RE: All-new 320hp Ariel Atom 4 unveiled

[PistonBroker]

Lovely.

A car that's a shoo-in to my Lotto garage just got better.

And, at £40k, hopefully I won't actually have to wait until the numbers come up to get one in the garage.

I had a tour of the factory last year and they mentioned an 18-month lead time and that values are static for the first 12 months after delivery. How much is the deposit?!

[anonymous-user]

PistonBroker said:

Lovely.

A car that's a shoo-in to my Lotto garage just got better.

And, at £40k, hopefully I won't actually have to wait until the numbers come up to get one in the garage.

I had a tour of the factory last year and they mentioned an 18-month lead time and that values are static for the first 12 months after delivery. How much is the deposit?!

£3000

[rodericb]

Zumbruk said:

another 3 points said:

So little car for your money, snigger snigger.

So little brain for your posting.

whoosh!

[FN2TypeR]

suffolk009 said:

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?

TDI North offer tuning that'll give you 50bhp+ from a remap for the FK8. I appreciate that the intake, exhaust etc is different on the Atom but the tuneability is definitely there.

Would you want to? I probably wouldn't, but I'm a big sissy

Edited by FN2TypeR on Thursday 12th July 09:15

[R0880]

Looking forward to seeing this in the flesh at the Festival of Speed, especially as I took delivery of a 3.5 two weeks ago!!!

[PATTERNPART]

I had a passenger ride in one round Brands once. A supercharged one. I quite liked watching the suspension going up and down. It made my ears hurt though. Aesthetically it made my eyes hurt too. My next hot passenger lap was in an old Elan 26R which I preferred.

[pardonmyenglish]

redroadster said:

On safety front anyone rolled or totalled one ?

There's a semi-famous french actor who killed himself with an atom. He hit a concrete block while going very fast and the car caught fire.

[Pothole]

suffolk009 said:

"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.

but did it flip over?

[Thorburn]

captain_cynic said:

Yourself.

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

Vehicle? Singular? Pauper.

[fido]

Crazy why they don't have a hoop roll-bar which goes right across the back - instead of a narrow F1-style roll hoop.

[CaptainSlow]

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 did an experience day at a small circuit on the back of Bovingdon airfield near Hemel Hempstead last year.

It was a SC Atom 3 with slicks, pulled off in second and then put in 3rd and left it there. Pretty much foot to the floor all the way round...amazing sound when the SC kicks in.

Had an intercom with the instructor but couldn't really hear him. Only had one very tight corner where the instructor forced be to cut through it due to risk of spinning the car. The amount of grip on the tyres was absolutely amazing. I was the only one in the briefing booked on the car but after I got out there was a queue at reception with people wanting to swap out the Lambos, Astons, Ferraris etc.

[Deano84]

PistonBroker said:

Lovely.

A car that's a shoo-in to my Lotto garage just got better.

And, at £40k, hopefully I won't actually have to wait until the numbers come up to get one in the garage.

I had a tour of the factory last year and they mentioned an 18-month lead time and that values are static for the first 12 months after delivery. How much is the deposit?!

Deposit is £3000, you can spec it 4 months before delivery, the spec sheet is not available yet.

[suffolk009]

Pothole said:

suffolk009 said:

"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.

but did it flip over?

No, it didn't.

I suppose the Nomad 2 will be along shortly.

[suffolk009]

So many people worrying about the roll bars. Well life is full of risk, and everyone has their tipping point.

I'm quite happy to drive around in old cars with no crash protection at all. I've owned Caterhams and old TVRs. I was in an accident in an old Fiat Panda - that car folded up like a piece of wasted origami, Years on from that and I still have back and shoulder issues and almost weekly physio. I'd still buy another Panda if I could find one. My personal tipping point is motorbikes, they're not for me.

If you don't like the idea of driving a car without a full roll cage then don't - go and buy something else. An atom is on my list of cars to own one day, and it won't be one with full bars across the back either.

[anonymous-user]

pardonmyenglish said:

There's a semi-famous french actor who killed himself with an atom. He hit a concrete block while going very fast and the car caught fire.

There was a rather famous woman who was killed in an S Class Mercedes, supposedly the safest car in the world at the time. That hit some concrete as well, I can't help think people are missing the point of these things!

[CambsBill]

Zumbruk said:

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

Only the Atom has it as part of the running-in instructions though

[CambsBill]

fido said:

Crazy why they don't have a hoop roll-bar which goes right across the back - instead of a narrow F1-style roll hoop.

It's been an option on the 3 & 3.5. Ugly though.

[Talksteer]

Hmmm so the worst thing about the Atom which was the lack of safety is being made.... worse.

Unless there is some pop up contraption.

[Talksteer]

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?

Have a look at the side of any road, there is plenty of non level stuff which can flip or roll any car regardless of the width.

There is also the issue with the previous design which was should you roll on to anything like grass the roll bar will dig in.

[Gandahar]

Considering that engine is awesome in the Civic ...

Gulp. This will rock.

And chassis additions to match. I cannot see this being nothing less than a great upgrade and look forward to the testers thoughts.