What's really happening to Noble?
Discussion
Dear All
I dunno about you, but I haven't noticed many new owners posting on this forum for a long time and by that, I mean the best part of a year. Are Noble still selling the M12/M400? I know their web site says they are and every now again someone probes them and they respond by saying they are. But are they really?
How many new Nobles have been ordered/shipped in the UK in the last six months? I reckon the answer is a big round zero. According to US sources they are taking about five cars a month from South Africa. Why are the UK not taking delivery of new cars? Is the British car buyer fed up with the Noble brand? Or does it no longer make financial sense for Noble to sell new cars in the UK?
The talk of the M14 order book being converted to M15 orders is hardly surprising. Those M14 deposit makers are still waiting to decide which direction to take. How many new deposits have been taken since the lanuch of the M15? How long before a demonstrator becomes available? How long before the Noble brand and its order book are sold to an ill informed third party? and the brand and its wonderfull cars lost forever?
Please allay my concerns Mr Noble.
JL.
I dunno about you, but I haven't noticed many new owners posting on this forum for a long time and by that, I mean the best part of a year. Are Noble still selling the M12/M400? I know their web site says they are and every now again someone probes them and they respond by saying they are. But are they really?
How many new Nobles have been ordered/shipped in the UK in the last six months? I reckon the answer is a big round zero. According to US sources they are taking about five cars a month from South Africa. Why are the UK not taking delivery of new cars? Is the British car buyer fed up with the Noble brand? Or does it no longer make financial sense for Noble to sell new cars in the UK?
The talk of the M14 order book being converted to M15 orders is hardly surprising. Those M14 deposit makers are still waiting to decide which direction to take. How many new deposits have been taken since the lanuch of the M15? How long before a demonstrator becomes available? How long before the Noble brand and its order book are sold to an ill informed third party? and the brand and its wonderfull cars lost forever?
Please allay my concerns Mr Noble.
JL.
Last time I spoke to Moley he said orders were still strong, and we've seen the regular set of new owners popping up on here over the last few months. If you check on the "my fleet" on here you'll find stacks of 2005 cars and the odd 2006. Given Noble exhaust their their SVA allocation rather quickly now it seems, I'd imagine it's just the same as it was in 2005 - that Noble couldn't actually sell any more cars for quite a few months of the year (when I spoke to Stuart in October they were effectivly on hold as they legally couldn't sell any more cars - but he did seem rather happy about it).
However, I'd not be suprised if the M15 hasn't dampened down sales until people have seen it either, as well as the fact that apart from the odd nutter like me, you rarely buy a "feel good" car like the M400 in the middle of winter.
Of course the other reason could be as Noble gets into the "mainstream" there are less geeks like us that 'ang out on here!
Anyone else have any other thoughts?
J
However, I'd not be suprised if the M15 hasn't dampened down sales until people have seen it either, as well as the fact that apart from the odd nutter like me, you rarely buy a "feel good" car like the M400 in the middle of winter.
Of course the other reason could be as Noble gets into the "mainstream" there are less geeks like us that 'ang out on here!
Anyone else have any other thoughts?
J
I was under the impression that there are limits on the amount of new cars Noble can make each year, and that they tend to hit that within the first half of the year and then have a quite patch.
I think there would have recently been a lull in new buyers while they wait to see/hear if/when a new M12 (mk 2) will/might appear, and also what the M15 is like.
The success of the M15 will undoubtably have a huge impact on the overall future of the marque.
If it fails to capture the hearts and enthusiasm of the gerenal car lover then Noble will see little benefit as a whole, rather just continuing to obtain the trust and admiration of the few hardcore petrolheads who like that something a little different.
This is why I personally feel strongly about making the M15 look asthetically beautiful to the masses and not just to the 250 people who like it enough to buy one.
The impact on Noble's future fortunes is directally proportional to the desires of those aged 10 and up to "own one of them one day!"
Am I ranting again? Not even been drinking! Not for 3 weeks actually!!
Greg
ps. Looking forward to Autocar in the morning!
I think there would have recently been a lull in new buyers while they wait to see/hear if/when a new M12 (mk 2) will/might appear, and also what the M15 is like.
The success of the M15 will undoubtably have a huge impact on the overall future of the marque.
If it fails to capture the hearts and enthusiasm of the gerenal car lover then Noble will see little benefit as a whole, rather just continuing to obtain the trust and admiration of the few hardcore petrolheads who like that something a little different.
This is why I personally feel strongly about making the M15 look asthetically beautiful to the masses and not just to the 250 people who like it enough to buy one.
The impact on Noble's future fortunes is directally proportional to the desires of those aged 10 and up to "own one of them one day!"
