RE: All-new 320hp Ariel Atom 4 unveiled

[sideways man]

Anyone know how atoms handle?

Did an experience day in a s/c atom, they were the most frustrating laps as the instructor wouldn’t let you accelerate out of a corner. Not even slightly, enough to balance the car.
Obviously as a light rear engined car it’s always going to be a bit like throwing a hammer, but these were slow speeds- circa 40 mph. And as I have a 300 hp mark 1escort, I’m more than used to a wayward rear end......

To this day,years later I still feel angry about it

[redroadster]

On safety front anyone rolled or totalled one ?

[Pothole]

The very idea that anyone would be driving insanely enough to flip one on its back is hilarious to me. For a start, have you seen how flippin' WIDE it is?

[FN2TypeR]

redroadster said:

On safety front anyone rolled or totalled one ?

There was an article doing the rounds on the news a few years ago, two lads took one out that had been taken in for a service, the garage owner was driving and he crashed it, his cohort died.

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/ariel-a...

Google images has a few pictures of what they look like after being pranged.

[Vocht]

I also wonder about going from super to turbo charged, however I'm sure Chris Harris rated this engine as the best of the current hot hatch crop. It must be fantastic to make a claim like that.

[macky17]

sideways man said:

Anyone know how atoms handle?

Did an experience day in a s/c atom, they were the most frustrating laps as the instructor wouldn’t let you accelerate out of a corner. Not even slightly, enough to balance the car.
Obviously as a light rear engined car it’s always going to be a bit like throwing a hammer, but these were slow speeds- circa 40 mph. And as I have a 300 hp mark 1escort, I’m more than used to a wayward rear end......

To this day,years later I still feel angry about it

I feel your pain. I got to drive one around Goodwood... "in 5th and 6th only please sir." What on Earth is the point?

[rampageturke]

Pothole said:

The very idea that anyone would be driving insanely enough to flip one on its back is hilarious to me. For a start, have you seen how flippin' WIDE it is?

All you need to do is dip a wheel onto the verge on a dodgy country road, maybe even someone else crashing into you? Who knows, it certainly isn't that much of a crazy concept

[BeillyNoy]

Nanook said:

I'd fit a roll-over bar or cage, same as I would with a Caterham/Westfield/Dax etc.

And then you’d have an Ariel Nomad.....
(Sort of)
Happy to help.

[Julian Thompson]

Nanook said:

I'd fit a roll-over bar or cage, same as I would with a Caterham/Westfield/Dax etc.

Yes. I agree. I used to run aerscreened sevens and felt that the roll bar was enough until someone kindly told me about such a car that left the road and went under a barbed wire fence, decapitating it’s unfortunate pilot.

Try as I did I couldn’t unthink that story and my seven was fitted with a cage right away after that. The atom would be the same. Fantastic car though looks great!

[rb_89]

macky17 said:

I feel your pain. I got to drive one around Goodwood... "in 5th and 6th only please sir." What on Earth is the point?

I've done a driving experience day one of which cars was 6 laps in the aerial atom. It got left in 4th gear the whole time but had no issues with accelerating out of corners and going hard at it within reason. Never driven a car like it, absolutely insane.

Had a couple of high speed passenger laps after being driven round by a professional, and my god was that something else... it really is a beast of a car. Go kart on crack.

[anonymous-user]

macky17 said:

sideways man said:

Anyone know how atoms handle?

Did an experience day in a s/c atom, they were the most frustrating laps as the instructor wouldn’t let you accelerate out of a corner. Not even slightly, enough to balance the car.
Obviously as a light rear engined car it’s always going to be a bit like throwing a hammer, but these were slow speeds- circa 40 mph. And as I have a 300 hp mark 1escort, I’m more than used to a wayward rear end......

To this day,years later I still feel angry about it

I feel your pain. I got to drive one around Goodwood... "in 5th and 6th only please sir." What on Earth is the point?

There is a lot of things said about the handling. When they are set up properly and have sticky tyres they are a well balanced car. As with any lightweight they are really sensitive to tyres, suspension geometry and what damper you have. The main issue is the speed you can pile on in a very short space of time, they can stay with most litre bikes to about 100 miles an hour, whilst the bike is faster the Atom is easier to launch. They are not as benign as a Caterham, but just like a Caterham it will punish you if you do something daft. I have had a 230HP SLR running Nitron dampers and it was easier to learn but a total pig when going slowly, I am not running the brand down but there was always something leaking or trying to fall off of it! The Atom is more mobile, arguably more exciting but definitely, like for like in terms of HP, slower over a lap. It's not slow around a track but it's made for fun, and it's very good at making everyone smile. I would argue if you are looking at going quickly around a track you would be wanting something a bit more aero? In the dry you can unstick it in 2nd and 3rd gear if you wish, 1st gear is partly irrelevant V70's really calmed mine down and it has a lot more grip than it did with 888's, which were a pig to get warm on the road.The great thing about the Atom, especially the supercharged one, is that they have masses of torque, all the controls are quality and it's no more difficult to pop to the shops that it would be in the donor Civic, apart from the weather. I would say the turbo is a step forward, but the noise of the supercharger is a big part of the package for me, it sounds epic, I think so anyway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AGcyWk1SEM

