Discussion
I've heard it said the build quality of our cars isn't too good. Well I was out in mine this evening and was thinking that although I now have 67000 glorious miles on the clock, the car doesn't actually have any rattles. No noise from the dash nor clonking doors. The clams close properly, as they always have and the interior is fine too. Nothing has snapped off in there and the only sign of wear and tear is the drivers seat. And that's not so bad that I'm planning on doing anything about it yet. Those of you who know me will also know that I'm not one to constantly tinker and polish; I'd rather be out in it. So it hasn't be lovingly cared for as much as some of yours. But with that mileage, I'd say it has weathered extremely well for a low volume car 'built in a shed'.
My wife's Juke is now a year and a half old with 28000 on the clock and the dash rattle is so annoying, I struggle to drive without keep focusing on it and giving it a push in the hope it might stop!
I've even got my original exhaust still, albeit I think it's on its way now as the sound may have got a little deeper in recent months.
So there you have it. There might be some cheapy bits bolted to a Noble, but my reckoning, they ain't so bad after all.
My wife's Juke is now a year and a half old with 28000 on the clock and the dash rattle is so annoying, I struggle to drive without keep focusing on it and giving it a push in the hope it might stop!
I've even got my original exhaust still, albeit I think it's on its way now as the sound may have got a little deeper in recent months.
So there you have it. There might be some cheapy bits bolted to a Noble, but my reckoning, they ain't so bad after all.
Well said that man 
IMH Noble build quality is very good. I'd expect that the percentage of builds suffering issues with paint, wheel cracking etc. over the past 13 years is similar to those experienced by any of the world's major car brands. Of course, it's the nature of reporting that you generally hear about the "bad" stories and not the good - like in this post.
IMH Noble build quality is very good. I'd expect that the percentage of builds suffering issues with paint, wheel cracking etc. over the past 13 years is similar to those experienced by any of the world's major car brands. Of course, it's the nature of reporting that you generally hear about the "bad" stories and not the good - like in this post.
AMG Merc said:
Well said that man
IMH Noble build quality is very good. I'd expect that the percentage of builds suffering issues with paint, wheel cracking etc. over the past 13 years is similar to those experienced by any of the world's major car brands. Of course, it's the nature of reporting that you generally hear about the "bad" stories and not the good - like in this post.
I'm in an industry where people just love to moan and be overly picky about things. When they don't moan it is very rewarding. I believe too many people forget to give praise when it's needed because they've become so negative over the years.IMH Noble build quality is very good. I'd expect that the percentage of builds suffering issues with paint, wheel cracking etc. over the past 13 years is similar to those experienced by any of the world's major car brands. Of course, it's the nature of reporting that you generally hear about the "bad" stories and not the good - like in this post.
In the case of the Noble, I'm not praising it just because I have one, but because it does an excellent job. That chassis and suspension? On our public roads? You get a comfortable but hard ride and yet it hasn't shaken the car to bits, so what can you say about that? My wife's car is effing awful!!!
One of the most astounding things I found with my M400 was the depth of compliance on road.
I have had a few "higher end" cars and nothing could touch the Noble in this department.
I have an Ultima now and try as I may with different geo,tyres and damping I cannot get near the ride quality of the Noble.
I have had a few "higher end" cars and nothing could touch the Noble in this department.
I have an Ultima now and try as I may with different geo,tyres and damping I cannot get near the ride quality of the Noble.
mgbond said:
Not sure I have ever herd the build quality was an issue. I think the issue has always been reliability.
Well I certainly can't quote where I've read/heard about quality, but I'm pretty sure there has been talking of cheap plastic bits & Ford parts bin derogatory remarks. They're even saying things about the M600 & it hasn't had time to even prove itself. And that's the point..how can people make comments before a car has even covered a reasonably high mileage? As for reliability, I don't think mine has done too badly there either. As I said, it still has the original exhaust. The engine itself has never had one issue either. Bits n pieces like discs, pads & shocks obviously have been replaced. The bad bits have been too many turbos, but then that's turbos for you. I sorted the manifolds & fitted lsd, so they're fine.
If Le Mans were on this weekend, I wouldn't think twice about jumping straight in and driving down. All I'd do is check my fluids.
bernhund said:
Well I certainly can't quote where I've read/heard about quality, but I'm pretty sure there has been talking of cheap plastic bits & Ford parts bin derogatory remarks. They're even saying things about the M600 & it hasn't had time to even prove itself. And that's the point..how can people make comments before a car has even covered a reasonably high mileage?
As for reliability, I don't think mine has done too badly there either. As I said, it still has the original exhaust. The engine itself has never had one issue either. Bits n pieces like discs, pads & shocks obviously have been replaced. The bad bits have been too many turbos, but then that's turbos for you. I sorted the manifolds & fitted lsd, so they're fine.
If Le Mans were on this weekend, I wouldn't think twice about jumping straight in and driving down. All I'd do is check my fluids.
Yeah, I get the ford bin bits but that's not build quality but quality of parts used. There are loads of people that have reliable cars and quite a few that have had issues. It's a hand made car so it's bound to have some issues. As for reliability, I don't think mine has done too badly there either. As I said, it still has the original exhaust. The engine itself has never had one issue either. Bits n pieces like discs, pads & shocks obviously have been replaced. The bad bits have been too many turbos, but then that's turbos for you. I sorted the manifolds & fitted lsd, so they're fine.
If Le Mans were on this weekend, I wouldn't think twice about jumping straight in and driving down. All I'd do is check my fluids.
F.C. said:
One of the most astounding things I found with my M400 was the depth of compliance on road.
I have had a few "higher end" cars and nothing could touch the Noble in this department.
I have an Ultima now and try as I may with different geo,tyres and damping I cannot get near the ride quality of the Noble.
Could not agree more, just fantastic.I have had a few "higher end" cars and nothing could touch the Noble in this department.
I have an Ultima now and try as I may with different geo,tyres and damping I cannot get near the ride quality of the Noble.
mgbond said:
Yeah, I get the ford bin bits but that's not build quality but quality of parts used. There are loads of people that have reliable cars and quite a few that have had issues. It's a hand made car so it's bound to have some issues.
The only things that have bothered me have been the ford bin parts, mostly the hot/cold dial which is very shoddy in mine and practically has to be forced round. Air vents are really loose but then I've done nothing to sort them out and the same could be said of any 10+ year old car. A variable intermittent wipe would be nice rather than the ford fiesta indicators! But I'm really just nitpicking here, build quality has been better than I'd expect from a low volume, highly strung, hand built sports car.I had a Porsche 997 C2S for four and a half years ,things went on that car that would not go wrong on virtually any other mass produced mainstream marque. Not serious things but the reality does not match the bomb proof myth surrounding the brand.
And that is before Porsche Paranoia sets in regarding scored bores and IMS failure ,I thought long and hard about a Noble before taking the plunge ,my theory is at least the parts will be cheaper.
And that is before Porsche Paranoia sets in regarding scored bores and IMS failure ,I thought long and hard about a Noble before taking the plunge ,my theory is at least the parts will be cheaper.
mgbond said:
bernhund said:
Well I certainly can't quote where I've read/heard about quality, but I'm pretty sure there has been talking of cheap plastic bits & Ford parts bin derogatory remarks. They're even saying things about the M600 & it hasn't had time to even prove itself. And that's the point..how can people make comments before a car has even covered a reasonably high mileage?
As for reliability, I don't think mine has done too badly there either. As I said, it still has the original exhaust. The engine itself has never had one issue either. Bits n pieces like discs, pads & shocks obviously have been replaced. The bad bits have been too many turbos, but then that's turbos for you. I sorted the manifolds & fitted lsd, so they're fine.
If Le Mans were on this weekend, I wouldn't think twice about jumping straight in and driving down. All I'd do is check my fluids.
Yeah, I get the ford bin bits but that's not build quality but quality of parts used. There are loads of people that have reliable cars and quite a few that have had issues. It's a hand made car so it's bound to have some issues. As for reliability, I don't think mine has done too badly there either. As I said, it still has the original exhaust. The engine itself has never had one issue either. Bits n pieces like discs, pads & shocks obviously have been replaced. The bad bits have been too many turbos, but then that's turbos for you. I sorted the manifolds & fitted lsd, so they're fine.
If Le Mans were on this weekend, I wouldn't think twice about jumping straight in and driving down. All I'd do is check my fluids.
t the British weather can throw at it, it has done remarkably well. I expect low volume cars like these to have problems; it goes with the territory. So just a summery for those with low mileage and hope for the future that it doesn't rattle itself apart. Mine lies testament to that. (that doesn't mean to say everyone else's will of course!)GTO3RTricky said:
The only things that have bothered me have been the ford bin parts, mostly the hot/cold dial which is very shoddy in mine and practically has to be forced round.
The Ford part will have been fitted to millions of cars without operational issue. The problem isn't the dial design itself rather the application - mainly where Noble had to route the cabling to reach the water valve behind the radio.bernhund said:
Maybe I used the wrong term 'build quality' when talking about criticisms of the Noble? I used it as an 'umbrella' term for the critics of the car.. you know, poor design, cheapy parts, reliability. But what I'm really saying in a nutshell, is that for a high miler like mine, which has seen plenty of snow, rain, frost and all the other st the British weather can throw at it, it has done remarkably well. I expect low volume cars like these to have problems; it goes with the territory. So just a summery for those with low mileage and hope for the future that it doesn't rattle itself apart. Mine lies testament to that. (that doesn't mean to say everyone else's will of course!)
I'm on about 65k also and have had it for almost 10 years. Main issues for me have just been engine related. Build quality has been very good. t the British weather can throw at it, it has done remarkably well. I expect low volume cars like these to have problems; it goes with the territory. So just a summery for those with low mileage and hope for the future that it doesn't rattle itself apart. Mine lies testament to that. (that doesn't mean to say everyone else's will of course!)
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