Looking into buying an M12
Discussion
Evening boys and girls.
Long time browser but first time poster! My names Jamie. I'm 23 and from East Anglia. I currently drive a BMW but looking to purchase a Noble. I am looking at the yellow one that's currently for sale and see it has also been topic of discussion on here too.
Few questions I'm hoping you guys can help with..
First up, size.. I'm 6"2 and slim ish build at 13 and a half stone. I have driven Elise's, Exige's etc and once I'm in I'm fine.. Getting in is a different matter though. How are these compared to them for example?
Next up.. Reliability? I will be using the car daily, second car isn't an option (although for longer drives I have access to the partners car) I do around 10k a year but expecting to do around 12 a year with this (I'm getting it just as a move house which adds distance) fuel economy doesn't bother me as I'm coming from a modified V8! Lol
This may sound stupid also, but what do these cars have? I see air con, but I'm guessing no electric windows? How about Central locking?
If anyone is local to me I would love the chance to meet and have a look if that's possible. I know there is a grey one near me (destroyed me in races many a time!) haha so if your on here.. Would be great to meet you!
Thanks in advance for your replies!
Long time browser but first time poster! My names Jamie. I'm 23 and from East Anglia. I currently drive a BMW but looking to purchase a Noble. I am looking at the yellow one that's currently for sale and see it has also been topic of discussion on here too.
Few questions I'm hoping you guys can help with..
First up, size.. I'm 6"2 and slim ish build at 13 and a half stone. I have driven Elise's, Exige's etc and once I'm in I'm fine.. Getting in is a different matter though. How are these compared to them for example?
Next up.. Reliability? I will be using the car daily, second car isn't an option (although for longer drives I have access to the partners car) I do around 10k a year but expecting to do around 12 a year with this (I'm getting it just as a move house which adds distance) fuel economy doesn't bother me as I'm coming from a modified V8! Lol
This may sound stupid also, but what do these cars have? I see air con, but I'm guessing no electric windows? How about Central locking?
If anyone is local to me I would love the chance to meet and have a look if that's possible. I know there is a grey one near me (destroyed me in races many a time!) haha so if your on here.. Would be great to meet you!
Thanks in advance for your replies!
Quick responses:
I'm also 6 2 and have no problems. Loads more room and access than an Exige or Elise.
I've found mine to be reliable so far other than the odd electrical niggle.
No EW or mirrors. They have a stereo, AC and CL via the alarm. That's about it as far as toys go, but you don't need any more.
I'm also 6 2 and have no problems. Loads more room and access than an Exige or Elise.
I've found mine to be reliable so far other than the odd electrical niggle.
No EW or mirrors. They have a stereo, AC and CL via the alarm. That's about it as far as toys go, but you don't need any more.
Hi Jamie, I'm coming in at 6'2" also but at 15 stone, I don't even have the seat all the way back! Getting in and out is easier than the Lotus. I believe mileage shouldn't be an issue- it'll definitely put a smile on your face commuting! No boot though, so can't carry a huge amount, but surprising how much you can fit behind both seats. I have a 3R with air-con very comfortable. I'm east cambs near Suffolk border if I can assist any more get in touch- you won't be disappointed! john.
Thanks for the replies guys!
The one issue I may have thinking of it.. I work offshore in the wind farms and have to carry my kit with me when I go the harbour each morning, it's a hold all (just normal size sports hold all) any chance of this fitting? Rather not start putting stuff on passenger seat!
I'm sure the luxury (lack of) will hit hard, I'm currently driving a high spec BMW with heated everything, electric everything, massage seats etc. I'm really hoping the fun factor will definitely outweigh this!
I know this are largely built from a mondeo, I have been obviously looking at pictures.. Are the door handles as ghetto as they look? Haha not a big thing but something I noticed. They look shocking!
What sort of MPG do you guys get? Road tax etc?
The one I'm looking at now worries me after seeing cost of the ECU upgrade, diff upgrade etc! so may give that one a miss!
The one issue I may have thinking of it.. I work offshore in the wind farms and have to carry my kit with me when I go the harbour each morning, it's a hold all (just normal size sports hold all) any chance of this fitting? Rather not start putting stuff on passenger seat!
I'm sure the luxury (lack of) will hit hard, I'm currently driving a high spec BMW with heated everything, electric everything, massage seats etc. I'm really hoping the fun factor will definitely outweigh this!
I know this are largely built from a mondeo, I have been obviously looking at pictures.. Are the door handles as ghetto as they look? Haha not a big thing but something I noticed. They look shocking!
What sort of MPG do you guys get? Road tax etc?
The one I'm looking at now worries me after seeing cost of the ECU upgrade, diff upgrade etc! so may give that one a miss!
J13ME said:
Thanks for the replies guys!
The one issue I may have thinking of it.. I work offshore in the wind farms and have to carry my kit with me when I go the harbour each morning, it's a hold all (just normal size sports hold all) any chance of this fitting? Rather not start putting stuff on passenger seat!
I'm sure the luxury (lack of) will hit hard, I'm currently driving a high spec BMW with heated everything, electric everything, massage seats etc. I'm really hoping the fun factor will definitely outweigh this!
I know this are largely built from a mondeo, I have been obviously looking at pictures.. Are the door handles as ghetto as they look? Haha not a big thing but something I noticed. They look shocking!
What sort of MPG do you guys get? Road tax etc?
The one I'm looking at now worries me after seeing cost of the ECU upgrade, diff upgrade etc! so may give that one a miss!
Don't give it a miss until u find out if it has the upgrades or notThe one issue I may have thinking of it.. I work offshore in the wind farms and have to carry my kit with me when I go the harbour each morning, it's a hold all (just normal size sports hold all) any chance of this fitting? Rather not start putting stuff on passenger seat!
