Pros & Cons of Atom ownership?

[andywaterfall]

Hi all

Been admiring Atoms from afar for a while, and thinking of getting one as a track car for next year (something different from another blimmin Elise).

Met Simon Saunders at MPH03 yesterday - very friendly & knowledgeable chap, and sitting in the car for the first time has really got me thinking...

A few questions though please, if you can spare me a few minutes:

How is it wearing a helmet on the road? (Might be a stupid question, I'm guessing it's like being on a bike... )

What do you do with a helmet when you're not in it? There's no luggage space at all, right?

Does the lack or weather protection prove wearing after a few hundred miles? I'm thinking of the drive to, say, Oulton & back (I'm in Surrey) - I used to find the windblast in my old Griff got on my nerves after a while...

What are your views on handling? Car mags say it's a bit dodgy (I've read some of the posts here which say different), and Simon showed me the new suspension on the Atom2. He also pointed out that both models can be set up for an average trackday-er like me or a proper racedriver, and neither would like the setup for the other. Nevertheless, I'd be interested to hear your comments.

Reliability?

Desirable options? (Simon suggested a visit to the factory to go through this, but again, I'd like to se what you think).

Best wheel/tyre combo?

Cheers in advance

Andy

[ross.mcw]

andywaterfall said:

How is it wearing a helmet on the road? (Might be a stupid question, I'm guessing it's like being on a bike... )

No problems at all, in fact it's the most sensible thing about the Atom! I really couldn't imagine driving mine without a helmet - very much like riding a motorbike...but with oversteer

andywaterfall said:

What do you do with a helmet when you're not in it? There's no luggage space at all, right?

If you're leaving the Atom parked up, then you'll need to take your helmet with you. Zero practicality comes as standard.

andywaterfall said:

Does the lack or weather protection prove wearing after a few hundred miles? I'm thinking of the drive to, say, Oulton & back (I'm in Surrey) - I used to find the windblast in my old Griff got on my nerves after a while...

The helmet makes it almost bearable, ear plugs for a longer journey are a must, but with those, you could drive the length of Britain. I've done Manchester to Kent and back in a couple of days and that was fine, if a little boring when you're sat in traffic on the M6. In the rain, you get wet, simple as that, but luckily we're born waterproof.

btw, Oulton Park is mint in the Atom, I've done 3 track days there with Easytrack as I live just 30 mins away.

andywaterfall said:

What are your views on handling? Car mags say it's a bit dodgy (I've read some of the posts here which say different), and Simon showed me the new suspension on the Atom2. He also pointed out that both models can be set up for an average trackday-er like me or a proper racedriver, and neither would like the setup for the other. Nevertheless, I'd be interested to hear your comments.

I've got quite an earlyish Mark I with 118bhp and the handling's basically fine, if perhaps a little prone to oversteer. Plenty of grip though and on the track is great. You'll need to set the shocks very hard for the track and very soft for the road as it can be a bit back breaking when it gets bumpy.

I'm sure experts can pick some holes in it, but it is adjustable and most mortal drivers will be fine with it and just get on and have fun. If you think along the lines of something like a Formula Ford/First on the road you'd be about right.

andywaterfall said:

Reliability?

Hmmm, I've had a lot of daft niggling things with mine, mainly down to the Rover ECU (hopefully, they've sorted that on the Mark II with the Honda unit). A couple of early design flaws as well, which really have been a pain, but not show stopping - again, I imagine they've been ironed out on the Mark II. You'll need to know a spanner from a screwdriver to own one, but you shouldn't worry too much about it. At least there isn't an awful lot to actually go wrong!

andywaterfall said:

Desirable options? (Simon suggested a visit to the factory to go through this, but again, I'd like to se what you think).

Mine was a basic road going version, with stainless exhaust (a must), tinted screen (looks nicer) and 15" wheels alround (so I could swap the wheels round). Pull off steering wheel is handy and I think that's about it. Don't bother with the stainless nuts and bolts if they still offer that as an option.

andywaterfall said:

Best wheel/tyre combo?

I'm no expert here, but if I were you I wouldn't go mad with huge wheels and tyres - there's plenty of grip and over tyreing it will take away some of the fun - if you're after road going fun as well as track day use, then go for the middle road.

One thing I would say though, is get some exact info from Simon on what tyres it will come with - mine came with Continetal Eco-Contact tyres and they are absolutely shite and should have been better specified.

andywaterfall said:

Cheers in advance

No probs. PS. if you come across anyone wanting an excellent condition Mark I, let me know as I'd like to upgrade!

Cheers, Ross.

>> Edited by ross.mcw on Sunday 14th December 20:09

[andywaterfall]

Cheers Ross, all v helpful!

One last one - is there any stowage space at all, eg for a trip to Spa?

[ross.mcw]

Well, on mine you've actually got two reasonable sized stowage spaces under the nose cone. I use them to put tools/rags in. But that's it.

I have a feeling that you lose the smaller of the two spaces on the mark II due to the rad being positioned more vertically.

If I need to carry anything else it goes in weather proof bags and sits in the passenger seat/footwell - so plenty of room there providing you don't have a passenger.

If you position the seats forward in the chassis then you get a sliver of room (say 6") behind the seat moulding that you could conceivably throw something down (strap it in though).