Am I ranting again? Not even been drinking! Not for 3 weeks actually!!
Greg
ps. Looking forward to Autocar in the morning!
Seems reasonable that they sell their quota each year and then have to lay up tools. Also Nobles may now be going beyond the pure enthusiasts core and out into the world beyond PH (is there one?). Certainly there's only a certain number of people on this list and there are many more Noble owners. So we may not be axis of all thing Noble anymore. The M15 also represents a step away from this market to a wider market. So all in all this may explain why it appears quieter here.
Regards
PauL C
Regards
PauL C
joust said:
SVA allocation rather quickly now it seems, I'd imagine it's just the same as it was in 2005 - that Noble couldn't actually sell any more cars for quite a few months of the year J
Just what is the total allocation per annum (a senior Noble employee once told me that any (Noble) manager could sign a document allowing the production of another X00 cars to be sold legally) - effectively multiplying the number of "build sets" by the number of signatories?
You can work it out from Micknall's press releases if you want.
It was 900+ in the Noble Owners' Club press release that Micknall put out in December 2005, and at the last owners club track day at Rockingham in March 2005, Micknall wrote 70 cars was "more than 10%" of the total production in Micknalls Rockingham NO trackday.
So, even if you assume 70 was just 10.1% of the cars, then that means there has been at least 206 cars were sold between March and December 2005 - pretty close to the 250 that they are allowed to do.
Looks like they are in fine health to me.
J
It was 900+ in the Noble Owners' Club press release that Micknall put out in December 2005, and at the last owners club track day at Rockingham in March 2005, Micknall wrote 70 cars was "more than 10%" of the total production in Micknalls Rockingham NO trackday.
So, even if you assume 70 was just 10.1% of the cars, then that means there has been at least 206 cars were sold between March and December 2005 - pretty close to the 250 that they are allowed to do.
Looks like they are in fine health to me.
J
Dear joshletter,
why do you choose to for your first post on a forum to ask if Noble are selling cars? Are you an owner? Are you thinking of buying? Or do you have some other vested interest?
Please excuse my scptisism, but we have seen on PH before people turning up just to cause trouble and get the old rumour mill grinding.
Martin.
why do you choose to for your first post on a forum to ask if Noble are selling cars? Are you an owner? Are you thinking of buying? Or do you have some other vested interest?
Please excuse my scptisism, but we have seen on PH before people turning up just to cause trouble and get the old rumour mill grinding.
Martin.
V6GTO said:
Dear joshletter,
why do you choose to for your first post on a forum to ask if Noble are selling cars? Are you an owner? Are you thinking of buying? Or do you have some other vested interest?
Please excuse my scptisism, but we have seen on PH before people turning up just to cause trouble and get the old rumour mill grinding.
Martin.
You should see what's going on in the TVR forum with 'insiders' talking about management issues and redundancies. Carnage...
Hi Dan...it gauls me when people see something "good" and "succesful" and have to knock it. When I think of the Noble brand thing as a whole, and being part of it, it makes me feel good...I have to wonder why people who don't understand Noble have to have sly digs. Nothing in this world is perfect, Nobles have niggles like any other car as you know, but as a package Noble has to be one of the best when it comes to "feel good" factor.
Martin.
Martin.
V6GTO said:
Hi Dan...it gauls me when people see something "good" and "succesful" and have to knock it. When I think of the Noble brand thing as a whole, and being part of it, it makes me feel good...I have to wonder why people who don't understand Noble have to have sly digs. Nothing in this world is perfect, Nobles have niggles like any other car as you know, but as a package Noble has to be one of the best when it comes to "feel good" factor.
Martin.
M'lud, suffice it sufficient to note that the aforesaid aspertions are almost allways from "nonows" - non Noble owners.
gadgeroonie said:
My guess is the talk of the New M15 may have slowed down sales
wait till the press get hold of it and this forum will get very busy
Bogie - is that you who used to own a Turbo Technics Elise
yes its me - although its been a supercharged Honda engined Elise for about a year now
Well I ordered a shiny new M400 from Mole Valley back in November and am still grinding my teeth waiting!!! 
I simply can't wait to get my hands on it, can't come soon enough, so there's one car sold and a new owner to the Nobility! 
A great car will always sell and I'm sure Noble will sell many more great cars over the next few years.
I simply can't wait to get my hands on it, can't come soon enough, so there's one car sold and a new owner to the Nobility! A great car will always sell and I'm sure Noble will sell many more great cars over the next few years.joshletter said:
Dear All
I dunno about you, but I haven't noticed many new owners posting on this forum for a long time and by that, I mean the best part of a year. Are Noble still selling the M12/M400?
Oi, I reckon your on the wrong forum! The same thread's running over on the TVR pages 
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