Too Low a Mileage for the Age?
Discussion
Hi All
I was hoping ask advice from the current Noble owners on here! I went to look at an GTO-3 on Saturday, looked over it, drove it, chatted about it for a good 2 hours and am very tempted to buy.
Problem is, the car is a 2002 model, the mileage is 4000. I'm concerned that the mileage is just too low for the age. As the car's a dealership sale, I can't get in touch with the previous owner easily to ask whether those 4000 miles were dispersed evenly. But I'm concerned that even though it's been serviced very regularly and thoroughly, that it's been sat for long periods of time. I'm thinking wear on the valve stem seals (oil starvation from startup if it's been sat), turbo seals etc, possibly even fuel deposits in the injectors if it's been stood for a long period of time.
Also concerned that even if it was driven regularly, would the mileage done have been enough to get the CATs up to temperature? Short trips or just turning it over for half an hour would still not get it as hot as driving properly surely?
The car itself drove fine, gears slotted in perfectly with no excess play in the 'linkage, brakes are good, clutch is good and everything works as new. The Service history is massive despite the low miles and it appears a sound, well looked after car, even if it does demand a higher premium. My dad's going to have a look on Tuesday (as he's more of an expert on mechanicals than I) but he's recommending against it, due to the mileage, even if he thinks it looks sound.
What would everyone else do, having owned one?
Thanks in advance everyone,
Ben.
Link to Ad - http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/classifieds/1959351.h...
I was hoping ask advice from the current Noble owners on here! I went to look at an GTO-3 on Saturday, looked over it, drove it, chatted about it for a good 2 hours and am very tempted to buy.
Problem is, the car is a 2002 model, the mileage is 4000. I'm concerned that the mileage is just too low for the age. As the car's a dealership sale, I can't get in touch with the previous owner easily to ask whether those 4000 miles were dispersed evenly. But I'm concerned that even though it's been serviced very regularly and thoroughly, that it's been sat for long periods of time. I'm thinking wear on the valve stem seals (oil starvation from startup if it's been sat), turbo seals etc, possibly even fuel deposits in the injectors if it's been stood for a long period of time.
Also concerned that even if it was driven regularly, would the mileage done have been enough to get the CATs up to temperature? Short trips or just turning it over for half an hour would still not get it as hot as driving properly surely?
The car itself drove fine, gears slotted in perfectly with no excess play in the 'linkage, brakes are good, clutch is good and everything works as new. The Service history is massive despite the low miles and it appears a sound, well looked after car, even if it does demand a higher premium. My dad's going to have a look on Tuesday (as he's more of an expert on mechanicals than I) but he's recommending against it, due to the mileage, even if he thinks it looks sound.
What would everyone else do, having owned one?
Thanks in advance everyone,
Ben.
Link to Ad - http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/classifieds/1959351.h...
Edited by BigMacca on Monday 16th August 10:15
Hi Ben difficult one this as I would guess you are paying alot extra for such low milage !!! What's the general condition of the car ? Check around the rear subframe for rust , is it mint ??? There has tended to be some very low milage cars but 4000 is very low although with good history and careful servicing I see no reason why it should nit be in good order !! Put up a link to the advert . Simon
There was a thread on here recently about this car, I even posted in it myself so you might be able to find it via my profile...
The cars previous owner only had it a short while (i.e. couple of months) possibly something to consider? Is it hiding something? I might be completely wrong though so don't assume anything!!
The cars previous owner only had it a short while (i.e. couple of months) possibly something to consider? Is it hiding something? I might be completely wrong though so don't assume anything!!
Hi Ben presume its the car at the wright car center in parkgate? I nearly bought this car 4 years ago from the first owner when it had only done 1500 miles the owner was very genuine and despite the low milage the car had always been well serviced and looked after the only thing at the time he wasnt sure of was wether the ecu had been upgraded to the new more reliable version, am afraid I dont have any more information regarding how the car has been ran but the dealer has been trying to sell the car for a while now and it has been sitting there in the showroom.
Hope this helps Greg.
Hope this helps Greg.
lotus160sport said:
Hi Ben presume its the car at the wright car center in parkgate? I nearly bought this car 4 years ago from the first owner when it had only done 1500 miles the owner was very genuine and despite the low milage the car had always been well serviced and looked after the only thing at the time he wasnt sure of was wether the ecu had been upgraded to the new more reliable version, am afraid I dont have any more information regarding how the car has been ran but the dealer has been trying to sell the car for a while now and it has been sitting there in the showroom.
Hope this helps Greg.
Ooops wrong car ignore the above Hope this helps Greg.
Nice car, I would assume that as its a GTO3 it will have an MBE ECU. Is it 5spd or 6spd, if its 5spd then has it still an open diff or does it have an LSD. Does it have a track day sump. Other than this most other niggles can be resolved.
The ECU and the LSD if the box breaks is not cheap so you can factor this in. My 2.5 had 13k on the clock with open diff and I blew it in two months.
Bondy
The ECU and the LSD if the box breaks is not cheap so you can factor this in. My 2.5 had 13k on the clock with open diff and I blew it in two months.
Bondy
Being sold twice 
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1902961.htm
Is Jason the previous owner or connected to the garage - worth a call?
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1902961.htm
Is Jason the previous owner or connected to the garage - worth a call?
I did some searching around on here today and managed to find the business contact of the 2nd owner. Had a good chat regarding the car and am comfortable that it was mechanically well looked after while it was under his ownership.
I remember when going to see the car that the Service History was massive, the names the previous owner gave me also match those of the proprietor (spelling!) of the Garage it was Serviced.
