The Motor Forum

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:50 am Post subject: Not the Noble

But it's him again:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/244056/

Guitar Zero · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 12:16 pm Post subject:

_________________
Previous convictions :

2006 Focus ST 2.5
2001 BMW 520i
2002 Focus 2.0 zetec
1999 Fiat Punto

Guitar Zero · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 12:24 pm Post subject:

Pie 'n' Mash Automotive was bought out by Lee Noble (Not Noble) Engineering last year.

Lee Noble (Not Noble) Engineering's main investor is Arash Fartboob

As I understand it, the Noble-erised Donkernator will be powered by the same " 650 " bhp engine that all weekend sports car builders claim they have unearthed.

It is know by it's development name - the " Dodo Unicorn Unobtanium 650 " and will undergo final calibration and certification at Funkpish Performance.

However, word on the grape vine is that Lee Noble is crapping it at the moment - " Monkfish performance " and " Fuck you, you poofy pommy bastards tuning " are fresh out of ripshifters and special magic reinforced todgy turbo tyres.
_________________
Previous convictions :

2006 Focus ST 2.5
2001 BMW 520i
2002 Focus 2.0 zetec
1999 Fiat Punto

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 12:37 pm Post subject:

By 'eck, GZ, I think you've scooped it with uncanny accuracy.

PG · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 12:47 pm Post subject:

GZ, utterly priceless stuff. And probably very true.

Lee Noble would have been the right man to run TVR. He missed a real trick there. He could have kept turning out kit cars at bonkers prices.

BeN · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:12 pm Post subject:

Now I would buy that. Just for the novelty value.

(GZ's drawing I mean, not the Noblemobile)
_________________
On the other side of the world - Hurlecot de Millou

Not the same since 2008

Eff One · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:28 pm Post subject:

Stone the crows, at last a reason to come out of automotive exile!

Sign me up for a Pie 'n Mash Donkernator!
_________________
"Racing is life. Everything before and after is just waiting." Steve McQueen

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:45 pm Post subject:

Further details have emerged:

No ABS or traction control, because it's for poofs and girls and companies with developement budgets bigger than 5p

The interior and exterior styling will be done by Lee Noble himself, as his previous designs have justifiably been acclaimed everywhere.

Transmission will use the world-reknowned Tremec manual gearbox, as fitted to cars like the Vauxhall Monaro and Chevrolet Corvette.

TimR · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:50 pm Post subject:

I presume you won't be rushing out to buy this, Nick, as all your money will be taken up buying knob rot prevention cream

Clunes · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 3:05 pm Post subject:

The Autocar article states that the gearbox will be the same 6-speed Graziano one as fitted to the Noble.

I wish him luck myself - I'd love to have a play in an M12 and it was universally praised for it's ride/handling/performance.

Who knows...at the £70k - £100k level being talked about he might just pull off something special!

Bob Sacramento · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:18 pm Post subject:

simonp · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:41 pm Post subject:

So he's basically gonna make exactly the same car as in this weeks Autocar road test but for less than half the price? Why didn't they do that then?!

Guitar Zero · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 7:57 pm Post subject:

As someone said on another forum - if you want a mental fast road hoover that looks like a kit car - just spring for an Ultima with the mega bastard engine and save yourself £130k.

Got to give them credit for the chassis tuning though - if it's half as good as Autocar say it is then it must be awesome. Obviously Lee Noble himself is not the magic ingredient, otherwise ride and handling would have gone for a burton when he walked out.
_________________
Previous convictions :

2006 Focus ST 2.5
2001 BMW 520i
2002 Focus 2.0 zetec
1999 Fiat Punto

Twelfth Monkey · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 8:55 am Post subject:

I reckon we've been just a little hard on Noble. He does have a track record of producing some cracking cars.
_________________
"Accident Blackspot"? These aren't accidents. They're throwing themselves into the road gladly. Throwing themselves into the road to escape all this hideousness.'

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:08 am Post subject:

The trouble with Noble is a microcosm of the trouble with the British motor industry in general. There are loads of people like him who are very skilled at one thing (in his case, chassis development), but who crucially underestimate (or maybe simply aren't interested in) the difficulty of developing a car properly. To make things worse, they can't or won't cooperate with other people, so they try to do the whole thing themselves, only to come a cropper because they don't have the relevant skills or patience.

I know things like making doors fit and seal properly isn't as exciting as making the car handle well at high speed, but it's just as important if you want a product that you can sell to people other than very Spartan enthusiasts. Which means ideally you need a larger company, with the budget and resources to do ALL the necessary development tasks. It seems to be a typically British thing unfortunately - the "one man in a shed" mentality.

You also need the patience to stick at it. Noble seems to get bored and give up on each project, before moving on to something else, leaving an invariably half-finished car behind him.

Twelfth Monkey · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:26 am Post subject:

Clearly he's no 'big car company' bloke, but there's a world of difference between speculating about what Noble says he plans to do and the typical chancer startup, of which the Donkernator is the perfect pastiche.

Noble reminds me of Colin Chapman in many ways, not all of which I'll happily acknowledge are ideal.
_________________
"Accident Blackspot"? These aren't accidents. They're throwing themselves into the road gladly. Throwing themselves into the road to escape all this hideousness.'

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:31 am Post subject: