| Author | Message | ||
| S. Brent Cardani (Brentc)
Junior Member Username: Brentc Post Number: 103 Registered: 8-2003 |
A Midwest publication, "Speed, Style and Sound", was the first US car magazine to do a test drive of this car. I think it was in their September issue. The same magazine did a feature on a RENNtech modified Benz built by my company, DexM (but not in the same issue). I don't know if the Noble article is on their website, but you can check it out at www.speedstylesound.com . | ||
| Bill Sawyer (Wsawyer)
Member Username: Wsawyer Post Number: 998 Registered: 2-2002 |
It's not being sold as a track only car. They had licensed demos at Petit LeMans and were giving test drives. They are kits in the US because, if you install your own drivetrain you are the manufacturer, and therefore can circumvent some safety regs. They are fully streetable now. I love the car and want one badly. It's the common man's F-40. | ||
| Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Intermediate Member Username: Tvrfreak Post Number: 1072 Registered: 3-2003 |
Also, who owns that XJ? It looks awesome from that angle. | ||
| Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Intermediate Member Username: Tvrfreak Post Number: 1071 Registered: 3-2003 |
Sunny, the book is called It's Your Ship. By Captain D. Michael Abrashoff. It's a great read. 200 pages. Polished off half of it already. It's really good to know we have people like this in command. | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Intermediate Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 1125 Registered: 2-2003 |
Faisal, only 5 were made, so pretty rare. Let me know if the article is any good. The longer the better! Here's one that came on our So Cal drive several months ago. I'd be interested in that book, too.   | ||
| Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Intermediate Member Username: Tvrfreak Post Number: 1070 Registered: 3-2003 |
Hey, Classic Car magazine had a cover feature on the XJ220 and the S variant, which has 700-plus hp. I didn't read it, since I am not too keen on the XJ220...now I wish I had. Tomorrow, for sure. I did get a cool book about management principles used by a vety successful Navy commander. I will read it tonight and if it's as good as I think it is, I will post here tomorrow. Goodnight. | ||
| Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Intermediate Member Username: Tvrfreak Post Number: 1069 Registered: 3-2003 |
Well, if you are going to go the kit-car or track use only route, and price is a bit of an issue, consider the TVR T350C. It's a hot little number in every way, except for the styling of the rear. But then I don't like some elements of the Noble's styling either. The Noble does have a motor that can be serviced in the US. The TVR doesn't, and the Speed 6 motor it comes with does have reliability issues. But you can also stuff an M3 motor in there. It's been done already. Nice position to be in. IMO, you can't lose either way! | ||
| Jordan Witherspoon (Jordan747_400)
Intermediate Member Username: Jordan747_400 Post Number: 2405 Registered: 12-2002 |
Sunny, I would LOVE to see you in a Noble in the near future...but you cant forget about your XJ220 | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Intermediate Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 1124 Registered: 2-2003 |
I want one badly, but the price tag is too much for me right now. I'd drive a Noble, everywhere, over anything in the same price range. Hands down. It stomped everything except a Caterham for a track car in a 20 page review, which included the euro tuned M3, GT2, Stradale, SL55, Zonda (which DNF, broke during wet tests). I'll check the review(which DNF after the wet test). $50-60k is my budget for the near future. After that, oh yeah, Noble time (unless something better). Most of all, its incredibly rare which pays its own dividends Sunny | ||
| Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Intermediate Member Username: Tvrfreak Post Number: 1065 Registered: 3-2003 |
This is a pretty special car. Just read an article in European Car magazine about it. Very impressive. The bhp/ton and tq/ton figures are simply amazing, and even more powerful versions are in the works. It weighs 1050 kg, or 2300 lbs, and Lee Noble did the suspension work for the McLaren F1 prototype, so I am sure the handling is definitely dialled in well. It has some wierd styling, IMO, like the rear license-plate area, but it's a cool, cool car. I do think it's a bit expensive at $80k. The author did complain about there being no trunk, and about the pedal positioning. But everything else seems to be solid. Quite interesting, and desirable. Noble's testing the waters in the American market at present. There's going to be 10 cars coming to America in kit form and they will be sold for track use only. Of course I am sure that a few enterprising owners will manage to get kit-car registrations for them. What prompted the read was that I got a call from a guy in Ohio who claimed to be working closely with the race team that is marketing the car. He had just taken a ride and claimed to be "blown away" and was planning on keeping a car for himself. He makes a lot of aftermarket accessories and was very excited to make stuff for the Noble. This guy made one of the cars (the MR2, I think) used in the Fast and Furious movie, and got quite a few orders afterwards, so he does have some credibility. His latest project was an NSX. And I think he also has a source for Japanese Domestic Market motors, which are very hot commodities in the "ricer" crowd. I will post any more info. I can find. | ||
| Mark Collins (Markcollins)
Member Username: Markcollins Post Number: 402 Registered: 7-2002 |
Bill slight error in my comments, i've driven the earlier 2.5ltr car not the 3ltr! | ||
| Bill Sawyer (Wsawyer)
Member Username: Wsawyer Post Number: 989 Registered: 2-2002 |
Good stuff, Mark. Thanks. | ||
| Mark Collins (Markcollins)
Member Username: Markcollins Post Number: 401 Registered: 7-2002 |
Fantastic car, I've driven the earlier 3ltr model on track and it looks a $1m, drives like a Lotus Elise with lots more power, huge amount of lateral grip, fit and finish is superb for a low volume car but reliability is an issue, a friend had car number 40 something and had all sorts of problems with failed wiper mech, pipes falling off, failed Intercooler, Lambda probe (resulting in 3 gallons of fuel pumping into the exhaust!!). Good Owners forum is at http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?f=26&h=0 | ||
| Bill Sawyer (Wsawyer)
Member Username: Wsawyer Post Number: 987 Registered: 2-2002 |
I'm 6' 1" and I fit fine. In the USA, the Noble is sold as a kit car so that they don't have to meet all the safety standards. There are no air bags, for instance. The buyer is technically the manufacturer if he/she installs the drivetrain or contracts with an outside company to have it installed. They estimate the turnkey price at $81K, but I don't think that includes the $$ to install the drivetrain. Complete car, less engine and transaxle--$53,700 Metallic paint---------------------------$575 Air conditioning-------------------------$2656 Alarm------------------------------------$395 Starter button---------------------------$128 Stereo-----------------------------------$750 Car cover--------------------------------$198 Floormats--------------------------------$150 Full Leather (Alcantara standard)--------$2995 Plus shipping from Cincinnati. | ||
| Joe (Jts)
Junior Member Username: Jts Post Number: 220 Registered: 8-2003 |
I was just looking at their ad in the DuPont and it does seem like a lot of bang for the buck. Strange thing was the ad said $53K for the car, with no engine or transaxle. I guess $80K is the turnkey full deal? Did you get an idea of interior room? Will a 6'2" person fit? | ||
| Bill Sawyer (Wsawyer)
Member Username: Wsawyer Post Number: 985 Registered: 2-2002 |
While at Road Atlanta last week I had an opportunity to crawl all over the Noble. It looks like a fantastic car--a kind of common man's F40. For about $80k you get a low volume, twin turbo, 380 hp mid-engined street/track car that will do 0-60 in 3.6 sec., the quarter in 11.8 secs., and pulls 1.16 g on the skid pad. What do you guys think? Anyone out there have any experience with the Noble?  |