What my money will buy me?

[Ady_ftta]

Hi all,

I've been watching the forum for a few weeks now since selling my M3 and very tempted to buy a Noble.

I have a few questions which I'd be grateful for some help on:

1. I have about £21 / 22k to spend on a car. What could I expect to get for thast sort of money. I saw a 22k mile GTO 3 recently for only £21k when all other similar spec'd cars are retailing arounf £27k. Which is the true price?

2. Is there any 'real' difference between a 2.5 and 3 ltr when on the road? Would I be better off getting a good 2.5 or a 3ltr in need of TLC?

Your views would be very gratefully received.

[Gadgeroonie]

you will end up buying a car that has the wrong gearbox / no track day sump.

it will be cheaper to buy the more expensive car in the long run

[andygtt]

I paid £23k for my GT03 over a year ago it was imaculate and had done 11k miles... its done 34k miles now and even tho it has no track day sump and is only the open diff 5 speeder its been really reliable.... if I was to take mine on track it would need both the sump and the diff replacing which are not cheap.... but I have a cheap M3 track day toy for that so no issue for me

Realistically I actually dont think prices have dropped that much since I bought the car but it does mean you could get a GT03 within your budget as long as you buy private.

The noble was effectivelly in development during production and later cars had 'tweeks' to fix things on earlier cars so the later you buy the less work potentially needs to be done... as I understand it tho the 2.5 isnt actually much slower than the 3.0 so if you do buy a 2.5 just make sure it has had the ecu upgraded as an absolute minimum.

[peterguk M500]

Gadgeroonie said:

you will end up buying a car that has the wrong gearbox / no track day sump.

it will be cheaper to buy the more expensive car in the long run

"Wrong?". I don't think there is a "wrong" gearbox / sump, or were some Nobles fitted with items from a Clio??

My 2.5 had the correct standard sump and the correct 5 speed gearbox and covered more than 50K faultless miles.

Shirley it all depends what the user intends doing with the car.

[hollowpockets]

Out of curiosity, what are the 5 speed and 6 speed boxes from? Just the ford units which would normally come on any ST24/ST220?

[Duke Thrust]

Gadgeroonie said:

you will end up buying a car that has the wrong gearbox / no track day sump.

it will be cheaper to buy the more expensive car in the long run

Do you mean LSD?

Nothing wrong with the 5 speed at all.

[Ady_ftta]

To be honest, I am not likely to do any track days in the car - though obvioulsy I'll look at what options were fitted to the car and a dry sump will be a bonus.

It looks like I definitely need to buy privately - other than here, is there any dedicated websites I should look.

[hollowpockets]

Ady_ftta said:

a dry sump will be a bonus.

Track day sump

[andygtt]

Ady_ftta said:

To be honest, I am not likely to do any track days in the car - though obvioulsy I'll look at what options were fitted to the car and a dry sump will be a bonus.

It looks like I definitely need to buy privately - other than here, is there any dedicated websites I should look.

I got mine from autotrader, prices on here always seem to be higher.

If your not going to track it then the track day sump isnt as desirable as getting a car with an LSD... the car doesnt 'need' an LSD, its just that the open diff is a known weak point.

[Ady_ftta]

Thanks - I thought the LSD was only availble on the 3r. Was it an option on the GTO3 or have owners exchanged them from later cars?

[andygtt]

I think it was an option but a few people have upgraded... some people had no choice as the open diff went... I plan to fit the quaif LSD over the winter, its around £500 plus fitting but its not a small job.

[snuffy]

Ady_ftta said:

Thanks - I thought the LSD was only availble on the 3r. Was it an option on the GTO3 or have owners exchanged them from later cars?

My 3 has both 6-speed box and LSD fitted from new, so there are some 3s with these.

[The devil]

peterguk M500 said:

Gadgeroonie said:

you will end up buying a car that has the wrong gearbox / no track day sump.

it will be cheaper to buy the more expensive car in the long run

"Wrong?". I don't think there is a "wrong" gearbox / sump, or were some Nobles fitted with items from a Clio??

My 2.5 had the correct standard sump and the correct 5 speed gearbox and covered more than 50K faultless miles.

Shirley it all depends what the user intends doing with the car.

#

Who you calling Shirley?

[Bittercars]

My GTO3 is for sale on Pistonheards classifieds.

http://www.pistonheads.com/SALES/1029821.htm

Give me a ring if you want more info

[SiPod]

Currently have my S2 Honda Elise for sale on here and I am more than likely going to go for a run in a M12 . I think it's going to tick all the boxes for me . Will be looking at the early cars as New house will not allow me to put another £10000 in the pot .