Buying a toy - advice please

[noosie]

Hi. Usual sort of thing. I'm looking to buy a weekend/summer toy. I doubt i'll be doing any track days, but would like something quick and fun. Been looking at the usual suspects, it seems! - 911 turbo (996 & 997), GTR, Exige, Evora, etc.
The thing is i've always hankered after a Noble M12. I've read the M12 buying guide on here. Looked on the net (lots). So now i thought i'd ask the people that know.
There don't seem to be too many for sale at the mo. Seen a black GTO -3R on autotrader which i quite like the look of. Anybody kwow this car?
Any advice on anything i won't have read already would be greatly received.
Thanks

[simonx50]

Buy one it will be the best car you've driven

[JayH888]

noosie said:

There don't seem to be too many for sale at the mo.

That's because once you have one you will never want to sell it!
Simply one of the best drivers cars ever.

[supaniga]

Buy one ,but it will empty your bank account quicker than a bad crack cocaine habit if you let it !

[Ian Perry]

Had a 997 C2S for over 4 years, loved it .I appreciate a 996/997 turbo is a different beast having driven both but the best drivers car I have ever had is the Noble.

Absolutely addictive ,if you don't like attention then look elsewhere fantastic cars.As Clarkson say's it's better than stuff costing ten times as much.

[Spindoctor]

I appreciated the 997T as an amazing machine. As everyone says, its brilliant German engineering and it goes very fast. But it sounds like a hoover on a low setting and even in the manual version driver involvement is minimal. Great as a daily drive but not enough passion for a weekend toy. I admired it but I didn't fall in love and I don't miss it.

The Noble is the best driver's car of the bunch you've listed, by a mile. All the advice you need is on this forum, but if you have a specific question its best to just ask.

[Libs]

You won't regret it. Fabulous drivers car for the money.

Buy now while stocks last. I suspect more and more will be long term keepers, mine is.

[AMG Merc]

I have (and love) both: There are various ways to compare ("un-compare") these two motors and I won't go into all of these here (mail me externally if needed) but I will say that one is the most complete "does everything" daily driver on the market and t'other isn't - IMHO

As always it depends on what you want the car for/to do and how it fits into your lifestyle.

[macky17]

If a "weekend summer toy" is what you're after then forget the 911 turbo and the gtr. I've owned both. They are daily drivers for people who can afford to run them that way and don't need more space. Very fast and capable but also lacking in involvement and fun. They take themselves too seriously.

Noble is the best drivers car for the money and can run rings around pretty much anything. The only other car I've owned I would consider as a toy would be a sorted Tuscan S - ignore the horror stories, a good one that's had a rebuild and suspension upgrade won't be unreliable or any more expensive to run than an m12 (less so according to Bespoke). Dynamically inferior to the Noble but more theatre and arguably even more fun.

Have no experience of the Lotuses but worth a look. Noble much faster...

[noosie]

I've lots to think about. Showed some pics to the long haired management and her reaction was - "what is that? I'm not going to be seen in that. What's that on the back? Your not getting one of those"
So, it's a M12 for me then. Hopefully going to check one out next week. Must swat up on the buying guide

[AMG Merc]

noosie said:

I've lots to think about. Showed some pics to the long haired management and her reaction was - "what is that? I'm not going to be seen in that. What's that on the back? Your not getting one of those" So, it's a M12 for me then.

This is most excellent news The last thing you'd want is 'er indoors' liking it and perhaps wanting to take it for a spin

[V1DL3R]

noosie said:

I've lots to think about. Showed some pics to the long haired management and her reaction was - "what is that? I'm not going to be seen in that. What's that on the back? Your not getting one of those"
So, it's a M12 for me then. Hopefully going to check one out next week. Must swat up on the buying guide

I waiting until mine had gone on a 'girls weekend' and it just arrived on the drive. She wasn't best please but naff all she could do about really. She's now worried every time she goes away. I quite often transfer large amounts of money from the joint account into mine and back again when she is away too so she gets the text message saying a 'huge' transfer has taken place just to keep her on her toes. We have a fun relationship.

p.s mine will be sale, spec is in another thread, feel free to PM if you would like to view off market.

[AMG Merc]

V1DL3R said:

noosie said:

I waiting until mine had gone on a 'girls weekend' and it just arrived on the drive. She wasn't best please but naff all she could do about really. She's now worried every time she goes away. I quite often transfer large amounts of money from the joint account into mine and back again when she is away too so she gets the text message saying a 'huge' transfer has taken place just to keep her on her toes. We have a fun relationship.

That's funny I do something similar (but then usually end up adding one the "fleet" with nowhere to park it!)