Friday 26th August 2011

YKYWT... Used Ariel Atom

15 years on, the Atom still looks hard to beat

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Fresh from our recent KTM X-bow experience it made sense to take a closer look at a used Ariel Atom. Besides, as we found out, there are hardly any X-bows for sale...

My first ever trip in an Atom didn't go well. The car itself was fine, but the experience was memorable for the fact that when the journey ended I noticed that a stone had split my lip and left me looking like I'd just stepped off the set of low-budget horror film, with rivulets of claret running from my mouth to the back of my neck. Not cool.

Despite the injury exposing the fact that cars like the Atom don't often come with a screen (although they are available), it served to show how much fun these things are; I'd felt the stone hit me early on in the ride but frankly couldn't have cared less at the time because all I remember thinking was 'More. Please, more...'

It's hard to believe that the car - or at least its design - has been around for almost fifteen years, and in that time it's established itself as a firm driver's favourite, despite the advent of the more track-focused X-bow.

This Atom from our classifieds is the actual car that Jeremy Clarkson drove on Top Gear... but don't hold that against it. Since he demonstrated the amusing effect on the human face of driving an Atom at speed without wearing a crash helmet, this one has been thoroughly sorted and is ready for heavy-duty hoonery. The engine was built especially to take extra boost by the previous owner, although the vendor has reverted to the standard-sized pulley, resulting in 270bhp at the wheels (backed-up by a dyno' graph) with just 8.5 psi of pressure from the blower after careful re-mapping. Alcon brakes have been fitted all-round as have stiffer springs with 'C-spec' dampers to suit.

The specification goes on (including three full sets of wheels and tyres), but arguably the most important modification has been the fitting of a 3.9 differential which is taller than standard and apparently makes second gear much more usable when out on a track. On the road this Atom was well behaved despite the stiffer springing, and felt significantly more comfortable than the X-bow. The power of the blown, high-winding Honda engine felt more usable too.

With an asking price of £28,950 after 23,000 miles it's not the cheapest Atom out there although the spec' is very good. I reckon the vendor would entertain a sensible bid.

If you're more interested in doing your driving on the road than the track then something like this one would make more sense. It has to make-do with 'just' 245bhp (at the flywheel) and isn't as track-ready as the other Atom, but it does have the full screen and is several years and many miles younger.

But if you go for one without a screen, I'd recommend that you invest in a crash helmet... or stock up on plasters and some Savlon.

[em177]

Amazing what good investments these, along with Caterhams, seem to be!

[vit4]

I'm in

[EDLT]

In before the title!

[Maximum bobs]

EDLT said:

In before the title!

+1

[oa]

Titles are for losers

[sebhaque]

Who else tabbed in rather than using the mainstream folder icon?

[AV12]

Like. Maybe not in that colour, though!

[AV12]

sebhaque said:

Who else tabbed in rather than using the mainstream folder icon?

[Fartgalen]

These are sooo tempting. But this price tag tells my, "I'm oot". (On this one anyway).

[rhinochopig]

That's not the air intake is it? If it is what a stupid location.

[AyBee]

Think we need a name and shame on the owner who reduced the power WIMP!!

[y2blade]

rhinochopig said:

That's not the air intake is it? If it is what a stupid location.

don't know, but it looks like it

[piquet]

y2blade said:

don't know, but it looks like it

it's not the standard location, the standard location is the one in the roll over hoop which works really well and makes a great noise, goodness knows what's been done that engine

when it comes to atoms, never test drive one or go for a ride in one, it's the automotive equivalent of crack cocaine

[littleandy0410]

The other one linked in the article looks really odd with the windscreen. I don't think I've ever seen one with that option. Whatever next, doors? A roof? a stereo?

[OdramaSwimLaden]

NIDNWT.

Has Ph gone all chavscum?

[suffolk009]

I'm saving hard for one. Have spoken to the factory, printed out the spec sheet, ticked the options, worked out the cost. Just need to make the money now.

Its my kind of car.

[zcacogp]

Interesting about the windscreen - as littleandy said. Never knew they did one for the Atom.

Why were they built without one in the first place? Weight I guess. How much do they weigh? Can't be that much (although you'd need to factor in the weight of the windscreen wiper mechanisms as well.)


Oli.

[Lordbenny]

YKYWT = You Know You Want T*ts?

[Gorbyrev]

That has to be one of the most famous cars on the planet. Restored to original silver that will be worth a pretty penny in years to come because of "I'm an alien" Clarkson. Love the story about stone chip and the lip. Seriously windsreens are cool if they let you go open air without a helmet. BTW isn't that photo of the cat not the air intake.

Edited by Gorbyrev on Friday 26th August 10:17

[Bonefish Blues]

A wonderful, wonderful car. I've only driven it in 160 flavour, but it was enough to prompt me to buy it...

...and it's to my eternal shame I backed down in the face of an objection from Mrs BFB