Curious potential owner questions
Discussion
Guys I'm wondering if you can help, after a couple of years driving a Navara I've finally grown bored (and maybe something to do with turning 40 lol) and fancy getting back into a fast car. The car will be my daily, although I only work 5 mins from home on country roads, and have the option of being dropped off in the wifes X5 if weather gets too bad. I find myself drawn to the M12 but wondered if it really was the car for me so:
1. I know people do use them daily, and im fully aware of how raw they are, but is it really I good idea to use them daily. Im concerned with water ingress (both through the floor and possibly door seals etc). I have a garage but its kinda full of bikes and crap, would it be insane to keep it on the drive (Im thinking of those autumn mornings where there's a bit of frost),
2. Without going into the many problems and fixes, are they easy to spot on a viewing if the fix has been done?
3. Will a GTO3 or 3R offer a more reliable experience?
4. Chassis corrosion, are there any common problem areas, are they easy to spot on a viewing? Linking to point 1, am I in for a world of trouble running it year round re chassis corrosion?
5. The wife aint to happy about me losing another huge chunk of cash on a car in depreciation again so what are the prices like regarding this, im kinda thinking in 5 years time itd be a lot better than say what you would get for a £28k XKR 5.0?
I love my turbo cars and the noble seems to offer a fair bit of what I want as long as I can live with it, I know a lot of u say "just buy a dog to go to work in" but tbh I pretty much only use a car for work, I cycle other places. If the noble is unusable all year round i'll just have to write it off and go for something more sanitised like an Evora/XKR
thanks
Jay
1. I know people do use them daily, and im fully aware of how raw they are, but is it really I good idea to use them daily. Im concerned with water ingress (both through the floor and possibly door seals etc). I have a garage but its kinda full of bikes and crap, would it be insane to keep it on the drive (Im thinking of those autumn mornings where there's a bit of frost),
2. Without going into the many problems and fixes, are they easy to spot on a viewing if the fix has been done?
3. Will a GTO3 or 3R offer a more reliable experience?
4. Chassis corrosion, are there any common problem areas, are they easy to spot on a viewing? Linking to point 1, am I in for a world of trouble running it year round re chassis corrosion?
5. The wife aint to happy about me losing another huge chunk of cash on a car in depreciation again so what are the prices like regarding this, im kinda thinking in 5 years time itd be a lot better than say what you would get for a £28k XKR 5.0?
I love my turbo cars and the noble seems to offer a fair bit of what I want as long as I can live with it, I know a lot of u say "just buy a dog to go to work in" but tbh I pretty much only use a car for work, I cycle other places. If the noble is unusable all year round i'll just have to write it off and go for something more sanitised like an Evora/XKR
thanks
Jay
I ran mine as a company car for the first few years when I got mine, drove it rain, shine or snow... was 100% reliable in them years and did over 20k.
Rust on the chassis isn't a major problem, some have it around the rear under the exhaust but its easy for a garage to cut out an replace cheaply, floors do leak but can be re-sealed, i'm yet to need to do mine and i've had it 7 years.
the later the car the better in completely stock cars as they were in constant development from the factory... but in truth most cars have had the known 'mods' done to make them more reliable... its power hikes etc that need to be done properly as its easy to get power but without other mods can be less reliable (just like almost every other model car out there).
I bought mine for 23k 7 years ago... you would need to spend 28k plus to buy the same car now... prices have stayed pretty much static for entire time I have owned the car and now 'seem' to be creaping up slightly.
Running cost can be high if you need loads of work done as the cars are getting older, just like any other sports car... but when I ran mine as my only car it cost less than the M3 it replaced and much MUCH less than the M5 that replaced it.
Rust on the chassis isn't a major problem, some have it around the rear under the exhaust but its easy for a garage to cut out an replace cheaply, floors do leak but can be re-sealed, i'm yet to need to do mine and i've had it 7 years.
the later the car the better in completely stock cars as they were in constant development from the factory... but in truth most cars have had the known 'mods' done to make them more reliable... its power hikes etc that need to be done properly as its easy to get power but without other mods can be less reliable (just like almost every other model car out there).
I bought mine for 23k 7 years ago... you would need to spend 28k plus to buy the same car now... prices have stayed pretty much static for entire time I have owned the car and now 'seem' to be creaping up slightly.
