After my post a couple of days ago with the Ferrari Club meet, I happened to run across this pair of rocketships at a valet parking station at PCH and West Channel Road.
It was fun seeing the Noble M12 GTO and the Ferrari Fiorano 599 GTB together. I've enjoyed the swoopiness of the Ferrari since its release and I've got an acquaintance in the wine world (Gabriel Lam) who has owned a Noble for several years. As can be seen in this photo, the size differential between these two cars is substantial - I seriously doubt that the Fiorano would even fit into my garage. The Ferrari's engine is almost twice the size of the Noble's, resulting in a little less than twice the horsepower (but only a little more torque) than what you get in the smaller car. Still the Noble is faster and more nimble in just about every category but for top speed; so it goes in the world of body weight, as there's about a 1000 pound weight difference between the Ferrari and the Noble.
This blog is not Consumer Reports; if it were the Noble would receive the highest recommendation (at least among the either/or sample of these two cars) because it delivers phenomenal performance numbers a reasonable price; nice condition Noble M12s pop up in Hammings and eBay in the $50K range, but a used 599 GTB will set you back somewhere in the range of $200K to $250K. And that's before you factor in servicing, mileage, and all of the other things that accompany the pride of Ferrari ownership.
However, this is definitely a case of "different courses for different horses". While the M12 is one of the great track day cars, my sense is that it might not offer as enjoyable a ride on a long drive (say, to Oregon or Colorado) as the Fiorano would. The Ferrari 599 GTB is definitely a machine for the grand tour (a "Gran Turismo Berlinetta" to be exact, named in honor of the Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta of the late 1950s) with great performance while the Noble is a trackday car you can drive on a daily basis. Both attract attention, likely from the people whose attention you want to draw. Both cars are admirable for each manufacturer's success in achieving their intended goals with these cars, so either purchase can be rationalized if you feel compelled to justify such a purchase. For my needs, desires, and driving conditions, I'd definitely opt for the Noble. Not that I'm presently faced with such a Solomon-like decision. Sadly, all the rationalization and justification in the world isn't going to put $50 in my bank account (much less $50K). But it's nice to see these cars out on the street...
I love Ferraris, but the Noble is a decent supercar too. It can still burn rubber and leave others in the dust. Personally, I would pick the Fiorano any day. But I wouldn't feel less of a petrol head in an M12.
Posted by: Clovis Seeman | 06 September 2011 at 07:49 AM