m12 or tvr t350

[M3stann]

hi guys and gals
I need of ur exellent advise!!
I have a bmw e46 m3, but looking to get something a bit more special for weekends and euro tours etc.
Now I know about the tvr speed 6 needing alot of tlc, and likely to need a £6500 rebuild every 20-30k,
+ other things along the way! Also parts for the tvr are very easy to get as I live 2 mins from racing green,
Is the noble as easy to get stuff for? In hapshire...
Is the noble going to be the same as the tvr in the reliability part? And cost?? Just need as much help to make a educated decision! Lol

Thanx alot,
And yes this is my first post (so hello) but have been following this site for months!!

[RobP]

Hi and welcome - there are many on here who have moved from TVR to Noble and I'm hard pushed to think of anyone who has regretted it. Most say that the performance, handling and reliability characteristics of the Noble are just in a different league. But at the end of the day it's still a low volume Brit sports car so will not be uber-reliable. Not been the TVR route myself so wait for others to confirm or deny.

[M3stann]

Hi and thanx, I understand the reliability on both cars are not going to be even cost to my m3
But that's not why I want one!! I know owning a British sports car is not cheap!
Jst would rather get the full facts form owners Before...I want to go into this with both eyes fully open!

[Biggriff]

Went from a Tuscan (after a series of TVr's) to a m12 3R.

The build quality on the Noble is better, but the noise is not as nice. The interior is more basic, but the monies been spent on the chassis.

Would I sat T350 or M12? Probably the T350 after the M3.

[andygtt]

My Noble is proving about the same to run than my M3 (E36 evo), I use it everyday and have done 10k miles in it since July. Ive been for a road trip round Europe in mine and its extremely comfortable and was a pleasure the entire time.

Luggage space is restricted to the cabin, but I have the luggage set and its brillient (I was very sceprtical about it before I used it lol).

It does have some issue, wipers are very poor design IMO, also the exhaust manifolds crack (relativelly cheap fix).... It is a small manufacturer though so it will never be as reliable as a porsche... but then IMO the service costs are not on par either.
But from the people I know with the TVR's with speed 6's youd be nmad to choose the TVR over the noble based on reliability.

[s,one]

20-30k between re-builds is a little optimistic from what I re-call. I love the TVR's but was never brave enough to have a sp6 engine.
The T350 is coming down in price to make it all the moree attractive I know but it's the hidden cost's that are the worry.
I like to drive my cars regularly and when I had my TVR's (2x Cerbs and a griff 500) I felt uneasy once they were out of warranty. If I was to go back to Tivs I think it would be the AJP route and no other.
So in answer to your question M12 for me. Otherwise I be tempted to buy a Tuscan and spare engine in the garage.

[M3stann]

I will agree with u about the sound!! Tvr's sound the best!!
Can't throw money at it jst because is sounds good though! Lol (well maybe)
I will be keeping the m3 for the family car!! That's why I would like something very different!
Will I get the tvr paranoia of gauge watching when I should be enjoying the drive!! In the noble?

[sean j g]

noble everytime better build quality better to drive better in everyway as for exhaust note you can always upgrade the noble exhaust as i did and it sounds awesome!!!to sum up i think the noble is a far superior car to the tvr and i have owned a few of each

[s,one]

My advice is go back through the sp6 forums -Tuscan-sp6 Cerbera and Tamora and weigh up how much grief some have suffered comparative to miles driven, and not time owned. what used to put me off was owners boasting that they had done excess of 7,8,or even the giddy heights of 9k without a rebuild.
They are enthusiast' cars and take a lot of looking after, just have a good read through and make your own mind up throwing away the rose tinted specs.

[M3stann]

what sort of mileage car should I be looking for? At what mileage does the engine need any big work if any, eg rebuild?
I know it's different for every person, but like the tvr you know it's Jst a matter of time till the big £££...
Are the parts and work cheaper for the noble? I guess as it's a ford engine it is..?