Running cost can be high if you need loads of work done as the cars are getting older, just like any other sports car... but when I ran mine as my only car it cost less than the M3 it replaced and much MUCH less than the M5 that replaced it.
jevansio said:
Guys I'm wondering if you can help, after a couple of years driving a Navara I've finally grown bored (and maybe something to do with turning 40 lol) and fancy getting back into a fast car. The car will be my daily, although I only work 5 mins from home on country roads, and have the option of being dropped off in the wifes X5 if weather gets too bad. I find myself drawn to the M12 but wondered if it really was the car for me so:
1. I know people do use them daily, and im fully aware of how raw they are, but is it really I good idea to use them daily. Im concerned with water ingress (both through the floor and possibly door seals etc). I have a garage but its kinda full of bikes and crap, would it be insane to keep it on the drive (Im thinking of those autumn mornings where there's a bit of frost),
2. Without going into the many problems and fixes, are they easy to spot on a viewing if the fix has been done?
3. Will a GTO3 or 3R offer a more reliable experience?
4. Chassis corrosion, are there any common problem areas, are they easy to spot on a viewing? Linking to point 1, am I in for a world of trouble running it year round re chassis corrosion?
5. The wife aint to happy about me losing another huge chunk of cash on a car in depreciation again so what are the prices like regarding this, im kinda thinking in 5 years time itd be a lot better than say what you would get for a £28k XKR 5.0?
I love my turbo cars and the noble seems to offer a fair bit of what I want as long as I can live with it, I know a lot of u say "just buy a dog to go to work in" but tbh I pretty much only use a car for work, I cycle other places. If the noble is unusable all year round i'll just have to write it off and go for something more sanitised like an Evora/XKR
thanks
Jay
Items 4 and 5 are directly proportional to item 1. Unless you have £30k worth of 'bikes and crap' in your garage, find another home for them and keep your expensive toy in the garage.1. I know people do use them daily, and im fully aware of how raw they are, but is it really I good idea to use them daily. Im concerned with water ingress (both through the floor and possibly door seals etc). I have a garage but its kinda full of bikes and crap, would it be insane to keep it on the drive (Im thinking of those autumn mornings where there's a bit of frost),
2. Without going into the many problems and fixes, are they easy to spot on a viewing if the fix has been done?
3. Will a GTO3 or 3R offer a more reliable experience?
4. Chassis corrosion, are there any common problem areas, are they easy to spot on a viewing? Linking to point 1, am I in for a world of trouble running it year round re chassis corrosion?
5. The wife aint to happy about me losing another huge chunk of cash on a car in depreciation again so what are the prices like regarding this, im kinda thinking in 5 years time itd be a lot better than say what you would get for a £28k XKR 5.0?
I love my turbo cars and the noble seems to offer a fair bit of what I want as long as I can live with it, I know a lot of u say "just buy a dog to go to work in" but tbh I pretty much only use a car for work, I cycle other places. If the noble is unusable all year round i'll just have to write it off and go for something more sanitised like an Evora/XKR
thanks
Jay
Put 50,000 miles on my M12 in 8 years. It has been driven in all weathers, it has been rejected from my garage on so many occasions because I've had to store other things and it has been driven whenever possible. Yet the only 'weather' caused issue I've had with it was a rusty rear clip, this being the small chassis tubes that hold the rear clam on. Got that replaced and back to normal again.
The only thing I'd say against daily driving is that when it really rains, the wipers and the visibility get you down a bit...but not enough to put you off!
The only thing I'd say against daily driving is that when it really rains, the wipers and the visibility get you down a bit...but not enough to put you off!
Jay,
Go for it you won't regret it! But I agree with Rob (Blu3R) buy a shed, get rid of the crap, and keep your pride and joy cosy when you can.
Negotiating tip - I wasn't sure I could run to one so went to see something not so good which my wife violently objected to. "Why don't you wait until you find something you really want?" said she. 2 days later mine came up at Kerridges. "You know that nice Noble (bernhund's) we saw recently......" I said. Deal struck the following day with approval!
If you see a good one don't hesitate. I could get much more than I paid 3 years ago (but that's not why I bought it).
Best of luck with your search.
Libs
PS Get a good trickle charger - e.g. C-Tek. Changing the battery is a right pain in the a**e.
Go for it you won't regret it! But I agree with Rob (Blu3R) buy a shed, get rid of the crap, and keep your pride and joy cosy when you can.
Negotiating tip - I wasn't sure I could run to one so went to see something not so good which my wife violently objected to. "Why don't you wait until you find something you really want?" said she. 2 days later mine came up at Kerridges. "You know that nice Noble (bernhund's) we saw recently......" I said. Deal struck the following day with approval!
If you see a good one don't hesitate. I could get much more than I paid 3 years ago (but that's not why I bought it).
Best of luck with your search.
Libs
PS Get a good trickle charger - e.g. C-Tek. Changing the battery is a right pain in the a**e.
Jay,
Go for it you won't regret it! But I agree with Rob (Blu3R) buy a shed, get rid of the crap, and keep your pride and joy cosy when you can.
