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So, I'd always wanted an Ariel Atom. Ever since one rearranged Jeremy Clarkson's face on TG. Never thought I'd have one though. I don't usually have that sort of spare cash lying about and, besides, performance cars are pricey to run.
Anyway, a friend pointed me to collectingcars.com as he was bidding on a car there. Whilst browsing I saw an Atom4 with 700 miles on it that sold for £54k. The ad included the build sheet - which was £44k. Interesting. Then I looked at other Atoms that had sold and noticed they didn't have a lot of depreciation. At all.
Next I started delving into Atom forums and asking questions. They really don't lose value. Even better, they're about as complicated as a Honda Civic mechanically. Clutches are £220 (not that you ever need one) and tyres are £100. The insurance was about the same as our Ford Galaxy. A service from the factory is £500. So it's not like running a Lamborghini.
I started to figure that if you get over the, admittedly slightly difficult, hurdle of having £40k to play with, you could probably buy and run one for a couple of years without losing a lot of money. Fortunately, we'd been left a chunk of money which we'd earmarked for a house but that purchase is 3-4 years away - giving me a window of opportunity. Unfortunately this ruled out a new Atom4 as there's a 28 month wait so the thought of having to sell it shortly after arrival was a no go. Used it was.
SO, I went looking. I learned that provenance is king in the used Atom world. THe factory know about every car out there and can tell you all about it. Good ones sell right away - often without being advertised. Luckily I mentioned on the FB page I was looking for one and three people came to me with decent cars. Ended up with a 2015 3.5 SC that had been built as a demo car for the factory then sold to a customer who was waiting for a 4. Great list of upgrades: Alcon Brakes, Bilstein Shocks, LSD, Extra Wheels, Stainless Bolts, Side Panels, Handbrake (many don't have them) etc etc. THe seller agreed to have the factory MOT and service it and rectify anything as part of the deal. A 1200 mile round trip from Aberdeenshire with a trailer later - I was an Atom owner!
Call it bangernomics mixed with Man Maths. I'll keep a tally of expenditure and by the time it's sold we'll see how right (or wrong) I was. However, no matter what it costs it won't be as much as we spent running our friggin' 54 plate XC70 for the last couple of years - that's for sure.
Nice car, is it road legal or just for track days? How do you get on with the gear lever, I found it tricky as the gears were all very close together.
Nice! But surely a real man would have driven it home 😉
Do you have insurance for your spine after a trip in the south deeside 🙂
Will watch out for you. Only a few of them locally.
It's purely for the road. Can't face paying £200 to slide round Knockhill in the rain.
I should have driven it home but it has side panels so I'd have to have taken them off to be truly manly. Plus I couldn't carry the spare wheels. (Best not mention the heated clothing either).
South Deeside? THey were out resurfacing some of the most potholed sections the other day so there's hope yet......
South Deeside? THey were out resurfacing some of the most potholed sections the other day so there’s hope yet……
Town to maryculter is fine
Crathes to falls of feugh. - I've been to 4*4 trials with smoother timed sections.
Some great man maths here! I looked at them when I bought my Elise but like Caterhams you can’t use them as a sort of “regular” car easily and I wouldn’t want to drive one that far. However I find the Elise relatively confortabke for long trips and it does the track day stuff.
Crathes to falls of feugh
Yeah that's got some terrible sections. Shame, coz it's a nice bit. Further out most of it's pretty good. I know where all the bad potholes are and you drive it like you'd ride a bike - looking for hazards and poor surfaces.
like Caterhams you can’t use them as a sort of “regular” car easily and I wouldn’t want to drive one that far.
I'm sure that's true but I'm planning on using it as if it's a bike rather than a car.
Excellent work!
Very nice!
Have you driven it yet? I would class myself as an ok driver, but know that would be beyond my skill level to drive quickly on the road
Are they a sequential box?
If I could justify a toy that would be on my list, unfortunately that means I’m looking at Boxter S instead for some daily practicality too
Helmet or sunglasses?
That looks amazing fun
Best not tell you about my old business partner who put his through a tree backwards.... Damp Road Jeopardy...
Yep as practical as a bike. That’s a good way to consider it!
I remember a friend of mine saw one once at a show and exclaimed "That's not a car, that's garden furniture nailed to an engine!". One of those weird things you can't get out of your head.
Nice! Always fancied one. No danger of crap getting stuck between the seat and the sill, it'll just fall out. Won't need much hoovering either. Its the perfect car.
Can you get a bike rack made?
Struggled tp follow your OP a bit, but thinking you've paid circa £40k for an Atom?
But won't pay £200 to run it round a track?
Am I right?
Awesome, I have a soft spot for the Nomad, back in the 80s I built a kit car called a Fugitive that was loads of fun.
I've just sold my GR Yaris, all I can say is speed isn't everything, replaced it with a Mazda 2 GT with half the power and twice the engagement.
Enjoy your new toy. 🙂
I've always been a fan but could only afford an ep3 type r, I can only imagine how well the drivetrain works in car like the atom.
