Taking delivery Advice
Discussion
Hello all. Well I take delivery of my 3R later in the month. I’m looking for some help on the Do’s and Dont’s. I like my cars but I’m not a “get my hands dirty” type of PH so any help or suggestions on the taking delivery of my car will be gratefully accepted. Don’t have huge experience with performance cars except for a year owning a 911 so any advice accepted.
My R102 will be the first in Ireland so I want to gather as much info as possible. I will have limited support as I’m buying directly from the factory and there are no dealers in Ireland. I’m going to collect the car towards the end of the month from the factory and I plan to stay in the Birmingham area and get the first 1000 miles done. If anyone lives near and is available at the time I wouldn’t say no to some input / advice.
Cheers,
Alan
My R102 will be the first in Ireland so I want to gather as much info as possible. I will have limited support as I’m buying directly from the factory and there are no dealers in Ireland. I’m going to collect the car towards the end of the month from the factory and I plan to stay in the Birmingham area and get the first 1000 miles done. If anyone lives near and is available at the time I wouldn’t say no to some input / advice.
Cheers,
Alan
Check out www.lotus-elise.org.uk/noble (mine) and www.gto3.com (AC's) - you'll find lots there.
If you have anything specific ask on here or subscribe to the owners club (www.nobleownersclub.net/) and ask on there.
J
If you have anything specific ask on here or subscribe to the owners club (www.nobleownersclub.net/) and ask on there.
J
Alan,
Of course we provide an owners' manual! If you're collecting your car from the factory, please let me know when, and I can talk you through everything (my e-mail is simon.hucknall@noblecars.com). But we're not talking about a Merc S-class here (with a 200 page hardback manual to teach you how to use the satnav). The Noble is exceptionally user-friendly and easy to drive from your first mile onwards. That, after all, is one of its unique selling points: it does not intimidate the driver!
Simon Hucknall
Press Officer
Noble Automotive Ltd.
Of course we provide an owners' manual! If you're collecting your car from the factory, please let me know when, and I can talk you through everything (my e-mail is simon.hucknall@noblecars.com). But we're not talking about a Merc S-class here (with a 200 page hardback manual to teach you how to use the satnav). The Noble is exceptionally user-friendly and easy to drive from your first mile onwards. That, after all, is one of its unique selling points: it does not intimidate the driver!
Simon Hucknall
Press Officer
Noble Automotive Ltd.
Let's just say that I had the car demonstrate that a lack of respect for a zero ABS, zero traction, rear wheel drive, 350bhp mid engined car, can be a mistake....
Seriously, I was a very lucky boy despite having my life (and career!) flash before my eyes momentarily. Cosmetic damage only, and the dealer was quicker, more comforting and helpful than I could've hoped.
My view is that a car like this SHOULD intimidate the driver to a certain extent, if only so that you're all too aware that you can't expect to get into it and expect the electronics to get you out of trouble. And for this reason, I love and fear the car in equal measure.
>> Edited by stuart_forrest on Friday 6th February 10:26
Seriously, I was a very lucky boy despite having my life (and career!) flash before my eyes momentarily. Cosmetic damage only, and the dealer was quicker, more comforting and helpful than I could've hoped.
My view is that a car like this SHOULD intimidate the driver to a certain extent, if only so that you're all too aware that you can't expect to get into it and expect the electronics to get you out of trouble. And for this reason, I love and fear the car in equal measure.
>> Edited by stuart_forrest on Friday 6th February 10:26
stuart_forrest said:
Let's just say that I had the car demonstrate that a lack of respect for a zero ABS, zero traction, rear wheel drive, 350bhp mid engined car, can be a mistake....
Seriously, I was a very lucky boy despite having my life (and career!) flash before my eyes momentarily. Cosmetic damage only, and the dealer was quicker, more comforting and helpful than I could've hoped.
My view is that a car like this SHOULD intimidate the driver to a certain extent, if only so that you're all too aware that you can't expect to get into it and expect the electronics to get you out of trouble. And for this reason, I love and fear the car in equal measure.
>> Edited by stuart_forrest on Friday 6th February 10:26
Ah, ha - I was sitting in my dealers office one morning last week - I asked whether there'd been any Noble prangs in the bad weather lately and they said "surpisingly, no." Just then a phone call came in and one of the sales guys said - "we spoke too soon" - must have been your ten-pence Stuart?!?!?!
they were saying they took a call from a customer
Mole Valley? If so, yes. They were superb.
The hardest bit was phoning Sutcliffe to tell him that I'd broken his baby. Didn't help that he was at Croft, in the snow, having driven up in a combination of R500/JP1/XTR2/Radical/Ariel Atom, and was in danger of losing bits of his face to frost bite...
The hardest bit was phoning Sutcliffe to tell him that I'd broken his baby. Didn't help that he was at Croft, in the snow, having driven up in a combination of R500/JP1/XTR2/Radical/Ariel Atom, and was in danger of losing bits of his face to frost bite...
stuart_forrest said:
Mole Valley? If so, yes. They were superb.