Don't buy the Atom thinking it's an Elise or 7 - it's really not, they are very normal practical everyday cars compared to the Atom (thank god .

Buy an Atom because you want to be a racing driver but instead ended up getting a normal job....just don't crash!

Cheers, Ross.

[Bruce Fielding]

ross.mcw said:

andywaterfall said: How is it wearing a helmet on the road? (Might be a stupid question, I'm guessing it's like being on a bike... ) No problems at all, in fact it's the most sensible thing about the Atom! I really couldn't imagine driving mine without a helmet - very much like riding a motorbike...but with oversteer

Actually, around town you can get away with goggles or wraparound shades, but anything over 40/50 or on a longer journet, a helmet is better

andywaterfall said:

What do you do with a helmet when you're not in it? There's no luggage space at all, right?

If you're leaving the Atom parked up, then you'll need to take your helmet with you. Zero practicality comes as standard. [/quote]

Agreed on the practicality. You can chain your lid through the frame though!


[quote=andywaterfall]
Does the lack or weather protection prove wearing after a few hundred miles? I'm thinking of the drive to, say, Oulton & back (I'm in Surrey) - I used to find the windblast in my old Griff got on my nerves after a while...
[/quote]


The helmet makes it almost bearable, ear plugs for a longer journey are a must, but with those, you could drive the length of Britain. I've done Manchester to Kent and back in a couple of days and that was fine, if a little boring when you're sat in traffic on the M6. In the rain, you get wet, simple as that, but luckily we're born waterproof. [/quote]

It's not practical. It's not supposed to be! But long journeys can be fun...

[quote=andywaterfall]
What are your views on handling? Car mags say it's a bit dodgy (I've read some of the posts here which say different), and Simon showed me the new suspension on the Atom2. He also pointed out that both models can be set up for an average trackday-er like me or a proper racedriver, and neither would like the setup for the other. Nevertheless, I'd be interested to hear your comments.
[/quote]


I've got quite an earlyish Mark I with 118bhp and the handling's basically fine, if perhaps a little prone to oversteer. Plenty of grip though and on the track is great. You'll need to set the shocks very hard for the track and very soft for the road as it can be a bit back breaking when it gets bumpy.

I'm sure experts can pick some holes in it, but it is adjustable and most mortal drivers will be fine with it and just get on and have fun. If you think along the lines of something like a Formula Ford/First on the road you'd be about right. [/quote]

Ross is right. You can set it up any way you like. There are constant mods going on - mine's just been upgraded which was a darned sight cheaper than doing the same thing on a more 'normal' car.


[quote=andywaterfall]
Reliability?
[/quote]


Hmmm, I've had a lot of daft niggling things with mine, mainly down to the Rover ECU (hopefully, they've sorted that on the Mark II with the Honda unit). A couple of early design flaws as well, which really have been a pain, but not show stopping - again, I imagine they've been ironed out on the Mark II. You'll need to know a spanner from a screwdriver to own one, but you shouldn't worry too much about it. At least there isn't an awful lot to actually go wrong! [/quote]

Mine's not missed a beat. You can tinker with it if you like, but it's not like a Radical where you need a whole team of mechanics to keep it running. You really can drive it to the circuit, flog the nuts off it, and then drive it home!

[quote=andywaterfall]
Desirable options? (Simon suggested a visit to the factory to go through this, but again, I'd like to se what you think).
[/quote]


Mine was a basic road going version, with stainless exhaust (a must), tinted screen (looks nicer) and 15" wheels alround (so I could swap the wheels round). Pull off steering wheel is handy and I think that's about it. Don't bother with the stainless nuts and bolts if they still offer that as an option. [/quote]

Go with Simon. There's stuff you need and stuff you don't. The good news is that if you change your mind, getting it sorted is relatively easy


[quote=andywaterfall]
Best wheel/tyre combo?
[/quote]


I'm no expert here, but if I were you I wouldn't go mad with huge wheels and tyres - there's plenty of grip and over tyreing it will take away some of the fun - if you're after road going fun as well as track day use, then go for the middle road.

One thing I would say though, is get some exact info from Simon on what tyres it will come with - mine came with Continetal Eco-Contact tyres and they are absolutely shite and should have been better specified. [/quote]

I'm just trying out a new combo, but the weather's not been good enough to really give it a proper workout yet!

[Bruce Fielding]

ross.mcw said:

Well, on mine you've actually got two reasonable sized stowage spaces under the nose cone. I use them to put tools/rags in. But that's it. I have a feeling that you lose the smaller of the two spaces on the mark II due to the rad being positioned more vertically. If I need to carry anything else it goes in weather proof bags and sits in the passenger seat/footwell - so plenty of room there providing you don't have a passenger. If you position the seats forward in the chassis then you get a sliver of room (say 6") behind the seat moulding that you could conceivably throw something down (strap it in though). Don't buy the Atom thinking it's an Elise or 7 - it's really not, they are very normal practical everyday cars compared to the Atom (thank god . Buy an Atom because you want to be a racing driver but instead ended up getting a normal job....just don't crash! Cheers, Ross.

You just get the one cubbyhole on the later models, but a squashy bag will go nicely in the passenger footwell so long as it's well strapped to the frame (otherwise it could slide over to the pedal side - not a good idea!

The Atom is a stunning machine, but it's not a sensible choice. Then again, isn't there enough 'sensible' in the world?