New Member, Familiar Car + My other toy.

Chappers · 19-05-2014, 11:03 PM

Hi everyone,

I did a brief intro in the new members thread but after a quick washing session this afternoon, I thought I'd take some pics and tell you all a bit about myself.

I'm a Stability Control Systems and ABS engineer for a certain feline-based car company in the Midlands. My job means I travel a lot (average 2 weeks/month) so I don't do a lot of miles but I do love my cars.

Until recently my daily runaround was an E36 328i which was a bit of a shed and something I never really took to. My second car, which I still have, is a Noble M12 GTO 2.5

I've wanted a CSL ever since I saw it on Top Gear in November 2003 but unfortunately was only 17 at the time and had been driving a mere 5 months when the episode aired. I've thought about them ever since and looked at getting one a couple of years ago with a certain reseller but came away cold after he was unable to explain the clutch slur to me and cut my drive somewhat short, not to mention it would have meant selling my other car first. Things changed a bit this year; I paid off my student loan, did a large amount of overtime and before I knew it I had a nice little savings account ripe and ready put a deposit down on a house... But that's not me, not yet anyway...

So I started looking for a replacement for the 328 as my daily. First on the list was a Megane 250. I never actually drove one before I realised I was only a few thousand off a V8 M3. Drove both a DCT and a Manual and whilst they're very nice cars I didn't think they were special enough, not to mention being "just a few more thousand off CSL territory". So I started look around, saw that the prices had once again risen since I last looked but noticed a certain high mileage car. Initially I dismissed it and thought I'd missed the boat but I just happened to be travelling back to my parents house and gave Mr.Chin a call. The car was still for sale. On the way down I'd convinced myself it was a terrible idea. High mileage, no transferable warranty, no safety net, what was I thinking?

...And then he opened the garage door, and one of the cleanest CSL's I'd seen was sitting there looking at me. Nick, you had my curiosity but now you have my attention. Unfortunately it was raining so we chatted for a while about the car, about ownership etc. and rescheduled for a drive, weather permitting, on the 11th May. I had a trackday the next day in the Noble which would be the decision point. If nothing went wrong (as it usually did) then the CSL would be mine. Nothing broke so the next day we discussed some intricacies and the payment was made. I collected the car this Saturday and I'm on my second tank of fuel today

The more I drive it the more I love it. It's an incredible thing and is even better than I could have imagined. It's so well set up, so easy to handle and my god, that noise. THAT NOISE.

Anyway, here are some pictures of them both together. I shall have a think about whether I need them both over the next few months / year. For now the CSL is my daily driver but it's actually quite a bit nicer than the Noble so I'm already having issues finding correct parking spaces and find myself constantly looking out the window to check if it's still there, was ever there or if I'm imagining the whole crazy situation!

Thanks for looking, I'll be here to stay

sp2c · 20-05-2014, 06:52 AM

Hi Chappers & welcome
Very nice intro. & pics
Pleased Nick's car has found a good home

LeinsCSL · 20-05-2014, 08:19 AM

Nice pics Chappers, and like the look of that Noble too!

Das Chin · 20-05-2014, 08:28 AM

nice work dave
you do have very good taste in cars..plus you also know alot about them too.
its hard not to enjoy a csl and the more you drive it the more you will fall in love with it.
look after the old girl :-)
i did enjoy the blast in the noble and that is one bonkers fast torque monster.
NW

Marv968 · 20-05-2014, 08:40 AM

We know who to pester if we have ABS problems now

The engine noise is addictive, isn't it?!?

Good to see Nick's car has gone to a good home

Chappers · 20-05-2014, 10:01 AM

Thanks chaps. Out of interest is there anyone near Leamington with a lower mileage car? I'd quite like to compare and see how different mine feels. It's an engineer's curse to worry about every little thing you hear, even though most of it is due to a lack of sound deadening I'm sure.

mattCSLnut · 20-05-2014, 11:01 AM

Welcome aboard Dave

Good to see Nick's old steed end up in the hands of an enthusiast

I bet your face is aching to the max from the perma-grin most first time owners sport at the begining of Cecil ownership

Don't worry ... that's quite normal

Enjoy the noise

Trawler · 20-05-2014, 12:05 PM

Welcome on board. Great car line up. Always fancied a Noble until I was advised they suffered from oil surge on corners and the resulting engine damage.

Chrispy · 20-05-2014, 12:08 PM

Want to give us more of a rundown on the noble? We don't get them over here in Australia

good to see more (reasonably) young guys here haha!

Chappers · 20-05-2014, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trawler

Welcome on board. Great car line up. Always fancied a Noble until I was advised they suffered from oil surge on corners and the resulting engine damage.

Yes, that happened to me. New crank, new oil pump, bottom end bearings and a rather large bill. Easily fixed with the track sump.

As for the a rundown...

