RS6 - worth changing from a 911?
Discussion
Mmmm, no I didn't. I have seen a number of conversions carried out where some or all of the RS2 body mods. and running gear have been added to Audi 80 coupes & saloons.
plotloss said: Jeremy, as an aside, did you know that there are one of each RS2 saloon and RS2 coupe in existence?
Matt.
Do you know where the rare beasts are now?
They are both, I believe, still in Ingolstatd at the factory. The saloon was used by the boss for some time, whilst the coupe was a production mule for the Avant.
Porsche didnt like the idea of an RS2 coupe and refused to put their name to it I believe - as no one would buy 911's!
Matt.
Porsche didnt like the idea of an RS2 coupe and refused to put their name to it I believe - as no one would buy 911's!
Matt.
Eye watering grunt that's actually useable 99% of the time.I personally think that the "lack of steering feel" is an "Autocarism". The RS2 I drove had loads of feel (says the man who comes from the Elise / Noble school of steering), and whilst I haven't driven a 4 or 6, I'm told by people that have that they don't know what Autocar goes on about....
Best thing is go try one - like most things - steering feel is subjective and it's probably down to personal tastes.
J
Best thing is go try one - like most things - steering feel is subjective and it's probably down to personal tastes.
J
This argument about loosing 'feel' may have something to do with the perennial quandry the keen driver faces when facing the slight dilemma of increasing the pre-eminence of his manhood (via power related phallicism) against the undoubted joys of his invariably more wieldy toys of yore which may have been somewhat less rampant in the horizon headbutting rutting stakes.
For example; I used to run a standard Elise along side a somewhat hairy (lairy) 4.5 Cerby; frankly, whilst the undoubted charms of Wheeler's Satanic sexual sojourns is no doubt familiar to many who frequent these pages, it was invariably the Norfolk Weaver that was the weapon of choice for early summers' Sunday morn jaunts - it was just so joyously communicative.
Now it may be the case - and perhaps Joust can elucidate here - that only a smattering of hyper quick cars can deliver the sublime delicacy of the Elise experience AND sledgehammer oomph...I have a feeling the produce of Noble-Moy Automotion might just be the ticket?
Hmmm...
For example; I used to run a standard Elise along side a somewhat hairy (lairy) 4.5 Cerby; frankly, whilst the undoubted charms of Wheeler's Satanic sexual sojourns is no doubt familiar to many who frequent these pages, it was invariably the Norfolk Weaver that was the weapon of choice for early summers' Sunday morn jaunts - it was just so joyously communicative.
Now it may be the case - and perhaps Joust can elucidate here - that only a smattering of hyper quick cars can deliver the sublime delicacy of the Elise experience AND sledgehammer oomph...I have a feeling the produce of Noble-Moy Automotion might just be the ticket?
Hmmm...
My my Mr D - swallow a theasaurus today did you
derestrictor said:Now it may be the case - and perhaps Joust can elucidate here - that only a smattering of hyper quick cars can deliver the sublime delicacy of the Elise experience AND sledgehammer oomph...I have a feeling the produce of Noble-Moy Automotion might just be the ticket?
Hmmm...
Yep - got it in one
When the GTC is available I'll be like a pig in mud, until then the Elise stays.
J
Oh dear, I feared you'd confirm that! I simply adore the M12 GTO and it's spoiling my intended target of a nicely depreciated F355B...which brings me on to yet more questions for our chivalrous custodian of quattronicsim (sorry) -
I'd like to know your feelings regarding the concept of an M12GTO v. F355 decision (i.e. the pros & cons of each)?
Also, the new 3 litre variants from Lee N - the GTC in particular - whilst an absolute peach of a concept, perhaps it too might rub out some of the 2.5 litre car's clarity of purpose via additional globulets of power & torque?
as ever!
>> Edited by derestrictor on Saturday 1st February 12:08
I'd like to know your feelings regarding the concept of an M12GTO v. F355 decision (i.e. the pros & cons of each)?
Also, the new 3 litre variants from Lee N - the GTC in particular - whilst an absolute peach of a concept, perhaps it too might rub out some of the 2.5 litre car's clarity of purpose via additional globulets of power & torque?
as ever! >> Edited by derestrictor on Saturday 1st February 12:08
I'm sure Manu et. all. will give a different version, but I was actually considering a F355 before I got the Noble. Here are my main reasons.
1) Noble is British. I'm quite a patriot at heart and anything to support a UK company is a good thing. Whilst the chassis and body are made in SA - a large amount is done here in the UK, giving rise to UK jobs both directly and indirectly.
2) Driving Experience. Whilst I totally admit I haven't spent a lot of time driving F355's - the Noble totally blew me away with it's combination of power, poise and just shere driveability. I my mind it is the ultimate grown up ELise - the car that Lotus should have built.
3) Dealer Experience. My experience of Ferrari dealers has been one of "yes??? sigh???". MoleV with the Noble have been somewhat different!
4) Running Costs. If you look at my profile you'll see the Noble is very cost effective. After much searching I came to the conclusion that a 355 can turn into a very very expensive beast. With 4 cars to run I just didn't want to throw all my money into one pot!
