Discussion
I drove a 3.5 Supercharged one at the weekend at Elvington with 6th gear experiences. It was an assault on the senses with so much to comprehend with so little time in it. The aero windscreen had gone all opaque though on this one so I was literally blind when accelerating on the straight. Had to keep peeping over the top to see where the brake board was and getting the manual gearstick in the right gear took some getting used too as we just used 4th and 5th especially having come out of a flappy paddle Ferrari 430 and an auto Porsche Turbo.
I'd love to spend some more quality time in one!
I'd love to spend some more quality time in one!
Minor update. Installed a CTEK quick connector so that I don't have to remove the bodywork to stick it on charge.
In other news the little Atom seems to be attracting the local boy racers
Next plan is a TomTom Rider vx and bottle holder. The seats could also do with covers tbh. Anyway, after a few weeks away it didn't disappoint, it's not the fastest (overall) but fun, lots of that
In other news the little Atom seems to be attracting the local boy racers
Next plan is a TomTom Rider vx and bottle holder. The seats could also do with covers tbh. Anyway, after a few weeks away it didn't disappoint, it's not the fastest (overall) but fun, lots of that
Prohibiting said:
Love this. I'd love to drive one or do an experience day of some sort to see what all the hype is about with these.
I expect you find that it turns heads everywhere? Good or bad?
It gets more attention than anything I have driven before. Pictures, videos with folk hanging out of car windows and always a question or two at the petrol station. Filling up at the weekend a bunch of bikers with trikes and viking helmets turned into 7 year old kids around it, there's little of the bI expect you find that it turns heads everywhere? Good or bad?
hiness (whatever) that goes on when someone owns a Ferrari etc, it's not that sort of car.Until a month ago I would say it was universally popular but in London I had a guy dressed in a Chelsea shirt call shout 'you f
king ' from the pavement and more recently a group of youths, in a battered Polo hanging out the window screaming 'wker' at the top of their lungs. Apart from those mental cases all good. It's especially cool when kids are interested, requests to 'rev it mate' are generally accommodated, as are those who want to sit in it, hopefully they will turn out to be the next generation of enthusiasts? A bloke tripped over himself walking backwards with his phone the other day, no damage done but...
However, the best times are turning up on the school run. I was a bit gutted to never have taken my daughter for a spin in the Caterham before I sold it. She's getting used to the acceleration now and cracks up laughing at 'fireball', that's what it's all about
So a bit of a wake up call today. Ventured out and had a pretty good time, until crossing a roundabout I was probably a bit brutal with it. Good laugh with a Panigale, never going to win that one but a quick thumbs up.
All the stories about Atom's being a right handful haven't really struck a chord with me and I was starting to wonder if it wasn't all a bit benign. Being quite sideways without really expecting caught me out, more than likely diesel as the roundabout was next to the station. Time to be a bit more respectful. bd thing.
All the stories about Atom's being a right handful haven't really struck a chord with me and I was starting to wonder if it wasn't all a bit benign. Being quite sideways without really expecting caught me out, more than likely diesel as the roundabout was next to the station. Time to be a bit more respectful. b
d thing. With the 'summer' now upon us the Atom is coming into its own. Polo shirt and jeans heading out for a drive for no good reason, a tank of fuel to waste return at dusk. With a few more drives under my belt I am getting more comfortable with the dynamics. Don't get me wrong, it is always a bit odd, and if you aren't confident with the throttle at speed then it really lets you know, that's fine, I like straight talking cars. A recent trip with some se7ens confirmed how mental they are, despite a huge power advantage I am ever more aware that familiarity and the size of your plums are the lion share of the advantage either way.
A visit to the Ace Cafe for 'Honda 60th' was, erm, different. 4 or 5 Civics, pair of Clio's and a Passat, the power of dreams, maybe not. On the journey back I was joined by an EX with an enormous snail. No doubt the journey down the A40 is on some hotst website now with how an Atom got 'pwn3d', truth is, I wasn't really bothered. However, as a former mod on HT I have seen several 500HP EX builds and know not to bother with a drag car
Bedford is coming soon, that's good.
