RE: Ariel Atom 3.5R

[chuntington101]

Anyone know what supercharger they use on this car? Is it still the mp62 that was used in to old Jackson racing kits? Is it their own supercharger kit or what? Never really seen underneath the rear bodywork of one.

Also there was some pointers raised around the chassis than there basically being ZERO protection from the bottom of the car. Is this still the case?

[Evo]

Dave211 said:

smilo996 said:

Atom could make so many amazing skinned version of that car as well. Like this:
http://www.autotribute.com/wp-content/uploads/2014...

Better to let someone else do it perhaps. With so many F1 teams and car designers in the UK seems like a good idea to try.

Agree fully. I found the Atom a little ungainly from the rear. If they could make a body like in your link, from fibreglass at a reasonable price, I would have one again !

Simon could always ask the person that originally designed the Atom to do it

[anonymous-user]

Holy st are these things really that quick?! That's amazing in a road legal £50k car. I can imagine my 35 mile B road commute would be pant wetting hilarity and a fiery death. Yes please.

[RocketRabbit]

So that's £84,000 for a car driven by the slowest of drivers on a track day.

Oh and if it actually weighs 550kg wet, I'll eat it.

These are soooo overpriced it doesn't bare thinking about.

[Mastodon2]

Dave211 said:

You might find that sitting so close to the road, with no need for a helmet, induction noise roaring in your left ear , might make you think again vs a bike. This coming from someone who's had gsxr's and a zx9R. Try it........ You might be converted

I'd be keen to give it a go but I'd bet my mortgage I wouldn't be converted. You might not need a helmet (but you'd be a moron not to, given something as innocuous as a stone flung up from a car in front meeting your eye would have terrible consequences) and the induction noise might be impressive, but no matter how much you strip away the weight and unnecessary parts, it's still a car. For me, the thrill of a bike is not just the ludicrous acceleration, which feels all the more impressive for the fact you're just perched on the thing that is doing the work, as opposed to sat in it and strapped to it, but the way the bike corners. As impressive as these Atoms are, and I certainly see their appeal to drivers looking for a more visceral experience, you can't lean an Atom. Tbh I'd rather ride a Honda CG125 for a fun trip out than a lot of exciting and powerful cars, it just depends what you find enjoyable. For me, the ridiculous performance of a bike is secondary to the fun of riding, it's a bonus, rather than the reason I ride.

[Dave211]

Fair do's if into bikes that much. I forgot to mention not having to get togged up in leather too

Did over 3k miles in mine with shatterproof sunglasses, without a problem. Tried a helmet once, but found it just numbed the whole experience.. Funnily enough those little bits of Perspex sticking up from the dash provide a decent slipstream of air around ones head.

[bobberz]

Love Atoms; wish they were more affordable. I'm just so glad they're available in the 'States, unlike so many other fantastic British, road-legal trackday cars.

My lottery win garage would include an Atom, for sure!

[Miner49er]

On a recent trackday, one of these was lapping me every 5 laps.

[Skylinecrazy]

RocketRabbit said:

So that's £84,000 for a car driven by the slowest of drivers on a track day.

Oh and if it actually weighs 550kg wet, I'll eat it.

These are soooo overpriced it doesn't bare thinking about.

You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

[BigBen]

Skylinecrazy said:

RocketRabbit said:

So that's £84,000 for a car driven by the slowest of drivers on a track day.

Oh and if it actually weighs 550kg wet, I'll eat it.

These are soooo overpriced it doesn't bare thinking about.

You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

Give him a chance, I was about to place an order for one of the cheaper better cars that he obviously knows how to make.

[CraigyMc]

RocketRabbit said:

So that's £84,000 for a car driven by the slowest of drivers on a track day.

The guys I know who have atoms are enthusiasts (do you buy an Atom if you aren't one?) - and all of them can drive pretty well because they do trackdays, things like Palmersport and in some cases, actual MSA licensed motorsport and things like the VLN races at the Nurburgring.

If you want, come to the full Palmersport day on August 6th, introduce yourself to me, and if you're quicker than the atom guys I know, I'll give you a tenner of my own money.

