RE: Ariel Atom 4: Driven
Discussion
Turn7 said:
likesachange said:
I kinda wish I put my deposit down 2 months ago with a years waiting list... Now it's 2yrs plus!!
I may just buy a 3.5 and drop a deposit down for a 4 and be patent ...
Or a caterham 620s... Can't decide
Personally, altho I love th Atom, I cannot justify the badge of premuim...I may just buy a 3.5 and drop a deposit down for a 4 and be patent ...
Or a caterham 620s... Can't decide
Caterham all day long for me...
But I am also awaiting option list of Ariel which I can only presume the standard car will need at least 5-10k of options.
Downside of caterham to me is it's looks.. which I appreciate is pretty much irrelevant when your driving these machines.
I love the edgy design of the atom.
likesachange said:
I kinda wish I put my deposit down 2 months ago with a years waiting list... Now it's 2yrs plus!!
I may just buy a 3.5 and drop a deposit down for a 4 and be patent ...
Or a caterham 620s... Can't decide
I put a deposit down back in July before the release at Goodwood and the waiting list was 18 months then. I am anticipating delivery around Jan 2020 on that basis.I may just buy a 3.5 and drop a deposit down for a 4 and be patent ...
Or a caterham 620s... Can't decide
They must have had a lot of orders for it to go up to 2 years.
Turn7 said:
Why does EVERYTHING have to get bigger ? Drives me mental.....
I was looking at an Atom at the Kop Hill Climb recently, and its was the first time Id spent real time looking - the quality of the thing is astounding.
We all know thye are FAF and handle well, so why make it bigger ?
Come to that...why make a Pseudo Offroader ?
££££££ ?
They are fast but not amazing handling. Good compared to most on the road but in to company it can keep up with it isn't amazing in the corners.I was looking at an Atom at the Kop Hill Climb recently, and its was the first time Id spent real time looking - the quality of the thing is astounding.
We all know thye are FAF and handle well, so why make it bigger ?
Come to that...why make a Pseudo Offroader ?
££££££ ?
Deano84 said:
alorotom said:
I’m sorry, I can’t see any physical difference here ... may need a side by side shot to get it!
Unless of course it’s the Atom all new which is in the same vein as the Porchse 911 all new(!)
The new Atom is different in every way apart from 3 parts, the fuel filler cap, clutch and brake pedals.Unless of course it’s the Atom all new which is in the same vein as the Porchse 911 all new(!)
slipstream 1985 said:
They are fast but not amazing handling. Good compared to most on the road but in to company it can keep up with it isn't amazing in the corners.
Really? I don’t have much trouble staying with Caterhams and the like. The beauty about the 3.5 is it’s not all about lap times, it just makes you smile. As with every lightweight there are so many configurations of setup and damper, two are never identical. I think you’re wrong, it’s a pretty well balanced car. It’ll go into oversteer but with 300HP+ in a light car with a short wheelbase it’s to be expected. It’s limits are just the driver, far higher than the roads allow and on track if you’re chasing times you’d be better off in a Radical. Depends which Caterham. I would say one with proper power would drop an outgoing Atom quiet easily - but perhaps not the 4.
I drove an early Atom and the noticeable issue was engine at the back, up high. It didn't handle particularly nicely in my view, and as a result a Caterham was much quicker.
I drove an early Atom and the noticeable issue was engine at the back, up high. It didn't handle particularly nicely in my view, and as a result a Caterham was much quicker.
hondansx said:
Depends which Caterham. I would say one with proper power would drop an outgoing Atom quiet easily - but perhaps not the 4.
I drove an early Atom and the noticeable issue was engine at the back, up high. It didn't handle particularly nicely in my view, and as a result a Caterham was much quicker.
There is a lot of difference between the early cars, which were 'interesting' and the 3.5. I have driven the 620 and owned a 240HP SLR. They both have their strengths, ultimate pace is down to the drivers skill and bravery. There are plenty of comparisons with the 620R and 3.5R, they are split with small margins.I drove an early Atom and the noticeable issue was engine at the back, up high. It didn't handle particularly nicely in my view, and as a result a Caterham was much quicker.
StottyGTR said:
Seems like a very good price given the residuals of the older Atoms. This thing would be great to smash to track days, it should cost buttons to run and be super duper reliable with that Honda engine running in a much much lighter car.
Let’s see on the price, the actual price list is still being put together. The ‘basic’ car will likely end up another 10-15K for most buyers after some choice extras. It was the same for the previous cars. slipstream 1985 said:
Don't crash into walls then.
