What's it like to live with?...
Discussion
...day to day. Is this a car for sunday blasts, or can you drive it daily? I was wondering if it has any annoying rattles, water ingress or reliability issues. In a nutshell, is it better made than a tvr or elise?
If you're lugging loads of equipment or boxes around then the M12 is probably not a viable daily drive, however, if all you need to cart around from home to the office is a briefcase then it's great. It easily pootles around town, in traffic and ideal when you get a decent straight to blast down.
As for the TVR, Elise thing, well that's a personal one, but for me, the M12 as a package beats them easily.
Agreed....
I jet washed mine the other day and there were no leaks into the car. Town driving is easy, the clutch is very friendly. The engine has plenty of cooling, mine didn't budge over 80-90 C even stuck on the M25 for 2 hours.
The seats look hard but they're surprisingly comfortable, and there's air con which works.
If you're stuck in town or on a long motorway journey, the stereo does a surprisingly good job as well (perhaps the door panels help the speakers??)
As to Lotus / TVR comparisons, I haven't owned a Tiv (mates of mine with them have had reliability nightmares) but I have had 2 Lotuses, the Noble is in a different league re: perceived solidity and build quality.
It's pretty quick as well
I jet washed mine the other day and there were no leaks into the car. Town driving is easy, the clutch is very friendly. The engine has plenty of cooling, mine didn't budge over 80-90 C even stuck on the M25 for 2 hours.
The seats look hard but they're surprisingly comfortable, and there's air con which works.
If you're stuck in town or on a long motorway journey, the stereo does a surprisingly good job as well (perhaps the door panels help the speakers??)
As to Lotus / TVR comparisons, I haven't owned a Tiv (mates of mine with them have had reliability nightmares) but I have had 2 Lotuses, the Noble is in a different league re: perceived solidity and build quality.
It's pretty quick as well
Have a look at www.lotus-elise.org.uk/noble for my thoughts.
Compared to my Elise it's just in a different league - the only issue is that it's a fixed head and I do like a convertible in summer - hence I'll be keeping the elise until I get my GTC.
As to day-to-day - no problems what so ever. Once you work out what space there is you're fine - I made a trip to B&Q at the weekend, came out with a trolley full and it fitted all in fine
J
Compared to my Elise it's just in a different league - the only issue is that it's a fixed head and I do like a convertible in summer - hence I'll be keeping the elise until I get my GTC.
As to day-to-day - no problems what so ever. Once you work out what space there is you're fine - I made a trip to B&Q at the weekend, came out with a trolley full and it fitted all in fine
J
Nah - 4500 was just finishing off the 1000 service engine upgrades (mine is a very early No. 26 and they changed some of the oil/water pipes for a different make) and I had a "service" (oil change and fluid check) at the same time.
Major expense of the £1200 was the headrests, the luggage set and the new bulbs for the headlights. The oil change was the normal £90 +VAT (although £20 of that was a silly 1l can of oil as the car takes 5l's - I've bought a 4l one @ £29.99 and left it in the car for next time)
Lots of other silly things I got sorted, and the final thing was to get the seat moved around (~£200) - so all in all the "service" part was around £120+VAT as the luggage and headrests came to around £700 from memory.
J
Major expense of the £1200 was the headrests, the luggage set and the new bulbs for the headlights. The oil change was the normal £90 +VAT (although £20 of that was a silly 1l can of oil as the car takes 5l's - I've bought a 4l one @ £29.99 and left it in the car for next time
) Lots of other silly things I got sorted, and the final thing was to get the seat moved around (~£200) - so all in all the "service" part was around £120+VAT as the luggage and headrests came to around £700 from memory.
J
I'll second Joust on the running costs, my 1000 mile service was around £90 and the 6000 mile service is estimated at £300+VAT. Average MPG I think is around 20 (the 3l engine), like J I keep a diary of events so if you want more info have a look at www.gto3.com, you might find some useful information on there.
Anthony
Anthony
Luggage set goes
On back shelf (next to rear window) - 2 bags - about 10"x30"x6"
Behind seats - 2x very large bags
Under knees - 2x medium bags
If you look closely you can see the back shelf and rear of seat ones in http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/lotuselise/Noble/Headrests/Noble%20M12%20Headrests%20010.jpg
All in all you get about the same space as an Elise boot in total.
J
>> Edited by joust on Monday 14th April 17:56
On back shelf (next to rear window) - 2 bags - about 10"x30"x6"
Behind seats - 2x very large bags
Under knees - 2x medium bags
If you look closely you can see the back shelf and rear of seat ones in http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/lotuselise/Noble/Headrests/Noble%20M12%20Headrests%20010.jpg
All in all you get about the same space as an Elise boot in total.
J
>> Edited by joust on Monday 14th April 17:56
20 mpg??? I must be doing something wrong (right?? hee hee) - I even only get 21 mpg off-boost on the motorway
Joust - as to getting a B&Q load into your car, have you had the harnesses removed or something?? I know there's a big space behind the seats but it's hard to get anything in there because of small seat travel and the anchors for the harnesses...
Well I couldn't get a tray of 24 tins of beer behind the seat, had to take each can out and put them in one by one
Joust - as to getting a B&Q load into your car, have you had the harnesses removed or something?? I know there's a big space behind the seats but it's hard to get anything in there because of small seat travel and the anchors for the harnesses...
Well I couldn't get a tray of 24 tins of beer behind the seat, had to take each can out and put them in one by one
LOL!
Secret is the "seat mod for short arses". I had to get the drivers seat moved forward for Nick to fit in confortably - which whilst the seat still hits the back shelf, now goes forward another 4".
I've had all sorts in the back - including 3 4.5l oil containers, a greenhouse heater and a multitude of other things
J
Secret is the "seat mod for short arses". I had to get the drivers seat moved forward for Nick to fit in confortably - which whilst the seat still hits the back shelf, now goes forward another 4".
I've had all sorts in the back - including 3 4.5l oil containers, a greenhouse heater and a multitude of other things
J
actech said: I'll second Joust on the running costs, my 1000 mile service was around £90 and the 6000 mile service is estimated at £300+VAT. Average MPG I think is around 20 (the 3l engine), like J I keep a diary of events so if you want more info have a look at www.gto3.com, you might find some useful information on there.
Anthony
which dealer was 300 plus vat for the service as my dealer was going to charge 300 plus vat for the 1000 mile service needless to say i didnt pay that soulman
No probs. You use a process of sticking the gun in the air, turnint it over 180, put it in sideways, then fill at full pelt until you get to about 80% full (I always refill between 30 and 40 litres, so go full pelt to 25), then back off to about 1/2 flow and wait for it to clunk - if you are unlucky you'll get a few drops of splash back, but more often than not you don't. Then run two more clicks, take half out, wait for petrol to drain out, and do the 180 turn in reverse. Perfect 
J
J
J, I've developed a slightly different approach to refuelling than you. I get a couple of paper towels from the dispenser and place them over the end of the nozzle of the pump and then ease it into the filler. This catches any fuel that may be in the nozzle. Then just fill it up as normal whilst guarding against splash back by covering the filler cap with towel (not too tightly mind). Works a treat, although it does cause people to stare, then again that could be the car!
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