Discussion
Hi,
Thinking about changing from my Tuscan to a Noble M12 GTO 3R.
Anybody on here went from TVR to Noble ?
Obviously I expect it to be less practical, i.e. no boot but can I expect better build quality/reliability?
Is it useable everyday ?
I do love to be able to take the roof off so the GTC is a good option but I'm not sure when it will be available.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards.
Hello lucozade,
We will all encourage you to join the nobility ! I can't remember who, but a couple of the guys on here had TVR's until they drove a Noble and say they have never looked back. As to which we think is a better car, well that has caused some fair old debate on here in the past. Have a look at a couple of these old threads !!
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=95262&f=26&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=101815&f=26&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=104061&f=26&h=0
This one was a seven pager !!
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=98064&f=26&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=97009&f=26&h=0
We will all encourage you to join the nobility ! I can't remember who, but a couple of the guys on here had TVR's until they drove a Noble and say they have never looked back. As to which we think is a better car, well that has caused some fair old debate on here in the past. Have a look at a couple of these old threads !!
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=95262&f=26&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=101815&f=26&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=104061&f=26&h=0
This one was a seven pager !!
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=98064&f=26&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=97009&f=26&h=0
I owned a tuscan, now I'm driving a Volvo 
...but only while my GTC is on order.
Am a bit disappointed with the lower power (only 1 turbo) on the formally announced spec of the GTC, so waiting to hear whether the factory does go ahead with a more powerful version before parting cash.
If you get your GTC order in now you should receive it early in 2005 (around April/May time).
If the factory doesn't go ahead with the hotter variant I may consider offering my place in the queue (no.20 of around 50 ordered) for the price of the deposit I had to put down (around £1750) so that I can by a tin top, and use the balance for a cheap convertible! That should get you a car in Jan
...but only while my GTC is on order. Am a bit disappointed with the lower power (only 1 turbo) on the formally announced spec of the GTC, so waiting to hear whether the factory does go ahead with a more powerful version before parting cash.
If you get your GTC order in now you should receive it early in 2005 (around April/May time).
If the factory doesn't go ahead with the hotter variant I may consider offering my place in the queue (no.20 of around 50 ordered) for the price of the deposit I had to put down (around £1750) so that I can by a tin top, and use the balance for a cheap convertible! That should get you a car in Jan
DanH said:
Don't packaging issues get in the way of having a second turbo?
I'd happily sacrifice the boot for another turbo...there have been comments about whether the revised rear end leaves enough room for another turbo, particularly with cooling considerations, but there are ways of upping the power output and Noble is looking at the alternatives (eg...consider a targa version of the M12, with just the twin removable panels to stow, and otherwise the exact profile of the original M12...anyway, I am patiently awaiting news of the next new Noble!
captainH said:
Yes I moved from a Tuscan to a GTO3 - The Noble is a far better drive and you get treated like a valued customer (which really makes a change after 6 years TVR ownership).
I understand your comments about a valued customer I always feel like I'm interrupting the dealership when I call them with my starting problems or cosmetics falling off.
I'm hopefully going to get a test drive sorted this week and then look at the numbers.
Thanks everyone.
To add another dimension, what about Noble from Porsche. I have a Boxster 2.5 at the mo, but need more oomph. I am planning to sort this next year and the choice for me is either a Ruf 3.6 Boxster or a Noble.
I love the build quality and zero rattle of the Porsche. How do people think I would get on with a Noble? Can you use it every day? (It's a second car, but used regularly) Does it feel well put together? What are the downsides of ownership as well as the upsides?
I love the build quality and zero rattle of the Porsche. How do people think I would get on with a Noble? Can you use it every day? (It's a second car, but used regularly) Does it feel well put together? What are the downsides of ownership as well as the upsides?
BliarOut said:
To add another dimension, what about Noble from Porsche. I have a Boxster 2.5 at the mo, but need more oomph. I am planning to sort this next year and the choice for me is either a Ruf 3.6 Boxster or a Noble.
I love the build quality and zero rattle of the Porsche. How do people think I would get on with a Noble? Can you use it every day? (It's a second car, but used regularly) Does it feel well put together? What are the downsides of ownership as well as the upsides?
Rob,
I come from Porsche ownership (911 RS) and now enjoy the most delightful driving experience I have ever had in my life. There is nothing around that will supply the oomph. You will hear more rattles inside a Bentley, and the build quality is as good as a swiss watch. It not only feels well put together, it IS well put toghether.. The only downside (if you can call it that) is the amount of attention the car gets. People come racing up behind to take a better look, draw along side and give thumbs up, truckers give you a blast on their horns, and kids go mad at the filling station taking pictures on their camera phones.
The upside.....you will never stop grinning when you drive it and after. Ownership is a pleasure and joy.
Cheers,
Ian.
Attention, that's a plus point 
Is it possible to live life without a convertible after about 8 years of them
That's what the bike's for I suppose.
What about overall driveability? The Boxster is a right pussycat until pushed, is the Noble or does it fart and pop a bit around town?
What are the dealers like, as I am looking at second hand is a test drive likely or will I be treated as a tyre kicker? I saw that you can get track day tests for £90 on one of the ad's so it's not the end of the world if I can't get a dealer to let me out.
I am seriously torn at the moment, but have a feeling I could be more Leicestershire than Barvaria
Is it possible to live life without a convertible after about 8 years of them
That's what the bike's for I suppose. What about overall driveability? The Boxster is a right pussycat until pushed, is the Noble or does it fart and pop a bit around town?
What are the dealers like, as I am looking at second hand is a test drive likely or will I be treated as a tyre kicker? I saw that you can get track day tests for £90 on one of the ad's so it's not the end of the world if I can't get a dealer to let me out.
I am seriously torn at the moment, but have a feeling I could be more Leicestershire than Barvaria
Having had the odd RUF myself I wouldn't bet on it being any more reliable and rattle free than the Noble. Don't get me wrong they are great cars, but the Noble is every bit as good IMO.
Also, afer the demise of RUF UK if you want to get it serviced and looked after properly you have to take it to Germany!
I drove a LHD Boxster, albeit a 3400 but I was quite disappointed. I always think you sit on the Boxster not in it if you know what I mean. The performnace would certainly be no match for the Noble either.
I think you'd have to spend serious money with RUF to get something as good as the Noble.
And anyway convertibles are for girls!!
I went from 911 C4S to Noble.
All that's been said above is true re build quality, people staring and performance.
Most dealers would be more than happy to accomodate. In fact, most dealers read these posts. Where are you based?
Just drive one.
just one drive and he'll soon be in the club
All that's been said above is true re build quality, people staring and performance.
Most dealers would be more than happy to accomodate. In fact, most dealers read these posts. Where are you based?
Just drive one.
just one drive and he'll soon be in the club
BliarOut said:
That's what I am afraid ofI don't plan to change until next year, but the toybox hasn't had any additions lately.
So, if the dealers read these posts, someone in East Anglia invite me over!
Kerridges have got a couple in Ipswich:
www.kerridges.co.uk/noble_used.asp
Dove House in Rushden have got one too!
www.dovehousecars.com
O.
Although I'm a TVR owner I love the Noble. I have had my fair share of problems with the TVR and understand that they can have reliability problems. But so can a lot of other cars. I'm not knocking Nobles but I'd like to provide a not so rosy perspective.
I went on an Everyman driving experience day a couple of weeks ago where I got to drive a Noble, Diablo, Exige, SL55, and Viper. The Noble's engine developed problems and then the gearbox packed up completely during the day. I appreciate that its regularly driven hard around a track (thats what they're designed for afterall) but then all the other cars are driven hard too and they apparently dont suffer from anywhere near as many problems.
Admittedly the roof jammed on the viper and the exige had clutch problems. However, the two senior technicians I spoke to said the Noble was the most unreliable car they had ever worked on. That was their opinion. Maybe they havent really got a clue what they're doing, or maybe it's just a 'duff one' like some TVR's (I dont know if thats the only Noble they have, or if they have had replacement cars). Thats just my experience.
Due to the nature of fast cars they are all realtively expensive to run as compared to your average runabout. I thought it was important to provide the views above but I'd love to have a Noble and it wouldnt neccessarily put me off buying one. I would just go in with my eyes open and appreciate that they're not necessarily always going to be problem free.
>> Edited by jam1et on Thursday 1st July 12:50
I went on an Everyman driving experience day a couple of weeks ago where I got to drive a Noble, Diablo, Exige, SL55, and Viper. The Noble's engine developed problems and then the gearbox packed up completely during the day. I appreciate that its regularly driven hard around a track (thats what they're designed for afterall) but then all the other cars are driven hard too and they apparently dont suffer from anywhere near as many problems.
Admittedly the roof jammed on the viper and the exige had clutch problems. However, the two senior technicians I spoke to said the Noble was the most unreliable car they had ever worked on. That was their opinion. Maybe they havent really got a clue what they're doing, or maybe it's just a 'duff one' like some TVR's (I dont know if thats the only Noble they have, or if they have had replacement cars). Thats just my experience.
Due to the nature of fast cars they are all realtively expensive to run as compared to your average runabout. I thought it was important to provide the views above but I'd love to have a Noble and it wouldnt neccessarily put me off buying one. I would just go in with my eyes open and appreciate that they're not necessarily always going to be problem free.
>> Edited by jam1et on Thursday 1st July 12:50
Thanks Jam1et. I want to go into it with my eyes open. I had an early 90's Ducati 888. Gorgeous machine, but unreliable. It broke my heart in the end.
I need a machine that I can go out and just switch on like I can the Porsche. I know the Ruf route may have issues but if the Noble reliability is anything like the TVR then it's not for me.
I would be interested in other peoples experiences on the reliability front.
I need a machine that I can go out and just switch on like I can the Porsche. I know the Ruf route may have issues but if the Noble reliability is anything like the TVR then it's not for me.
I would be interested in other peoples experiences on the reliability front.
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