5) Image. Whilst the F355 is a lovely car, there are just too many of the dam things around! The Noble gives that exclusivity of people have absolutly no idea what it is....
6) Downright performance. From Steve Carter's web site, the standing quarter times are
Noble: 0-60:3.9 1/4mile:12.5
F355: 0-60:4.6 1/4mile:13
Quite a difference!
7) Trackability. I wanted a car that I could track without cacking myself about the repair bill if something let go. The fact that the engine in the Noble is effectivly a Mondeo 2.5 lump was therefore a big factor in that (as well as the fact that a bonnet isn't £5k...). The Evo F355 totally put me off when I found out the bills for repairing some of it's track damage.
There is more on my profile.
J
1) Noble is British. I'm quite a patriot at heart and anything to support a UK company is a good thing. Whilst the chassis and body are made in SA - a large amount is done here in the UK, giving rise to UK jobs both directly and indirectly.
2) Driving Experience. Whilst I totally admit I haven't spent a lot of time driving F355's - the Noble totally blew me away with it's combination of power, poise and just shere driveability. I my mind it is the ultimate grown up ELise - the car that Lotus should have built.
3) Dealer Experience. My experience of Ferrari dealers has been one of "yes??? sigh???". MoleV with the Noble have been somewhat different!
4) Running Costs. If you look at my profile you'll see the Noble is very cost effective. After much searching I came to the conclusion that a 355 can turn into a very very expensive beast. With 4 cars to run I just didn't want to throw all my money into one pot!
5) Image. Whilst the F355 is a lovely car, there are just too many of the dam things around! The Noble gives that exclusivity of people have absolutly no idea what it is....
6) Downright performance. From Steve Carter's web site, the standing quarter times are
Noble: 0-60:3.9 1/4mile:12.5
F355: 0-60:4.6 1/4mile:13
Quite a difference!
7) Trackability. I wanted a car that I could track without cacking myself about the repair bill if something let go. The fact that the engine in the Noble is effectivly a Mondeo 2.5 lump was therefore a big factor in that (as well as the fact that a bonnet isn't £5k...). The Evo F355 totally put me off when I found out the bills for repairing some of it's track damage.
There is more on my profile.
J
Oh dear; eminently logical responses making Nobility seem like an increasingly unavoidable experience!
But what about the 3.0 litre variants? Will the 'magic envelope' be maintained? Any thoughts?
And how do you view the current car against perhaps slightly more 'conventional' options from Blackpool?
DeR.
But what about the 3.0 litre variants? Will the 'magic envelope' be maintained? Any thoughts?
And how do you view the current car against perhaps slightly more 'conventional' options from Blackpool?
DeR.
I've yet to try a 3.0l, but the ones coming out with the turbo "on/off" switch will remove any of the "nasty" on-boost torque delivery. However, perhaps it's just I've driven turbo cars for the last 10+ years, but I've never found myself being caught out with the "on/off" boost difference - and given the Noble turbos are sequential (coming on/off slightly apart from each other) there isn't that much to fear really.
I would imagine the 3.0l is a hoot! MoleV have a 3.0 in as their demonstrator, and a few 2.5's as well AFAIK, so you could compare both.
As for our blackpool friends, whilst I admire PW for what he doesn, the latest cars (almost post wedges) haven't really been to my taste. Add that into the equation that most have more power than chassis poise, and that they tend to be massive oversteer'ers they don't really appeal to me. Some of the range look lovely, but it seems that there needs to be a few more itterations after the T350/Tamora to really get the chassis sorted (although from the posts on here the T350/Tamora seems to be a massive improvement over previous models - I have to admit I haven't driven one).
I'm also not a great fan of Blackpool interiors, they just don't meet with what I like from a car (I'm a bit boring really - I prefer X5 type functionality over brass twiddly bits... the Noble is certainly more X5 than TVR!)
Having said that, TVR's sound fantastic - but the new 3.0l exhaust system on the Noble seems to get quite close...
Overall, as with most things, it's very very personal - my advice is drive everything you think you would like before making the choice.
J
I would imagine the 3.0l is a hoot! MoleV have a 3.0 in as their demonstrator, and a few 2.5's as well AFAIK, so you could compare both.
As for our blackpool friends, whilst I admire PW for what he doesn, the latest cars (almost post wedges) haven't really been to my taste. Add that into the equation that most have more power than chassis poise, and that they tend to be massive oversteer'ers they don't really appeal to me. Some of the range look lovely, but it seems that there needs to be a few more itterations after the T350/Tamora to really get the chassis sorted (although from the posts on here the T350/Tamora seems to be a massive improvement over previous models - I have to admit I haven't driven one).
I'm also not a great fan of Blackpool interiors, they just don't meet with what I like from a car (I'm a bit boring really - I prefer X5 type functionality over brass twiddly bits... the Noble is certainly more X5 than TVR!)
Having said that, TVR's sound fantastic - but the new 3.0l exhaust system on the Noble seems to get quite close...
Overall, as with most things, it's very very personal - my advice is drive everything you think you would like before making the choice.
J
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