Possible newbie in the making
Discussion
Sorry for the post people, but I need some information to help me decide what to do.
Cutting a long and dull story short, I've got myself down to one "road" car, being my Lexus. Now I want / need something interesting. I've been looking at Caterhams and Elises and, whilst being very nice motors, they simply don't light my fire (if you know what I mean...). I have also have reliability concerns about the K-series, especially in the Elise.
I've been scanning through this forum for info in the previous topics and have a couple of quick questions about the Atom:
1. Which one is the best one to get? I know this is a fairly stupid question, but people seem to have their own views on this. Is this based on cost versus ability or something else?
2. Running Costs - Essentially I would want to do as many track days as I could during the year (probably about 10 as an opening amount) and otherwise keep this in the garage apart from the odd summer evening / sunday blast in the lanes. What are the running costs for doing track days? I expect from previous days a car to munch tyres and pads. Is there anything else to look / budget for?
3. Reliability - Everyone says they are good, and they have probably the best 4-pot engine in the world fitted, but are there any things I should expect or look for?
Sorry to be a complete pain in the rear, but before I spend another load of cash I want to get as much background info as possible.
Thanks in advance
Iain
Cutting a long and dull story short, I've got myself down to one "road" car, being my Lexus. Now I want / need something interesting. I've been looking at Caterhams and Elises and, whilst being very nice motors, they simply don't light my fire (if you know what I mean...). I have also have reliability concerns about the K-series, especially in the Elise.
I've been scanning through this forum for info in the previous topics and have a couple of quick questions about the Atom:
1. Which one is the best one to get? I know this is a fairly stupid question, but people seem to have their own views on this. Is this based on cost versus ability or something else?
2. Running Costs - Essentially I would want to do as many track days as I could during the year (probably about 10 as an opening amount) and otherwise keep this in the garage apart from the odd summer evening / sunday blast in the lanes. What are the running costs for doing track days? I expect from previous days a car to munch tyres and pads. Is there anything else to look / budget for?
3. Reliability - Everyone says they are good, and they have probably the best 4-pot engine in the world fitted, but are there any things I should expect or look for?
Sorry to be a complete pain in the rear, but before I spend another load of cash I want to get as much background info as possible.
Thanks in advance
Iain
iains said:
Sorry for the post people, but I need some information to help me decide what to do.
There is no need to apologies!
iains said:
Cutting a long and dull story short, I've got myself down to one "road" car, being my Lexus. Now I want / need something interesting. I've been looking at Caterhams and Elises and, whilst being very nice motors, they simply don't light my fire (if you know what I mean...). I have also have reliability concerns about the K-series, especially in the Elise.
There really isnt that much to worry about the K-Series, as long as you look after the engine by checking it over after every trackday, and that any modifications are done without taking shortcuts. Mine I think is testament of that
iains said:
I've been scanning through this forum for info in the previous topics and have a couple of quick questions about the Atom:
1. Which one is the best one to get? I know this is a fairly stupid question, but people seem to have their own views on this. Is this based on cost versus ability or something else?
Having followed one of the 220's the other day, i was suitably impressed with the performance. Mine is down on power at the moment, and im still learning the car, but i was finding it difficult to make much ground over the car.
iains said:
2. Running Costs - Essentially I would want to do as many track days as I could during the year (probably about 10 as an opening amount) and otherwise keep this in the garage apart from the odd summer evening / sunday blast in the lanes. What are the running costs for doing track days? I expect from previous days a car to munch tyres and pads. Is there anything else to look / budget for?
Bruce is probably the best to answer this as he's never touched his car since he bought it
The cars are too light to use tyres and brakes so you can at least enjoy 5000 track miles
iains said:
3. Reliability - Everyone says they are good, and they have probably the best 4-pot engine in the world fitted, but are there any things I should expect or look for?
