Less is more. WAY more!

[SLO-BOB]

I want an Ariel Atom! But holy man-$55 big ones for a glorified (if 300 hp is glorified) go cart! Might as well get the Elise and stay dry.

ariel atom

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Who cares? I want one! Or two!

And yes, I'd pay $55k for one. Or two.

[thrown_hammer]

Hey Slo-Bob, The link you posted has all your information filled out. You may want to go fix that?

[Z-man]

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
Who cares? I want one! Or two!

And yes, I'd pay $55k for one. Or two.

Yeah, but if you buy two, it will be twice as heavy! Remember - less is more!

-Z

[Jims5543]

Can you buy one minus the engine / tranny?

I would like to have a turbo rotary tuned to about 300HP in there.

[SLO-BOB]

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
Can you buy one minus the engine / tranny?

I would like to have a turbo rotary tuned to about 300HP in there.

No. However, the option that I checked off puts it up to 300 hp anyway. That out of a Toyota 4 banger .

[Nostril Cheese]

cant access the site. password wont go.

[SLO-BOB]

Originally posted by thrown_hammer
Hey Slo-Bob, The link you posted has all your information filled out. You may want to go fix that?

Apparently someone else noticed and placed an order on my behalf. Very funny. I just received an invoice for about $50k (payable in four easy, $12.5k installments!) which seemed a little light compared to the one I generated last nite which came out to $55k. You got the 300 hp part right, but I wanted YELLOW, not red, and I want the black 5 spoke wheels not the silver 12 spoke. Not to mention the 5 point harness instead of the standard 4 point. There were some other details you missed as well.

[SLO-BOB]

Originally posted by Nostril Cheese
cant access the site. password wont go.

Now you want my password??



You need to fill out their form and send it to them. They will send you a password to build. It's no big deal unless you're stupid enough to poist the link to your personal web order form....



....like I did.

At least now I can say I have one on order. I rule!

[Jims5543]

I think the engine is a Saturn Engine or GM engine. No?

That is kind of the turn off for me. They were putting Honda engines in them I thought.

[jorian]

I saw one at Pacific raceways last year. It had an S2000 motor in it.

[Dottore]

Goes like $hit off a shovel.

Jay Leno wrote a great piece on his Atom in a recent issue of Octane. One of his favourite cars.

[CJFusco]

The Atom is cool, but I prefer the Caterham Sevens. I dunno, just a personal preferance.

[Laneco]

The great fellas at the Ariel Atom factory were kind enough to allow a small group of us (speedster/spyder replicas) to tour their facility this past fall. Seemed to me that there were several engines available including a superchared chevy cobalt (don't gag - its actually a german engine), a hot-rod honda, and I seem to have forgotten the third.

The workmanship is fabulous. I actually took pictures of a SHIFT LINKAGE because it was so beautiful. It was hewn from billet aluminum, light and strong.

Your car will be built for you. Your name is on it and your build specs actually ON THE CAR from the frame build forward. These guys aren't building a car, they are building yours exactly as you ordered it.

If you have the chance to tour the factory - DO IT!
angela

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally posted by jorian
I saw one at Pacific raceways last year. It had an S2000 motor in it.

He is a regular out there with it. Very nice guy. He is a distributor for them and has hooked a couple of people up with one in the last year or so.

Too much like a motorcycle for me; I already have a couple of those. At least one of his customers put some front body work on his to keep the wind blast from going up his pants. If you don't do that, you need to drive in something that you can seal the cuffs up on, like a driving suit or motorcycle gear. That, and wear a full face helmet even on the street just to keep the wind and induction noise bearable.

The one Caterham 7 that comes out is very much quicker. It looks and feels a little more like a car, and offers much better wind protection and comfort. I think it would make a better part-time toy in that it would be easier to haul at least one bag, and maybe your wife.

[Laneco]

I think that you should consider the Ariel Atom a street-going race car, not a street car. Yes they can be registered if you are clever and have a lenient MV department, but definately a fair weather driver. Of course, so is our spyder for that matter.

The thing with the Ariel Atom is that it makes everything else on the road look absolutely mundane. Great workmanship and strong drivetrains. Works for me!
angela

[DavidI]

I am in the planning process to get an Atom. A local guy, David, just bought one and toured the facility. He filmed the video.

It has an Ecotec engine that is the same used in the Chevy Cobalt.

I plan on buying one in the next year or two, David

[jmshepard]

Top Gear did a segment on the Atom:
http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/04/press.htm

The Stig drove it on the test track. Same track used that is used for cars featured on the show.

The Atom was beaten by:
1 Koenigsegg CCX (with TG spoiler) 1.17.6
2 Pagani Zonda F 1.18.4
3 Maserati MC12 1.18.9
4 Ferrari Enzo 1.19.0
5 Ariel Atom 1.19.5
6 Porsche Carrera GT 1.19.8

Dirt cheap performance.

Jim S.

[SLO-BOB]

0-60 in 3.1 seconds?? Intrigueing.

Caterham 7

[CJFusco]

In evo Magazine's group tests, the Caterham is very often the fastest car around a track, marginally faster than the Ariel Atom and whatever Radical is included in the test. The price tag for Caterhams is somewhat cheaper as well...

of course, I don't want to discredit the Atom in any way. It is an awesome car, and it sounds like the degree of specification, the degree to which Ariel builds cars to the customers' desires, and the company's customer service are all top-notch. I just still prefer the Caterham.