Noble m12 gto

[adamrotor]

What your guys's opinion about that car i think it is a very cool affordable sports car. Do any of you have any info on purchasing them here in the states?

_marcin

[sentra_dude]

I am a really big fan of the M12, I think it looks great, has exceptional handling, and is very fast in a straight line. If you're really thinking about getting a serious sports car the M12 would be an excellent choice.

To give you an idea of it's performance, it is faster than a Z06, in both straight line speed and handling.
0-60 3.5s
1/4mi 11.8s
1.156 lateral g
165mph top speed
$56,700 (no engine or transaxle)

If you look in the back of any recent Road & Track issues you will see some info about buying one in the U.S., from 1g Racing:
www.1gracing.com
or 1-866-M12-NOBL
The big downside is they sell the M12 without the engine or transaxle, but I'm sure if you can go to their website and find out more.

[mit5005]

I am a really big fan of the M12, I think it looks great, has exceptional handling, and is very fast in a straight line. If you're really thinking about getting a serious sports car the M12 would be an excellent choice.

To give you an idea of it's performance, it is faster than a Z06, in both straight line speed and handling.
0-60 3.5s
1/4mi 11.8s
1.156 lateral g
165mph top speed
$56,700 (no engine or transaxle)

If you look in the back of any recent Road & Track issues you will see some info about buying one in the U.S., from 1g Racing:
www.1gracing.com
or 1-866-M12-NOBL
The big downside is they sell the M12 without the engine or transaxle, but I'm sure if you can go to their website and find out more.So is it like a kit that you put together yourself? Because I know you can buy Cobra replica kits and they also don't come with engine or drivetrain. M12's are very nice. I would consider it if I had some money.

[jorge]

Some european publications say the noble is one of the greatest cars to drive, and i personally love it´s style and performance :)

[Vansquish]

No...it isn't a kit you put together...you buy the car sans transmission and engine and have that installed by a professional (I suppose you could probably do it yourself if you're mechanically inclined enough) and then you're ready to go. They can't afford to get type approval for the US as anything other than a "kit" car...even though they are truly not a kit manufacturer...as such, the loophole exists and allows Noble to import to the US and have the same powertrain as the one in Europe installed.

[kteo2003]

does anybody know if it exists a noble with the steering wheel on the left side?

[adamrotor]

Yea actually thats where i have seen the add at road and track magazine, but knowing that the engine is a mondeo motor aka contour here in the states would that still be tought o get a hold of the whole car already assembled here to the states? Otherwise if i had the money i too would buy the car but seeing it is priced around 50k has an interesting ring to it. I think its a good bang for a buck.

_marcin

[Vansquish]

it's not the contour engine these days...the engine in the M12 that we get in the States is the 3.0L GT0-3 version.

[DMbaseball1604]

wow, thats really interesting I didnt know that you could get a Noble in the states...however if I was going to get an import car such as the Noble I would probably have to get a TVR even though the quality may not be as good..they sound incredible and they look great!

[levensnevel]

Found a nice review of the GTO 3R version by Graham Bell

http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=137&i=7854

OK, it's nearly 4 months old but very informative

http://www.pistonheads.com/pipe/324884bc5eaa7ff0ec02ab67bddc50eb/news/7854-123753.jpg

[RC45]

The Noble is a great idea - but misses the boat a little in the form it is delivered in the US.

Think about it - you have to spend $60,000 + drive train and labour to get the car together - and then it is a very single-purpose car.

You are almost better off getting some "mass-market" local car, land commiting it to track-duty with real race car parts.

Just using some examples here - imagine the awesome track (and road duty) car you could build with a $70,000 budget and an MR2 or Miata or RX7 or older 911 or even a used Z06... ;)

Price is limiting the Noble to "rich guys toy"...

[sentra_dude]

^^^LOL...I knew a mention of the Z06 was coming...I was just surprised it was so late in your post RC45. ;)

[RC45]

^^^LOL...I knew a mention of the Z06 was coming...I was just surprised it was so late in your post RC45. ;)

I will give credit where it is due... but also be realistic - and I was thinking about it... with $70,000 you could make a killer 911-based track car... ;)

[Gnome]

You have heard a person who have driven the Noble talk about it's handling, right? It handles like (almost?) nothing else, and the driving pleasure is even better! Of course I don't know for sure, but I think you'd have to put in a lot of work to make something competitive without exceeding your budget.

