Autocar article?
Discussion
lol Stuart Forrest who I believe is the publisher reads this forum. You are taking the bread out of his mouth!
Very positive review imho. They really like the pace and balance of the car.
Negatives were steering over-assitance, slight notchiness in 6spd box, increased price (which I'm not sure really has gone up much when you factor in necessities like aircon on the 2.5 etc.) & quality of cabin. (oh and things like rear vis/turning circle/luggage space which I doubt many would be peturbed by).
Sounds like more negatives than positives I know, but most of the article explains how great it performs with those few points tucked in at the end. They point out that the only performance competitor is the Tuscan S but that it isn't ultimately as capable on the road.
edit: Corrected spelling of Stuart's name.
>> Edited by DanH on Wednesday 29th October 19:39
On the whole, we're very pleased with the Autocar road test. The problems that were highlighted (other than over-assisted steering, which I take issue with) we acknowledge and are are already on our 'to-do' list for the future.
However, if you sift through the data panel, there are a couple of errors. There are no anti-roll bars on any M12s (ACar made the same mistake in the original GTO test), and there are no government fuel figs for the car (we are not bound by these regs at all) - so I'm not sure where these have been dragged from.
Overall, a very fair and informative road test, though.
However, if you sift through the data panel, there are a couple of errors. There are no anti-roll bars on any M12s (ACar made the same mistake in the original GTO test), and there are no government fuel figs for the car (we are not bound by these regs at all) - so I'm not sure where these have been dragged from.
Overall, a very fair and informative road test, though.
I think its unfair to keep comparing the Noble against a TVR.
I,m a previous TVR owner and the cars just do not compare. As much as I love the TVR brand the reliability issues shoot the Tuscan down in flames. You only have to read the PH forum on Tuscans, i would imagine this would put any prospective buyer off.
Until TVR sort out what could be a fantastic car then the Tuscan is no competition, after all there's no point in having a rocket ship if it will not start???
I,m a previous TVR owner and the cars just do not compare. As much as I love the TVR brand the reliability issues shoot the Tuscan down in flames. You only have to read the PH forum on Tuscans, i would imagine this would put any prospective buyer off.
Until TVR sort out what could be a fantastic car then the Tuscan is no competition, after all there's no point in having a rocket ship if it will not start???
IBROKER,
Completey agree.
My Griffith 500 is actually a fantastic fun car, but getting a bit long in the tooth and that chassis is just awful! I did consider trading it in for a Tuscan or T350, but not for long. First I drove the Noble.... oh yes... then I jumped straight into the T350. Got 200 yards down the road and turned back, disappointed.
There's just no comparison - the Noble is a much more sorted car. Still a big TVR fan, but they are going to fall behind Noble in a number of key areas - and a few quid here or there on price won't make the difference.
Just take a look in the Porsche forum to see what they think of Noble - very positive - and then look at what they think of TVR... A generalisation, but telling.
Completey agree.
My Griffith 500 is actually a fantastic fun car, but getting a bit long in the tooth and that chassis is just awful! I did consider trading it in for a Tuscan or T350, but not for long. First I drove the Noble.... oh yes... then I jumped straight into the T350. Got 200 yards down the road and turned back, disappointed.
There's just no comparison - the Noble is a much more sorted car. Still a big TVR fan, but they are going to fall behind Noble in a number of key areas - and a few quid here or there on price won't make the difference.
Just take a look in the Porsche forum to see what they think of Noble - very positive - and then look at what they think of TVR... A generalisation, but telling.
IBROKER,
Just because the TVR and Noble have differing abilities, doesn't mean that they can't be compared. Fact is, that both cars are sold by British companies, both cost around £50k and both can hammer a sub-4.0 second 0-60 time. They are also both sold in tiny numbers.
The point of Autocar's comparison was to highlight each car's strengths and weaknesses. And here, we never object to a head to head with the boys from Blackpool.
Just because the TVR and Noble have differing abilities, doesn't mean that they can't be compared. Fact is, that both cars are sold by British companies, both cost around £50k and both can hammer a sub-4.0 second 0-60 time. They are also both sold in tiny numbers.
The point of Autocar's comparison was to highlight each car's strengths and weaknesses. And here, we never object to a head to head with the boys from Blackpool.
micknall said:
The point of Autocar's comparison was to highlight each car's strengths and weaknesses. And here, we never object to a head to head with the boys from Blackpool.
Really? The way I read it, the main point of Autocar's comparison was to portray the Noble as expensive because it had Ford switchgear and no aircon as standard! A couple of apologetic lines at the end is hardly a "head to head comparison", is it?
And since when has £54,925 been "close to £60,000"! 55k would be a much more accurate and 'attractive' figure to use than 60k (less curves, see, marketing psychology or something).
The review certainly grated a bit with me, but hey, it was still a pretty good review and The Truth is out there. Maybe Top Gear will do a proper head to head... with the Stig in a Noble and Clarkson in the Tuscan S
But I think a lot of people would agree that the M12 is expensive to have nasty Ford switchgear and no aircon as standard (which frankly you'd be insane not to buy in a mid engined car). Theres a world of difference though between completely bespoke and off the wall TVR stuff that isn't exactly reliable and just picking nicer bits out the parts bin and lining them up nicely on the dash.
Its very purposeful etc, but can you honestly tell me that you think the interior is one of the car's strong points?
As to topgear head to heads, careful what you wish for as TV programs have to find an angle to make the story interesting, and I doubt it would be too different to the autocar one
Marlon said:
It would end with a shot of Peter Wheeler and Lee Noble stabbing each other in the back, each extolling the virtues of the other car, and declaring a dead-heat.
Hmm seems to read better now <VBG>
p.s. Peter Wheeler calling Nobles 'South African Wheelbarrows' (in relation to the wheel falling off) still cracks me up. Still its a bit rich coming from a guy that supplies engines so famous for grenading that they have to be labelled as munitions.
Marlon,
If you watched the last series of Top Gear, you'll know that the Stig drove both the GTO-3 and the 350C, so I don't think they'll be doing something so similar again. Anyway, the Noble licked it fair and square, only falling behind the Koenigsegg and the Zonda in the final reckoning.
And Clarkson in a Tuscan S vs The Stig in a Noble????? Now that would be an unfair comparo!
If you watched the last series of Top Gear, you'll know that the Stig drove both the GTO-3 and the 350C, so I don't think they'll be doing something so similar again. Anyway, the Noble licked it fair and square, only falling behind the Koenigsegg and the Zonda in the final reckoning.
And Clarkson in a Tuscan S vs The Stig in a Noble????? Now that would be an unfair comparo!
Unfortunately I missed the GTO-3 episode, but did spot it up there near the top of the list afterwards - good result for a 3-wheeler.
Out of curiosity, do you know whether TVR have bought a GTO-3 for 'investigating' - I understand it's fairly common practice for car manufacturers to do a bit of detailed competitor analysis...?
Out of curiosity, do you know whether TVR have bought a GTO-3 for 'investigating' - I understand it's fairly common practice for car manufacturers to do a bit of detailed competitor analysis...?
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