Which one??

[The GMan]

My wife is due our first baby in May and as a treat to myself I have been given the green light to get a new car. At first I was thinking of swapping my 6 series for AM DB9 or something similar for about the 40k mark. The more I think about this I feel it would be better to keep my 6 series as a bit of a work horse. I leave it at airport and hotel car-parks for days at a time in the south when I travel back home to the NE so I was thinking of maybe buying something to have for fun at home. I don’t need to worry about a family car as we are in the process of buying an X5 for Mrs GMan to use.

Anyway what are the better cars to look at in the classified? I have noticed there is a black M12 GTO for sale at Belgrave Motor Company and from what I have read on this forum, it used to belong to a fellow PH’er and has had the yellow stripe removed. Is this a good starting point or am I better paying a bit more and looking at say one of the GTO-3R at Kerridges? Is the one at BHP with 64000 worth looking at? The mileage doesn’t worry me as usually this means a lot of issues would have been sorted.

Sorry for basic questions, just want to make the right decision.

[GTO600]

I'd say your spoilt for choice at the moment as there are some good sorted cars forsale & good prices, if your looking for piece of mind may be worth contacting Matt at Jetstream on 01162799339 as they have a nice 3 Litre forsale with the backup of a total warranty.
Kevin

[JBliss]

If its the same car, i almost bought it!.. Very nice and well sorted.
Personally, i would have Jetstream inspect any car i was looking to buy for peace of mind.

[Daisy Duke]

The GMan said:

My wife is due our first baby in May and as a treat to myself I have been given the green light to get a new car. At first I was thinking of swapping my 6 series for AM DB9 or something similar for about the 40k mark. The more I think about this I feel it would be better to keep my 6 series as a bit of a work horse. I leave it at airport and hotel car-parks for days at a time in the south when I travel back home to the NE so I was thinking of maybe buying something to have for fun at home. I don’t need to worry about a family car as we are in the process of buying an X5 for Mrs GMan to use.

Anyway what are the better cars to look at in the classified? I have noticed there is a black M12 GTO for sale at Belgrave Motor Company and from what I have read on this forum, it used to belong to a fellow PH’er and has had the yellow stripe removed. Is this a good starting point or am I better paying a bit more and looking at say one of the GTO-3R at Kerridges? Is the one at BHP with 64000 worth looking at? The mileage doesn’t worry me as usually this means a lot of issues would have been sorted.

Sorry for basic questions, just want to make the right decision.

AFAIK the one at BHP has sold. And yes the black M12 is a well known car, it seems to have been up for sale for a long time though and I'd like to know how it has lost nearly 4000 miles too.

As to what to buy, this obviously depends a fair bit on your budget, but as always condition and provenance are key, a car that hasn't been well cared for could cost you more in the long run. There are plenty of threads on here about exactly what you should look out for, but if you have any queries about specific cars, I'm happy to look them up on the register for you.

Good Luck with your search, you're in an unusual position though - it's more often the case that an impending birth forces the sale of such a car.

[Blu3R]

As you've mentioned 6 series and DB9 already I'd say just go and drive the nearest one to you. I think you'll be sorely disappointed.

[wessexrfc]

Brought my 3R when my wife was 6 months pregnant, Elsie is now 3 1/2 years old!! I've never kept a car as long as I have kept the Noble, fantastic bit of kit. When I was looking, it was the 3R or M400 as I wanted the more modern look head lights. I found trying to find a M400 almost impossible, so brought a 3R and, (as some others have done) upgraded to over M400 spec. Hope this helps and best of luck in your search

[The GMan]

Blu3R said:

As you've mentioned 6 series and DB9 already I'd say just go and drive the nearest one to you. I think you'll be sorely disappointed.

Sorry, not sure what you mean? I already own a 6 series, was think of swapping for a DB9, now potentially looking at keep the BMW and getting a Noble too.

[wessexrfc]

From what people have said, this one needs a little TLC to the body work, mainly chips etc, but the price has come down, make an offer to cover the cost of a front end respray and, if it comes with a good warranty, you can't go wrong and a very good investment:
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/n...

[Chapppers]

The GMan said:

Blu3R said:

As you've mentioned 6 series and DB9 already I'd say just go and drive the nearest one to you. I think you'll be sorely disappointed.

