RE: Chris Harris video: BAC Mono
Thursday 2nd August 2012
We've driven the BAC Mono quite extensively already, both on road and on the track, the latter in the hands of my colleague Steve Sutcliffe. Anyone expecting me to quell his almost gushing positivity towards the Mono is sadly going to be disappointed. I thought it was pretty damned marvellous.
All that effort engineering a grippy chassis...Many people rather lazily refer to machinery of this type as 'track' cars. Of course the Mono is designed to be driven on a circuit, but its £80,000-plus price tag leaves it open to comparison with all manner of dedicated track tackle, and it can't compete with the wings'n'slicks brigade. Even so, it offers a fascinating driving experience.
Like an F1 car but you can drive it to the shopsIt's powered by a 2.3-litre, 280hp Duratec and weighs 540kg. The day I drove it the Midlands was wetter than a fish's swimming cossie, but then I suppose you only really learn about a car's intrinsic balance in those conditions.
Chris Harris video: BAC Mono
Harris gets to grips with the mad-looking BAC Mono and is something of a fan
All that effort engineering a grippy chassis...
The Mono, like the Atom, the Caterham and the X-Bow, is an experience car. It's as much about the sensation of driving it, as the speed with which it can complete a lap.
It's a high quality item. Build on this car - the first customer car delivered to RS Academy is of a very high standard. It has two cars, both of which are available for hire. Much as I love the looks of the Ariel, this is now my favourite piece of naked Brit car-design. The way you can peer through those front apertures is endlessly enjoyable.
Like an F1 car but you can drive it to the shops
The other thing you learn is that the specific frequency of a Hewland FTR gearbox does something bizarre to a Sennheiser radio-microphone: hence the subtitles.
Discussion
I love how it looks but I cannot ever imagine why I'd have one over an Atom.
The Atom has room for someone to scare - can be had with broadly similar power-to-weight for rather less money - hmmmm
Lovely looking thing tho - that wheel/interior has to have cost a BIG chunk of the development budget I'd guess? - stuff like that isn't off-the-shelf yet, is it?
The Atom has room for someone to scare - can be had with broadly similar power-to-weight for rather less money - hmmmm
Lovely looking thing tho - that wheel/interior has to have cost a BIG chunk of the development budget I'd guess? - stuff like that isn't off-the-shelf yet, is it?
Edited by 405dogvan on Wednesday 1st August 20:58
405dogvan said:
I love how it looks but I cannot ever imagine why I'd have one over an Atom.
The Atom has room for someone to scare - can be had with broadly similar power-to-weight for rather less money - hmmmm
Lovely looking thing tho - that wheel/interior has to have cost a BIG chunk of the development budget I'd guess? - stuff like that isn't off-the-shelf yet, is it?
Judging by the shape of the wheel isn't it from an Allegro Vandan Plas? The Atom has room for someone to scare - can be had with broadly similar power-to-weight for rather less money - hmmmm
Lovely looking thing tho - that wheel/interior has to have cost a BIG chunk of the development budget I'd guess? - stuff like that isn't off-the-shelf yet, is it?
Edited by 405dogvan on Wednesday 1st August 20:58
Sat in this car back in March 2011 at its launch at Ferrari Nottingham and loved it. It really is a piece of art, and having owned an Ariel Atom I can assure you this car is at another level in terms of build quality etc. You have to see it to appreciate it.
Really wanted the car at the time, but the unknowns of depreciation plus new startup company was too big a risk for me. So here we are 17 months later and I'm still no the wiser re any risk
. Would love to hear from any owners re experience ?
Definitely on the list of cars to own though. Stunning car !!
Dave.
Really wanted the car at the time, but the unknowns of depreciation plus new startup company was too big a risk for me. So here we are 17 months later and I'm still no the wiser re any risk
. Would love to hear from any owners re experience ?Definitely on the list of cars to own though. Stunning car !!
Dave.
I struggle with the Mono. The engine noise is a drone, it looks about 20% bigger than it shoul be (like the X-bow)it doesn't come with an uncomplicated, invovling, lightweight manual 'box, it doesn't have a passenger seat (I enjoy giving charity pax rides with my toy cars) and above all else, it's priced way too high.
Like Dave, I don't know where the company will be in a few yrs time or how the market will react to them as 2nd hand buys and I still have concerns over the reliability, therefore, cost of ownership.
As much as I applaud it's existance and single mindedness, I can't get excited over it. And that's from someone who loves extreme cars, owned an Atom and now has an aeroscreened Ultima Can Am.
All my own opinions / views, of course. I do, however, hope that the company sell enough of them to justify a 2nd model, that addresses the above, then I'll have my name down for one
Like Dave, I don't know where the company will be in a few yrs time or how the market will react to them as 2nd hand buys and I still have concerns over the reliability, therefore, cost of ownership.
As much as I applaud it's existance and single mindedness, I can't get excited over it. And that's from someone who loves extreme cars, owned an Atom and now has an aeroscreened Ultima Can Am.
All my own opinions / views, of course. I do, however, hope that the company sell enough of them to justify a 2nd model, that addresses the above, then I'll have my name down for one
356Speedster said:
I struggle with the Mono. The engine noise is a drone, it looks about 20% bigger than it shoul be (like the X-bow)it doesn't come with an uncomplicated, invovling, lightweight manual 'box, it doesn't have a passenger seat (I enjoy giving charity pax rides with my toy cars) and above all else, it's priced way too high.
Like Dave, I don't know where the company will be in a few yrs time or how the market will react to them as 2nd hand buys and I still have concerns over the reliability, therefore, cost of ownership.
As much as I applaud it's existance and single mindedness, I can't get excited over it. And that's from someone who loves extreme cars, owned an Atom and now has an aeroscreened Ultima Can Am.
All my own opinions / views, of course. I do, however, hope that the company sell enough of them to justify a 2nd model, that addresses the above, then I'll have my name down for one
Go see one Mark Like Dave, I don't know where the company will be in a few yrs time or how the market will react to them as 2nd hand buys and I still have concerns over the reliability, therefore, cost of ownership.
As much as I applaud it's existance and single mindedness, I can't get excited over it. And that's from someone who loves extreme cars, owned an Atom and now has an aeroscreened Ultima Can Am.
All my own opinions / views, of course. I do, however, hope that the company sell enough of them to justify a 2nd model, that addresses the above, then I'll have my name down for one
405dogvan said:
stuff like that isn't off-the-shelf yet, is it?
Yup, it's one of these and GEMS flappy paddles too http://www.gems.co.uk/?content=pages&id=lds4-d...
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff