Nomad order - current owner advice
Discussion
Hi
Hopefully picture will appear here.
Took delivery of this a few weeks back, SC, Alcons, Ohlins, rally 'hand brake turn' lever, LED whips, light mounting bar, carbon dash and pretty much everything bar the undertrays. SC is definitely the way to go for me, the immediacy of the power delivery is very well suited to a car that goes sideways with just a thought.
Took it to a track day at Bedford. Just hilarious. Massive lean, wheel off the ground, easy to slide, progressive and controllable. Having had a Lotus 2-11 through to a couple of GTRs, this for me now is the perfect track car because it is just pure fun.
I am very keen on finding somewhere to use it off road (based in Hertfordshire/N London) but no luck so far. Having said that Tom told me you very quickly get used to just enjoying it on the road, and that is certainly true. Take it out even for a quick 60 secs dash to the shops!
Hopefully picture will appear here.
Took delivery of this a few weeks back, SC, Alcons, Ohlins, rally 'hand brake turn' lever, LED whips, light mounting bar, carbon dash and pretty much everything bar the undertrays. SC is definitely the way to go for me, the immediacy of the power delivery is very well suited to a car that goes sideways with just a thought.
Took it to a track day at Bedford. Just hilarious. Massive lean, wheel off the ground, easy to slide, progressive and controllable. Having had a Lotus 2-11 through to a couple of GTRs, this for me now is the perfect track car because it is just pure fun.
I am very keen on finding somewhere to use it off road (based in Hertfordshire/N London) but no luck so far. Having said that Tom told me you very quickly get used to just enjoying it on the road, and that is certainly true. Take it out even for a quick 60 secs dash to the shops!
gavinp said:
They are actually blue fibre optic light whips! Very fun at night.
Ah, sounds fun 
Have you tried an Atom on track and if so how do the two cars compare? Not in terms of performance but just in enjoyment. Does the Nomad become frustrating because of its limitations or does the fun factor overcome its short comings as an outright track car? Or, in other words, are you tempted to 'improve' it with stickier track tyres etc or is it a hoot enough as is to remove desire to play with it and make it more track orientated?
No, I wouldn't change anything for the track, I just like it how it is on the factory suspension settings. The factory have offered to talk me through adjusting the Ohlins but I am not sure I can be bothered! It rides very well on the road as well.
I won't change the Geolanders as I have a second set of rally wheels and tyres for off road. When I finally find somewhere to use it off road that is - for me it would be very helpful to see more information pre and post sale on where it could be used off road. Everyone, without fail, who sees the car says "but where will you use it". You can imagine this might prevent a few people wanting to buy one.
I have been a passenger in an Atom on the track, but these are clearly two very different propositions. The Atom is a bit more serious; the Nomad is a laugh. I am lucky enough to have a Cayman GTS for faster track work, but I get bored after one tank of fuel. In the Nomad I didn't want to stop. The Cayman was pushing against the Bedford noise limits, the Nomad did not (even with Cat Bypass).
The lean is a lot of fun. Passengers freak out a bit as they think they are going to fall out! You can hoof it from bend to bend like a big off road go kart, it felt like a much bigger version of the Honda Pilots I used to ride as a kid.
The LEDs. They are the accessory that makes it look most like a Tamiya buggy. No debate about those at all. They bend way back at motorway speeds but look very good.
Colour choice took ages. Friends mostly voted for orange but I thought I might go off it after a while and it also, for me, makes it look a bit less accomplished than it is (sorry to any orange owners - purely subjective of course). Satin black is a lot more stealth and I reasoned I could then change the body panels to simply change the colour.
Rally brake - absolute must! Just make sure the kids don't yank it!
The wait was worth it. The man maths is getting better with every review, e.g. the latest from Top Gear, winning the "Joy" list unanimously.
At first service going to add: under trays (cooling pipes look very exposed even for road use), weather gear, perspex side panels. Only thing left would be the winch but see earlier comment about off road use!
