Advice please ...
Discussion
I am currently looking for a replacement for my Cerbera and have come across some of the early Nobles in my price range. The problem is I know very little about these cars and wanted some advice.
Would it be sensible to use a Noble as an everyday car (25 miles each trip to & from work)?
What are the running costs like (i.e. mpg/servicing)?
Everyone I have spoken to who has experience of a Noble says the build quality is fantastic (in particular compared to a TVR), is this the case?
Are they reliable?
Apologies for all the questions, any pointers would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Paul
Would it be sensible to use a Noble as an everyday car (25 miles each trip to & from work)?
What are the running costs like (i.e. mpg/servicing)?
Everyone I have spoken to who has experience of a Noble says the build quality is fantastic (in particular compared to a TVR), is this the case?
Are they reliable?
Apologies for all the questions, any pointers would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Paul
Hi Paul,
I can't answer for the earlier ones. My 3R is a 2004 and since having it for about a month now it's been superb. No build quality issues of note. I use mine everyday and it starts first time everytime.
Best of luck looking for one. You will love it. I've had a Cerbera 4.5 in the past by the way - I much prefer the Noble.
I can't answer for the earlier ones. My 3R is a 2004 and since having it for about a month now it's been superb. No build quality issues of note. I use mine everyday and it starts first time everytime.
Best of luck looking for one. You will love it. I've had a Cerbera 4.5 in the past by the way - I much prefer the Noble.
Paul,
I've had my 3R since March this year. I used to watch the mpg but soon got bored. I've had no probs with build quality. A new alarm was fitted FOC soon after I took delivery. The new one is fine. A few minor probs with electrics and ongoing probs with the exhaust mountings. If, before I took delivery, I had known of the problems I was going to have, would I still have taken delivery???
YOU BET I WOULD.
However the Noble has created a few other issues, namely;
1) My R32 has been totally eclipsed and I think I will sell it.
2) For insurance purposes I estimated 8000 miles per annum. But I've done 7850 in less than 5 months.
3) How do you respond to complete strangers photographing the car either when parked or driving down the motorway.
4) How do you respond to young lads repeatedly bowing as you drive passed. This wasn't mentioned in the manual!
5) When on the continent make sure you have local language Noble literature (unless you're a linguist).
I'm trying not to be biased. I think the Cerbera is a fantastic car. You should think twice before selling.
However test drive a new 3R before doing anything else and post your thoughts here.
Regards.
Chris.
I've had my 3R since March this year. I used to watch the mpg but soon got bored. I've had no probs with build quality. A new alarm was fitted FOC soon after I took delivery. The new one is fine. A few minor probs with electrics and ongoing probs with the exhaust mountings. If, before I took delivery, I had known of the problems I was going to have, would I still have taken delivery???
YOU BET I WOULD.
However the Noble has created a few other issues, namely;
1) My R32 has been totally eclipsed and I think I will sell it.
2) For insurance purposes I estimated 8000 miles per annum. But I've done 7850 in less than 5 months.
3) How do you respond to complete strangers photographing the car either when parked or driving down the motorway.
4) How do you respond to young lads repeatedly bowing as you drive passed. This wasn't mentioned in the manual!
5) When on the continent make sure you have local language Noble literature (unless you're a linguist).
I'm trying not to be biased. I think the Cerbera is a fantastic car. You should think twice before selling.
However test drive a new 3R before doing anything else and post your thoughts here.
Regards.
Chris.
Thanks for the pointers guys.
Chris, my Cerbera has already gone. Fantastic car, but cost me an arm and a leg and wasn't quite reliable enough to be used as an everyday car.
I will have to drive a Noble, although by all the experiences mentioned, it could be an expensive move!
Any other views would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Paul
Chris, my Cerbera has already gone. Fantastic car, but cost me an arm and a leg and wasn't quite reliable enough to be used as an everyday car.
I will have to drive a Noble, although by all the experiences mentioned, it could be an expensive move!
Any other views would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Paul
Paul, I've had a GTO3 for a few months now and here are some points from my non-expert perspective.
I bought my car used from a (then) Noble dealer. the car came with a Lotus approved warranty, which I have used several times with no quibbles. Once was for a diff and gearbox! My first point is therefore to ensure you get good warranty cover (you would know this anyway having come from a Trevor!!)
As for using it an as everyday car; this is quite possible as it can be so docile and easy to drive through traffic. The only thing that might cause you issues on the daily driver front is the turning circle, which is pretty boat like (make that ocean going liner in fact!), so tight routes are out. it is a surprisingly compact car though that looks a lot wider than it is. You probably know that the only luggage space is in the cabin as well. But the car has never failed to start on the first turn of the key (or press of the magic button!)
MPG is Cerb like i would have thought, maybe a bit better, but depends on how you drive it. Service costs are fairly reasonable. I've just had a largish service which cost me 860 ish including a new tyre. that will do me for another 6000 miles!
I would recommend looking at cars with a track-day sump already fitted, as the chances are high that you will want to get your Noble out for some circuit based hoonage sooner or later...
I find the five speed box more than adequate, but the Quaife LSD would be a tempting extra to have as well.. (I think you usually see the 6 speed and Quaife LSD together, but I think some owners have had the 5 speed and LSD?)
The luggage bags can seem like a fairly unnecessary thing to have, but I've used mine several times, and having bags of the right size really does make life easier whenever you are using the car for any real distance over a few days.
Garage/Driveway can be a challenge for Nobles. Garage less so, as my car fits into a standard smallish garage to protect it from the Croydon pikey/chav/scum, but driveways are more tricky, particularly if your road has a camber into the gutter before going up over the pavement. When you test drive see if they will let you try it out first if you are unsure.