Two thoughts, firstly you really should track it. Even if you only try it once, you really have to know what it's like to drive without limits. I tracked my type r a few times when it was my daily driver without issues, you can drive as fast or as slow as you like so it doesn't need to cost much except a tank of petrol. If you keep an eye out then you can get some trackdays for less than £100 at less popular times.
Secondly, what happens when it comes to sell in a few years after you've really fallen in love!!
I tracked my type r a few times when it was my daily driver without issues, you can drive as fast or as slow as you like so it doesn’t need to cost much except a tank of petrol. If you keep an eye out then you can get some trackdays for less than £100 at less popular times
A track day cost me a set of tyres on my 944 turbo when the Cayman R in front had a bit of a moment. Granted no ABS so a lock up is exactly that. The track surface does a good job of turning round tyres into 50pence pieces, to quote Martin Brundle.
Long fancied an Atom, I used to see one fairly regularly driving around Bath, not so surprising as they’re based down in Yeovil. What I really, really would like given the appropriate cash injection, is an Atom V8, about as mad a concept as you can get, but as Castle Combe race circuit is five miles away, and a former team mate when I was driving for BCA does supercar experience days at Castle Combe, Thruxton and another circuit in Wales.
And then there’s the Nomad, which has literally just appeared on Top Gear as I’m writing this!
This isn’t Supercar Bangernomics, Supercar bangernomics is being able to afford whatever the latest ltd edition Ferrari is, then keeping it for a few years and flogging it for twice+ what you paid for it.
For this to be worth owning it, you HAVE to get it on a track. That’s an absolute MUST.
Struggled tp follow your OP a bit, but thinking you’ve paid circa £40k for an Atom?
But won’t pay £200 to run it round a track?
Am I right?
You're exactly right mate! I guess it's coz I remember track days on the bike being about £80 when I used to do them but also because I did a lot of bike track days around Europe and got a bit jaded.
I actually like the challenge of putting together a good drive on a decent road versus perfecting a 2 minute lap round a 2-3 mile loop (or 1.3 miles in Knockhill's case).
I would agree with OP, track days are now silly money, insurance is super expensive ie £250 per day ish, then you are going to get through brakes and tyres.
back in the 80s I built a kit car called a Fugitive
I had one too! Set up for offroad. Used to race it in a wee club up here.
Helmet or sunglasses?
Goggles and mask for short trips. Helmet with intercomm for everything else. Also picked up heated jacket/trousers/gloves/socks from BlazeWear plus gilet/socks for passengers.
Can you get a bike rack made?
No. I asked at the factory. They do one for the Nomad though. One of their guys does take the front wheel off and stash his bike on the passenger side however.
THe gearchange is really slick. Standard Honda 6 speed. THere is a sequential box available but it's £12k. The 3.5R had it but they're £70-80k used.
I'm taking it really slow and easy. Sticking to roads I know and just getting used to it all. Got a guy lined up to sit in with me. Ex test engineer and single seat race driver. THe general consensus among Atom owners I've spoken to is: "don't drive like a tit and you'll be OK".
Look at F355 over last 10yrs.
Macro financial trends globally probably have just as much to say as model but reasonably priced sports cars look like they have been doing just as well as the FTSE.
If people lose money at the same time the first thing to get sold will be the toys though.
If you can afford it why not.
I actually like the challenge of putting together a good drive on a decent road
What's one of them then?
Got to say, I'm really struggling to see what the point is of this car if you're not going to put it on a track.
I can just imagine having that conversation with my OH. "You know that 40k we've got squirreled away for the house love? YeH, well I'm going to spend it on a totally impractical go kart that has every chance of ending up smashed up or stuffed in a hedge. You're welcome." 😄
I never got insurance on trackdays.... I would find ones on a Tuesday slightly out of season so would be £89. I wouldn't drive too crazy (straight line speed isn't my thing anyway) so wouldn't get through tyres. This is mostly at Bedford which might be less abrasive tarmac
I’m really struggling to see what the point is of this car if you’re not going to put it on a track.
I see your point entirely. I might do the odd track day and maybe take it to the IoM but that's only a small percentage of the time. One thing about the Atom is it's fun on tighter, twistier roads at lower speeds too.
Personally, I enjoyed a superbike more on the road than I did on the track.
The other thing is, driving in the North of Scotland is generally a pleasure. We have some of the world's best driving roads and very little traffic - especially if you pick the right times. This is the road I pull out on to every day:
I can just imagine having that conversation with my OH.
I had that conversation too. It didn't actually go too well initially. Eventually she mollified from "there's no way you're having one" to "there's no way the kids are going in it!"
I never got insurance on trackdays
My insurance actually covers 3 track days a year. Most of the Atom quotes I got did likewise.
I couldn't get MrsG into an Atom (or buy one) but she goes out in the Elise plenty, loves it and drives it as much as me. She's not a big fan of track days but here in the South East they are both plenty of tracks to try out and it's the only way to drive the car quickly in a responsible manner. I have trackday insurance for 5-10 track days and do a mix of day / evening ones. It definitely a pricy hobby though.
Does it come with goggles?
This is the road I pull out on to every day
Ah yes. One half.of the Aberdeen race circuit.
Used to live at the bridge by lochton precast.
