Atom v Lotus 340R
Discussion
Does anyone have any real life experience of the comparison as they appear to be cars in a similar vein.
Been Toying with the idea of a 340R now that they are getting cheaper, love the atom but not sure I can afford the 25-30K for the 220 or better that I would lust after whereas 340Rs are to be had at the 16-18k range
Been Toying with the idea of a 340R now that they are getting cheaper, love the atom but not sure I can afford the 25-30K for the 220 or better that I would lust after whereas 340Rs are to be had at the 16-18k range
Not driven a 340R myself although I was tempted to buy one when I was first looking at an Atom vs. Elise vs. 340R.
For me, the 340R has too much body work and was too expensive although I'm sure they're really good cars, but just too compromised - if you want a balls out driving machine, you don't need to be surrounded by plastic, and if you want the body work, get an Exige.
If I was deciding again today between the two and I was still unsure, the Honda engine in the Atom would really swing it for me. Those engines in such a light car are just bananas.
Drive them both and see which you prefer.
Based on your cost issues though, 16 - 18k for a 340R would probably represent better 'value' for money than a Mark 1 Atom...perhaps. But I'd save up and get a Honda powered 160 Atom 2.
>> Edited by ross.mcw on Friday 18th March 21:05
For me, the 340R has too much body work and was too expensive although I'm sure they're really good cars, but just too compromised - if you want a balls out driving machine, you don't need to be surrounded by plastic, and if you want the body work, get an Exige.
If I was deciding again today between the two and I was still unsure, the Honda engine in the Atom would really swing it for me. Those engines in such a light car are just bananas.
Drive them both and see which you prefer.
Based on your cost issues though, 16 - 18k for a 340R would probably represent better 'value' for money than a Mark 1 Atom...perhaps. But I'd save up and get a Honda powered 160 Atom 2.
>> Edited by ross.mcw on Friday 18th March 21:05
People I know that have owned 340Rs have always blobed about the servicing costs. For example, I seem to remember that changing the battery is a body-off job! And as for working on the engine, it's a nightmare. And that means serious labour charges.
It may seem cheaper, but you know there has to be a good reason for that...
It may seem cheaper, but you know there has to be a good reason for that...
ross.mcw said:Good point, Ross. 340R price new (five years ago) £36k Price now £17-22k (according to to Autotrader). Atom Price five years ago £20k. Price now £15k.
Also, depreciation is a huge factor to take into account. Atoms really hold their value well - it would seem that 340R's don't.
Anyway, why would you pay £22k for a five year old car with 170bhp (or tweaked within an inch of its life to 190bhp) that's Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious, when you could have a £26k brand spanky new 2005 car with a Honda engine and 220bhp stock that's just as impractical - if not more so?
I have driven both - own a 220, which is for sale at that sort of price - almost entirely on circuits, including the Ring and Spa.
The 220 Atom is a LOT faster. If there is downforce on the 340R, its not detectable. Both turn in and traction in the Atom are stronger and you can feel how much lighter it is than the 340R all the time. Brakes are much of a muchness.
I have also driven a supercharged 340R at the Ring, but it went bang less than a third of the way round, so I don't think I got a fair comparison.
Reliability: its all be said before, but of the half a dozen trips to the Ring I have done with friends with 340Rs, on none of them has the 340R driven home under its own steam.
Practicality: oddly, I think the Atom is marginally more practical. The 340R is a pig to work on; spare parts (especially bodywork) are very expensive, windscreens virtually unobtainable apparently; factory support is poor (unlike Ariel); The bodywork gives only marginally better protection than an Atom with aero screens. 340Rs get scuffed pretty quickly too. Oh, and the 340R will break. Often. It will strand you and don't kid yourself about that. Tyre choice is better on the 340R. Headlights are better on the 340R
The only 340R I have come across that worked properly had an engine conversion. To a Honda Civic Type-R lump . . . I still wouldn't choose it over an Atom, though.
The 220 Atom is a LOT faster. If there is downforce on the 340R, its not detectable. Both turn in and traction in the Atom are stronger and you can feel how much lighter it is than the 340R all the time. Brakes are much of a muchness.
