Thinking of buying...
Discussion
Hi all,
I sold my Elise about 8 months ago and have missed the thrill of driving just for the fun of it ever since.
The Atom is the main thing that catches my eye at the moment and I have a couple of questions -
I would (probably) be looking for a K series car for a decent price - what are the things I should look out for, good things to have ( different suspension/wheel packages etc ), what price to pay and where to buy from.
It would mainly be used for maybe 5/6 trackdays a year, the rest of the time would be fun driving on the roads around where I live, which are nice and rural.
Hope anyone can help out,
Cheers,
Pete.
I sold my Elise about 8 months ago and have missed the thrill of driving just for the fun of it ever since.
The Atom is the main thing that catches my eye at the moment and I have a couple of questions -
I would (probably) be looking for a K series car for a decent price - what are the things I should look out for, good things to have ( different suspension/wheel packages etc ), what price to pay and where to buy from.
It would mainly be used for maybe 5/6 trackdays a year, the rest of the time would be fun driving on the roads around where I live, which are nice and rural.
Hope anyone can help out,
Cheers,
Pete.
Hi Pete,
Great to hear you're looking at the Atom - you should find it ideal.
You might want to contact Bruce, because I believe he may be looking to upgrade to the Atom 2 - his current Atom is actually a K series car (160bhp I think), but it has a lot of the chassis mods from the mark 2 chassis so would probably be ideal for you.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0&memberId=4038
I'm sure he'll be along shortly.
Cheers, Ross.
Great to hear you're looking at the Atom - you should find it ideal.
You might want to contact Bruce, because I believe he may be looking to upgrade to the Atom 2 - his current Atom is actually a K series car (160bhp I think), but it has a lot of the chassis mods from the mark 2 chassis so would probably be ideal for you.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0&memberId=4038
I'm sure he'll be along shortly.
Cheers, Ross.
btw, any Atom will do you for track days and tootling around town looking cool.
What spec really depends on how much you're looking to spend - also if you're after a K series mark 1, you're probably initially limited to whatever second hand ones are available (perhaps only 2!) - although you can obviously change wheels/tyres after that.
I think the general concensus is that the Dunlop Formula-R tyres are the way to go for the track, but they're perhaps a bit scary in the wet on the road.
My original mark 1 was a bog standard 118bhp K series with basic 15" wheels and tyres and the original standard suspension - it was fine if perhaps a little lacking in power for the faster tracks (Outlon Park was good fun though).
Very very cheap to run with great (ie. low) depreciation. Low weight means brakes and tyres last ages.
Cheers, Ross.
What spec really depends on how much you're looking to spend - also if you're after a K series mark 1, you're probably initially limited to whatever second hand ones are available (perhaps only 2!) - although you can obviously change wheels/tyres after that.
I think the general concensus is that the Dunlop Formula-R tyres are the way to go for the track, but they're perhaps a bit scary in the wet on the road.
My original mark 1 was a bog standard 118bhp K series with basic 15" wheels and tyres and the original standard suspension - it was fine if perhaps a little lacking in power for the faster tracks (Outlon Park was good fun though).
Very very cheap to run with great (ie. low) depreciation. Low weight means brakes and tyres last ages.
Cheers, Ross.
Ross-
Had you been a bit shorter (elf like) you would have found the extra speed you were after by not acting as a wind break
Pete-
Nice to see some fresh blood coming into the group,welcome !
Shame you can't stretch to the MK2 as I know someone who might be selling theirs. Ross mentioned Bruces car, you should have a look at his its a cracker,and fast as well .
Mark
Had you been a bit shorter (elf like) you would have found the extra speed you were after by not acting as a wind break
Pete-
Nice to see some fresh blood coming into the group,welcome !
Shame you can't stretch to the MK2 as I know someone who might be selling theirs. Ross mentioned Bruces car, you should have a look at his its a cracker,and fast as well .
Mark
Pete
Unfortunately not, MK 2's tend to command good resale values ,at the moment. I personally have only seen four others, and only two on the same track day ,which was Julians and mine. I hope you manage to find a Mk1 but I don't think you'll find a cheap one, Ross's went for over 15k and that was a real heap
Simon is the best guy to keep in contact with as most owners go through him to sell on their Atoms
Mark
Unfortunately not, MK 2's tend to command good resale values ,at the moment. I personally have only seen four others, and only two on the same track day ,which was Julians and mine. I hope you manage to find a Mk1 but I don't think you'll find a cheap one, Ross's went for over 15k and that was a real heap
Simon is the best guy to keep in contact with as most owners go through him to sell on their Atoms
Mark
Is this car known, its on the atom site
Mileage: 5000
Year: 2001
Colour: Red
Specification: 120 Rover, road pack, close ratio gearbox, 15" wheels, stainless exhaust, competition rod ends.
Notes: Immaculate condition and will come with 54 Registration. Can be viewed Leicestershire.
Price: £15,250
Ref: BR
Cheers,
Pete.
Mileage: 5000
Year: 2001
Colour: Red
Specification: 120 Rover, road pack, close ratio gearbox, 15" wheels, stainless exhaust, competition rod ends.
Notes: Immaculate condition and will come with 54 Registration. Can be viewed Leicestershire.
Price: £15,250
Ref: BR
Cheers,
Pete.
Thanks Mark
Yeah, if you could stretch to a mark 2, the Honda engine is definitely worth it. But it's quite a price increase over the mark 1.
Like Mark says, there aren't many mark 1's around for sale any more, my own sold very quickly to a guy overseas at the start of the summer - I plan to buy a mark 2 next Spring.
Simon does have one on the Ariel site (which I guess you've seen), but apart from that one and Bruce's (assuming he's actually selling which he may not be) that's all the mark 1's for sale that I'm aware of (and Bruce's is really a mark 1.5!)
Cheers, Ross.
Yeah, if you could stretch to a mark 2, the Honda engine is definitely worth it. But it's quite a price increase over the mark 1.
Like Mark says, there aren't many mark 1's around for sale any more, my own sold very quickly to a guy overseas at the start of the summer - I plan to buy a mark 2 next Spring.
Simon does have one on the Ariel site (which I guess you've seen), but apart from that one and Bruce's (assuming he's actually selling which he may not be) that's all the mark 1's for sale that I'm aware of (and Bruce's is really a mark 1.5!)
Cheers, Ross.
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