Is Ariel the new TVR?
Discussion
When I owned my Griffith, whenever anything went wrong, the stock response from the garage was, "They all do that, sir." Which, incidentally, was true most of the time (didn't make it any less frustrating, though!).
Yesterday I mentioned to Tom that the plastic outer casing on my handbrake cable at the rear had melted through heat from the exhaust revealing the metal beneath and was given the same response! Apparently, you need to wrap some heat-reflective material around it to stop it happening... I wonder why the factory doesn't fit it as standard? Or maybe it does on the new Hondas? I didn't notice on Saturday...
>>> Edited by Bruce Fielding on Tuesday 27th April 11:39
Yesterday I mentioned to Tom that the plastic outer casing on my handbrake cable at the rear had melted through heat from the exhaust revealing the metal beneath and was given the same response! Apparently, you need to wrap some heat-reflective material around it to stop it happening... I wonder why the factory doesn't fit it as standard? Or maybe it does on the new Hondas? I didn't notice on Saturday...
>>> Edited by Bruce Fielding on Tuesday 27th April 11:39
I will look tonight Bruce,I know certain things are wrapped in heat protection but couldnt say what parts they are. I have lots of that stuff in my garage so if you want some I'll post it to you. Also did any of you want a plastic bung kit to plug all them unsightly holes in the chassis and suspension arms.
Let me know if you do and email me your postal address.
Mark
Let me know if you do and email me your postal address.
Mark
"They all do that sir" is not bloody good enough if you ask me and I hope Tom & Simon don't get to used to saying it if they want to keep long term customers.
If they know it's a problem, why the hell haven't they told us about it????
Too many times, I've discovered problems myself (some more serious than just annoyances) only to find out that it's not the first time it's come to their attention.
A bit crap really, although I have to say, when I've spoken to Tom and Simon about problems, they've generally been very helpful.
>> Edited by ross.mcw on Friday 16th April 23:19
If they know it's a problem, why the hell haven't they told us about it????
Too many times, I've discovered problems myself (some more serious than just annoyances) only to find out that it's not the first time it's come to their attention.
A bit crap really, although I have to say, when I've spoken to Tom and Simon about problems, they've generally been very helpful.
>> Edited by ross.mcw on Friday 16th April 23:19
display2u said:
Also did any of you want a plastic bung kit to plug all them unsightly holes in the chassis and suspension arms.
Let me know if you do and email me your postal address.
Mark
Funnily enough, I was asking Tom about those on Monday and he said they hadn't fitted them. If you could send me a set that would be great Mark, thanks.
I'll email you my address now.
Cheers, Ross.
Sorry to hear that things haven't worked out on this front Jon.
If you have a legal disagreement brewing with Ariel though, my advice would be to keep it between the solicitors rather than using public bulletin boards.
I hope you and Simon manage to sort out something remotely amicable between yourselves.
Cheers, Ross.
If you have a legal disagreement brewing with Ariel though, my advice would be to keep it between the solicitors rather than using public bulletin boards.
I hope you and Simon manage to sort out something remotely amicable between yourselves.
Cheers, Ross.
I've removed the posts. Jon (Atom290) and I discussed this matter a while back and whilst I sympathise with his plight I did request that he didn't use PH to fight the battle.
If Jon wants to discuss this with individuals then it can be done via email but the forums are not the place.
The no naming and shaming rule is here to protect everyone: contributors/PH/manufacturers/dealers.
I can't sit as judge and jury on disputes and therefore I simply ask that they are dealt with off-forum.
Thanks
If Jon wants to discuss this with individuals then it can be done via email but the forums are not the place.
The no naming and shaming rule is here to protect everyone: contributors/PH/manufacturers/dealers.
I can't sit as judge and jury on disputes and therefore I simply ask that they are dealt with off-forum.
Thanks
The last two posts might be confusing - suffice to say they were a response to a post from someone with with a problem that they aired on here whilst naming the people they had a problem with.
In common with other forums however, it might be useful to all of us if there were common faults occuring that we could share so that they could be addressed with more authority.
For example, I have recently learned that those with orange speed/rpm indicator needles on their dash are at risk from those needles cracking and breaking off. It's happened at least twice, which is worth knowing if it's happened to you (as it has to me!).
It's also worth protecting the top tubing adjacent to the seats with some gaffer or protective tape, as people getting in and out scratch the powder coat (I think the factory now do this as standard).
On the MkII, most of the rattles have been addressed, but some adhesive foam strip is a useful addition to the toolbox for fixing any problems at the 'tea tray' end. I got mine from Edgware Motor Rubber and TRim who are excellent for all sort sof trim - www.rubbertrim.co.uk
Anyone else got any more tips?
I have to say (touching wood furiously) that other than a few niggles, mine's been pretty good overall.
>> Edited by Bruce Fielding on Tuesday 27th April 11:51
In common with other forums however, it might be useful to all of us if there were common faults occuring that we could share so that they could be addressed with more authority.
For example, I have recently learned that those with orange speed/rpm indicator needles on their dash are at risk from those needles cracking and breaking off. It's happened at least twice, which is worth knowing if it's happened to you (as it has to me!).
It's also worth protecting the top tubing adjacent to the seats with some gaffer or protective tape, as people getting in and out scratch the powder coat (I think the factory now do this as standard).
On the MkII, most of the rattles have been addressed, but some adhesive foam strip is a useful addition to the toolbox for fixing any problems at the 'tea tray' end. I got mine from Edgware Motor Rubber and TRim who are excellent for all sort sof trim - www.rubbertrim.co.uk
Anyone else got any more tips?
I have to say (touching wood furiously) that other than a few niggles, mine's been pretty good overall.
>> Edited by Bruce Fielding on Tuesday 27th April 11:51
Worth having a good look round the whole car for areas where body work may be rubbing on coolant or electrical pipes.
I discovered electrical wiring (where it goes into the battery box) that was in danger of being 'rubbed' through by the inner wall of the nose cone - probably not an issue on later cars as the battery is repositioned.
Also found a coolant pipe from the expansion tank that was gradulally getting cut through by the bottom edge of the airbox bodywork. Again probably not a problem on the Atom 2 as this area has a total redesign.
As Bruce and I have both discovered on the mark I, the aluminium extension pipes that help stabilise the rear of the airbox mounting bodywork have a tendancy to fall off. Some thread-locking compound and a couple of cable ties strapping it to the tea tray seem to help - although basically this area is a crap design full stop.
A couple of bits of neoprene rubber fitter over the chassis rails just under the front lower lip of the seat moulding helps stop the chassis powder coating getting damaged and cures an annoying source of rattles as well. RS Components do sheets of neoprene that I've found to be useful for various things.
Last thing I've found is that the rubber straps that they've used (perhaps not anymore) to strap the battery and air filters in perish very quickly and snap. Definitely worth keeping an eye on those.
Cheers, Ross.
>> Edited by ross.mcw on Monday 3rd May 10:40
I discovered electrical wiring (where it goes into the battery box) that was in danger of being 'rubbed' through by the inner wall of the nose cone - probably not an issue on later cars as the battery is repositioned.
Also found a coolant pipe from the expansion tank that was gradulally getting cut through by the bottom edge of the airbox bodywork. Again probably not a problem on the Atom 2 as this area has a total redesign.
As Bruce and I have both discovered on the mark I, the aluminium extension pipes that help stabilise the rear of the airbox mounting bodywork have a tendancy to fall off. Some thread-locking compound and a couple of cable ties strapping it to the tea tray seem to help - although basically this area is a crap design full stop.
A couple of bits of neoprene rubber fitter over the chassis rails just under the front lower lip of the seat moulding helps stop the chassis powder coating getting damaged and cures an annoying source of rattles as well. RS Components do sheets of neoprene that I've found to be useful for various things.
Last thing I've found is that the rubber straps that they've used (perhaps not anymore) to strap the battery and air filters in perish very quickly and snap. Definitely worth keeping an eye on those.
Cheers, Ross.
>> Edited by ross.mcw on Monday 3rd May 10:40
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