2002 Noble M12 GTO
2.5 Ford V6 with Twin Turbos
343bhp, 350lb ft
1050kg
Bespoke spaceframe chassis with inbuilt roll cage
Full flat floor
Glass fibre body
AP racing brakes all round
265/30/18 rear
225/40/18 front
No anti-roll bars due to low roll centre and road-biased setup
2 seats, no boot
No ABS
No TCS
No DSC
Mine has:
Pro Alloy radiator upgrade
Pro Alloy intercooler upgrade
Quaife LSD upgrade
Track Sump upgrade
Remap

19-05-2014, 11:03 PM	#1
Chappers S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 388 Casino cash: $9894	New Member, Familiar Car + My other toy. Hi everyone, I did a brief intro in the new members thread but after a quick washing session this afternoon, I thought I'd take some pics and tell you all a bit about myself. I'm a Stability Control Systems and ABS engineer for a certain feline-based car company in the Midlands. My job means I travel a lot (average 2 weeks/month) so I don't do a lot of miles but I do love my cars. Until recently my daily runaround was an E36 328i which was a bit of a shed and something I never really took to. My second car, which I still have, is a Noble M12 GTO 2.5 I've wanted a CSL ever since I saw it on Top Gear in November 2003 but unfortunately was only 17 at the time and had been driving a mere 5 months when the episode aired. I've thought about them ever since and looked at getting one a couple of years ago with a certain reseller but came away cold after he was unable to explain the clutch slur to me and cut my drive somewhat short, not to mention it would have meant selling my other car first. Things changed a bit this year; I paid off my student loan, did a large amount of overtime and before I knew it I had a nice little savings account ripe and ready put a deposit down on a house... But that's not me, not yet anyway... So I started looking for a replacement for the 328 as my daily. First on the list was a Megane 250. I never actually drove one before I realised I was only a few thousand off a V8 M3. Drove both a DCT and a Manual and whilst they're very nice cars I didn't think they were special enough, not to mention being "just a few more thousand off CSL territory". So I started look around, saw that the prices had once again risen since I last looked but noticed a certain high mileage car. Initially I dismissed it and thought I'd missed the boat but I just happened to be travelling back to my parents house and gave Mr.Chin a call. The car was still for sale. On the way down I'd convinced myself it was a terrible idea. High mileage, no transferable warranty, no safety net, what was I thinking? ...And then he opened the garage door, and one of the cleanest CSL's I'd seen was sitting there looking at me. Nick, you had my curiosity but now you have my attention. Unfortunately it was raining so we chatted for a while about the car, about ownership etc. and rescheduled for a drive, weather permitting, on the 11th May. I had a trackday the next day in the Noble which would be the decision point. If nothing went wrong (as it usually did) then the CSL would be mine. Nothing broke so the next day we discussed some intricacies and the payment was made. I collected the car this Saturday and I'm on my second tank of fuel today The more I drive it the more I love it. It's an incredible thing and is even better than I could have imagined. It's so well set up, so easy to handle and my god, that noise. THAT NOISE. Anyway, here are some pictures of them both together. I shall have a think about whether I need them both over the next few months / year. For now the CSL is my daily driver but it's actually quite a bit nicer than the Noble so I'm already having issues finding correct parking spaces and find myself constantly looking out the window to check if it's still there, was ever there or if I'm imagining the whole crazy situation! Thanks for looking, I'll be here to stay

20-05-2014, 08:28 AM	#4
Das Chin S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: kent Posts: 477 Casino cash: $5938	nice work dave you do have very good taste in cars..plus you also know alot about them too. its hard not to enjoy a csl and the more you drive it the more you will fall in love with it. look after the old girl :-) i did enjoy the blast in the noble and that is one bonkers fast torque monster. NW __________________ 996 GT3 mk2 Guards Red

20-05-2014, 08:40 AM	#5
Marv968 S4 - Getting the hang of it Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Suffolk coast Posts: 214 Casino cash: $8472	We know who to pester if we have ABS problems now The engine noise is addictive, isn't it?!? Good to see Nick's car has gone to a good home __________________ UK CSL no.27

20-05-2014, 11:01 AM	#7
mattCSLnut CSL Register Uber-poster! Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Cambridge Posts: 6,460 Casino cash: $27763	Welcome aboard Dave Good to see Nick's old steed end up in the hands of an enthusiast I bet your face is aching to the max from the perma-grin most first time owners sport at the begining of Cecil ownership Don't worry ... that's quite normal Enjoy the noise __________________ UK CSL No.020 ... after 7 years of ownership I've now SOLD it !!!

20-05-2014, 06:52 AM	#2
sp2c S4 - Getting the hang of it Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: SE London Posts: 155 Casino cash: $4154	Hi Chappers & welcome Very nice intro. & pics Pleased Nick's car has found a good home

20-05-2014, 08:19 AM	#3
LeinsCSL S5, Sport On, DSC M-track Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Dublin Posts: 1,240 Casino cash: $13662	Nice pics Chappers, and like the look of that Noble too!

20-05-2014, 10:01 AM	#6
Chappers S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 388 Casino cash: $9894	Thanks chaps. Out of interest is there anyone near Leamington with a lower mileage car? I'd quite like to compare and see how different mine feels. It's an engineer's curse to worry about every little thing you hear, even though most of it is due to a lack of sound deadening I'm sure.

20-05-2014, 12:05 PM	#8
Trawler Driving it like I nicked it Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2,213 Casino cash: $25916	Welcome on board. Great car line up. Always fancied a Noble until I was advised they suffered from oil surge on corners and the resulting engine damage.

20-05-2014, 12:08 PM	#9
Chrispy S2 - Picking it up Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Brisbane - Australia Posts: 45 Casino cash: $2164	Want to give us more of a rundown on the noble? We don't get them over here in Australia good to see more (reasonably) young guys here haha!