Why Ariel Atom?
Discussion
Much the same as you. R500 and R600 (too unreliable and don't fancy crashing in one), Radical SR3 and SR4 (ditto and absurdly expensive), Ultima (Can't stand Ted Marlow and they break), Westfields (see Radicals).
For me the test is that it has to be able to drive to the Ring in Germany, thrash there for two days, drive to Spa, thrash there for two days and drive home again without breaking. I'm not fussed about comfort and civilisation. I want it to be very fast and I want brilliant handling. I really don't want it to break down, since I tend to drive out to the Ring / back from Spa late at night and just don't want to find myself broken down in the rain in the middle of rural Germany . . . The Atom wins hands down.
For me the test is that it has to be able to drive to the Ring in Germany, thrash there for two days, drive to Spa, thrash there for two days and drive home again without breaking. I'm not fussed about comfort and civilisation. I want it to be very fast and I want brilliant handling. I really don't want it to break down, since I tend to drive out to the Ring / back from Spa late at night and just don't want to find myself broken down in the rain in the middle of rural Germany . . . The Atom wins hands down.
Gt3's times 2, Noble M12, caterham ( still got it), Lotus 340r ( nearly fried me), various Evo's latterly 400bhp version ( boring) in the end its what gives you a buzz - the Atom - trying to change up quickly enough to match the rev counter, the induction roar, the cornering, the brakes ( surely they are pretty good?) its a great alternative to a bike
It was the only car I could find where the the design was purely about driving - absolutely nothing on it except what was necessary.
I'd considered the usual bike engined caterfields, but they just don't do it for me - plus there's too many about and the engine's in the wrong place.
Also, they are very cheap to run which is good.
Cheers, Ross.
I'd considered the usual bike engined caterfields, but they just don't do it for me - plus there's too many about and the engine's in the wrong place.
Also, they are very cheap to run which is good.
Cheers, Ross.
atom290,
What's wrong with your car? If the problems are related to the Jackon Racing supercharger, you might want to speak to ahki on exiges.com, as he's got a supercharged Honda Exige.
You might be able to find useful information regarding the supercharged K20a from:
www.k20a.org
www.honda-tech.com/zeromain
Hope this helps.
>> Edited by Hubert on Sunday 3rd October 05:53
What's wrong with your car? If the problems are related to the Jackon Racing supercharger, you might want to speak to ahki on exiges.com, as he's got a supercharged Honda Exige.
You might be able to find useful information regarding the supercharged K20a from:
www.k20a.org
www.honda-tech.com/zeromain
Hope this helps.
>> Edited by Hubert on Sunday 3rd October 05:53
atom290,
That's a very unique engine you have there. I hope you managed to get the inlet temp problem sorted.
The new Caterham CSR has got me thinking again. The 200hp version is robust and probably offers similar performance as the R400 with improved aerodynamics and stability (according to the 62nd issue of EVO mag). The dry sump, LSD and brake upgrade comes as standard too. Most importantly it'll cost about 2-4k less than the Atom2 with the "essential" options, like LSD, baffled sump, road pack and brake upgrade.
And then there's the CSR260, which is priced on par with the Atom275, if anyone ever needs that kind of power.
I wish decisions can be made a little easier.
>> Edited by Hubert on Saturday 9th October 20:03
That's a very unique engine you have there. I hope you managed to get the inlet temp problem sorted.
The new Caterham CSR has got me thinking again. The 200hp version is robust and probably offers similar performance as the R400 with improved aerodynamics and stability (according to the 62nd issue of EVO mag). The dry sump, LSD and brake upgrade comes as standard too. Most importantly it'll cost about 2-4k less than the Atom2 with the "essential" options, like LSD, baffled sump, road pack and brake upgrade.
And then there's the CSR260, which is priced on par with the Atom275, if anyone ever needs that kind of power.
I wish decisions can be made a little easier.
>> Edited by Hubert on Saturday 9th October 20:03
Isn't improved reliability what they promised with the R300, 400 and 500? Improved is a relative term. And if I remember correctly from driving my Atom to work this morning (yes I know its cold and raining, that's what heated waistcoats and oversuits are for - it also means you can light the rears up in third from standstill and keep it going longer), that it has inboard suspension too. Remember that Jon Barker is the editor of the Caterham magazine, so he is hardly impartial.
They still have the same crash protection too - i.e. you are the crumple zone between the gearbox and the side fo the car. Bon chance mon ami, if you go that route :-(
They still have the same crash protection too - i.e. you are the crumple zone between the gearbox and the side fo the car. Bon chance mon ami, if you go that route :-(
Hubert said:
I wish decisions can be made a little easier.
Best bet is to have a test drive and pick the one you like best. Driving the Atom is much closer to driving a single seater track car than just about anything short of a Radical but the Atom has the advantage that it's also far more practical on the road than the Radical.
I had to make a similar decision before buying my Atom, but after driving a Caterham at Silverstone I knew they weren't for me. Engine and weight's in the wrong place - not that it wasn't fun, but it just didn't have the same racing car feel that the Atom had.
I wouldn't worry about the power, the Atom 220 will feel plenty quick enough.
Cheers, Ross.
Hubert,
All the rigidity of the Atom is coming from it's lateral big tubes/structure. Have a look to a cat chassis and compare (Atom has no "central" chassis, Cat has, but it's not usefull in case of accident !). In case of lateral accident, the result will be clear ... as for other types of accident (you can look to a Nascar Chassis to see what is a lateral protection, on the princip, the Atom is closed to that).
Concerning "robust" duratec engines, wait and see because the engines of R400 and R500 were not sold as un-robust by caterham...
It's clear that the CSR will be a good car, but with a totaly different feeling than the Atom on roads and tracks. You have to try both.
Jean-Pascal
All the rigidity of the Atom is coming from it's lateral big tubes/structure. Have a look to a cat chassis and compare (Atom has no "central" chassis, Cat has, but it's not usefull in case of accident !). In case of lateral accident, the result will be clear ... as for other types of accident (you can look to a Nascar Chassis to see what is a lateral protection, on the princip, the Atom is closed to that).
Concerning "robust" duratec engines, wait and see because the engines of R400 and R500 were not sold as un-robust by caterham...
It's clear that the CSR will be a good car, but with a totaly different feeling than the Atom on roads and tracks. You have to try both.
Jean-Pascal
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