Hope this helps.
I won't change the Geolanders as I have a second set of rally wheels and tyres for off road. When I finally find somewhere to use it off road that is - for me it would be very helpful to see more information pre and post sale on where it could be used off road. Everyone, without fail, who sees the car says "but where will you use it". You can imagine this might prevent a few people wanting to buy one.
I have been a passenger in an Atom on the track, but these are clearly two very different propositions. The Atom is a bit more serious; the Nomad is a laugh. I am lucky enough to have a Cayman GTS for faster track work, but I get bored after one tank of fuel. In the Nomad I didn't want to stop. The Cayman was pushing against the Bedford noise limits, the Nomad did not (even with Cat Bypass).
The lean is a lot of fun. Passengers freak out a bit as they think they are going to fall out! You can hoof it from bend to bend like a big off road go kart, it felt like a much bigger version of the Honda Pilots I used to ride as a kid.
The LEDs. They are the accessory that makes it look most like a Tamiya buggy. No debate about those at all. They bend way back at motorway speeds but look very good.
Colour choice took ages. Friends mostly voted for orange but I thought I might go off it after a while and it also, for me, makes it look a bit less accomplished than it is (sorry to any orange owners - purely subjective of course). Satin black is a lot more stealth and I reasoned I could then change the body panels to simply change the colour.
Rally brake - absolute must! Just make sure the kids don't yank it!
The wait was worth it. The man maths is getting better with every review, e.g. the latest from Top Gear, winning the "Joy" list unanimously.
At first service going to add: under trays (cooling pipes look very exposed even for road use), weather gear, perspex side panels. Only thing left would be the winch but see earlier comment about off road use!
Hope this helps.
gavinp said:
No, I wouldn't change anything for the track, I just like it how it is on the factory suspension settings. The factory have offered to talk me through adjusting the Ohlins but I am not sure I can be bothered! It rides very well on the road as well.
I won't change the Geolanders as I have a second set of rally wheels and tyres for off road. When I finally find somewhere to use it off road that is - for me it would be very helpful to see more information pre and post sale on where it could be used off road. Everyone, without fail, who sees the car says "but where will you use it". You can imagine this might prevent a few people wanting to buy one.
I have been a passenger in an Atom on the track, but these are clearly two very different propositions. The Atom is a bit more serious; the Nomad is a laugh. I am lucky enough to have a Cayman GTS for faster track work, but I get bored after one tank of fuel. In the Nomad I didn't want to stop. The Cayman was pushing against the Bedford noise limits, the Nomad did not (even with Cat Bypass).
The lean is a lot of fun. Passengers freak out a bit as they think they are going to fall out! You can hoof it from bend to bend like a big off road go kart, it felt like a much bigger version of the Honda Pilots I used to ride as a kid.
The LEDs. They are the accessory that makes it look most like a Tamiya buggy. No debate about those at all. They bend way back at motorway speeds but look very good.
Colour choice took ages. Friends mostly voted for orange but I thought I might go off it after a while and it also, for me, makes it look a bit less accomplished than it is (sorry to any orange owners - purely subjective of course). Satin black is a lot more stealth and I reasoned I could then change the body panels to simply change the colour.
Rally brake - absolute must! Just make sure the kids don't yank it!
The wait was worth it. The man maths is getting better with every review, e.g. the latest from Top Gear, winning the "Joy" list unanimously.
At first service going to add: under trays (cooling pipes look very exposed even for road use), weather gear, perspex side panels. Only thing left would be the winch but see earlier comment about off road use!
Hope this helps.
I think most potential buyers who see it as a more useable Atom want to hear about the trade off on track, and can it be all things to all people. Like yourself in the GTRs / GTS, in the Atom after a tank of fuel I'm done, it didn't encourage idiocy, the Nomad clearly will (and more importantly will let you get away with it, even if the stewards may not).I won't change the Geolanders as I have a second set of rally wheels and tyres for off road. When I finally find somewhere to use it off road that is - for me it would be very helpful to see more information pre and post sale on where it could be used off road. Everyone, without fail, who sees the car says "but where will you use it". You can imagine this might prevent a few people wanting to buy one.
I have been a passenger in an Atom on the track, but these are clearly two very different propositions. The Atom is a bit more serious; the Nomad is a laugh. I am lucky enough to have a Cayman GTS for faster track work, but I get bored after one tank of fuel. In the Nomad I didn't want to stop. The Cayman was pushing against the Bedford noise limits, the Nomad did not (even with Cat Bypass).
The lean is a lot of fun. Passengers freak out a bit as they think they are going to fall out! You can hoof it from bend to bend like a big off road go kart, it felt like a much bigger version of the Honda Pilots I used to ride as a kid.
The LEDs. They are the accessory that makes it look most like a Tamiya buggy. No debate about those at all. They bend way back at motorway speeds but look very good.
Colour choice took ages. Friends mostly voted for orange but I thought I might go off it after a while and it also, for me, makes it look a bit less accomplished than it is (sorry to any orange owners - purely subjective of course). Satin black is a lot more stealth and I reasoned I could then change the body panels to simply change the colour.
Rally brake - absolute must! Just make sure the kids don't yank it!
The wait was worth it. The man maths is getting better with every review, e.g. the latest from Top Gear, winning the "Joy" list unanimously.
At first service going to add: under trays (cooling pipes look very exposed even for road use), weather gear, perspex side panels. Only thing left would be the winch but see earlier comment about off road use!
Hope this helps.
Agree the under tray may be required, have a think about the perspex, it is not needed in addition to the weatherproofing option and I'm not sure if you can have both fitted. I had perspex fitting to the Atom and hated the look. The USA Nomad on google has black looking front perspex that looks pretty good for a bit of weather protection.
Have you seen weatherproofing in the flesh? Weatherproofing was the deal breaker for me (i.e. it had to have some).
"less accomplished" Orange?. Yeah, you mean it makes the car not look like the very expensive vehicle it is. Totally agree, I also think the satin black makes the car look unfinished and all of the colours I have seen at the factory have the same feel as the Orange. Basically, there is no winner, unless you really really like Batman.
One question I do have, in a straight line and over a lap how does the SC Nomad stack up to the GTS?
I have deleted from spec front and rear bars, light bars and whips, then added the short final drive box, uprated clutch and planning SC install. Still compromised over any Atom, but as fast a performance Nomad as the factory can provide, just because.
Thanks for the comments Gavin, all Nomad talk very welcome.
I have been meaning to post for a few weeks since visiting Ariel but work has kept me from it. I've included impressions and comments that might be of interest.
Henry kindly provided me with some pictures of existing cars they'd built so all but the first two are his, I have shots of pretty much every specification option so if anyone is after anything in particular, let me know.
So, I test drove the NA car. It wasn't as ballistic as I was expecting and perhaps the reviews set expectations too high. I'll ultimately go for the supercharger but fuel quality on my Africa trip is going to cause issues so I'll wait till the car is returned to the UK before I add that. I also quite like the fact that it will evolve in a meaningful way in my ownership.
There is a fair amount to take in and things like turn indicators which are not self cancelling. I nearly pulled the drift brake at 50mph going to change gear but caught myself in time.
Gearbox has a lovely mechanical feel, pedals are well positioned and weighted.
I thought the car was pretty muted even with the cat bypass but that's not necessarily a bad thing, just different to what I'm used to.
Standard seats are the only option for me, the carbon fibre Tilletts that are offered as an upgrade are too narrow as I have broad shoulders. I am going to get them trimmed in a combination of neoprene and something else TBC separately.