C

[rhinochopig]

RocketRabbit said:

So that's £84,000 for a car driven by the slowest of drivers on a track day.

Oh and if it actually weighs 550kg wet, I'll eat it.

These are soooo overpriced it doesn't bare thinking about.

There's a lot of expensive kit in it though. I would imagine you wouldn't get much change out of 15k for a SADEV box and another 5k for something like a geartronics paddle-shift.

[rodgling]

BigBen said:

For me some Caterhams are faster, but not much else. Caterhams look a bit easier to manage through the corners. I suspect with a proper driver (e.g. not me) the Atom should be quicker.

I would suspect not - this shows the R500 being a fair bit quicker than an Atom 300 (which should have a little bit more power-to-weight?). Not a very scientific test obviously.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Top_Gear_test...

[BigBen]

rodgling said:

BigBen said:

For me some Caterhams are faster, but not much else. Caterhams look a bit easier to manage through the corners. I suspect with a proper driver (e.g. not me) the Atom should be quicker.

I would suspect not - this shows the R500 being a fair bit quicker than an Atom 300 (which should have a little bit more power-to-weight?). Not a very scientific test obviously.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Top_Gear_test...

So with different drivers on different days they did different lap times. Conclusive proof indeed.

To make some racing driver style excuses the Atom 300 was an early Atom 2, the car's suspension and power has moved on a good bit since 2005.

[rodgling]

BigBen said:

So with different drivers on different days they did different lap times. Conclusive proof indeed.

To make some racing driver style excuses the Atom 300 was an early Atom 2, the car's suspension and power has moved on a good bit since 2005.

Had a quick look on youtube, weather does look similar for both cars. Although apparently very cold for the R500 lap (so tyres wouldn't warm up), not so for the Atom. So I'm standing by this comparison. Would be interested to see a more fair comparison though?

[Zumbruk]

RocketRabbit said:

So that's £84,000 for a car driven by the slowest of drivers on a track day.

Oh and if it actually weighs 550kg wet, I'll eat it.

These are soooo overpriced it doesn't bare thinking about.

Blimey, you can get internet service in the dark mephitic place your head is obviously lodged?

[mikesalt]

It'd be interesting to pitch this against the Caterham 620R. Straight lines, the Atom is going to destroy the Caterham but on track, I don't know. Pistonheads, are you up for arranging such a challenge?

Also, throw the Westfield Mega S2000 with the optional supercharger into the mix. That's good for 347 BHP as long as the cooling holds up.

[CraigyMc]

mikesalt said:

It'd be interesting to pitch this against the Caterham 620R. Straight lines, the Atom is going to destroy the Caterham but on track, I don't know. Pistonheads, are you up for arranging such a challenge?

Also, throw the Westfield Mega S2000 with the optional supercharger into the mix. That's good for 347 BHP as long as the cooling holds up.

If they can run on the same tyres as each other, that would be an interesting fair fight.

[hondansx]

rodgling said:

BigBen said:

For me some Caterhams are faster, but not much else. Caterhams look a bit easier to manage through the corners. I suspect with a proper driver (e.g. not me) the Atom should be quicker.

I would suspect not - this shows the R500 being a fair bit quicker than an Atom 300 (which should have a little bit more power-to-weight?). Not a very scientific test obviously.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Top_Gear_test...

Look where the engine is on the Atom. It's relatively high; i didn't like it when driving an early one at Brands. A like-for-like Caterham would be better and faster.

[BigBen]

hondansx said:

rodgling said:

BigBen said:

For me some Caterhams are faster, but not much else. Caterhams look a bit easier to manage through the corners. I suspect with a proper driver (e.g. not me) the Atom should be quicker.

I would suspect not - this shows the R500 being a fair bit quicker than an Atom 300 (which should have a little bit more power-to-weight?). Not a very scientific test obviously.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Top_Gear_test...

Look where the engine is on the Atom. It's relatively high; i didn't like it when driving an early one at Brands. A like-for-like Caterham would be better and faster.

For me it's a moot point unless Caterham go beyond their target market of the malnourished and midgets I won't be driving one any time soon.