The strange thing is that they say that the steering and handling are so precise, but that the ride still is very comfortable. That's another feature that is hard to beat.

[666fast]

its a great car

[levensnevel]

The M400 version

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/picture_library/dir_29/car_portal_pic_14713.jpg

Full story at

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/previews/previews_story.php?id=46418

[moan786]

Lee Noble's M12 automobile is an awesome track day car they have the performance to stay and even eclipse any dancing donkey (except the Enzo) almost every review ive read about this car from a multitude of sources has stated that this car is one of the best handling cars on the planet and this forums very own darling Tiff Needle has rated it as one of the best cars hes ever driven.

and as for the new M400 that accellerates to 60 in 3.5 seconds thats staggering!

id get one tommorrow if i had the money.......

[RC45]

id get one tommorrow if i had the money.......

If you wanted a "single use" car - and had the $70,000 it takes to get one rolling - then by all means, let me give you a ride to the dealer...

I am just not sure how much use you could/would get out of it... unless trackdays were your thing - which would be cool.

...but even as a track-duty car, it makes a very impracticle driver to a trackday... ;) (no place for your tools or extra brake pads or boiled-egg sandwiches)

So you would still end up trailoring it to a venue in your enclosed 40ft gooseneck being hauled behind your crew-cab dualiie pickup truck.

This would mean your "weekend" warrior kit would set you back $20,000 for the trailor, $45,000 for the pickup and $70,000 for your "track day car".

Let's see know - that's about $130,000 to have asome awesome trackday fun.

No denying that the car is absolutely amazing - but realisticly it is just a wealthy chaps 3rd or 4th car... ;)

Not that there is anything wrong with that -- just wanted to put some perspective on the whole show... ;)

[sameerrao]

Just using some examples here - imagine the awesome track (and road duty) car you could build with a $70,000 budget and an MR2 or Miata or RX7 or older 911 or even a used Z06...


Some more options for a person in the US with $70K budget :
1. Caterham Superlight R (<$50K)
2. Lotus Elise
3. Stripped 993 RS

[BADMIHAI]

RC, stop claiming the Noble cannot be driven on public roads. You're obviously jealous it'll anihilate a Z06. The Noble is not a track day exclusive car; it can be driven on public roads too. If you want a track day car, I think one of those Caterhams or Radicals would be the best option anyway.

[RC45]

RC, stop claiming the Noble cannot be driven on public roads. You're obviously jealous it'll anihilate a Z06. The Noble is not a track day exclusive car; it can be driven on public roads too. If you want a track day car, I think one of those Caterhams or Radicals would be the best option anyway.

Sorry - chum - it has nothing to with "beating the Z06" - it has to do with wether the car can be driven everyday comfortably where I live - and then whether you plan on using the car everyday to commute to work from the 'burbs and as a track-day car or - or as a track-day car exclusively.

:)

[Gnome]

I'm with BADMIHAI on this one. The Noble is said to be a car for the road as well as the track. It's got leather, aircondition and better ride comfort than most sports cars. The luggage is a good point, though. There is some room in the six made to measure bags you get with it, but not enough for a holiday. Here's a review that actually consider the practicality:

http://www.pistonheads.com/roadtests/index.asp?storyId=2764

[RC45]

LOL - you guys crack me up... no really you do... :P

Civilised

Like Lee Noble's previous creations, the M12 has a well deserved reputation for fine handling. The M12 is of course a fantastic track car, but how does it stand up to the daily grind on British roads? It compromises brilliantly. The lightweight controls and torquey yet free revving engine make this car an absolute breeze to drive in traffic. Crawling through jams in the M12 isn't the drama or effort that can be experienced in other supercars. The car will happily pull from 20mph in fourth gear. Whilst you're positioned quite low in the car, the view is good to the front and sides, although a little impeded at the rear by the spoiler.


I live in Houston Texas - I will wait for someone to comment on the car's practicality in my daily urban crawl... not Blighty's... ;)

The sheer distance and variety of commutes around here, will have one very easily putting 15 - 18,000 miles a year on ones primary transport... all you need is the use of one cranial lobe to know that this car, while quite fantastic in it's own right - is NOT a suitable ONLY daily driver... ;)