Deronda or Atom
Discussion
Like many I took a wander up to Birmingham on the weekend, and stumbled across the Autosport show.
Hidden away in a little corner was the Deronda F400.
It has Atom like qualities, but in my opinion has an altogether better build quality.
It also comes as a higher spec motor, for a similar amount of money
What did anyone else think?
Hidden away in a little corner was the Deronda F400.
It has Atom like qualities, but in my opinion has an altogether better build quality.
It also comes as a higher spec motor, for a similar amount of money
What did anyone else think?
Didn't get to the autosport show but just had a look at their website.
www.deronda.co.uk
Looks like an Atom with a few body panels.
The Atoms website can be found at:
www.arielmotor.co.uk
DAZ
www.deronda.co.uk
Looks like an Atom with a few body panels.
The Atoms website can be found at:
www.arielmotor.co.uk
DAZ
atom290 said:
It has Atom like qualities, but in my opinion has an altogether better build quality.
Having been to the Atom factory and met Simon I find it hard to believe that the Deronda has build better quality, from the pictures on there web site it looks like it has been put together as a school project.
Sorry, just can't see it myself. The Atom is a first rate piece of engineering.
Tuffer, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Once Andrew had established the concept it was constructed by two very clever guys. I am not denying that the Atom is a clever piece of engineering, but it is definitely lacking in the X-Factor. And I think the Deronda grabs its by the horns and shakes it hard.
We will soon see, as the car is going into full production soon, and they will be finalising the testing in the next month. The testing is been done at Bruntingthorpe, which just happens to own a few atoms, so it will be interesting to see the outcome.
If all else you have to agree the spec of the Deronda is better? And that engine is definitely the way forward over the v-tec.
We will soon see, as the car is going into full production soon, and they will be finalising the testing in the next month. The testing is been done at Bruntingthorpe, which just happens to own a few atoms, so it will be interesting to see the outcome.
If all else you have to agree the spec of the Deronda is better? And that engine is definitely the way forward over the v-tec.
OK some of the engineering looks OK but the package as a whole looks like a dogs dinner. Personal opinion but the first time I saw the Atom I thought, that is the car I have been hankering for since I was a kid. I look at the Deronda, and look away pretty quick!
How is the VW package so much better than the Honda? I thought Honda were widely regarded as producing some of the finest N/A engines (except in F1!!).
How is the VW package so much better than the Honda? I thought Honda were widely regarded as producing some of the finest N/A engines (except in F1!!).
Tuffer, I presume that most of your comments are made from the pictures on the site.
Look at the extra protection you get. The minimalist approach is fine, but there are certain extras that this car has over and above the atom, which makes it a proper road car.
Why have an atom when a bike will do? Same performance, you have to get dressed up to out, otherwise you’ll freeze or get soaked! The Deronda finishes the job, that Ariel forgot to do. The weight distribution looks so much more balanced in the Deronda, using a longitudinal layout of engine and gearbox. You name me any major sports car firm that follow suit using a transverse layout?
Yes the engine is a good engine, but where do you go from there? Do you want just 220bhp? Look at the torque figures, the only way your going to get any performance is when the engine is screaming. Mess up your gear change and the engine will either fry or stall. The 1.8T will pull like a train, and modifications to get extra power are easily done, without breaking the bank. The same can not be said about the Honda engine. 280bhp is possible but it wont come cheap, the 1.8T can be reliably converted to 420bhp for less than £8k.
I guess the true test will be on the track. I think the Deronda will set a new goal for both the Atom and the R400.
Look at the extra protection you get. The minimalist approach is fine, but there are certain extras that this car has over and above the atom, which makes it a proper road car.
Why have an atom when a bike will do? Same performance, you have to get dressed up to out, otherwise you’ll freeze or get soaked! The Deronda finishes the job, that Ariel forgot to do. The weight distribution looks so much more balanced in the Deronda, using a longitudinal layout of engine and gearbox. You name me any major sports car firm that follow suit using a transverse layout?
Yes the engine is a good engine, but where do you go from there? Do you want just 220bhp? Look at the torque figures, the only way your going to get any performance is when the engine is screaming. Mess up your gear change and the engine will either fry or stall. The 1.8T will pull like a train, and modifications to get extra power are easily done, without breaking the bank. The same can not be said about the Honda engine. 280bhp is possible but it wont come cheap, the 1.8T can be reliably converted to 420bhp for less than £8k.
I guess the true test will be on the track. I think the Deronda will set a new goal for both the Atom and the R400.
What would you choose: Porsche or that MG (ZXVT thingy), looks are very important.
I would buy an Atom expecting to get wet and windblown, that is the appeal. If I wanted to stay dry I would buy a GTM Rossa or similiar.
I would also not buy something like the Atom or Deronda and then start spending money on upping the performance, again I would buy something that was quicker in the first place. I believe the Atom fills the criteria that it set out to perfectly, plenty strong enough (if you were in a crash that bent those side tubes then you would have been traveling pretty quick), with the Honda engine it now has plenty of power, the looks are sublime and everything is easily accessible for maintenance.
The Deronda (IMO) looks horrendous, function over form maybe, it may handle like a dream and be tuneable for supercar beating performance but to me that is not what it is all about. God only knows what it will look like with a windscreen and full weather gear.
If they realy wanted to get some performance out of it they should have used a Subaru engine and transaxle.
I would buy an Atom expecting to get wet and windblown, that is the appeal. If I wanted to stay dry I would buy a GTM Rossa or similiar.
I would also not buy something like the Atom or Deronda and then start spending money on upping the performance, again I would buy something that was quicker in the first place. I believe the Atom fills the criteria that it set out to perfectly, plenty strong enough (if you were in a crash that bent those side tubes then you would have been traveling pretty quick), with the Honda engine it now has plenty of power, the looks are sublime and everything is easily accessible for maintenance.
The Deronda (IMO) looks horrendous, function over form maybe, it may handle like a dream and be tuneable for supercar beating performance but to me that is not what it is all about. God only knows what it will look like with a windscreen and full weather gear.
If they realy wanted to get some performance out of it they should have used a Subaru engine and transaxle.
Granted NO, but unless there is something drastically wrong with the pictures on there web site then that is enough for me.
A picture of the Atom was enough to send me scurrying off to Somerset, a picture of the Deronda sends me running for cover behind the sofa!!!
This is not a dig at Deronda and I have no connection or interest in either company, it's just my personal view, this is not based on performance or quality......................I just don't like it.
A picture of the Atom was enough to send me scurrying off to Somerset, a picture of the Deronda sends me running for cover behind the sofa!!!
This is not a dig at Deronda and I have no connection or interest in either company, it's just my personal view, this is not based on performance or quality......................I just don't like it.
I think you should go and have a look, I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised.
There aren’t that many pictures of the car on the site, and in the flesh it certainly sent tingles up my spine.
And for one, it doesn’t use those horrid moulded seats.
I understand that first impressions count, and some people will need something to grab them by the short and curlies. But I hated Ducatti until I rode one, couldn’t understand what all the fuss was, then I spent some time with one, and I changed my mind. I looked at all of the engineering and that made me fell in love with them.
We would be a very shallow race, if we only judged things on first impressions then wrote them off. You wouldn’t do it to a girl you met, I am pretty sure that you would get to know the person first, they may not be photogenic but look stunning in the flesh.
The basic Atom used to come with 115bhp. Not many people went for that and soon uprated the engine, so I think it is necessary to have some possibilities in reserve. Look at radical, they took a quick car, and made it even quicker by bolting on a turbo!!
AS for the Subaru engines, they are not really that strong. I know far too many people that have blown them up.
There aren’t that many pictures of the car on the site, and in the flesh it certainly sent tingles up my spine.
And for one, it doesn’t use those horrid moulded seats.
I understand that first impressions count, and some people will need something to grab them by the short and curlies. But I hated Ducatti until I rode one, couldn’t understand what all the fuss was, then I spent some time with one, and I changed my mind. I looked at all of the engineering and that made me fell in love with them.
We would be a very shallow race, if we only judged things on first impressions then wrote them off. You wouldn’t do it to a girl you met, I am pretty sure that you would get to know the person first, they may not be photogenic but look stunning in the flesh.
The basic Atom used to come with 115bhp. Not many people went for that and soon uprated the engine, so I think it is necessary to have some possibilities in reserve. Look at radical, they took a quick car, and made it even quicker by bolting on a turbo!!
AS for the Subaru engines, they are not really that strong. I know far too many people that have blown them up.
And as for side protection, yes hitting a brick wall you would be fine in both, but that rarely happens in a crash. Foreign bodies usually come in, and the Atom lends itself to that somewhat. The fact you have some additional distance between yourself and the object/objects your about to hit, plus with added bonus of a body panel to stop wayward pointy things coming in makes the Deronda a far safer vehicle.
Oh no, from bitter experience I can tell you that you do not want to be in a tank when you hit something else that is solid. If the other thing is mildly squidgy then it's fine, but tanks by there very nature are very very hard.......with no padding or airbags.
Next time you see a Tank walk up and touch it.....they are cold, hard and hurt.
Next time you see a Tank walk up and touch it.....they are cold, hard and hurt.
Sorry guys I'm with Atom290 on this one. Saw the Deronda at the Autosport Show. One word stunning! Brings back memories of the Shark Nose Ferrari F1's (Even though I'm not old enough to remember first time round!).
Having seen several Atoms I would have to say the build and engineering quality of the Deronda will far outstrip Ariel if the show car is anything to go by.
Also you'll wear out less tooth brushes cleaning the Deronda when the british weather intervenes
Having seen several Atoms I would have to say the build and engineering quality of the Deronda will far outstrip Ariel if the show car is anything to go by.
Also you'll wear out less tooth brushes cleaning the Deronda when the british weather intervenes
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