RE: Ariel Atom: PH Carpool
Discussion
Great write up Andy. Have fond memories of my 3 245 below
Mad mad cars and a must if you get chance to own one,
Have owned a couple of caterhams since and now picked up a 2-11 a few weeks back, so will be good to see how it compares when the weather clears up.
All cracking cars and British
Dave
Mad mad cars and a must if you get chance to own one,
Have owned a couple of caterhams since and now picked up a 2-11 a few weeks back, so will be good to see how it compares when the weather clears up.
All cracking cars and British
Dave
Edited by Dave211 on Monday 13th January 20:08
trails said:
Great write up, sounds like you are having lots of fun
Any chance of a link to the Ring taxi follow?
Probably this...Any chance of a link to the Ring taxi follow?
http://youtu.be/IDJwltsSnnA
Apologies Mr Gordon if this wasn't desired...
Great to read a write-up from someone's who done some stuff in their car, a few-too-many Carpools are nothing but a 'look at my new car I've hardly driven yet's...
I'm curious about your LM trip tho - where the hell did you store a toothbrush and a change of pants!? I assume a bag jammed into the passenger seat harnesses because 2-up there's pretty-much nowhere to store anything larger than a teaspoon is there?
Brave trip in a car with zero weather protection (and thus minimal theft protection either!?) tho - well done there...
p.s. i assume you'll also refute the opt-quoted problem with Atoms which is that they're not quite racecars but also not quite roadcars either (in fairness, that applies to the F40 too!)
I'm curious about your LM trip tho - where the hell did you store a toothbrush and a change of pants!? I assume a bag jammed into the passenger seat harnesses because 2-up there's pretty-much nowhere to store anything larger than a teaspoon is there?
Brave trip in a car with zero weather protection (and thus minimal theft protection either!?) tho - well done there...
p.s. i assume you'll also refute the opt-quoted problem with Atoms which is that they're not quite racecars but also not quite roadcars either (in fairness, that applies to the F40 too!)
Dave211 said:
Great write up Andy. Have fond memories of my 3 245 below
Mad mad cars and a must if you get chance to own one,
Have owned a couple of caterhams since and now picked up a 2-11 a few weeks back, so will be good to see how it compares when the weather clears up.
All cracking cars and British
Dave
Nice colourscheme on that one - GJ there - I don't get the 'British' thing tho, Atoms are moderately british aside from the Japanese engine but Caterham/Lotus are more Malaysian than anything else!? Mad mad cars and a must if you get chance to own one,
Have owned a couple of caterhams since and now picked up a 2-11 a few weeks back, so will be good to see how it compares when the weather clears up.
All cracking cars and British
Dave
Edited by Dave211 on Monday 13th January 20:08
Correct Ring link!Well done.
For the Le Mans trip, a North Face duffel in a waterproof bag, some earphones and some Oakleys were all I needed. Didnt bother with a helmet unless it rained, which i did on the homeward leg, leaving me and Ali (in his 211) trying to get helmeted in traffic on the M11.
Makes you really feel alive on a trip though!
You need to be in the mood though. They are tiring to drive distances, and that SC is seriously addictive, so you always need to be on guard for your licenses safety!
For the Le Mans trip, a North Face duffel in a waterproof bag, some earphones and some Oakleys were all I needed. Didnt bother with a helmet unless it rained, which i did on the homeward leg, leaving me and Ali (in his 211) trying to get helmeted in traffic on the M11.
Makes you really feel alive on a trip though!
You need to be in the mood though. They are tiring to drive distances, and that SC is seriously addictive, so you always need to be on guard for your licenses safety!
ps - this is the link to Oulton Park on a wet November!
Awesome fun. The only clue to the total lack of grip is to watch the steering wheel vs the direction of travel!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=167AJCV2FTE
Awesome fun. The only clue to the total lack of grip is to watch the steering wheel vs the direction of travel!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=167AJCV2FTE
GordonF430 said:
ps - this is the link to Oulton Park on a wet November!
Awesome fun. The only clue to the total lack of grip is to watch the steering wheel vs the direction of travel!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=167AJCV2FTE
Wow. That looks like an absolute riot. I must get one at some point. Awesome fun. The only clue to the total lack of grip is to watch the steering wheel vs the direction of travel!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=167AJCV2FTE
I remember before buying mine, I had a test ride from an owner who tracked a 3 300 plus a caterham R500. He stated he could do an hour in the caterham, vs about 15 mins in the Atom, for same concentration / effort. Shows it can be a handful 
One of my fave reviews, for those that haven't seen it, Monkey Harries and colleagues , testing the Atom 300 vs caterham R500 and lotus 2-11. Did laugh at comment re Atom trying to kill them lol.
http://youtu.be/siDy6dsOi8w (I'll leave you to find part 2 and 3 )
One of my fave reviews, for those that haven't seen it, Monkey Harries and colleagues , testing the Atom 300 vs caterham R500 and lotus 2-11. Did laugh at comment re Atom trying to kill them lol.
http://youtu.be/siDy6dsOi8w (I'll leave you to find part 2 and 3 )
Edited by Dave211 on Tuesday 14th January 12:36
I'd agree about the Caterham vs Atom comparison.
I had an R400 for a while, but it just didnt entertain to anything like the same level. I'm sure in pure lap times it would have done really well, but it was almost too easy to drive quickly. The Atom you really have to have on it and focusing.
Also support from the factories couldnt have been more different. Ariel will literally do all they can to help you out - they genuinely make you feel valued. Caterham, after my Uncle has an off at the ring in the R400 (minor brush with a barrier but enough to end our fun) were an utter shower of muppets. They could work out parts, car colour, co-ordinate a new nose with the parts for delivery - it honestly became a total farce. Never again.
The Ariel factory I still email, chat with, and are more helpful than ever - cant rate them highly enough.
I had an R400 for a while, but it just didnt entertain to anything like the same level. I'm sure in pure lap times it would have done really well, but it was almost too easy to drive quickly. The Atom you really have to have on it and focusing.
Also support from the factories couldnt have been more different. Ariel will literally do all they can to help you out - they genuinely make you feel valued. Caterham, after my Uncle has an off at the ring in the R400 (minor brush with a barrier but enough to end our fun) were an utter shower of muppets. They could work out parts, car colour, co-ordinate a new nose with the parts for delivery - it honestly became a total farce. Never again.
The Ariel factory I still email, chat with, and are more helpful than ever - cant rate them highly enough.
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