The factory do take on board all faults found from customers and their own racers, so most of the problems have been ironed out. There have been some huge developments since the first Atom hit the roads, I actually had one of their prototypes and so have first hand knowledge, plus Simon/Tom are always willing to help with problems.
iains said:
Sorry to be a complete pain in the rear, but before I spend another load of cash I want to get as much background info as possible.
Thanks in advance
Iain
Any further questions just post!
Hi Iain,
You should check the Why Ariel Atom thread, which asks alot of the same issues. I went through the same debate you did a while back, since I used to run a 355 and 911 RS as track cars.
1. Which is best. Depends a bit on driving ability and cohones as well as money. The 160 is great fun, beautifully balanced and still a real tool. Its the equivalent of the R300 Caterham, so will beat almost any normal road car on track. The 220 is an R400 / 500 equivalent, and with the Dunlop Rs on it takes some real commitment to drive on the limit, but is equally very friendly when you do, you are just going pretty fast at the time. Options are dealt with in the other thread. If you can afford it, I think there is more depth to the 220, because there is so much more power and grip. There is little point in adding the Dunlop Rs to the 160, as it hasn't go the power to (ab)use them properly. The supercharged one is still being developed (in different directions by Jon and the factory!), so Simon is quite reluctant to say that its reliability is there yet. Mine will be supercharged when he says its fully reliable, but not yet.
I would have a BMW motorbike power socket fitted, so you can use motorbike heated clothes. See Why Atom for details of what there is.
2. Running costs. Its a very light car, so the tyre and brake wear will be trivial to any other road car used as a track machine. We managed to use a set of the soft Formula Rs up in 7 track days, but that is absolutely extreme. Most will find they last most of a season. Brake pads and discs will last ages with 10 track days a year, especially if you add the Alcon brake option (which is worth it, but I would also have a brake bias valve fitted if you do). Does about 200 miles a tank on the road, about 100 on track. Servicing is Honda cheap for the engine.
3. Reliability. I won't tolerate toys that don't work, which ruled out Caterham, Hondahams, Radicals and so on. Mine's been perfect so far. There is very little to go wrong, since there really only is the engine, suspension and brakes.
Other things / niggles
The lights are cr@p, but as Simon says, they are mean't to be of the get you home variety. Jon (Atom290) has modded his to light the world properly, mine will follow suit shortly since I drive out to continental track days in the dark.
For me the handbrake gets in the way a bit, so we are thinking of binning it.
That's it. They are utterly fab. Do it!
MC
You should check the Why Ariel Atom thread, which asks alot of the same issues. I went through the same debate you did a while back, since I used to run a 355 and 911 RS as track cars.
1. Which is best. Depends a bit on driving ability and cohones as well as money. The 160 is great fun, beautifully balanced and still a real tool. Its the equivalent of the R300 Caterham, so will beat almost any normal road car on track. The 220 is an R400 / 500 equivalent, and with the Dunlop Rs on it takes some real commitment to drive on the limit, but is equally very friendly when you do, you are just going pretty fast at the time. Options are dealt with in the other thread. If you can afford it, I think there is more depth to the 220, because there is so much more power and grip. There is little point in adding the Dunlop Rs to the 160, as it hasn't go the power to (ab)use them properly. The supercharged one is still being developed (in different directions by Jon and the factory!), so Simon is quite reluctant to say that its reliability is there yet. Mine will be supercharged when he says its fully reliable, but not yet.
I would have a BMW motorbike power socket fitted, so you can use motorbike heated clothes. See Why Atom for details of what there is.
2. Running costs. Its a very light car, so the tyre and brake wear will be trivial to any other road car used as a track machine. We managed to use a set of the soft Formula Rs up in 7 track days, but that is absolutely extreme. Most will find they last most of a season. Brake pads and discs will last ages with 10 track days a year, especially if you add the Alcon brake option (which is worth it, but I would also have a brake bias valve fitted if you do). Does about 200 miles a tank on the road, about 100 on track. Servicing is Honda cheap for the engine.
