I just saw the Noble at the Monterey Historics. Wow...420HP in 2,150 lbs. Supposed to be very balanced and benign handling with awesome stick in the turns. Anyone have any personal experience with this?

Thanks,

 

The Noble is nice but remember that you're buying a sort of a kit car (engine and transaxle are not included and the car in UK is a turbocharged 3 liter V6). 64K is the price for M400 without engine& transaxle.
Anyways, I was at the Monterey Historics on sunday and it was really amazing to see Andrea Bertolini (Ferrari test driver) almost break the lap record at Laguna Seca in the 2003 GA F1 car. I watched the car from the pits and the sound it makes at high rpm's is amazing..

 

Dgp...

Totally agree on the Ferrari F-1 car. Unfortunately I had to fly home on Sunday morning but was able to see/hear the car on Saturday. Amazing what 19k rpm sounds like!

It sounds to me like one can purchase the Noble fully complete from the group on Las Vegas that was displaying one. Around $70k for the whole thing complete. BTW...I have zero association with the car or the importers...just sounds like C-GT performance for a great price. A buddy of mine is thinking seriously of buying one.

 

the noble is really only useful on the track. it has the turning radius of a school bus, a race suspension and a fairly uncomfortable interior. in my opinion they are incredibly ugly as well and the quality of the body panels and styling is pretty poor.

They are about $85k complete and definitely offer outstanding track performance. However, you would be better of spending 45k on an Elise for street/track use or if you want real track only performance and fun buy a Radical SR3.

-Steve

 

Steve,

I agree with your interior thought...just wondering what causes you to say that the Noble's suspension is only good on the track. Does it lack the compliance necessary for the street? Interesting point re the turning radius...good to know.

 

^____^
i've talked to 1gracing regarding to noble...
i love the car, but i hate the look....that's why we decided to wait for the m14...and will sure be one of the first few to own it when it's released sometimes towards the end of 04, or beginning of 05.
although it's a kit car, but the car will be delivered as a complete car...that's how they pass the regulation... the engine will be installed prior to deliver.
m14 is much better looking than m12...
there is no comparison...haha

 

Kevin,

I agree with your thoughts re the m14. My buddy and I were told that they sold out the first two year's production in four days after opening it up for sale. You must have jumped quickly...smart.

Have you driven any of them?

 

I'll put it this way, if I could get one in Canada, I'd have one.

I think the Noble M12 GTO is a fantastic car, I love the way they sound, Jeremy Clarkson says its one of the best cars to drive. I LOVE the way the turbo's sound with the blow off valve.. Great car in my opinion.

 

john:
opened up for sell? hm....that's not what they told me...
i was told that it is not even up for sale yet...and will be up in about 3-4month ...
if that's really the case, i guess i was fooled... b/c we're really looking forward to buy one....

 

Kevin,

Well...possibly I missunderstood, but what I thought they said was that they took deposits for the first two year's worth in four days. Maybe this was just a sales guys schtick...I really do not know. What were you told?

 

John:
they told me to call back in about 3-4 month...
and if it's released, and in actual production... then we'll talk...
b/c he wasn't even 100% sure if the m14 will be available in US...that's why he told me to call back when it's officially released.

 

Here's a Noble forum in the UK - plenty of posts to read from owners.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?f=26&h=0

They are very quick on track and plenty of people here use them as road cars.

Guy

 

This was one that raced in the Pony Express Open Road Race in June. It was definitely very cool. This was no garage queen either. It was pretty beat up. It looked like the owner used it a lot at the track and for ORR. Nice.

 

Guys...thanks for all the input. Much appreciated.

 

John,

The August issue of EVO has a major article on trackday cars. They compare several cars in related groupings. A Noble M400 is compared to a Ferrari Stradale and Porsche GT3 RS. The bottom line for the EVO folks was that while the M400 was fast, it had some major issues that clouded the numbers, as they wrote ... "fast lapping in the Noble isn't a pleasurable experience." The article goes on from there.

They did however have some good memories of the test they did last year on the Noble M12 GTO-3R. To quote ... "Not only did it beat the 911 GT3's benchmark but it felt great to boot." To finish the paragraph they said ... "On paper the pokier, grippier, firmer M400 should be a big improvement, but on track it makes for an angry, spiky and altogether rather fraught experience."

Obviouisly, as with any review, you should not necessarily take what is reported for gospel but make form your own opinion based on your own experience. Anyway, it was an interesting article and the Noble M400 didn't impress them in spite of its speed.

BTW, their pick for trackday car of the year was the Radical SR4, though I would go for the Radical SR3 Turbo myself!