Neat, tell that to this guy https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...CaptainRAVE said:
Neat, tell that to this guy https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I'd suggest you don't buy one 
CaptainRAVE said:
slipstream 1985 said:
Don't crash into walls then.
Neat, tell that to this guy https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...yonex said:
Let’s see on the price, the actual price list is still being put together. The ‘basic’ car will likely end up another 10-15K for most buyers after some choice extras. It was the same for the previous cars.
Absolutely. Tom at the factory confirmed that £50k will get you into a nicely spec'd example. The main difference is now you don't have to spend £7k on the supercharger upgrade before you start on all the extras. The first owner of my car spent £27k on extras over the years, but that included a lot of non-essential but very expensive (and very nicely UK-made) extras, like carbon wings front and rear, carbon seats and Dymags, non of which add much value come resale. There will be the essential items as always and then the "vanity" extras, like carbon wheels, which will bump up the price to £60k plus I'm sure. [Chauvinistic mode on] As one of the very few independently owned UK car manufacturers left, I think it is fantastic that such a small South West based company is still managing to be successfully building a sports car after nearly 20 years, that's still being constantly improved and developed on an obviously tiny budget, and yet still manages to garner fantastic reviews from the motoring press all over the World. The passion of the guys there is so refreshing, especially compared to my experience dealing with prestige marques over the years - the Porsche "machine" being a good example.
Ariel were ahead of their time in producing a locally-made artisan product using locally sourced ingredients!
[Chauvinistic mode off].
The biggest thing for me on this is the lack of a screen. I wouldn't want to don a helmet every time I venture out across the dales but the thought of stones / bees / birds bouncing off your forehead at 120mph doesn't appeal.
The end of the article suggests a screen is available - is this true, what does it look like??
The end of the article suggests a screen is available - is this true, what does it look like??
SpunkyM said:
The biggest thing for me on this is the lack of a screen. I wouldn't want to don a helmet every time I venture out across the dales but the thought of stones / bees / birds bouncing off your forehead at 120mph doesn't appeal.
The end of the article suggests a screen is available - is this true, what does it look like??
It's not as bad as an aeroscreen in a Caterham, but even at 30-40 if a truck flicks up a stone (like I had one catch me just under my eye) it gets your attention. Eye protection at a minimum for me, depends what your up to. A trip to the shops, I can't be bothered. It only takes 30 seconds to put a lid on and you can then tune out with some earphones, take a phone call etc. I have had blackbird hit me on the shoulder, it didn't hurt it was just confusing as I thought there was a cat inside the car as it did it's death flap. Now, the pheasant in the Caterham, different story that.....The end of the article suggests a screen is available - is this true, what does it look like??
Fastlane said:
[Chauvinistic mode on] As one of the very few independently owned UK car manufacturers left, I think it is fantastic that such a small South West based company is still managing to be successfully building a sports car after nearly 20 years, that's still being constantly improved and developed on an obviously tiny budget, and yet still manages to garner fantastic reviews from the motoring press all over the World. The passion of the guys there is so refreshing, especially compared to my experience dealing with prestige marques over the years - the Porsche "machine" being a good example.
Ariel were ahead of their time in producing a locally-made artisan product using locally sourced ingredients!
[Chauvinistic mode off].
Well said.Ariel were ahead of their time in producing a locally-made artisan product using locally sourced ingredients!
[Chauvinistic mode off].
Others have tried but usually run into trouble. Zenos is a recent example. It’s a great car, and their customer interaction couldn’t be faulted. But they’ve still struggled.
~£50k for the 3.5 was also a good gauge in what a nicely spec'ed car will cost, mine is around £48k. With the exception of a sequential gearbox. For track work I'd say focus on essentials first i.e. AP racing brakes 4 pot, Ohlins suspension, decat if option, LSD (now included with the 4), brake bias adjustment, baffled sump. Then all the other stuff like carbon, wings etc makes the car look cooler than it is already.
I never quite understand who would buy such a car for the road only! lol There are very few places you can get the power down - at least in the UK. Mine will be completely track focused. It's just nice I can choose to drive it to the track this is the only reason for me to IVA tested. If opting for just road usage then we don't need half of those "essential" options. Just my take on it all.
I never quite understand who would buy such a car for the road only! lol There are very few places you can get the power down - at least in the UK. Mine will be completely track focused. It's just nice I can choose to drive it to the track this is the only reason for me to IVA tested. If opting for just road usage then we don't need half of those "essential" options. Just my take on it all.
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