[andygtt]

Ive seen nobles with 50k on the clock and i think it was the original engine.... certainly it would appear to be unusual to need a rebuild before 30k as there are loads with this mileage and on the same engine.

[M3stann]

so is 50k a fair mileage for a m12 without a rebuild? Also what is the price for a full rebuild??
Doesn't seem to be to many places near me that offer noble repairs etc.. Don't mind the odd thing going wrong and it not being cheap!!
Jst don't want it to end up costing me thousands everytime it needs something! Want it on the road not off it!! Lol

[jamie g]

TVR T350 is a great car, I had a red rose 3.6 and the engine was a peach. The engine noise and the way the power builds is wonderful. Even though mine was a 2004 car, TVR's always have a retro feel about them which some people don't like. They are very raw and mechanical and do feel like they could explode at any time. The only thing I needed though was a new clutch at 30k miles(not bad for effectively a race clutch).
I'd say a good t350 (ie red rose spec with good gearing) would be quicker than an M12 3R, in a straight line at least.
Just drive them both and you'll know which one you'll want as they are very different.
Both the Noble and the TVR have annoying little problems with build quality. They don't make enough cars to iron out any unperfections.

I'd say a T350 is more practical for an every day car if only for the boot and ease of getting in and out.

[ajg31]

andygtt said:

Ive seen nobles with 50k on the clock and i think it was the original engine.... certainly it would appear to be unusual to need a rebuild before 30k as there are loads with this mileage and on the same engine.

Quite a few motors have needed rebuilding way before this mark, including mine (ex). I may have been unlucky, but everyone that fails seems to exactly the same in regards to symptoms. 10k miles for me even without rebuild costs ran into 1'000's.

I had the same choice as you, 350 or Nob. I don't think i made the wrong choice and would love to own again, only not as a daily driver this time

[M3stann]

I will only be doing around 6k max a year, and it sounds like build quality is alot better on the noble,
But something special about owning a tvr.. And Suprise Suprise as everything british built is of course the best but also very un-reliable, lol
As the price of the tvr is around 20k now compared to the noble of 25+. The money saved would be insurance for the tvr eg re-build... So guess it all comes down to a personal thing!!
Thanx for your info guys...

[jamie g]

It sounds like you'll have a TVR and a Noble sometime. It doesn't really matter what order you do it in, they are both very appealing.

[mr-manners]

went from m3 to m12 3r myself around 6 weeks ago,so glad i did absolutely love it!done 1200 miles with just a few minor problems which with help from this forum ive fixed myself.

never thought the m3 could feel so slow!

i would definately recommend noble to anyone

[mgbond]

If you get one with the main bits done. LSD, TDS, ECU upgrade (3R has all these done, GTO and GTO 3 you should check) Then it should prove quite reliable.

I'm in Hampshire and use a local Garage to me they now have worked on 4 Nobles since I started using them as I think they are very good and honest.

Will be getting them to start servicing soon.

Bondy

[SimonJW]

I live fairly close to Martin (mgbond) and would have to concur with his comments - we both use the same local repairer - very honest and helpful.

On the TVR front I spent three years umming and aghing about a cerbera - beatiful sound etc and then I bought a Noble. I think even with the issues I've had - ECU being the most expensive so far (touch wood) at circa £2500 all in, I would still rather spend that amount of money on a Noble. If that makes any sense!

Good luck

Simon

[wessexrfc]

Hi, i was in a similar position to yourself about 3 months ago. Having had tvr,s and lotus it was time for a change and thought that the sargaris or t350 would be the one. Had some trouble shifting my chimera when i came across a chap looking to sell his 3R and would like to swap. Went to see the car not really sure. Once driven and looked at, its by far the best car Ive owend. Just the aggesive look from the front, you will turn heads!! I loved my TVR,s but the noble makes every jorney special. One thing the noble is, is its an extention!!! no question lol Hope this helps