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.