Thursday 9th January 2014

Ariel Atom 160: Spotted

Fancy something more established than the Zenos? You'll have to go used...

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It promised a lot and, on the numbers at least, the Zenos E10 has delivered. It will be a little while yet before we get to drive one but expectations are certainly high. How could £25K, 200hp and 650kg not appeal?

A few sweaty palms here perhaps?

But given the kind of car it is and the customer it is aimed at, the Zenos will find itself up against plenty of used alternatives, more so than with most new cars. After all, if it's only going to be used as a weekend plaything for quite a few years, what difference will a few thousand miles make?

Hence a few prospective Zenos customers must be looking at used Ariel Atoms. The Caterham Seven will undoubtedly make the list too, although its more traditional construction means it differs slightly. This 2003 R300 would surely be worthy of a test drive for the same money though.

But it's the Atom that seems to bear the closet resemblance to the Zenos. Mid- and transverse-engined, off-the-shelf powertrain, low mass and very little equipment. Zenos will be hoping the E10 retains its value like the Atom too, this car now actually for sale at more than its £21K new price.

Less powerful than the Zenos, but lighter too

As a 160 it's down on power compared to the Zenos and lacks the new car's fancy Alcon brakes. It will probably be a fraction lighter though, so there can't be much difference in acceleration. We know the Atom is a fabulous steer, but would have to assume the Zenos would be similarly entertaining given who has created it.

It simply boils down to which one you want more. To these eyes the Zenos is the prettier car, the rear in particular redolent of the beautiful Pininfarina Sergio. But of course there's no denying the drama of an Atom; given the shape first appeared in 1999, it remains fabulously shocking and yet almost delicate because of how exposed it is. That the brand is well established now will also add some cachet that Zenos currently lacks.

Having said that, the Zenos is new, exciting and loaded with potential. It's too close to call without driving both of them but what a fascinating conundrum facing a buyer with £25K in hand. Bring on the summer.

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ARIEL ATOM 160
Engine: 1,998cc 4-cylinder
Transmission: Five-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 160@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 132@5,000rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 2006
Recorded mileage: 27,200
Price new: £21,000
Yours for: £24,975

See the original advert here

[83AndyJ]

WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT!! Always have wanted one, then drove it at Rockingham, and it was bloody fantastic. It's so close to home too. Just need that lottery win now....

[dlockhart]

I am off to buy a new one drive it for 3 years and then sell it. I will tell the wife its an inflation busting investment

[rhinochopig]

Blimey, that's held its value well.

[IanV12]

Every mile has made the owner 15 pence
good deal

[disco666]

Unquestionably brilliant, but I have always wondered who would/does buy the 160, when the 300 is not much more expensive.

[NateWM]

Anyone know what engine this uses? Thought it might of been a B16 with that HP figure but as it's a 2.0, I'm thinking Zetec?

[GroundEffect]

NateWM said:

Anyone know what engine this uses? Thought it might of been a B16 with that HP figure but as it's a 2.0, I'm thinking Zetec?

The Type S 2.0 from Honda.

[New Scot]

Quite tempting - if

1 I had any spare cash
2 My closet was big enough to contain a car - "the Atom that seems to bear the closet resemblance to the Zenos"

[Reavenger]

I just don't buy the price (no pun intended). How on earth has it gone up? Inflation and supply and demand I guess. Still, it hasn't sold yet

[Axionknight]

disco666 said:

Unquestionably brilliant, but I have always wondered who would/does buy the 160, when the 300 is not much more expensive.

It is a fair deal more expensive and hardly the sort of car you could really exploit on the road, I drove a 300 at a track day and think that for all but the most experienced of drivers and track day enthusiasts it'd be a bit much.

I'd take the 240 personally.

[Gdgd]

NateWM said:

Anyone know what engine this uses? Thought it might of been a B16 with that HP figure but as it's a 2.0, I'm thinking Zetec?

Its a K20A2 - the non JDM version commonly found in any 2001+ Type R civic/integra

[KMF]

I had an Atom 160, it was a crakin car. I only sold it because it was a bit too much for my wife. Super if you are a biker and used to wearing waterproofs whilst driving. OMG they are fast even the 160.

[claryclan]

They now have two in the showrooms at Junction 17.

[DanielSan]

Is it me or do Atoms never depreciate? The cheapest one to buy always seems to be a brand new one.

[BigBen]

Gdgd said:

Its a K20A2 - the non JDM version commonly found in any 2001+ Type R civic/integra

I don't think it is in the 160 bhp Atom, it is the Civic type S unit (which may be a K20A in different tune, I don't really know of or care for Hondas).

Anyone thinking of paying £25k for that car can have my lower mileage better specified 245 BHP Atom for the same money. £25k is 'optimistic' for a 160.

Having said that I owned my previous Atom for about 5 years and sold it for £200 less than I paid. Given the 'phone rang off the hook I probably could have made a small profit!

Ben

[ghibbett]

Linked R300 in the article is EXPENSIVE.

Always liked the Atom and seeing it's appreciated...well what's not to like!

[RocketRabbit]

ghibbett said:

Linked R300 in the article is EXPENSIVE.

Always liked the Atom and seeing it's appreciated...well what's not to like!

I'm in the middle of building my Seven powered by a modded F20C (S2000 engine).

~500bhp/ton for £18k on the road with full cage, big brakes, torsen diff, fully programmable ECU, Dash2, best 2 litre engine/gearbox going. The equivalent Caterham/Atom will cost you over £40k. And anyone who has driven both will know a Seven batters an Atom in handling terms.

[McSam]

RocketRabbit said:

And anyone who has driven both will know a Seven batters an Atom in handling terms.

Oh, I don't know.. The Seven is of course beautiful and hits a purist, "racing car" sort of setup very well indeed. But I find the Atom absolutely no less intuitive or adjustable, and to be honest, think it's a hilariously good fun thing to drive. If I had to choose I'd say I prefer it, actually.

This may be because the Atoms I've driven have all had near on twice the power of the Caterhams, but still, it's clear there's an absolutely mega chassis there.



Your car sounds like a really perfect recipe, mind, great job