RE: Ariel Atom 3.5: now more evil

[BigBen]

Repent said:

Far, far preferred the looks of the older lights, with the main headlamp unit cheekily popping out behind. For a single integrated unit, the new ones look far from sinister, the modulated style looks actually quite cheap to me. The blade of the Ford EcoBoost is much more like it. Although if theyre more effective to the task, job jobbed.

And saying all that, Id still lick a hobo's scrotum just to take any Atom for a lap. Eyeball goringly desirable.

The problem is the older lights are very good at lighting up your / your passenger's feet and not so good at lighting the road ahead. Shame as I too think the new ones look worse.

Ben

[carmental]

Is it a proper manual?

[suffolk009]

As someone said above the ergonomics are indeed much better than a Caterham. I was always a push-fit to get into my Caterham. When I sat in an Atom it was all great, except it was an Atom 2 so less elbow room than the 3. The side bars are reasuringly high, unlike the Caterham which felt like wearing a pair of hipsters without a belt. The only thing I couldn't get on with in the Atom was the moulded seat. The shoulder space is too narrow for me. Apparently this is easily (if expensively) fixed with a pair of carbon Tillets.

[simonrockman]

Do the indicators self-cancel yet?

[jensenhealey2]

Still yearning for another one of these. As BigBen says about time the lights were fixed. Good to see a new dash too because the old SPA units were none too reliable. Can do no wrong in my book.

How's it going Ben? Do you ever hear of your old Mk 1 in Germany "The original ans still the best". I guess you have had to drop that line.

Andrew

[sootyrumble]

I drove the 300 supercharged version back to back with a ferrari 458 on a track day, and it left me with the sort of adrenaline buzz that can only be achieved by playing knock and run on deaths door, it is so sharp on the throttle and through corners its the purest driving car i have ever sat in just sensational and a guaranteed ban if you used it as a weekend car so much fun it should be illegal.

[BigBen]

jensenhealey2 said:

How's it going Ben? Do you ever hear of your old Mk 1 in Germany "The original ans still the best". I guess you have had to drop that line.

Andrew

My Atom 1 was crashed on the way from my house to Germany, the plan was for the new owner to fix it up but not sure how it is going beyond that.

I still have very fond memories of the Atom 1 as a road car, 120 - 150 BHP is quite enough to get into a lot of trouble....

Ben

[Mattt]

A very special car, I've been very lucky to be trusted to drive a friend's Atom 300 at a couple of charity track events and there's nothing else that gives the same buzz as an Atom.


20120623-_MG_0678 by M@IQ, on Flickr


20120623-_MG_0779 by M@IQ, on Flickr

[speedster1950mr2]

It sounds a lot of serious fun to me,fantastic !!!!!! 9 OUT OF 10.WOW.

[TheOrangePeril]

Intriguingly found an exact angle and colour match with a 2009 model press shot...

http://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2009/04/02/...

http://images.pistonheads.com/nimg/26502/AtomFacel...

[Hammerheadcars]

I'm sorry but those lights look genuinely st.....some faired in ones like the donkeyvoorts would look good to me.

[Chicane-UK]

Had the pleasure of driving a few laps in a "regular" supercharged Atom at a supercar day last month. I stepped out of an Audi R8 and into the Atom and it just totally reset my perspective on what it meant to drive a fast car. It was utterly terrifying whilst simultaneously the most exciting, astonishing thing I'd ever driven. I think it'll be a long time before I get the memory of the instructor barking at me to keep my foot down and fly through the chicanes at speeds I never dared, out of my head - I can't imagine what they must be like in the hands of someone who can really drive!

[Dave Hedgehog]

its an atom

nuff said

[bobberz]

Disappointed that it hasn't got a 3.5L engine in it. Was thinking along the lines of Ford's Ecoboost V6: 3.5L, twin turbos, 365BHP. With a little tuning I'm sure it could reliably put out >400BHP.

Wishlist aside, I still want one.

[sirtyro]

Some pictures of the Atom Cup Spec car at Bedford last week...apparently putting in some very good times!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=37484483259...

[KMF]

There is an Atom 2/160 here on PH for under £20000 now, a real bargain, you can sell that in 10 years and still get 20 for it. Not many cars that you can do that with. You would lose more on a new car but that is usual
Even the 2/160 is a rapid car that very few cars will come even close to on the road. The 3/300 will do 0-60 in about 2.8 seconds, the 2/160 is around 3.8 seconds. Still fast as hell

[l33 haw]

Or get yourself a genuin bargain here http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

Is it possible to go faster for less anywhere on planet car?

[JimmyTheHand]

Root Ginger said:

Shouldn't this have daytime running lights. Or do small volume manufacturers not have to fit them?

It might not need to if only a face lift model - I believe only new models seeking EU approval need DRLs

[KMF]

There are some bargains to had now we are into winter. The2/160 and the 2/300 (both here on PH) are both bargains. Now is the time to buy

[David87]

JimmyTheHand said:

Root Ginger said:

Shouldn't this have daytime running lights. Or do small volume manufacturers not have to fit them?

It might not need to if only a face lift model - I believe only new models seeking EU approval need DRLs

I think you're right - I don't think the rule applies to facelifts. That said, if any car deserves DRLs, surely one such as this would be the best candidate as it's so low!