Negotiating tip - I wasn't sure I could run to one so went to see something not so good which my wife violently objected to. "Why don't you wait until you find something you really want?" said she. 2 days later mine came up at Kerridges. "You know that nice Noble (bernhund's) we saw recently......" I said. Deal struck the following day with approval!
If you see a good one don't hesitate. I could get much more than I paid 3 years ago (but that's not why I bought it).
Best of luck with your search.
Libs
PS Get a good trickle charger - e.g. C-Tek. Changing the battery is a right pain in the a**e.
Go for it you won't regret it! But I agree with Rob (Blu3R) buy a shed, get rid of the crap, and keep your pride and joy cosy when you can.
Negotiating tip - I wasn't sure I could run to one so went to see something not so good which my wife violently objected to. "Why don't you wait until you find something you really want?" said she. 2 days later mine came up at Kerridges. "You know that nice Noble (bernhund's) we saw recently......" I said. Deal struck the following day with approval!
If you see a good one don't hesitate. I could get much more than I paid 3 years ago (but that's not why I bought it).
Best of luck with your search.
Libs
PS Get a good trickle charger - e.g. C-Tek. Changing the battery is a right pain in the a**e.
Again many thanks guys, one more question, the GTO-3R's seem to command at least 3-4k over the 3's, I realise the newer car would be better but would sourcing an ST220 6 spd box (dunno if these come with LSD as standard? / or fitting a new LSD) get me mechanically the same car as a 3R?
jevansio said:
Again many thanks guys, one more question, the GTO-3R's seem to command at least 3-4k over the 3's, I realise the newer car would be better but would sourcing an ST220 6 spd box (dunno if these come with LSD as standard? / or fitting a new LSD) get me mechanically the same car as a 3R?
Bear in mind that not all 3s and 3Rs are equal. There were a very small number of late 3s fitted with 6 speed boxes and also a very small number of early 3Rs fitted with the 5 speed. If you find a car with the 6 speed from new then it will have the Quaife ATB diff but don't assume that a modified car will. There are also ATBs available for the 5 speed so check the history file of any car you want to view. The work involved to convert from 5 to 6 will be well into the thousands.Another thing to bear in mind is the gear linkage. The M400 linkage is light years ahead in terms of response and can be fitted to earlier cars (my December 2003 3R had it fitted by the factory at it's first service in early '04). These days other companies offer a similar upgrade and while I haven't experienced any others I'd say they are probably worth the money as it transforms the 'stirring porridge' feeling. I don't know however if they can be fitted to 5 speed cars.
3Rs also came standard with leather (alcantara a no cost option), some additional interior trimmed panels (centre tunnel and 3x dash pads) and of course the newer front clam and wheels.
Edited by Blu3R on Friday 27th March 09:55
like Tuxman I converted my GT03 from 5 speed to 6 speed, its a lot of work and will cost more that 3-4k even if you do the work yourself.
The 3r has leather seats, upgraded front lights, different wheels... in truth it is worth the premium not just because they are newer.
Performance is identical however and some 3r's had a 5 speed box (some 3's had 6 speed as well).... my advice is buy on condition and the way it drives.
The 3r has leather seats, upgraded front lights, different wheels... in truth it is worth the premium not just because they are newer.
Performance is identical however and some 3r's had a 5 speed box (some 3's had 6 speed as well).... my advice is buy on condition and the way it drives.
Thanks guys, this is all really helpful, there's a couple up at the mo which look interesting, that £25k GTO3 with the trafficstar wheels and the £28k with the 6 spd & diff both fit my spec, still a while away from purchase like, but the Noble has grown on me loads as the top of the list car
I've had mine coming on three years but it's purely a weekend toy. I couldn't imagine living with it all year round but I certainly miss having it in the winter. It's great fun and really turns heads. I think it's also a car you just can't get bored driving. to be honest i hate people looking at you in traffic but it's a good feeling walking back to it with a crowd round it.
I held on for a 3r purely for the gearbox and the revised front end as I just preffered the looks of it. Mine was actually spec'd from factory with the alcantara as Opposed to the leather so like everyone says there are lots of variance even in the different models.
I don't think you would regret it but echo others saying to clear your garage as I would hate to leave mine outside as I just couldn't see it being as hard wearing as your standard car for keeping the water / condensation out etc.
I held on for a 3r purely for the gearbox and the revised front end as I just preffered the looks of it. Mine was actually spec'd from factory with the alcantara as Opposed to the leather so like everyone says there are lots of variance even in the different models.
I don't think you would regret it but echo others saying to clear your garage as I would hate to leave mine outside as I just couldn't see it being as hard wearing as your standard car for keeping the water / condensation out etc.
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