As for the price, what's the alternative, I keep asking myself this? The 3-11, 100K plus, Mono, stunning but even more money. If you want a Caterfield then you will buy one, plenty of variants and price points. Otherwise you are looking at things like Porsche GT cars and the like, totally different experience IMO. Of course you could build a K20 Elise but, off the shelf I don't think there is anything quite like it. That's why I kept mine, but I really want to drive the new one.

edit, to add. Mine came with the optional bolt on climbing frame, it was removed as I thought it looked awful. I would argue that if you are travelling in an Atom and find yourself upside down you will have quite a bit more to worry about than if you will get some gravel in your hair For track work it's probably sensible, on the road, no.

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 11th July 09:28

[Zumbruk]

another 3 points said:

So little car for your money, snigger snigger.

So little brain for your posting.

[Zumbruk]

macky17 said:

sideways man said:

Anyone know how atoms handle?

Did an experience day in a s/c atom, they were the most frustrating laps as the instructor wouldn’t let you accelerate out of a corner. Not even slightly, enough to balance the car.
Obviously as a light rear engined car it’s always going to be a bit like throwing a hammer, but these were slow speeds- circa 40 mph. And as I have a 300 hp mark 1escort, I’m more than used to a wayward rear end......

To this day,years later I still feel angry about it

I feel your pain. I got to drive one around Goodwood... "in 5th and 6th only please sir." What on Earth is the point?

You need to do the Bedford Autodrome day; "drive it like you stole it" is standard for all the vehicles.

[PhantomPH]

ChocolateFrog said:

Good luck surviving that.

Isn't that always the case for Atoms, tho? You pays your money....

[dogz]

I've been waiting for the Atom 4 before placing my order

On the face of it, it looks good value when compared to a 3.5 speced. Looking at the article some options have now become standard such as the LSD

Once I've got the price list, I'll probably be placing my order. Last time I enquired (c12 months ago) it was around an 18th month wait if memory serves me correctly

It might jump up a bit now a new model is launched?

[suffolk009]

rampageturke said:

Pothole said:

The very idea that anyone would be driving insanely enough to flip one on its back is hilarious to me. For a start, have you seen how flippin' WIDE it is?

All you need to do is dip a wheel onto the verge on a dodgy country road, maybe even someone else crashing into you? Who knows, it certainly isn't that much of a crazy concept

"All you need to do is dip a wheel onto the verge on a dodgy country road", I know someone who did exactly that. Totalled the car when it was stopped by a nearby tree. He's adamant that he'd have been badly hurt in something like a Caterham/Westfield. As it was he just stepped out of it, not a scratch.

Anyway, I'm familiar with the old engine, but know nothing about this one. I suppose the turbo is inevitable, and the torque figure is huge, but is it any good? And what can you aftermarket tune it up to, and would you even want to?

[Deano84]

dogz said:

I've been waiting for the Atom 4 before placing my order

On the face of it, it looks good value when compared to a 3.5 speced. Looking at the article some options have now become standard such as the LSD

Once I've got the price list, I'll probably be placing my order. Last time I enquired (c12 months ago) it was around an 18th month wait if memory serves me correctly

It might jump up a bit now a new model is launched?

I called up to order one this morning and subsequently placed a deposit on it..... the waiting list is currently circa 14 months.

I haven’t seen the spec sheet yet.

Looks like a great toy though, I’ve always been a fan of the Atom.

[crashley]

Is it possible to actually to buy one for <£40k or do you need to add a myriad of options to make it useable (like the Nomad, from what i read) ?

[captain_cynic]

arkenphel said:

It looks prettier than previous Atoms,

This, the huge gaping maw between the seats always ruined the look of the old Atom for me, the smaller intake is far less gopping. Fits in better with the sharp lines of the rest of the bodywork.

arkenphel said:

but the thing that stops me buying one is : how do you clean it?

I don't think my local Afghan car wash would do a good enough job for fiver...

Yourself.

Erm. I mean one has correctly trained help that washes one's vehicle for him.

[anonymous-user]

Why does crash protection keep coming up? If that’s an issue you won’t be buying any lightweight car!