Debating the Ohlins versus the Fox shocks, for Africa, Henry reckons that the Fox will be better so I'm a little torn. The Ohlins were good on the road but I can't make any meaningful comments after a 4 mile drive.
I didn't see the all weather cover but it's around £1,000 as an option.
Henry kindly provided me with some pictures of existing cars they'd built so all but the first two are his, I have shots of pretty much every specification option so if anyone is after anything in particular, let me know.
So, I test drove the NA car. It wasn't as ballistic as I was expecting and perhaps the reviews set expectations too high. I'll ultimately go for the supercharger but fuel quality on my Africa trip is going to cause issues so I'll wait till the car is returned to the UK before I add that. I also quite like the fact that it will evolve in a meaningful way in my ownership.
There is a fair amount to take in and things like turn indicators which are not self cancelling. I nearly pulled the drift brake at 50mph going to change gear but caught myself in time.
Gearbox has a lovely mechanical feel, pedals are well positioned and weighted.
I thought the car was pretty muted even with the cat bypass but that's not necessarily a bad thing, just different to what I'm used to.
Standard seats are the only option for me, the carbon fibre Tilletts that are offered as an upgrade are too narrow as I have broad shoulders. I am going to get them trimmed in a combination of neoprene and something else TBC separately.
Debating the Ohlins versus the Fox shocks, for Africa, Henry reckons that the Fox will be better so I'm a little torn. The Ohlins were good on the road but I can't make any meaningful comments after a 4 mile drive.
I didn't see the all weather cover but it's around £1,000 as an option.
This is turning into a very informative thread, I have learned more from here than actually buying the car
Keep up the good work folks, the it isn't much info about, could do with some owners videos.
As for the Fox shocks, have you specced yet ? Do they cost more or less than the Ohlins ?
You have to wonder if recomendations are due to supply or cost issues. I have always thought Ohlins stuff was second to none.
Look forward to seeing the yellow car, I am 90% sure on the Orange at the moment, but looks like I still have loads of time to change my mind.
Keep up the good work folks, the it isn't much info about, could do with some owners videos.
As for the Fox shocks, have you specced yet ? Do they cost more or less than the Ohlins ?
You have to wonder if recomendations are due to supply or cost issues. I have always thought Ohlins stuff was second to none.
Look forward to seeing the yellow car, I am 90% sure on the Orange at the moment, but looks like I still have loads of time to change my mind.
Lighty said:
This is turning into a very informative thread, I have learned more from here than actually buying the car
Keep up the good work folks, the it isn't much info about, could do with some owners videos.
As for the Fox shocks, have you specced yet ? Do they cost more or less than the Ohlins ?
You have to wonder if recomendations are due to supply or cost issues. I have always thought Ohlins stuff was second to none.
Look forward to seeing the yellow car, I am 90% sure on the Orange at the moment, but looks like I still have loads of time to change my mind.
My order is so far away, it's not even worth thinking about but yes, I'm going to spec Ohlins. They're £4.4k versus £2.8k for Fox so a fair difference. Keep up the good work folks, the it isn't much info about, could do with some owners videos.
As for the Fox shocks, have you specced yet ? Do they cost more or less than the Ohlins ?
You have to wonder if recomendations are due to supply or cost issues. I have always thought Ohlins stuff was second to none.
Look forward to seeing the yellow car, I am 90% sure on the Orange at the moment, but looks like I still have loads of time to change my mind.
Don't believe there is an issue with supply, it comes down to application and budget. Fox supply to Polaris and given where I'm taking the Nomad, Henry felt that Fox would be more appropriate. However, long term ownership for me will be more suited to Ohlins. You can't test drive the vehicle off road when you go down to Ariel so you're only ever going to get an appreciation of compliance on the road but they're adjustable so you're on factory settings which might not be to your preference.
Regarding paint, I discussed the finishes and maintainability with the service manager and asked what sort of issues they were getting. His recommendation was from a maintenance point of view, the satin black would be easier to keep looking good but it comes down to how you're using it of course. The car featured on TopGear had taken a beating and there was significant flaking and chipping, particular at the back. That was the gloss orange as you probably know. I suspect for 99% of people, it won't be a problem.
