M400 or GTO 3R- advice please!
Discussion
Hi all, I'm new to this section of P'heads forums so thought I'd check in and ask some of the very knowledgeable folk on here for some advice about a possible Noble future purchase. Much as I love my current toy, I've had it for 5 years now and am beginning to fancy a change. A Noble is the only car I am remotely interested in changing my very special, lightly modded Impreza 22B for.
Question basically is, should I spend 25-30k on a good 3R, or save a few more pounds (5k?)and get an M400.
I'd probably like to modify a 3R a bit as I'm running 360bhp at the moment which is obviously pretty rapid and I'd like my next car to be a bit quicker. Are they expensive to modify? How much would it cost to upgrade to 450+bhp for example?
Or is the answer to get an M400 and leave it as it is? Any advice welcome.
Thanks.
Question basically is, should I spend 25-30k on a good 3R, or save a few more pounds (5k?)and get an M400.
I'd probably like to modify a 3R a bit as I'm running 360bhp at the moment which is obviously pretty rapid and I'd like my next car to be a bit quicker. Are they expensive to modify? How much would it cost to upgrade to 450+bhp for example?
Or is the answer to get an M400 and leave it as it is? Any advice welcome.
Thanks.
I'm not the most qualified to speak on this as I'm very new to Noble ownership, however I would say it depends if you just want more horsepower or whether in actual fact you enjoy "tinkering" and seeing what horsepower you can get out of a car. I would say it would almost certainly be cheaper for you to buy an M400 first of all if that's what you wanted, rather than buy a 3R and make the mods - However I have just bought my 3R and I am very pleased, it might be worth taking one out for a drive first before you decide how much horspower is enough 

IainRS said:
Hi all, I'm new to this section of P'heads forums so thought I'd check in and ask some of the very knowledgeable folk on here for some advice about a possible Noble future purchase. Much as I love my current toy, I've had it for 5 years now and am beginning to fancy a change. A Noble is the only car I am remotely interested in changing my very special, lightly modded Impreza 22B for.
Question basically is, should I spend 25-30k on a good 3R, or save a few more pounds (5k?)and get an M400.
I'd probably like to modify a 3R a bit as I'm running 360bhp at the moment which is obviously pretty rapid and I'd like my next car to be a bit quicker. Are they expensive to modify? How much would it cost to upgrade to 450+bhp for example?
Or is the answer to get an M400 and leave it as it is? Any advice welcome.
Thanks.
If you buy a standard power 2.5L with only 310 bhp it would still be faster than your scooby. so i wouldn't worry too much about big horse power figures.Question basically is, should I spend 25-30k on a good 3R, or save a few more pounds (5k?)and get an M400.
I'd probably like to modify a 3R a bit as I'm running 360bhp at the moment which is obviously pretty rapid and I'd like my next car to be a bit quicker. Are they expensive to modify? How much would it cost to upgrade to 450+bhp for example?
Or is the answer to get an M400 and leave it as it is? Any advice welcome.
Thanks.
Take a noble out for a test drive and you will want to buy it on the spot.
Buy a 3R, get a new exhaust and remap and you will have around 390BHP. Thats a very quick car. However M400s are a bit rare so if you can afford one I would go that route. You will still modify it but don't go to mad without upgrading the engine, again I think Exhaust and remap would be enough.
Bondy
Bondy
Thanks for the replies guys. The rarity value of the 400 appeals to me greatly but then 3R's are not exactly common! How many of them were built?
In what (if any) areas is the 400 improved over the 3R?
It won't be an everyday driver for me so I am quite happy to have to comprimise on some comforts, although I'd imagine that they are both pretty hardcore.
In what (if any) areas is the 400 improved over the 3R?
It won't be an everyday driver for me so I am quite happy to have to comprimise on some comforts, although I'd imagine that they are both pretty hardcore.
2.5bluenob said:
If you buy a standard power 2.5L with only 310 bhp it would still be faster than your scooby. so i wouldn't worry too much about big horse power figures.
Take a noble out for a test drive and you will want to buy it on the spot.
I would be pretty (pleasantly) surprised if it was! Not convinced though, 360bhp and 1245kg versus 980kg and an optomistic 310bhp. Take a noble out for a test drive and you will want to buy it on the spot.
IainRS said:
2.5bluenob said:
If you buy a standard power 2.5L with only 310 bhp it would still be faster than your scooby. so i wouldn't worry too much about big horse power figures.
Take a noble out for a test drive and you will want to buy it on the spot.
I would be pretty (pleasantly) surprised if it was! Not convinced though, 360bhp and 1245kg versus 980kg and an optomistic 310bhp. Take a noble out for a test drive and you will want to buy it on the spot.
Think the point was, in the real world probably not much in it. On a track I think you will be supprised how much quicker the Noble would probably be. IMHO
Bondy
david.mt said:
You want to look for a slightly modified M400. You will want exhaust (Roush), fuel pump, intercooler and remap. Would also be nice if it had adjustable suspension and some cooling mods (radiator, tunnel mod etc). Anything else is a bonus.
Now where can you find one of those
That sounds like the sort of thing I'm looking for! Anybody looking to sell? I'm in no real hurry, next spring would suit!Now where can you find one of those

Also, anybody know the red 3R on autotrader with the 'stage 5' upgrades (whatever that is). Reads and looks like a nice motor...
Also, anybody know the red 3R on autotrader with the 'stage 5' upgrades (whatever that is). Reads and looks like a nice motor...
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Hello Ian
In my long search for a noble that was one i test drove not so long ago but
I ended up buying a stock 3R end of october with no mods. That red 3R has had all the work done by Noble Motor Sports.
The advice i got was to go and see as many as i could and drive them . I'm no expert but from reading as much as i could on the forum it did really help .
I must say i do really like the Noble , it's addictive to drive, i know little about mechanics but i just love the car and the guys on here know the car inside out and are extremely helpful.
Stefano
IainRS said:
Hi Stefano,
thanks for the reply. Good to hear you got a good one and you are enjoying it. I'm in no real hurry so I will heed the advice you got and look out for tips/cars/ advice on the forums.
Why did you not buy the red 3R?
Iain
Hi Ian thanks for the reply. Good to hear you got a good one and you are enjoying it. I'm in no real hurry so I will heed the advice you got and look out for tips/cars/ advice on the forums.
Why did you not buy the red 3R?
Iain
well hopefully it's a good one i will let you know when it goes in for a service next april !!
I didn't buy the red one mainly because i thought it had too much power for me . The guy was quoting 490 bhp although i never got to see the dyno.
S
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