Thinking about one
Discussion
I’ve fallen in love with this car it looks superb.
Very interested in the supercharged atom (just need to sell my m3 first) however I need to know some things before going any further and I cant find any link to an official atom site so would appreciate some kind of response from you guys.
How is it as a weekend/occasional track car?
Where do you get these cars serviced?
How reliable are they, is the rest of the car upto the standard of its Honda underpinnings?
Where do you buy them?
What are the prices?
Does anything need to be upgraded for track work?
How good are they in a crash with another car?
Does anyone wear a helmet whilst road driving, is it necessary?
Probably have loads more questions just can't think of any at this moment, would be good if there was some kind of sticky thread giving answers to such questions to the many potential buyers.
Very interested in the supercharged atom (just need to sell my m3 first) however I need to know some things before going any further and I cant find any link to an official atom site so would appreciate some kind of response from you guys.
How is it as a weekend/occasional track car?
Where do you get these cars serviced?
How reliable are they, is the rest of the car upto the standard of its Honda underpinnings?
Where do you buy them?
What are the prices?
Does anything need to be upgraded for track work?
How good are they in a crash with another car?
Does anyone wear a helmet whilst road driving, is it necessary?
Probably have loads more questions just can't think of any at this moment, would be good if there was some kind of sticky thread giving answers to such questions to the many potential buyers.
To answer your questions...
How is it as a weekend/occasional track car?
Fantastic - although it's even better the other way around (track car/occasional weekend car)!
Where do you get these cars serviced?
Mk 2 at a Honda dealer, Mk 1 at an MG/Lotus/Caterham/ - or DIY, it's really easy even for the mechanically inept like me!
How reliable are they, is the rest of the car upto the standard of its Honda underpinnings?
Very reliable - I've had mine over 3.5 years without missing a beat
Where do you buy them?
From Ariel Motor Company in the depths of Somerset or from existing owners - lots of whom visit this site
What are the prices?
See the website: www.arielmotor.co.uk
Does anything need to be upgraded for track work?
Just your driving skills
The car is pertty much turnkey for track work (if you buy new, you could always specify whatever you like in terms of setup - right up to the supercharged engine and the race car settings)
How good are they in a crash with another car?
Can't say about another car, but one has been backwards into the armco at Castle Coome at c.70mph and the driver walked away with a bruised knee. I think they've got Single Vehicle Type Approval but I'm not sure
Does anyone wear a helmet whilst road driving, is it necessary?
For posing around town, wraparound shades or goggles are fine - anything longer or quicker and a helmet is much better - plus you get somewhere to put the sounds!
Probably have loads more questions just can't think of any at this moment, would be good if there was some kind of sticky thread giving answers to such questions to the many potential buyers.
Best advice is spend some time on the Ariel bit of Pistonheads - look at some past threads and you'll soon get the full picture.
How is it as a weekend/occasional track car?
Fantastic - although it's even better the other way around (track car/occasional weekend car)!
Where do you get these cars serviced?
Mk 2 at a Honda dealer, Mk 1 at an MG/Lotus/Caterham/ - or DIY, it's really easy even for the mechanically inept like me!
How reliable are they, is the rest of the car upto the standard of its Honda underpinnings?
Very reliable - I've had mine over 3.5 years without missing a beat
Where do you buy them?
From Ariel Motor Company in the depths of Somerset or from existing owners - lots of whom visit this site
What are the prices?
See the website: www.arielmotor.co.uk
Does anything need to be upgraded for track work?
Just your driving skills
The car is pertty much turnkey for track work (if you buy new, you could always specify whatever you like in terms of setup - right up to the supercharged engine and the race car settings) How good are they in a crash with another car?
Can't say about another car, but one has been backwards into the armco at Castle Coome at c.70mph and the driver walked away with a bruised knee. I think they've got Single Vehicle Type Approval but I'm not sure
Does anyone wear a helmet whilst road driving, is it necessary?
For posing around town, wraparound shades or goggles are fine - anything longer or quicker and a helmet is much better - plus you get somewhere to put the sounds!
Probably have loads more questions just can't think of any at this moment, would be good if there was some kind of sticky thread giving answers to such questions to the many potential buyers.
Best advice is spend some time on the Ariel bit of Pistonheads - look at some past threads and you'll soon get the full picture.
Simon (from Ariel) will take you through a spec, but with track work, you'll want competition rod ends and a baffled sump to protect your investment. Otherwise any Atom is perfect for the track.