I have also driven a supercharged 340R at the Ring, but it went bang less than a third of the way round, so I don't think I got a fair comparison.
Reliability: its all be said before, but of the half a dozen trips to the Ring I have done with friends with 340Rs, on none of them has the 340R driven home under its own steam.
Practicality: oddly, I think the Atom is marginally more practical. The 340R is a pig to work on; spare parts (especially bodywork) are very expensive, windscreens virtually unobtainable apparently; factory support is poor (unlike Ariel); The bodywork gives only marginally better protection than an Atom with aero screens. 340Rs get scuffed pretty quickly too. Oh, and the 340R will break. Often. It will strand you and don't kid yourself about that. Tyre choice is better on the 340R. Headlights are better on the 340R
The only 340R I have come across that worked properly had an engine conversion. To a Honda Civic Type-R lump . . . I still wouldn't choose it over an Atom, though.
Its the car that was used for all the pics on the website, brochures and lots of news articles, so you will see lots of pics of it around, or I can email you some. I think its done about 8,000 miles or so, but can check that for you. It will have done more by May, since we have a couple of trips to Spa and to the Ring between now and then. Simon said we should be able to get about £25k for it and we are happy to agree a date up front if its helpful, since we will know our new car's build date in advance.
It having been a demonstrator, spec is pretty full:
220 engine
Road Pack
Limited Slip Differential
Baffled Sump
Competition Discs/Pads Front
Competition Discs/Pads Rear
Alcon 4 Pot Caliper/290mm Disc Front Brakes
Bilstein Alum. Dampers - Adjustable Spring Platform, Bounce & Rebound
Eibach Race Springs and Assister Springs
Competition Rod Ends (replaced a year ago by factory when we bought it)
Removable QR SPA Steering wheel boss
Stainless Silencer
Stainless 4 - 2 - 1 Manifold
Stainless Cat By Pass Pipe
Stainless Steel Bolts and Fixings
16” Wheel/Track Tyre Package with Formula Rs
Locking Fuel Cap
Seat/Instrument Panel Anti Slip Coating (the factory also added a helmet support for us, which is simply held on with double-sided tape and makes a big difference to buffeting on the motorway)
Aluminium Gear Knob/Handbrake Grip
3” FIA Seat Belts 6 point drivers, 4 point passenger
Electrical outlet for heated clothes etc. (Its a BMW motorbike socket)
I live about 15 miles from the factory, so its been looked after by the factory since we bought it about a year ago. Its also had a lot of the small upgrades, such as moving the thermostat sensor and so on, which come on the new cars. We have spent a lot of time getting the handling absolutely spot on, so it was corner weighted again over the winter, and the ride height is spot on. In one sense, this is nothing more than getting the factory settings on it and keeping them there.
If its relevant, we are trading up to a supercharged one, so no sense at all of not being happy with the car, we love it. Its just that on some of the big European circuits, such as Spa and the Ring, we could use some more power to keep those pesky GT3s at bay on the fast straight sections, so they don't get in the way when the corners come :-) We looked at upgrading this one, but it would have cost us about the same as an out-of-the box supercharged one, so we decided to go that route. It also allowed us to upgrade to mag wheels and four pot brakes all round (probably only necessary on a supercharged one) much more cheaply, so we have taken the opportunity to do that too.
Email me if you want some pics, or to see it.
