subject: i need a toy now!!!!. with a couple of pics of noble m12's
so i got wondering how a cerbie would fair against one of them,
What do you think?????
Bart
At a track day in the past month, a mates 4.2 cerbie was pulling away from the M12 3 I was in, both cars 'two up'both 'pilots' know what they are doing, I was suprised, but a fact
Not a very scientific comparison, but I was once was driving along a fastish stretch of rural 'A' road in the Cerb, when an M12 that was behind me decided to overtake and give it some stick. I of course very immaturely rose to the challenge, pulled out and managed to stay right up his chuff all the way to the next roundabout. During the chase I momentarily glanced at my rev counter it was at around 7k rpm, so I guess he must have been trying too as a Cerb is not hanging about at those kind of engine speeds.
Look forget the on paper characteristics - there are plenty of cars quicker and better in 'real' terms. A Cerb is probably untouchable by anything in straight line acceleration, but even a modern Hot hatch will easily stick on your tail on a wet twisty B Road.
We all have cerbs because they are a stunning Car full of character. It's a Cerbera !!
We all have cerbs because they are a stunning Car full of character. It's a Cerbera !!
mars said:
tvr_edd said:
Out of interest, what caterham did you have with what engine spec?
It started off as a 1999 SLR (I bought it new) but it "suffered" Winter upgrades every year until I sold it with a 1900cc Scholar K block, DVA head and 244bhp. It was lively-enough. It also made a lot of torque for a small engine. 178lbft/1886cc is close (apparently) to the theoretical maximum for a 4-valve-per-cyl engine. It was amazingly fun to drive, but I just fancied a GT car, which is why I'm after a Cerb now.
thanks for that i'm looking for a westfield as another car but mainly a track car (the cerb aint going nowhere
) Was thinking of a hyabusad engine one with the likelihood of turboing it in time and going for a silly quick car.
But then again if i could find a nice vauxhall powered engine with 260bhp i would go with that i think
I think an a lot of this 'A Nobel's quicker that a Cerb' around a track' lark is down to the driver.
There are 2 Cerb drivers in the Sprint championship who's car control and the speeds they can get a Cerb' around a circuit is awesome. You'd be hard pressed to match Jes Firth in a Noble and John Wilson isn't far behind, you'd have to be a very skilful driver. I know what I've got to aim at, but I'm a long way off. 
The Noble is a great piece of kit, and the M15 is even good looking, not something you can say about the M12.
Tim
There are 2 Cerb drivers in the Sprint championship who's car control and the speeds they can get a Cerb' around a circuit is awesome. You'd be hard pressed to match Jes Firth in a Noble and John Wilson isn't far behind, you'd have to be a very skilful driver.
I know what I've got to aim at, but I'm a long way off. The Noble is a great piece of kit, and the M15 is even good looking, not something you can say about the M12.
Tim
Edited by TT Tim on Thursday 23 November 20:08
markh said:
killerscum01 said:
Hi all,
My mate just sent me an e-mail, subject: i need a toy now!!!!. with a couple of pics of noble m12's
so i got wondering how a cerbie would fair against one of them,
What do you think?????
Bart
My mate just sent me an e-mail, subject: i need a toy now!!!!. with a couple of pics of noble m12's
so i got wondering how a cerbie would fair against one of them,
What do you think?????
Bart
At a track day in the past month, a mates 4.2 cerbie was pulling away from the M12 3 I was in, both cars 'two up'both 'pilots' know what they are doing, I was suprised, but a fact
Several passengers have remarked that my Cerb is strong for a 4.2.
Which was nice.
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