BTW, you wouldn't be the first Atom owner who sold an M3 to buy one - the first US owner did exactly that.
BTW, you wouldn't be the first Atom owner who sold an M3 to buy one - the first US owner did exactly that.
Ditto to all of Bruce's comments.
I wouldn't want to try it out myself - I suspect it could be quite nasty. Probably no worse than being in something like a caterfield. The chassis is almost certainly stronger but I'm not sure how much of the collision would be absorbed by it.
However, in an Atom, you're probably in a decent position to avoid the situation altogether, it's handling, grip and brakes are all top notch so providing you keep your wits about you, you should be fine.
Cheers, Ross.
partyboy said:
How good are they in a crash with another car?
I wouldn't want to try it out myself - I suspect it could be quite nasty. Probably no worse than being in something like a caterfield. The chassis is almost certainly stronger but I'm not sure how much of the collision would be absorbed by it.
However, in an Atom, you're probably in a decent position to avoid the situation altogether, it's handling, grip and brakes are all top notch so providing you keep your wits about you, you should be fine.
Cheers, Ross.
The fact that it is a lateral/peripherical chassis/frame is a big + in case of lateral crash compared to other light cars ... The rigidity of the chassis is absolutely necessary in light cars because it's clear that "chances" to crash with a 2 or 4 times heavier car are important and in this case the light car is absorbing the bigger part of the energy. So Atom high rigidity chassis is again a big +.
On warranties, Ariel don't offer one with the Atom owing to their use/abuse. In practice, however, Ariel fix manufacturing faults for owners - they've happily sent us parts free of charge. As for the servicing, it really is trivial and can be done anywhere.
On crashes, I'm told that no one's ever been hurt in an Atom in spite of some major track incidences. Compared to other cars, one of the Ariel test drivers refuses to enter a Caterfield after sustaining injuries to the RHS of his body in one. And take a (friend's) conventional car door and rip out all of the stuffing to reveal the side impact structure - you're unlikely to be impressed by it compared to an Atom.
There's also some tricky design in the car - no engine in front of your feet to transfer energy from the impact, frontal impacts will likely become less severe offset frontal due to the nose shape and the steering column is inside the large-diameter safety cell so it shouldn't move backward.
Hope this helps,
Andrew
On crashes, I'm told that no one's ever been hurt in an Atom in spite of some major track incidences. Compared to other cars, one of the Ariel test drivers refuses to enter a Caterfield after sustaining injuries to the RHS of his body in one. And take a (friend's) conventional car door and rip out all of the stuffing to reveal the side impact structure - you're unlikely to be impressed by it compared to an Atom.
There's also some tricky design in the car - no engine in front of your feet to transfer energy from the impact, frontal impacts will likely become less severe offset frontal due to the nose shape and the steering column is inside the large-diameter safety cell so it shouldn't move backward.
Hope this helps,
Andrew
Do it: I had the same debate coming from a 355 and a 993RS. They are more practical than you would expect, especially with heated clothing. Reliability is fine, factory back up is fantastic (but it is in Somerset) and they blow anything else away except the big Radicals (when and if they are working) and top Caterhams (when and if they are working).
Personally, I wouldn't track either a Radical or a Caterham, I know too many people who have been badly hurt in them and I don't want to join them.
Mine has just gone in to be supercharged. Even the journos couldn't break the factory demonstrator.
Personally, I wouldn't track either a Radical or a Caterham, I know too many people who have been badly hurt in them and I don't want to join them.
Mine has just gone in to be supercharged. Even the journos couldn't break the factory demonstrator.
I have asked for it back so that I can do at private track day on 15th Jan, but I haven't had that confirmed yet. Only downside I can see is that with the charger it only does about 8-10 mpg on track, so you are limited to about 40 minutes between fill ups. Apparently on road the difference isn't so great. Pretty minor downside though and no so different to anything else with its performance.
We haven't decided on whether to upgrade to Alcons all round yet, I need a warm dry track to be able to form a proper view on that. They are much better with the bias sorted (which even I managed with Monza's tutelage), but jury still out on whether there is enough to go for.
MC
We haven't decided on whether to upgrade to Alcons all round yet, I need a warm dry track to be able to form a proper view on that. They are much better with the bias sorted (which even I managed with Monza's tutelage), but jury still out on whether there is enough to go for.
MC
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