Also, my area has now turned into the UK capital for speed bumps, some of which rise from the ground like the ancient Egyptian pyramids. None of which bother the Noble at all. It sails over the worst of them with ease.
My car is now on about 11,000 and seems to be getting better to drive with mileage. Do check the aircon however as mine sometimes makes the car stall when active and the revs are low on tick-over, and also sometimes does not blow as cold as I would like (sometimes can be ultra cold though!!). Also there is an issue with the throttle cable being routed over the turbos. Some owners have had this cable melt which could cause the throttle to stick open! The fix is to have the cable moved to a different route. (plenty of threads on here about that though)
Insurance is surprisingly OK. I pay a little over a grand for a 35 yo with max no claims living in South London with Garage over night. I think that is quite a reasonable quote given the car..
lastly, what has saved me a few times is a good relationship with the supplying dealer. Nick Whale have been great (particularly Ian), unfortunately for me they are in Brum, which is a bit of hike, but it makes claiming for warranty work so much easier if it goes through the warranty supplying dealer.
All in all though the car gives me the impression of being well screwed together in the important areas, it makes me confident that it will stay that way as the mileage creeps up through the tens of thousands. I love the way that Noble have put a comfy (for me - I'm 6'3 and 15 stone) and business like interior in with very little lardyness (unlike the pie loving driver), which shouts that all the development money for the car has gone into the fast bits..
I wouldn't mind changing the kit car'ish front lights to the 3R items though as they are the only thing that really bother me about the car! Maybe it is now time to give Zertec a ring..
Cheers
Mike
>> Edited by miken on Tuesday 10th August 12:29
I bought my car used from a (then) Noble dealer. the car came with a Lotus approved warranty, which I have used several times with no quibbles. Once was for a diff and gearbox! My first point is therefore to ensure you get good warranty cover (you would know this anyway having come from a Trevor!!)
As for using it an as everyday car; this is quite possible as it can be so docile and easy to drive through traffic. The only thing that might cause you issues on the daily driver front is the turning circle, which is pretty boat like (make that ocean going liner in fact!), so tight routes are out. it is a surprisingly compact car though that looks a lot wider than it is. You probably know that the only luggage space is in the cabin as well. But the car has never failed to start on the first turn of the key (or press of the magic button!)
MPG is Cerb like i would have thought, maybe a bit better, but depends on how you drive it. Service costs are fairly reasonable. I've just had a largish service which cost me 860 ish including a new tyre. that will do me for another 6000 miles!
I would recommend looking at cars with a track-day sump already fitted, as the chances are high that you will want to get your Noble out for some circuit based hoonage sooner or later...
I find the five speed box more than adequate, but the Quaife LSD would be a tempting extra to have as well.. (I think you usually see the 6 speed and Quaife LSD together, but I think some owners have had the 5 speed and LSD?)
The luggage bags can seem like a fairly unnecessary thing to have, but I've used mine several times, and having bags of the right size really does make life easier whenever you are using the car for any real distance over a few days.
Garage/Driveway can be a challenge for Nobles. Garage less so, as my car fits into a standard smallish garage to protect it from the Croydon pikey/chav/scum, but driveways are more tricky, particularly if your road has a camber into the gutter before going up over the pavement. When you test drive see if they will let you try it out first if you are unsure.
Also, my area has now turned into the UK capital for speed bumps, some of which rise from the ground like the ancient Egyptian pyramids. None of which bother the Noble at all. It sails over the worst of them with ease.
My car is now on about 11,000 and seems to be getting better to drive with mileage. Do check the aircon however as mine sometimes makes the car stall when active and the revs are low on tick-over, and also sometimes does not blow as cold as I would like (sometimes can be ultra cold though!!). Also there is an issue with the throttle cable being routed over the turbos. Some owners have had this cable melt which could cause the throttle to stick open! The fix is to have the cable moved to a different route. (plenty of threads on here about that though)
Insurance is surprisingly OK. I pay a little over a grand for a 35 yo with max no claims living in South London with Garage over night. I think that is quite a reasonable quote given the car..
lastly, what has saved me a few times is a good relationship with the supplying dealer. Nick Whale have been great (particularly Ian), unfortunately for me they are in Brum, which is a bit of hike, but it makes claiming for warranty work so much easier if it goes through the warranty supplying dealer.
All in all though the car gives me the impression of being well screwed together in the important areas, it makes me confident that it will stay that way as the mileage creeps up through the tens of thousands. I love the way that Noble have put a comfy (for me - I'm 6'3 and 15 stone) and business like interior in with very little lardyness (unlike the pie loving driver), which shouts that all the development money for the car has gone into the fast bits..
I wouldn't mind changing the kit car'ish front lights to the 3R items though as they are the only thing that really bother me about the car! Maybe it is now time to give Zertec a ring..
Cheers
Mike
>> Edited by miken on Tuesday 10th August 12:29
miken said:
I bought my car used from a (then) Noble dealer.
Mike the picture on your profile looks like Williams in Bristol?
I use them for servicing on my Elise and have always found them to be excelent.
Thanks for the info. I'm hoping to follow in Ash's footsteps next year and trade up from the Elise to a Noble.
It was the Saab's in the background that threw me.
I would love to test drive the M400 but sadly it's a little out of my price range at present. Hope to look for a GTO3 about this time next year.
I test drove the GTO3R at Williams while my car was having some new tyres put on. I was talking to the sales manager Ian Street who offered to let me have a test drive and I've been hooked on getting one ever since.
I would love to test drive the M400 but sadly it's a little out of my price range at present. Hope to look for a GTO3 about this time next year.
I test drove the GTO3R at Williams while my car was having some new tyres put on. I was talking to the sales manager Ian Street who offered to let me have a test drive and I've been hooked on getting one ever since.
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