MC
It having been a demonstrator, spec is pretty full:
220 engine
Road Pack
Limited Slip Differential
Baffled Sump
Competition Discs/Pads Front
Competition Discs/Pads Rear
Alcon 4 Pot Caliper/290mm Disc Front Brakes
Bilstein Alum. Dampers - Adjustable Spring Platform, Bounce & Rebound
Eibach Race Springs and Assister Springs
Competition Rod Ends (replaced a year ago by factory when we bought it)
Removable QR SPA Steering wheel boss
Stainless Silencer
Stainless 4 - 2 - 1 Manifold
Stainless Cat By Pass Pipe
Stainless Steel Bolts and Fixings
16” Wheel/Track Tyre Package with Formula Rs
Locking Fuel Cap
Seat/Instrument Panel Anti Slip Coating (the factory also added a helmet support for us, which is simply held on with double-sided tape and makes a big difference to buffeting on the motorway)
Aluminium Gear Knob/Handbrake Grip
3” FIA Seat Belts 6 point drivers, 4 point passenger
Electrical outlet for heated clothes etc. (Its a BMW motorbike socket)
I live about 15 miles from the factory, so its been looked after by the factory since we bought it about a year ago. Its also had a lot of the small upgrades, such as moving the thermostat sensor and so on, which come on the new cars. We have spent a lot of time getting the handling absolutely spot on, so it was corner weighted again over the winter, and the ride height is spot on. In one sense, this is nothing more than getting the factory settings on it and keeping them there.
If its relevant, we are trading up to a supercharged one, so no sense at all of not being happy with the car, we love it. Its just that on some of the big European circuits, such as Spa and the Ring, we could use some more power to keep those pesky GT3s at bay on the fast straight sections, so they don't get in the way when the corners come :-) We looked at upgrading this one, but it would have cost us about the same as an out-of-the box supercharged one, so we decided to go that route. It also allowed us to upgrade to mag wheels and four pot brakes all round (probably only necessary on a supercharged one) much more cheaply, so we have taken the opportunity to do that too.
Email me if you want some pics, or to see it.
MC
monza said:
Moving thermostat sensor ?
Yes, they've moved it from the front of the car (at the radiator) to the top left hand side of the engine so that you now know know what temeperature the engine is, not what temperature the wind going through the front of the car is! It's not a big job, but it takes a couple of hours... Your new one on April 11th will have the thermostat in the right place!
>> Edited by Bruce Fielding on Monday 21st March 22:37
Don't touch a 340r
two reasons:-
1. much slower
2. you'll get fried!
here's a pic of mine which nearly took me with it on the M1 after a trackday at Donington ( it exloded on the way home), including burning off my hair:-
www.stevecarter.com/ooops/ooops.htm
I know Steve Carter well, so I'm grateful for the free pic! 11th car down on this page
two reasons:-
1. much slower
2. you'll get fried!
here's a pic of mine which nearly took me with it on the M1 after a trackday at Donington ( it exloded on the way home), including burning off my hair:-
www.stevecarter.com/ooops/ooops.htm
I know Steve Carter well, so I'm grateful for the free pic! 11th car down on this page
Aren't most of the older Ariel's (Atom I's) Rover K powered, same as the 340R? If you get a Rover powered Atom I would expect the same engine issues on the Atom as the 340R. If you get the Honda engine (Atom II) then as others said reliability shouldn't be an issue.
340R vs. Atom: Atom - and I'm a huge Lotus fan. If you want a great practical car for tracking get an Exige or Elise Sport XXX. That way you can drive it in the rain, cold etc. The 340R is a great car but lacks the full on track design of the Atom.
If you're not getting the car for pure performance then based on looks it's up to you. Both the 340R and Atom are pure automotive porn to me. It would be very hard pressed to choose between the two based on looks alone.
340R vs. Atom: Atom - and I'm a huge Lotus fan. If you want a great practical car for tracking get an Exige or Elise Sport XXX. That way you can drive it in the rain, cold etc. The 340R is a great car but lacks the full on track design of the Atom.
If you're not getting the car for pure performance then based on looks it's up to you. Both the 340R and Atom are pure automotive porn to me. It would be very hard pressed to choose between the two based on looks alone.
I have an Elise sport and have had no engine problems with the k-series at all. Obviously the Honda engines are renowned for their durability, but I have suffered no so much as a cough or splutter over 3 years of fairly hard driving with the Lotus. Have any of the Mk 1 owners experienced engine problems?
Lotus Furry - what ARE you on about? You can drive an Atom in cold and rain too. As my Granny used to say, there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes. I drove mine out to the Ring in roughly 0 degrees or rain, depending on which bit of the journey. Warm and dry in a motorcycle oversuit with a heated waistcoat - and no side screens (seulement pour les petites filles). MC
Gassing Station | Ariel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff