Possible new owner seeks advice

[jonviola]

Hi,

I'm looking into buy a Noble to replace my Renault Alpine Turbo, I wonder if you could offer advice on the best age/model to go for? Is the 3R with 6speed the final development? What should I budget for for a year's running costs?

Many thanks

Jon

[Twerlie]

jonviola said:

Hi,

I'm looking into buy a Noble to replace my Renault Alpine Turbo, I wonder if you could offer advice on the best age/model to go for? Is the 3R with 6speed the final development? What should I budget for for a year's running costs?

Many thanks

Jon

Depends on how much you want to spend?

[jonviola]

Enough to get the right car, in the right spec.

But as little as possible!!!

I guess i was looking for some advice as to the best thing to go for and then to set the budget from there, but were talking M12 not M400.

[Twerlie]

IMHO i would go for one with the 6 speed box, track day sump and has been owned by an enthusiast that has sorted all the bits that need doing i.e. Porsche hub nuts, tunnel cooling mod etc etc. These are all easy things to do but shows that the car has been cared for. I also wouldn't be too bothered about the milage.

The GTO-3 is a good buy as the get the Alcantara seats rather than Leather which is better IMO

[fhwong]

My advice would be get the best you can afford.

You might say get the 3R as it is the best and the latest developed model. But the GTO is still a very very very good car. Many people have them and have had no problems so why shouldn't you get that?

the 3 or 3R might be better, but it is all in some respects relative.

[Mike Tuckwood]

Get whatever you can afford while leaving enough room for tweeking and mod's?
which Renault Alpine you coming from, I had a GTA V6 Turbo, then an A610. Cracking cars both of them.


Mike.

[wessexrfc]

For me I went with the 3R 04 plate 12,000 miles. I had never been near a Noble until I bought mine, but had read up on them. My idea was to get a cracking non-mod and upgrade myself. I was able to do a deal with my old TVR Chimera 1996 40,000 miles, inc p/x made mine 19k, bit of a steal. This alowed me then to up grade the exhaust to my spec, (rather than someone else’s), upgraded fuel pump, suspenion, brakes etc, so far to the tune of around 3K. It is, as said before up to your pocket, but get a good 3R for late twenties early thirties, spend around 3-4K and you will have a very usable, fun, good looking, easy to maintain, super car.

Paul

[jonviola]

Mike Tuckwood said:

Get whatever you can afford while leaving enough room for tweeking and mod's?
which Renault Alpine you coming from, I had a GTA V6 Turbo, then an A610. Cracking cars both of them.


Mike.

Mines a GTA Turbo, gently modded as you would expect! Have long hankered after a Noble and think now might be the right time....

[sean_goodman]

jonviola said:

Mike Tuckwood said:

Get whatever you can afford while leaving enough room for tweeking and mod's?
which Renault Alpine you coming from, I had a GTA V6 Turbo, then an A610. Cracking cars both of them.


Mike.

Mines a GTA Turbo, gently modded as you would expect! Have long hankered after a Noble and think now might be the right time....

you have mail mate

[jonviola]

Could anyone give me a rough idea of servicing costs? Clutch? Brakes? Any other regular problems to look out for?

[david.mt]

jonviola said:

Could anyone give me a rough idea of servicing costs? Clutch? Brakes? Any other regular problems to look out for?

I had the 4 year major service done on my M400 before buying it. The labour cost was £450 - total invoice was £930 when all other parts, VAT and a bit of time sorting a few niggles were included. Then had an invoice for £800 for replacing ball joints and blocks, heater control valve and an actuator (common faults). These costs were picked up by the seller as part of the deal. This ensure that the car was sorted and had been inspected by a Noble dealer which gave me the piece of mind required.

I then paid £1,350 for new grooved discs and Pagid/track pads all round (less than £200 labour so not much saving if you want to DIY). Nothing really wrong with the discs and pads that were on the car (they had just gone through a service) but I bought the car to track so wanted the best set up.

Cheap as chips compared to the cost of my Porsche!

HTH