M12 GTO compared to e36 m3

[e46m3c]

Hi,

Might be a bit of an unusual post this but here goes.

I have a fully stripped and caged e36 m3 evo. 1200kg 325 bhp. Trackdays only.

I wondered if anyone has driven a similar car and can compare it to an M12 for trackday usage.

Im considering something lighter/faster/no power steering or abs to get a bit more involvement. M12 would tick the box if a little expensive. Modified VX220 another option. Caterham but i need a roof/to drive to trackdays in it.

Id be interested to hear your thoughts. Not so fussed about laptimes as joy/involvement/reward. I can always charge the M3 to silly power if its mainly just the power difference.

[andygtt]

e46m3c said:

Hi,

Might be a bit of an unusual post this but here goes.

I have a fully stripped and caged e36 m3 evo. 1200kg 325 bhp. Trackdays only.

I wondered if anyone has driven a similar car and can compare it to an M12 for trackday usage.

Im considering something lighter/faster/no power steering or abs to get a bit more involvement. M12 would tick the box if a little expensive. Modified VX220 another option. Caterham but i need a roof/to drive to trackdays in it.

Id be interested to hear your thoughts. Not so fussed about laptimes as joy/involvement/reward. I can always charge the M3 to silly power if its mainly just the power difference.

My Noble replaced my M3 evo... I stripped the evo completely and used it on track.... I never used the noble on track when it was stock but I have since it was modified.

There is not even a remote comparison performance wise... the M3 is fantastic, loved mine and only recently sold it (it was a thrashed state when I got rid of it lol) loved the engine etc etc... but the noble doesn't just have more power, it makes loads more power through the entire rev range and as such the performance advantage is more significant than the headline power figure would suggest.

Handling wise, again the M3 was fantastic... and you can spend huge money and make them sublime... however out of the box the noble runs rings round it.
As a track day car the Noble will be massively more expensive... I sold my M3 for £2k, If I had spent £2k on suspension, £2k on tyres and brakes and another £2k on other stuff it would have been an awesome track beast... not as fast as the noble, but able to do much more consecutive laps and generally cost loads less on consumables.
As a track car I think little can touch the M3 for value/performance.... a well driven one of these will easily keep up with average drivers in stock nobles IMo.

Worth mentioning the Noble does actually have power steering.

[e46m3c]

Did you find the noble a more involving drive? More rewarding on the limit.

My car has suspension, brakes etc. If anything i have taken it a stage to far as i drive it to track also and i dont like going further than 1.5hrs from home hehe.

If noble = more involving and more tolerant on track that it might be a candidate.

[andygtt]

Ive not driven a more involving drive than the Noble and I have had a few of the most involving cars Ultima, VX220, Boxster S, lotus 7 type, M3, M5... The noble is forgiving when you cock everything up, fast as hell and handles better than some race cars... it isn't a track focused machine though and therefore you have to spend time and money to make it a proper track car IMO.

Quite a few of us do road trips round euro taking in SPA or other tracks as we do... they are very compliant on the road.

[e46m3c]

just found your thread. Amazing!

My budget would only stretch to the cheapest m12 possible however i am handy with the spanners (although nowhere near your level) so mode/maintainence im happy with diy.

does it drift nicely?

[TrackMonkey]

Hi,

I have a Noble M12 GTO 3 that Im considering selling. Has recently had a lot refreshed to prepare it for Time Attack at Oulton Park. Running 376 bhp with a Track Day Sump.

Let me know if youre interested. Based in Cheshire ;-)

[Ian Perry]

I had an m3 evo as a company car and did a few track days [the boss was a top man and went with me] .Loved the car took it to 100k and only had to service it' never cost anything but service items.

A Noble is a different beast ,every time I go out in it I marvel how a car that handles so well is so compliant you can drive it anywhere. I have had 911's etc but would not dream of going back to one from my 3R, definitely a great drivers car.

[andygtt]

e46m3c said:

just found your thread. Amazing!

My budget would only stretch to the cheapest m12 possible however i am handy with the spanners (although nowhere near your level) so mode/maintainence im happy with diy.

does it drift nicely?

It can drift a little unlike most there mid engined cars I have owned... but its not even close to the M3 as a drift tool.

[Chapppers]

e46m3c said:

just found your thread. Amazing!

My budget would only stretch to the cheapest m12 possible however i am handy with the spanners (although nowhere near your level) so mode/maintainence im happy with diy.

does it drift nicely?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn_PMavUXiQ

Its certainly quite benign on the limit but not a proper FR drifter by any means. It's harder to hold a slide because there's way more traction with the engine in the back rather than the front. You tend to accelerate whatever you're doing. Good fun on track but there's a lot to be said about a well sorted BMW of any sort really.