Advice on becoming a Noble owner
Advice on becoming a Noble owner
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Scooby P1

Original Poster:

2,617 posts

258 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all

Were there any issues with the early cars? I am potentially looking at buying a 10,000 mile year 2000 GTO, 2.5.
However, concerned about whether it is better to own a slightly later one with maybe a few more miles but for the same price?

It has had the ECU upgrade, AP brakes etc - most of what is needed. It was one of the very first off the production line.


Any advice would be welcome.
Thanks

Adrian W

15,450 posts

257 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
Scooby P1 said:
Were there any issues with the early cars? I am potentially looking at buying a 10,000 mile year 2000 GTO, 2.5.
However, concerned about whether it is better to own a slightly later one with maybe a few more miles but for the same price?

It has had the ECU upgrade, AP brakes etc - most of what is needed. It was one of the very first off the production line.


Any advice would be welcome.
Thanks
I think That I would want proof of the milage, MOT's bills etc, I have walked further than that in 11 years

TuxMan

9,011 posts

267 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
after 10 years there is lots of things i would be worried about ,but rust would be high on my list !!

Scooby P1

Original Poster:

2,617 posts

258 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
It is a friend of mine's car, i know the mileage is genuine as it has sat in a garage in Dorset for most of that time.

But he does value the ONLY 10k miles quite highly - but my concern is it is a 2000 car whereas every other car for sale seems to be minimum 2002 if not 2004 and later!

The car is in great nick, so apart from rust etc is there not too much else to worry about?

TuxMan

9,011 posts

267 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
How much does he want for it ?? i,m not a big fan of very low milage cars especialy over 10 years !!

andygtt

8,345 posts

293 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
The 3L were a significant step forward over the 2.5L and there were a lot of issues sorted over the life of the M12 so getting a newer car with twice the mileage would be better IMHO especially if the 2 cars are the same money.

as a guide I paid 23k 2.5years ago for my 11k miles 3L car, cars have held their prices but not gone up as far as I can tell.

SimonJW

779 posts

266 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
I'm one of the 2.5 brigade and very happy with it but in all honesty if I had had the money at the time I would have bought a 3R. Mine's a 2002 with 50,000 on the clock though. Well used and reasonably well looked after with a lot of TLC planned this winter.
ECU is probably the main issue but also has lsd and track day sump been fitted. Otherwise get a good look under both clams for chassis rust have a good feel of the interior carpets for damp as they can leak from the floor and the raer window - both reasonably easy to fix though.

No matter which you go for they all have issues the trick is to make sure that all the major ones are done. Having said that my ECU went 18 months after purchase and cost circa £2,500 to put right with a few other bits and pieces. If you got the dosh don't be too scared of them and take the plunge it's definitely (the correct spelling) something you will never regret.

My only other advice is that they do say you should never buy from friends as there is always a possibility that it will put a 'strain' on the friendship at some point.

HTH

Simon

Edited by SimonJW on Monday 6th December 21:44

2.5bluenob

1,620 posts

205 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
+ 1
Make sure the ecu has been changed. mine cost me 3K when the original ecu went wrong. Also im sure the if its the original ecu they cant be tuned.

Scooby P1

Original Poster:

2,617 posts

258 months

Tuesday 7th December 2010
quotequote all
SimonJW said:
I'm one of the 2.5 brigade and very happy with it but in all honesty if I had had the money at the time I would have bought a 3R. Mine's a 2002 with 50,000 on the clock though. Well used and reasonably well looked after with a lot of TLC planned this winter.
ECU is probably the main issue but also has lsd and track day sump been fitted. Otherwise get a good look under both clams for chassis rust have a good feel of the interior carpets for damp as they can leak from the floor and the raer window - both reasonably easy to fix though.

No matter which you go for they all have issues the trick is to make sure that all the major ones are done. Having said that my ECU went 18 months after purchase and cost circa £2,500 to put right with a few other bits and pieces. If you got the dosh don't be too scared of them and take the plunge it's definitely (the correct spelling) something you will never regret.

My only other advice is that they do say you should never buy from friends as there is always a possibility that it will put a 'strain' on the friendship at some point.

HTH

Simon

Edited by SimonJW on Monday 6th December 21:44
Simon, i am a philosophical chap like you more often that not and totally understand the argument of not buying from friends. Same deal as not wishing to sell to friends really in case the car suddenly goes wrong. I will give that some thought.