Here are some yellow shots for you that Ariel shared with me if it helps.
Just to answer stormcloud's question about track times.
On the back straight at Bedford, up to the left/right kink the Nomad could get to no more than 118mph. You are just fighting physics too hard and the Nomad can't win. In the GTR you reach 130mph, and in a GTR you reach 144mph for comparison.
Having said that, the inside left rumble strips are brutal on that fast left and tricky to cut. Not in the Nomad though, just fly straight over them!
In terms of road holding: versus my Caterham R300 there is no contest. Down a bumpy road the Caterham felt like it was going to bounce off the road and throw you into a ditch. I have had a couple of Sevens, this is to be expected in my experience. The Nomad though handles the bumpy stuff very well with excellent road holding.
This is on the straight though. What did surprise me was on normal roads it will push wide pretty easily and this can be a bit disconcerting. Not a problem on the track as you are throwing it around, unsettling it, waiting for the back end to come around then steer with the throttle. Not easily done on a normal width road on the way to the shops. Not easily done with quite heavy steering (it's pretty physical). No idea what an Atom would do, but just a mild warning - don't pile into the first sharpish bend thinking it will all be fine!
Other bits:
I bought a bike chain to secure the removable steering wheel to the frame whilst parked up.
There is a little screw mid dash which I have found a phone holder to bolt to. All very civilised!
Although there is a spare wheel and tyre bolted to the back there is no jack, so useless if you actually need it! I bought a bottle jack to go in the tool bag.
The build quality and attention to the small details is fantastic.
On the back straight at Bedford, up to the left/right kink the Nomad could get to no more than 118mph. You are just fighting physics too hard and the Nomad can't win. In the GTR you reach 130mph, and in a GTR you reach 144mph for comparison.
Having said that, the inside left rumble strips are brutal on that fast left and tricky to cut. Not in the Nomad though, just fly straight over them!
In terms of road holding: versus my Caterham R300 there is no contest. Down a bumpy road the Caterham felt like it was going to bounce off the road and throw you into a ditch. I have had a couple of Sevens, this is to be expected in my experience. The Nomad though handles the bumpy stuff very well with excellent road holding.
This is on the straight though. What did surprise me was on normal roads it will push wide pretty easily and this can be a bit disconcerting. Not a problem on the track as you are throwing it around, unsettling it, waiting for the back end to come around then steer with the throttle. Not easily done on a normal width road on the way to the shops. Not easily done with quite heavy steering (it's pretty physical). No idea what an Atom would do, but just a mild warning - don't pile into the first sharpish bend thinking it will all be fine!
Other bits:
I bought a bike chain to secure the removable steering wheel to the frame whilst parked up.
There is a little screw mid dash which I have found a phone holder to bolt to. All very civilised!
Although there is a spare wheel and tyre bolted to the back there is no jack, so useless if you actually need it! I bought a bottle jack to go in the tool bag.
The build quality and attention to the small details is fantastic.
Thanks for the info Gavin, I'm going to see how i get on with the off-road 15's on road and take it from there. The tyre will move around a lot, but i'm hoping to learn what the car is about at an airfield day shortly after collection. The Ariel Atom was a difficult beast when out of shape hammering around a track, but you did get used to it. I imagine the Nomad will be easier to provoke at sensible speeds, especially on those tyres. I guess in a few weeks I'll know!
Yellow pics looks great by the way, first time i've seen those. I think my yellow is a little more vivid and pearlised, but from that picture, it's going to..., stand out somewhat, with rockstar knobblies of course.
Yellow pics looks great by the way, first time i've seen those. I think my yellow is a little more vivid and pearlised, but from that picture, it's going to..., stand out somewhat, with rockstar knobblies of course.
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