3. Reliability. I won't tolerate toys that don't work, which ruled out Caterham, Hondahams, Radicals and so on. Mine's been perfect so far. There is very little to go wrong, since there really only is the engine, suspension and brakes.
Other things / niggles
The lights are cr@p, but as Simon says, they are mean't to be of the get you home variety. Jon (Atom290) has modded his to light the world properly, mine will follow suit shortly since I drive out to continental track days in the dark.
For me the handbrake gets in the way a bit, so we are thinking of binning it.
That's it. They are utterly fab. Do it!
MC
Thanks for all the prompt responses guys - am getting more tempted by the minute. The fact that the trackdays won't break the bank also appeals - had a friend who have took his S2 111s on a trackday and ended up with huge bills as a result. I understand that this not atypical, so that has put me off a bit.
The extra background is v.useful.
I also love the idea of having something that you don't see every day.
Now I have to chat with Mrs. S about it......wish me luck.
The extra background is v.useful.
I also love the idea of having something that you don't see every day.
Now I have to chat with Mrs. S about it......wish me luck.
Hi Iain,
Great to hear there's another potential 'club' member
I think Meryck's covered the bulk of it. Having sold my very early mark 1, I've been mulling over the 160/220 option. But after trying them back to back at Rockingham a couple of weeks ago, the 220 engine just makes the Atom, and is the one you should go for if you can.
Having said that though, the 160 would make a very easy track/road car to live with and would doubtless save you quite a bit of money - it's just not as bonkers.
In terms of track day costs, I don't think you can find a cheaper car to track and they just look so mad on the road, that you can't help but fall in love with them.
Cheers, Ross.
Great to hear there's another potential 'club' member
I think Meryck's covered the bulk of it. Having sold my very early mark 1, I've been mulling over the 160/220 option. But after trying them back to back at Rockingham a couple of weeks ago, the 220 engine just makes the Atom, and is the one you should go for if you can.
Having said that though, the 160 would make a very easy track/road car to live with and would doubtless save you quite a bit of money - it's just not as bonkers.
In terms of track day costs, I don't think you can find a cheaper car to track and they just look so mad on the road, that you can't help but fall in love with them.
Cheers, Ross.
Hi Iain!
to answer your questions:
1. I'm probably going to change to a 220 next year as I had an opportunity to try both the 160 and the 220 a couple of weeks ago and preferred the latter. It just has more flexibility and drives closer to my driving style. I found the 160 a little 'flighty' - strange when my Mk1 is a 165 anyway...
2. I've done about 4,500 track miles and I'm still on the orginial disks and pads! My tyres last for ages - especially compared with my TVR Griffith or Lotus Carlton which ate consumables at a wallet-wilting rate - however, that's probably because I drive like a wuss ! On the servicing front, the odd oil change is really all that's needed.
3. I've owned a Mk1 for over three years and 165bhp k-series reliability seems to be excellent - where's that huge chunk of wood to touch? I can't think of anything you should look for, although I would ask the factory for a history if you're buying a secondhand one - hey, you could buy mine!
to answer your questions:
1. I'm probably going to change to a 220 next year as I had an opportunity to try both the 160 and the 220 a couple of weeks ago and preferred the latter. It just has more flexibility and drives closer to my driving style. I found the 160 a little 'flighty' - strange when my Mk1 is a 165 anyway...
2. I've done about 4,500 track miles and I'm still on the orginial disks and pads! My tyres last for ages - especially compared with my TVR Griffith or Lotus Carlton which ate consumables at a wallet-wilting rate - however, that's probably because I drive like a wuss
! On the servicing front, the odd oil change is really all that's needed. 3. I've owned a Mk1 for over three years and 165bhp k-series reliability seems to be excellent - where's that huge chunk of wood to touch? I can't think of anything you should look for, although I would ask the factory for a history if you're buying a secondhand one - hey, you could buy mine!
Direct link to the "Why Ariel Atom?" thread:
[url]www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=128043&f=79[/url]
[url]www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=128043&f=79[/url]
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