Better, is I am almost convinced I want to upgrade the car to 3.5R spec. I have always liked the pods and the extra urgency at the top just makes me smile. It's already way OTT on the road, but the alternative is another motorcycle, and that's a really bad idea for everyone.
A visit to the Ace Cafe for 'Honda 60th' was, erm, different. 4 or 5 Civics, pair of Clio's and a Passat, the power of dreams, maybe not. On the journey back I was joined by an EX with an enormous snail. No doubt the journey down the A40 is on some hots
t website now with how an Atom got 'pwn3d', truth is, I wasn't really bothered. However, as a former mod on HT I have seen several 500HP EX builds and know not to bother with a drag car Bedford is coming soon, that's good.
Better, is I am almost convinced I want to upgrade the car to 3.5R spec. I have always liked the pods and the extra urgency at the top just makes me smile. It's already way OTT on the road, but the alternative is another motorcycle, and that's a really bad idea for everyone.
The photos above, of Atoms parked in pub car parks and country roads... parked alongside Caterhams etc, just makes the Atom look EVEN MORE "space age" and cutting edge, while making the other kit cars look even more dated! 
It's such a striking and extraordinary vehicle!
Do you plan to take it to many track events?
It's such a striking and extraordinary vehicle!Do you plan to take it to many track events?
Edited by DanSI on Thursday 25th August 08:59
DanSI said:
The photos above, of Atoms parked in pub car parks and country roads... parked alongside Caterhams etc, just makes the Atom look EVEN MORE "space age" and cutting edge, while making the other kit cars look even more dated! It's such a striking and extraordinary vehicle!
Do you plan to take it to many track events?
That's been the plan all year, unfortunately life has got in the way a little. Bedford is looking like a good option next month. It's such a striking and extraordinary vehicle!Do you plan to take it to many track events?
Just had a quick read of this thread - What a fantastic car!
Was very lucky to drive a couple of the 240bhp (I believe) models a few weeks ago at Bruntingthorpe for about an hour and a half whilst taking passengers out for hot laps around the circuit. Despite having been a passenger in a 300 a couple of times, I was still completely blown away by the performance of the lowered powered car. Both passenger and I were screaming during my first drive at the rate of acceleration
Needless to say I want one. Keep enjoying it OP!
Was very lucky to drive a couple of the 240bhp (I believe) models a few weeks ago at Bruntingthorpe for about an hour and a half whilst taking passengers out for hot laps around the circuit. Despite having been a passenger in a 300 a couple of times, I was still completely blown away by the performance of the lowered powered car. Both passenger and I were screaming during my first drive at the rate of acceleration
Needless to say I want one. Keep enjoying it OP!
Well this week, as the weather has been good I have taken to picking up my daughter from school in 'Firebomb'. She announced today that she was leaving in an Ariel Atom and it cost 'fifteen thousand pounds', the teachers and fellow classmates were impressed, I was thinking, can I swing that value with the wife
Anyway. There is nothing as cool as enjoying toys with your kids. It's massively enjoyable that she's asking questions about 'how fast', where 'it comes from' etc
I did pose the question about selling this am. It was met by a full on teenage meltdown. Tonight an apology and she'd worked out that £15000 would buy 10000 dogs. The mind of a seven year old. Marvelous
edit: and crawling home some bottom feeder in an Lexus 200 proceeded to drive up my rear end and generally be a tit, this, with my daughter in the car. Unreal.
Anyway. There is nothing as cool as enjoying toys with your kids. It's massively enjoyable that she's asking questions about 'how fast', where 'it comes from' etc
I did pose the question about selling this am. It was met by a full on teenage meltdown. Tonight an apology and she'd worked out that £15000 would buy 10000 dogs. The mind of a seven year old. Marvelous
edit: and crawling home some bottom feeder in an Lexus 200 proceeded to drive up my rear end and generally be a tit, this, with my daughter in the car. Unreal.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 14th September 00:46
A few weeks have flown, thoughts of selling passed with the problem of 'what'. I fancy a Mono, but for that money you could finance an F3 for a season and keep the Atom, whilst drinking very decent bottles of red
The Intrax dampers have been a fairly constant source of fettling. No doubt they are track biased. My tinkering has resulted in pros and cons but nothing that I am totally happy with. It's a compromise as they are. Therefore the dampers are coming off, and Intrax, for a fee, are upgrading them to their 'ARC' spec and I'll have more useful performance on the road without losing much on the track, the track that I haven't yet explored, ahem. However, the new setup will rely on hydraulics more than springs.