I'm sure the luxury (lack of) will hit hard, I'm currently driving a high spec BMW with heated everything, electric everything, massage seats etc. I'm really hoping the fun factor will definitely outweigh this!
I know this are largely built from a mondeo, I have been obviously looking at pictures.. Are the door handles as ghetto as they look? Haha not a big thing but something I noticed. They look shocking!
What sort of MPG do you guys get? Road tax etc?
The one I'm looking at now worries me after seeing cost of the ECU upgrade, diff upgrade etc! so may give that one a miss!
I love the car, the colour for me is perfect. Was stunned when I see it! put my car straight up for sale! Good job I looked into it a bit more. Will ask in details when they open tomorrow.
John, it's not ideal. I can't buy anything and collect because as you say.. I'm near NOBODY! Haha
John, it's not ideal. I can't buy anything and collect because as you say.. I'm near NOBODY! Haha
J13ME said:
The one issue I may have thinking of it.. I work offshore in the wind farms and have to carry my kit with me when I go the harbour each morning, it's a hold all (just normal size sports hold all) any chance of this fitting? Rather not start putting stuff on passenger seat!
A Holdall will go in the passenger footwell. Can be stuffed behind a seat - there's space but the problem is the seat won't go forward far enough to accept a holdall that's stuffed full as the seat is rigid. If say 2/3rds full then it'll go. But on a daily basis you won't want to be moving the seat forward and back..J13ME said:
I'm sure the luxury (lack of) will hit hard, I'm currently driving a high spec BMW with heated everything, electric everything, massage seats etc. I'm really hoping the fun factor will definitely outweigh this!
I drive an E-class Merc on a daily basis. Electric and comfort everything. I sometimes drive the Noble to work as a "Friday Car" as a treat to myself. On a cold winter's drizzly morning, as I leave the house I would choose the Merc any day. When I'm thinking about this morning's meeting, dodging the traffic and joining the grey, rain-swept, dreary, straight stretch of motorway on my commute, the last thing I'm thinking of is the fun factor. On a Friday, when the sun's out and I know it's POETS day, then the Noble remains a reserved treat. And I take the long way home!I would absolutely hate to get bored or fed up with driving it!
J13ME said:
I know this are largely built from a mondeo, I have been obviously looking at pictures.. Are the door handles as ghetto as they look? Haha not a big thing but something I noticed. They look shocking!
What sort of MPG do you guys get? Road tax etc?
The one I'm looking at now worries me after seeing cost of the ECU upgrade, diff upgrade etc! so may give that one a miss!
Not so much is Ford. Engine, lights, switch gear. It's as much Mondeo as my TVR was Fiesta/Rover. I hate the door handles. I hate the switch gear (the stalks & heater controls are the two elements that I must pioneer a replacement solution). Rear lights are unexciting - would like to 'French' in some lotus (or even Ferrari) rear lights, so long as it didn't look DIY. What sort of MPG do you guys get? Road tax etc?
The one I'm looking at now worries me after seeing cost of the ECU upgrade, diff upgrade etc! so may give that one a miss!
Notwithstanding what you said, anyone who is at all concerned about MPG is buying the wrong car. (The big exception to this statement is re the size of the fuel tank. Lack of range is a pain in the butt. 200 miles,.... but who knows what the modified boys get. I'd love to know.)
Road tax is £260 IIRC.
The one on the 'bay, at £25k is at a premium due to it's stunning condition and low mileage. (As far as I can tell from the ad). For this money or a little more, you could get a later (say 04 plate) GTO-3 which will have all of the "problems" sorted at source from new, but may have 20k more miles on it. Any niggles will have been sorted, and you won't be worried about trashing your pristine example. This car needs to be sold to someone who will maintain its low mileage and be attracted to its unfettled nature (Notwithstanding the mods others have listed as 'essential' for a 2.5). And you can always get your car resprayed or wrapped, if the base colour isn't right. Go for something mad - I hear lime green is popular ...
Good luck with your search. Others have used them as their daily, but I won't unless my office was the other side of the Stelvio Pass.
My "unmolested, unmodified example" has cost me £5-10k bringing it up to a usable, reliable spec since I bought it. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't buy that yellow one (sorry, whoever it is)
Nothing wrong with a 2.5 though, they're still quicker point-to-point than pretty much anything else on the road and damn fun to chuck around a trackday at a decent speed. If you're just going for a road car, worry about what the engine map is like rather than how much power it has as pull want decent drive ability.
Where are you based?
Nothing wrong with a 2.5 though, they're still quicker point-to-point than pretty much anything else on the road and damn fun to chuck around a trackday at a decent speed. If you're just going for a road car, worry about what the engine map is like rather than how much power it has as pull want decent drive ability.
Where are you based?
Massive thanks for your post!
The bag is not even half full but heavy and has life jacket so rather not be "wedging" that lol will be fine on floor then
The MPG isn't an issue, in fact the opposite. I'm working out how much this will save me! LOL i would jump for joy if it got 15mpg on a run!
With the stalks etc surely there are options? Kit cars etc use the chrome ones? Something like this could be retro fitted maybe?
Thanks again.
Jamie
The bag is not even half full but heavy and has life jacket so rather not be "wedging" that lol will be fine on floor then
The MPG isn't an issue, in fact the opposite. I'm working out how much this will save me! LOL i would jump for joy if it got 15mpg on a run!
With the stalks etc surely there are options? Kit cars etc use the chrome ones? Something like this could be retro fitted maybe?
Thanks again.
Jamie
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