The hardest bit was phoning Sutcliffe to tell him that I'd broken his baby. Didn't help that he was at Croft, in the snow, having driven up in a combination of R500/JP1/XTR2/Radical/Ariel Atom, and was in danger of losing bits of his face to frost bite...
Yep, MV, hope it's all in sorted-mode soon!
very light damage - paint scuff and some hairline cracking to the corner of the rear clam. In the interests of having as much time in the car as possible we're going to wait before getting it repaired.
Like I said, I was lucky. I saw a rear clam at the body shop that had impacted in the same place as me but was quite comprehensively buggered. Anyone here?
Like I said, I was lucky. I saw a rear clam at the body shop that had impacted in the same place as me but was quite comprehensively buggered. Anyone here?
Sure, although it was almost certainly down to my failings as a driver than the car. Very simply, driving along at c. 40mph in third. Put my foot down and the car started to fishtail left and right. I didn't quite catch it, but managed to take most of the speed off and came to a halt just as I span. Ended up facing the way I'd come, but apart from that it was OK. Didn't hit a kerb, thank god. It was late at night and I suspect that a combination of cold tyres, very cold road, my limitations as a driver and the absence of traction control conspired to cause the spin. Don't let it put you off though - you just need to have some respect for the car...
Hey Stuart
Well flooring it in third at 40 mph with the LSD in a straight line should'nt really have made it fish tail.What were the conditions of the road ? were the rear tyres in good condition? Maybe anyone else has had a similar experience would like to comment .This is quite worrying!!The whole point of a fast car is the fun of being able to take off in second or third with the minimum of ease and just fly forward.It sounds it could have been nasty.Has this put you off driving the car in any way
Well flooring it in third at 40 mph with the LSD in a straight line should'nt really have made it fish tail.What were the conditions of the road ? were the rear tyres in good condition? Maybe anyone else has had a similar experience would like to comment .This is quite worrying!!The whole point of a fast car is the fun of being able to take off in second or third with the minimum of ease and just fly forward.It sounds it could have been nasty.Has this put you off driving the car in any way
Steve uk said:
Hey Stuart
Well flooring it in third at 40 mph with the LSD in a straight line should'nt really have made it fish tail.What were the conditions of the road ? were the rear tyres in good condition? Maybe anyone else has had a similar experience would like to comment .This is quite worrying!!The whole point of a fast car is the fun of being able to take off in second or third with the minimum of ease and just fly forward.It sounds it could have been nasty.Has this put you off driving the car in any way
Steve, look at it this way - approx. one tonne (OK, plus the driver!) and 350+BHP will break traction when floored (and requesting the full might of the two turbochargers) - it must have been damp - the winter is not the season to exploit the full potential of such toys!
I've done the same thing in my (lesser powered) daily chariot, in slightly damp conditions, and the german incident police ("vee vill correct your stupid error Britisher") amber warning light comes and Otto appears, as if my magic, and asists me once again - you know the Noble doesn't have any such electronic correction aids so respect at all times is the maxim!
Steve
I'm not a road tester or a journalist, so I haven't explored this car to its limit. All I do know is that whichever review of the car you read will tell you what a rewarding drivers car the 3R is. Read what our journalists have said at www.autocarmag.com for a proper review of the 3R.
What happened to me was not indicative in any way of a safety issue. As others have pointed out, this is a mid engined, rear wheel drive car delivering 350bhp. Drive any other car with similar power by any other manufacturer and you'll need to have respect for its capabilities.
Has it put me off the car? Absolutely no chance. A timely reminder to have some respect for road conditions and the limits of my own ability? Almost certainly...
You sound quite negative about the Noble for someone who purports to be considering a purchase, and you also seem to be encouraging negative feedback about the car. You sure you're not working for a rival manufacturer? ;-)
Stuart
>> Edited by stuart_forrest on Sunday 8th February 20:51
I'm not a road tester or a journalist, so I haven't explored this car to its limit. All I do know is that whichever review of the car you read will tell you what a rewarding drivers car the 3R is. Read what our journalists have said at www.autocarmag.com for a proper review of the 3R.
What happened to me was not indicative in any way of a safety issue. As others have pointed out, this is a mid engined, rear wheel drive car delivering 350bhp. Drive any other car with similar power by any other manufacturer and you'll need to have respect for its capabilities.
Has it put me off the car? Absolutely no chance. A timely reminder to have some respect for road conditions and the limits of my own ability? Almost certainly...
You sound quite negative about the Noble for someone who purports to be considering a purchase, and you also seem to be encouraging negative feedback about the car. You sure you're not working for a rival manufacturer? ;-)
Stuart
>> Edited by stuart_forrest on Sunday 8th February 20:51
Gassing Station | Noble | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff