Harris gets to grips with the mad-looking BAC Mono and is something of a fan
We've driven the BAC Mono quite extensively already, both on road and on the track, the latter in the hands of my colleague Steve Sutcliffe. Anyone expecting me to quell his almost gushing positivity towards the Mono is sadly going to be disappointed. I thought it was pretty damned marvellous.
All that effort engineering a grippy chassis...
Many people rather lazily refer to machinery of this type as 'track' cars. Of course the Mono is designed to be driven on a circuit, but its £80,000-plus price tag leaves it open to comparison with all manner of dedicated track tackle, and it can't compete with the wings'n'slicks brigade. Even so, it offers a fascinating driving experience.
The Mono, like the Atom, the Caterham and the X-Bow, is an experience car. It's as much about the sensation of driving it, as the speed with which it can complete a lap.
It's a high quality item. Build on this car - the first customer car delivered to RS Academy is of a very high standard. It has two cars, both of which are available for hire. Much as I love the looks of the Ariel, this is now my favourite piece of naked Brit car-design. The way you can peer through those front apertures is endlessly enjoyable.
Like an F1 car but you can drive it to the shops
It's powered by a 2.3-litre, 280hp Duratec and weighs 540kg. The day I drove it the Midlands was wetter than a fish's swimming cossie, but then I suppose you only really learn about a car's intrinsic balance in those conditions.
The other thing you learn is that the specific frequency of a Hewland FTR gearbox does something bizarre to a Sennheiser radio-microphone: hence the subtitles.
I love how it looks but I cannot ever imagine why I'd have one over an Atom.
The Atom has room for someone to scare - can be had with broadly similar power-to-weight for rather less money - hmmmm
Lovely looking thing tho - that wheel/interior has to have cost a BIG chunk of the development budget I'd guess? - stuff like that isn't off-the-shelf yet, is it?
I love how it looks but I cannot ever imagine why I'd have one over an Atom.
The Atom has room for someone to scare - can be had with broadly similar power-to-weight for rather less money - hmmmm
Lovely looking thing tho - that wheel/interior has to have cost a BIG chunk of the development budget I'd guess? - stuff like that isn't off-the-shelf yet, is it?
Edited by 405dogvan on Wednesday 1st August 20:58
Judging by the shape of the wheel isn't it from an Allegro Vandan Plas?
Sat in this car back in March 2011 at its launch at Ferrari Nottingham and loved it. It really is a piece of art, and having owned an Ariel Atom I can assure you this car is at another level in terms of build quality etc. You have to see it to appreciate it.
Really wanted the car at the time, but the unknowns of depreciation plus new startup company was too big a risk for me. So here we are 17 months later and I'm still no the wiser re any risk . Would love to hear from any owners re experience ?
Definitely on the list of cars to own though. Stunning car !!
I struggle with the Mono. The engine noise is a drone, it looks about 20% bigger than it shoul be (like the X-bow)it doesn't come with an uncomplicated, invovling, lightweight manual 'box, it doesn't have a passenger seat (I enjoy giving charity pax rides with my toy cars) and above all else, it's priced way too high.
Like Dave, I don't know where the company will be in a few yrs time or how the market will react to them as 2nd hand buys and I still have concerns over the reliability, therefore, cost of ownership.
As much as I applaud it's existance and single mindedness, I can't get excited over it. And that's from someone who loves extreme cars, owned an Atom and now has an aeroscreened Ultima Can Am.
All my own opinions / views, of course. I do, however, hope that the company sell enough of them to justify a 2nd model, that addresses the above, then I'll have my name down for one
I struggle with the Mono. The engine noise is a drone, it looks about 20% bigger than it shoul be (like the X-bow)it doesn't come with an uncomplicated, invovling, lightweight manual 'box, it doesn't have a passenger seat (I enjoy giving charity pax rides with my toy cars) and above all else, it's priced way too high.
Like Dave, I don't know where the company will be in a few yrs time or how the market will react to them as 2nd hand buys and I still have concerns over the reliability, therefore, cost of ownership.
As much as I applaud it's existance and single mindedness, I can't get excited over it. And that's from someone who loves extreme cars, owned an Atom and now has an aeroscreened Ultima Can Am.
All my own opinions / views, of course. I do, however, hope that the company sell enough of them to justify a 2nd model, that addresses the above, then I'll have my name down for one
I know they're very well detailed and brilliantly put together, but I'm afraid that doesn't address my points. Not enough ticks in the right boxes for me. But that's OK, saves me 80K, LOL!!
80k is a bit rich for my tastes. For the same money you could buy (used) a lotus elise, caterham seven, ariel atom, a sports bike, and a truck to carry them all in
I don't think it is any more compromised than a superbike as a toy?? Just because it has 4 wheels doen't mean it has to have 2 seats! But superbikes don't cost £80k..
Great video as always CH - I think you are a brilliant driver, it seems so natural and relaxed and you always get the angle, speed, correction just right. Well done!
I know the weather cant be controlled .....but perhaps do another video in the dry, big speed on track and then a go on road to see how it acts there as well?
edit: was a pretty good watch anyway, not complaining
And I wonder would it have make more sense to make the non structural body parts in GRP not carbon fibre? Might add 50kgs ( probobly a lot less in reality ) but if it could help knock £15k+ off the price maybe they would shift a lot more in these tough times
..will never have 