He is trying to push me north of £21k for it with 9,800 genuine miles on the clock. H ehas just serviced it after not moving for months on end - it was not even taxed or insured for quite some time. It needed a new battery but other than that sounds ok.
Rust on the suspension struts but nothing major apart from that. The ECU was upgraded and he has the AP brakes.

I am quite keen on the 2.5, i like the wheels, the car is significantly lighter (the power to weight only marginally lower than the 3R) and although not as tuneable there might be some value in having an unmolested true original as it is such an early example.

Might go and see Jamie this weekend (John Halliday in the classified ad) as his blue 2002 2.5 is for sale near Croydon. (almost the identical car to my friend's but cheaper)

Anyone value the idea of my mate's being such low mileage and one of the first ones?

andygtt

8,345 posts

293 months

Tuesday 7th December 2010
quotequote all
Just to let you know they all have AP brakes, later on Noble managed to convince AP to stamp Noble on instead of AP but otherwise the same... the 2.5 is only lighter by a small amount than the std GT03... its mostly the 5 speed gearbox and lack of LSD that saves the weight over the 6 speeder cars but only later 3L cars had 6 speeders and thus were heavier.

If you friends car is in fantastic condition then it'll be a great car, just accept that the later the car the better they are... older models are not as far as I am aware remotelly more collectable that later cars.
I bought mid model and have spent a fortune getting my car up to the standard of parts that newer models enjoy.

Scooby P1

Original Poster:

2,617 posts

258 months

Tuesday 7th December 2010
quotequote all
andygtt said:
Just to let you know they all have AP brakes, later on Noble managed to convince AP to stamp Noble on instead of AP but otherwise the same... the 2.5 is only lighter by a small amount than the std GT03... its mostly the 5 speed gearbox and lack of LSD that saves the weight over the 6 speeder cars but only later 3L cars had 6 speeders and thus were heavier.

If you friends car is in fantastic condition then it'll be a great car, just accept that the later the car the better they are... older models are not as far as I am aware remotelly more collectable that later cars.
I bought mid model and have spent a fortune getting my car up to the standard of parts that newer models enjoy.
Thanks Andy.
It seems that a lot of people list the 6 speed 'box as an aftermarket benefit they may have fitted as well as twin fans and track day sump and LSD. Seeing as I will be tracking mine these might be things i ought to look for.
Not sure why the 6 speed 'box is better though?
I might consider a good nick one with a few more miles but slightly later with some of the associated benefits.

Cheers

jay964rs

257 posts

224 months

Tuesday 7th December 2010
quotequote all
The difference in weight is quite apparent:
2.5 - 980kgs
3.0 - 1080kgs
Figures according to EVO Magazine.
If it were a Porsche, everyone would rave about the purity of the lighter model, don't think applies with Nobles, they are all great!!!

I've got a 2002 2.5, which I think is a later model, with the mbe ecu and trackday sump, purchased for £21.5k last year with 21k miles.

mgbond

6,749 posts

261 months

Tuesday 7th December 2010
quotequote all
To be honest , if you intend to track it then it must have a TDS and LSD but other than that all should be good (as long as the ECU has be upgraded).

I would consider saving a bit of money on one with a few more miles as the money you save can be put back into it refreshing the parts that will be worn from tracking it. Noble to wear quickly when tracked.

Bondy

andygtt

8,345 posts

293 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
jay964rs said:
The difference in weight is quite apparent:
2.5 - 980kgs
3.0 - 1080kgs
Figures according to EVO Magazine.
If it were a Porsche, everyone would rave about the purity of the lighter model, don't think applies with Nobles, they are all great!!!

I've got a 2002 2.5, which I think is a later model, with the mbe ecu and trackday sump, purchased for £21.5k last year with 21k miles.
I think the main difference that makes those weights is the lsd, track day sump and 6 speed box.... some 3L also didnt have any of these.... but your right they are all great, main thing is to buy a well sorted example in the colour you like.

Definatelly wouldnt go on track without a lsd of track day sump.

TuxMan

9,011 posts

267 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
both the std 5 speed and the 6 speed box have issues in std form , nobody knows how much power a modified 5 speed will take although i,m running 460bhp through mine with no issues , the 6 speed box comes with a lsd as std and when modified will cope with in excess of 600bhp .
if you are going to use it on track you must have a track day sump !!!

Scooby P1

Original Poster:

2,617 posts

258 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
mgbond said:
To be honest , if you intend to track it then it must have a TDS and LSD but other than that all should be good (as long as the ECU has be upgraded).

I would consider saving a bit of money on one with a few more miles as the money you save can be put back into it refreshing the parts that will be worn from tracking it. Noble to wear quickly when tracked.

Bondy
Cheers Bondy.
I am more tempted to go for a track day sumped car (my mate's is not) and for about 8k miles more i can under £20k. Plus keen to get some Toyo 888s for track days as went in a bright orange Noble at coombe and the tyres made an amazing difference.

Looks like you are a keen 'tracker' Bondy so i might tap you up in the future for which track days to go to when i am not just running a P1!

Where are you ion Hampshire? My car will live in Dad's garage outside petersfield whilst i live in London!

Lawrence

sundance002

1,304 posts

193 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
[quote=andygtt]The 3L were a significant step forward over the 2.5L and there were a lot of issues sorted over the life of the M12 so getting a newer car with twice the mileage would be better IMHO especially if the 2 cars are the same money.


+1

mgbond

6,749 posts

261 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
Scooby P1 said:
mgbond said:
To be honest , if you intend to track it then it must have a TDS and LSD but other than that all should be good (as long as the ECU has be upgraded).

I would consider saving a bit of money on one with a few more miles as the money you save can be put back into it refreshing the parts that will be worn from tracking it. Noble to wear quickly when tracked.

Bondy
Cheers Bondy.
I am more tempted to go for a track day sumped car (my mate's is not) and for about 8k miles more i can under £20k. Plus keen to get some Toyo 888s for track days as went in a bright orange Noble at coombe and the tyres made an amazing difference.

Looks like you are a keen 'tracker' Bondy so i might tap you up in the future for which track days to go to when i am not just running a P1!

Where are you ion Hampshire? My car will live in Dad's garage outside petersfield whilst i live in London!

Lawrence
Ha ha, that Orange one was Denos no doubt. He loves that track (I was in his car when It was silver at combe, let's just say it was very wet with no tread on the 888 and that's why it's now Orange smile)

I don't do much tracking (maybe a couple a year) want to do more and there are quite a few on here that track a lot more. If your car is down here then you should join in on the south coast runs to Goodwood on the 1st Sunday of the month. Think they start again in April. Also we try to sort out meets even at trackdays whether you go on track or not.

Keep a mind of the SPA trip late next year.

I'm in Portsmouth, there are a few down here smile


Scooby P1

Original Poster:

2,617 posts

258 months

Thursday 9th December 2010
quotequote all
mgbond said:
Scooby P1 said:
mgbond said:
To be honest , if you intend to track it then it must have a TDS and LSD but other than that all should be good (as long as the ECU has be upgraded).

I would consider saving a bit of money on one with a few more miles as the money you save can be put back into it refreshing the parts that will be worn from tracking it. Noble to wear quickly when tracked.

Bondy
Cheers Bondy.
I am more tempted to go for a track day sumped car (my mate's is not) and for about 8k miles more i can under £20k. Plus keen to get some Toyo 888s for track days as went in a bright orange Noble at coombe and the tyres made an amazing difference.

Looks like you are a keen 'tracker' Bondy so i might tap you up in the future for which track days to go to when i am not just running a P1!

Where are you ion Hampshire? My car will live in Dad's garage outside petersfield whilst i live in London!

Lawrence
Ha ha, that Orange one was Denos no doubt. He loves that track (I was in his car when It was silver at combe, let's just say it was very wet with no tread on the 888 and that's why it's now Orange smile)

I don't do much tracking (maybe a couple a year) want to do more and there are quite a few on here that track a lot more. If your car is down here then you should join in on the south coast runs to Goodwood on the 1st Sunday of the month. Think they start again in April. Also we try to sort out meets even at trackdays whether you go on track or not.

Keep a mind of the SPA trip late next year.

I'm in Portsmouth, there are a few down here smile
That sounds about right. It was due to a shunt at coombe that it went bright orange! he knows that trrack well, riding with him was hilarious - especially as some 600bhp evo 8 reckon he had us. In the straights yes but he simply wouldn't move out of the way through the corners! If i wasn't sold already, after that i was definitely going to buy one!

South coast runs to Goodwood sound awesome and by April i will definitely be an owner. The roads around Goodwood are brilliant and i know the ones back towards Petersfield - there's an infamous straight bit that is cracking!

I'll keep you posted on purchasing progress!