The Intrax dampers have been a fairly constant source of fettling. No doubt they are track biased. My tinkering has resulted in pros and cons but nothing that I am totally happy with. It's a compromise as they are. Therefore the dampers are coming off, and Intrax, for a fee, are upgrading them to their 'ARC' spec and I'll have more useful performance on the road without losing much on the track, the track that I haven't yet explored, ahem. However, the new setup will rely on hydraulics more than springs.
The dampers arrived safe and sound in Uden, I'm trying to resist calling them every 5 mins, are they done yet, etc. Whilstghe car is on stands I am tempted to make a few cosmetic tweaks, I don't like the standard cap heads everywhere, they'd look better with the heads chamfered. The manifold and exhaust could really do with being coated, whilst I am at it may as well get some bracing welded onto the branch, at least one Atom has failed in this place. Paint the disc bells, erm....
ARE THE F*CKING DAMPERS READY YET
ARE THE F*CKING DAMPERS READY YET
MOT time.
Not the ideal conditions to test the dynamics today, bravely facing the terrible blizzards in the Southeast But it was cold, very 'I cant feel my fingers cold' even with decent gloves on. The sheen on the roads, a thin veneer of filth, like a table in a greasy spoon demanded a bit of care. It never ceases to amaze me how glorified track tyres cope in conditions way out of their comfort zone if you treat them with a bit of respect? This wasn't as thorough a test as driving the Caterham in snow on 48's, but there wasn't much in the way of grip if you asked much more of the frigid rubber than gentle acceleration. It's an easy car to drive in crap conditions, loads of predictable torque everywhere. Only the brakes ruined the party, making it clear that they would rather be elsewhere. Trailing a left foot got some heat into them and normal service was soon resumed.
In a fit of out of character organisation I had called ahead yesterday and told them that if the weather was really poor it would be off. I can deal with fun and a bit of a laugh but not huge risks that involve insurance claims! I was warmly greeted with 'You must be fking mad' before getting down to business. New number plate stuck on and with the cat was re-fitted all was well in the world.
What I did notice about the new setup was how much more compliant it was, it's a huge change, although it would be given the new spring rates. The drive back was via the slightly longer route and I almost just went out for the morning, I mean after starting at 9am and the car now filthy there was little to lose, but common sense and impending frostbite prevailed. I'm obviously going soft.
Back into the garage, cleaned off all the obvious crap and some WD on the shiny bits. Next stop a drive to the factory for the annual service, new tyres and whatever else it needs.
Not the ideal conditions to test the dynamics today, bravely facing the terrible blizzards in the Southeast
But it was cold, very 'I cant feel my fingers cold' even with decent gloves on. The sheen on the roads, a thin veneer of filth, like a table in a greasy spoon demanded a bit of care. It never ceases to amaze me how glorified track tyres cope in conditions way out of their comfort zone if you treat them with a bit of respect? This wasn't as thorough a test as driving the Caterham in snow on 48's, but there wasn't much in the way of grip if you asked much more of the frigid rubber than gentle acceleration. It's an easy car to drive in crap conditions, loads of predictable torque everywhere. Only the brakes ruined the party, making it clear that they would rather be elsewhere. Trailing a left foot got some heat into them and normal service was soon resumed.In a fit of out of character organisation I had called ahead yesterday and told them that if the weather was really poor it would be off. I can deal with fun and a bit of a laugh but not huge risks that involve insurance claims! I was warmly greeted with 'You must be f
king mad' before getting down to business. New number plate stuck on and with the cat was re-fitted all was well in the world.What I did notice about the new setup was how much more compliant it was, it's a huge change, although it would be given the new spring rates. The drive back was via the slightly longer route and I almost just went out for the morning, I mean after starting at 9am and the car now filthy there was little to lose, but common sense and impending frostbite prevailed. I'm obviously going soft.
Back into the garage, cleaned off all the obvious crap and some WD on the shiny bits. Next stop a drive to the factory for the annual service, new tyres and whatever else it needs.
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