Sorry, not sure what you mean? I already own a 6 series, was think of swapping for a DB9, now potentially looking at keep the BMW and getting a Noble too.

That makes sense. I think what he was getting at is that whilst they're rather fast, they're not the most refined of beasts

[mrpbailey]

wessexrfc said:

From what people have said, this one needs a little TLC to the body work, mainly chips etc, but the price has come down, make an offer to cover the cost of a front end respray and, if it comes with a good warranty, you can't go wrong and a very good investment:
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/n...

This one needs more than a front end respray. Doesnt have full history either despite what the ad says.

[2.5bluenob]

mrpbailey said:

wessexrfc said:

From what people have said, this one needs a little TLC to the body work, mainly chips etc, but the price has come down, make an offer to cover the cost of a front end respray and, if it comes with a good warranty, you can't go wrong and a very good investment:
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/n...

This one needs more than a front end respray. Doesnt have full history either despite what the ad says.

Ive sent a few emails to seller. i was trying to get a bit knocked off as i would need to sell mine later on when its rebuilt, owning two nobles would leave me a bit tight for cash. He will not move on the price. and warranty is 3 months.
i think it needs a complete respray.

[worty]

I can't believe they've removed my stripes

looks naked but menacing

worty

Edited by worty on Wednesday 6th March 21:15

[Daisy Duke]

2.5bluenob said:

mrpbailey said:

This one needs more than a front end respray. Doesnt have full history either despite what the ad says.

Ive sent a few emails to seller. i was trying to get a bit knocked off as i would need to sell mine later on when its rebuilt, owning two nobles would leave me a bit tight for cash. He will not move on the price. and warranty is 3 months.
i think it needs a complete respray.

And the paintwork must be bad as they say that they have an in-house detailing team, so you'd think that they would prepare it properly for sale if they could.

[The GMan]

worty said:

I can't believe they've removed my stripes

looks naked but menacing

worty

Edited by worty on Wednesday 6th March 21:15

I thought that too. I'm often reading in the Noble forum and remember your car and I think you were in a bit of dilemma if to sell? Thought it might have been a great starting point but if it's lost 4k off the clock since you sold it, I wouldn't want to touch it.

Anyway all thanks for advice posted so far.

[worty]

I gave Daisy the details when I sold it. It had certainly done less than 50k then but I think they had previously advertised it with just over 50k on the clock - not sure. Could be a bit of poetic licence in the add.

worty

[2.5bluenob]

Daisy Duke said:

And the paintwork must be bad as they say that they have an in-house detailing team, so you'd think that they would prepare it properly for sale if they could.

They would sell with or without a respray. and a difference in price of about £4000 i think, if i remember correctly. Its not stone chips but full of micro blisters as far as i can make out.

[Daisy Duke]

worty said:

I gave Daisy the details when I sold it. It had certainly done less than 50k then but I think they had previously advertised it with just over 50k on the clock - not sure. Could be a bit of poetic licence in the add.

worty

Yes thanks for that.

I've been trying to track the car since then and I think that Andy (the next owner) put it up for sale in August 2012, and it's been periodically advertised by Belgrave since then. I know he has since sold the number plate so I don't know if he sold the car to them, or it's on SOR. My comment about the mileage was because it had 52,967 miles on it at its last service in October, but it's advertised with 49K now - could just be a typo, but mistakes never seem to be made the other way around. Not that it makes a great deal of difference at that level anyway.

[worty]

I'm sure Andy sold it to Belgrave. It was on ebay and looked like it had sold but obviously not.

worty

[Blu3R]

Chapppers said:

The GMan said:

Blu3R said:

As you've mentioned 6 series and DB9 already I'd say just go and drive the nearest one to you. I think you'll be sorely disappointed.

Sorry, not sure what you mean? I already own a 6 series, was think of swapping for a DB9, now potentially looking at keep the BMW and getting a Noble too.

That makes sense. I think what he was getting at is that whilst they're rather fast, they're not the most refined of beasts

Yes apologies GMan, that is exactly what I meant. They're all much a much coming from something like you already own so be sure it's what you want before you bother to shortlist any.