The car was sold to Jason by Christopher Neil, he's traded it back in for a Range Rover, again, questions need to be asked here as to why he changed it, but I have confidence in the previous owner to him that it was pampered as per his other cars- but we're going for a better look and a chat tonight.
But thank you to everyone for your advice so far!
Ben
I remember when going to see the car that the Service History was massive, the names the previous owner gave me also match those of the proprietor (spelling!) of the Garage it was Serviced.
The car was sold to Jason by Christopher Neil, he's traded it back in for a Range Rover, again, questions need to be asked here as to why he changed it, but I have confidence in the previous owner to him that it was pampered as per his other cars- but we're going for a better look and a chat tonight.
But thank you to everyone for your advice so far!
Ben
mgbond said:
Nice car, I would assume that as its a GTO3 it will have an MBE ECU. Is it 5spd or 6spd, if its 5spd then has it still an open diff or does it have an LSD. Does it have a track day sump. Other than this most other niggles can be resolved.
The ECU and the LSD if the box breaks is not cheap so you can factor this in. My 2.5 had 13k on the clock with open diff and I blew it in two months.
Bondy
Hi Bondy- not sure on the ECU, but it's a question I will ask tonight. It's the 5 speed, has Limited Slip Diff and track prepared sump fitted by a specialist who restores Lamborghini Miura's, a trusted friend of the previous owner who liaised with Noble to do everything properly. Looks a very good condition car, I'm just concerned by the owner that had it after the one I talked to, as he didn't have it long...The ECU and the LSD if the box breaks is not cheap so you can factor this in. My 2.5 had 13k on the clock with open diff and I blew it in two months.
Bondy
BigMacca said:
mgbond said:
Nice car, I would assume that as its a GTO3 it will have an MBE ECU. Is it 5spd or 6spd, if its 5spd then has it still an open diff or does it have an LSD. Does it have a track day sump. Other than this most other niggles can be resolved.
The ECU and the LSD if the box breaks is not cheap so you can factor this in. My 2.5 had 13k on the clock with open diff and I blew it in two months.
Bondy
Hi Bondy- not sure on the ECU, but it's a question I will ask tonight. It's the 5 speed, has Limited Slip Diff and track prepared sump fitted by a specialist who restores Lamborghini Miura's, a trusted friend of the previous owner who liaised with Noble to do everything properly. Looks a very good condition car, I'm just concerned by the owner that had it after the one I talked to, as he didn't have it long...The ECU and the LSD if the box breaks is not cheap so you can factor this in. My 2.5 had 13k on the clock with open diff and I blew it in two months.
Bondy
Bondy
hi ben i work on the theory of if it looks and feels right to me it is iff you have to ask questions you have douts theres always another or re address price to cover douts could always view log book to get previous owners contact details and look at old mots to see iff all at same place as a history check as its a car a garage would remember?
Well, went for another look last night.
Still no convincing the old man that it seems mechanically sound. While he agrees that it does look really well maintained, no corrosion, interior and exterior are all very good, he's still concerned that as it's sat for too long a period of time, oil will have drained from things such as around the valve stem seals, meaning for the first few seconds of starting up after a long break, they're running dry.
Can anyone offer advice r.e. oil seals etc? I've done some searching but there's not much around...
I spoke to the previous owner who gave me a complete history of the car and everything that's been done, track day oil sump, LSD, ECU was upgraded with the later software and a variety of components that normally corrode were replaced with Galvanised custom made parts.
Admittedly, it's still well over the top price wise. I have a feeling that it'll either go before the end of the week, or sit there for a month due to the price being so high...
Still no convincing the old man that it seems mechanically sound. While he agrees that it does look really well maintained, no corrosion, interior and exterior are all very good, he's still concerned that as it's sat for too long a period of time, oil will have drained from things such as around the valve stem seals, meaning for the first few seconds of starting up after a long break, they're running dry.
Can anyone offer advice r.e. oil seals etc? I've done some searching but there's not much around...
I spoke to the previous owner who gave me a complete history of the car and everything that's been done, track day oil sump, LSD, ECU was upgraded with the later software and a variety of components that normally corrode were replaced with Galvanised custom made parts.
Admittedly, it's still well over the top price wise. I have a feeling that it'll either go before the end of the week, or sit there for a month due to the price being so high...
wessexrfc said:
Blu3R said:
BigMacca said:
Admittedly, it's still well over the top price wise. I have a feeling that it'll either go before the end of the week, or sit there for a month due to the price being so high...
I disagree, I'd say that was a fair and reasonable price IMHOBigMacca said:
Well, went for another look last night.
Admittedly, it's still well over the top price wise. I have a feeling that it'll either go before the end of the week, or sit there for a month due to the price being so high...
First time iv'e heard of a car having too low milage!Admittedly, it's still well over the top price wise. I have a feeling that it'll either go before the end of the week, or sit there for a month due to the price being so high...
If it's too expensive for you, don't buy it
honestbob said:
You lot are forgeting how much some of us paid for these cars new.
I wrote a cheque out for £52000 in 2003 for my GTO 3 with 87miles on the clock
and this one has 4000 miles and is half price.
Who is getting the better deal!!!!
it wasnt 7 years old in 2003 though!I wrote a cheque out for £52000 in 2003 for my GTO 3 with 87miles on the clock
and this one has 4000 miles and is half price.
Who is getting the better deal!!!!
My ML500 was £65k in 2003 but I paid £6.5k last year for it.
To answer the original question my car had done 11k when I bought it so it had hardly been used and was mint (best I had seen), I put another 35k on it in 1.5years with almost no issues at all.
Only when I started playing with it this year have I had issues lol
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