Everyone at their dog would be driving at **** speed up there on a Sunday morning Having come over the cairn.
Don't miss living on that road.
I’m struggling to see how this can be fun to drive on the road without being dangerous or risk getting speeding fines. I’ve got my car insured through Reis which includes 6 track days for not much more than the years premium with other insurers. Then you can buy additional days if you like. Taking it to Silverstone or Donington will allow you to see the car at its full potential.
Suspect as you are an inch from the ground and have very little stopping the wind/weather hitting you then a drive on a normal road would be quite good.
Looks nice, would.love a shot but don't fancy owning as it'll cost a small.fortune in running costs.
I'm very envious.
I have a soft spot for the Nomad
There was one on Top Gear tonight. That looked a 'kin hoot.
I’m struggling to see how this can be fun to drive on the road without being dangerous or risk getting speeding fines
It's a fair point but I did many years on a superbike with only 3pts to show for it (on a motorway) and caused no accidents. You pick your time and place to have fun. When conditions are good, the road is clear and you can see a few bends ahead with no hazards then you open it up. When not, you shut it down. You just quantify the risks.
If I lived in the Midlands I'd probably be on a different track every weekend and never even want to drive anything fast on the road but it's different up here. IMHO.
don’t fancy owning as it’ll cost a small.fortune in running costs.
I don't agree. Tyres are cheaper than for my 2014 2.2TDCi Galaxy. MPG is the same. Insurance is the same. Servicing? Well my Galaxy service and MOT just cost £643 so we'll see.....
Besides I'll save a fortune on wiper blades, washer fluid and aircon regassing.
OP winning at life.
OP winning at life.
Ha ha! Not really mate, just a bit of fun while I get the chance.
Thought the Man Maths experiment would make interesting reading. Either that or I'm coming over as a total bell-end.....
Far too many words in all the posts above.
That's cool as ****. Jealous. 👍
Looks awesome OP.
I agree, once you've raced, or learned to drive properly on-track, trackdays are boring. Full of old-men in Caterhams who slow down for corners & your not allowed to overtake 😉.
A nice wee drive on great little Scottish roads, preferably on a sunny morning, at about 6am with no traffic is far more rewarding.
I like this kind of man maths in action.
Done something similar before so think the other half would be game for it. Needs to be narrower than 1.85m to fit down the side of the house though.
Although we gave the last one up before licence loss or losing out to physics.
Just done some very similar man-maths for a marginally more practical car (my first in ten years). Not sure if I want to track running costs though.
That’s interesting all the comments about insurance coming with track day insurance.
I’m at the stage of doing insurance quotes through GoCompare etc.
A family 3 series costs me approx £450 to insure a year. A Porsche Boxter S will cost me £260!
Who should I be looking at to include track day insurance?
OP - interested to know if you are going down the helmet route or just sunglasses. To me part of the fun of that car is that you don’t have to wear a helmet, but then I don’t know if I could take the risk.
That is one seriously cool car OP. 5 years ago I bought a Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 and it was one the best decisions I ever made. I grew up watching the BTCC and used to go and watch a lot of races with my dad and always lusted after an RS500 but never thought I'd get the chance to drive one let alone own one.
I'm just here to press the virtual like button - that's a fantastic choice OP.
Of course, once the grass verges grow to 3ft high in the summer now that councils are all skint, the best vehicle to maintain a decent sight line round a corner is a van, but the Atom should be fun nonetheless 🙂
A 5am summertime drive over to Applecross in something like that is the stuff of dreams.
Proper man maths
Well done
Not jealous at all......
Very nice OP. Just hope you do better than me with my silly car purchase...
I did similar man maths with a car purchase 10 years ago....still got the car, it’s lost quite a lot of money if I was to sell it. Only gets used about 4 times a year, one of those is to get it serviced the other is taking it for an MOT.
I am in the Midlands though so have to admit the roads down here aren’t the best. And I’m a rubbish driver so that doesn’t help!
My mates brother got one, he was on the waiting list ages then ran it for a year and sold it at a decent profit
I've driven an Atom on the track - not the easiest of things to drive, and quite frightening having just come out of a GTR. Power nothing. On the track day we had to drive it in second gear only as we'd most likely crash on a gear change and spin off as it was slightly damp. Scared the crap out of me.
What’s one of them then?
Making progress and being awesome.
A more responsible vehicle for the road which would be fun without ridiculous speeds would be the Caterham 7 160. All the fun but with much less power and really can be enjoyed at safer speeds unlike claiming an Atom can be.
Who should I be looking at to include track day insurance?
OP – interested to know if you are going down the helmet route or just sunglasses.
Try this list:
A-Plan 01635 874646
Adrian Flux 0800 369 8590
Classic Line 01455 639000
HIC 0330 123 1844
Lloyd & Whyte 01823 250700
MSM 01279 870535
Pace Ward 01782 286311
REIS 0115 965 1020
Moris 020 3427 5960
Helmet for most trips. It's quieter, warmer and gives you more protection plus there's an intercomm for passenger chats, phone and music.
Sunglasses don't cut it. You need a seal around the eyes really so I have ESS Advancer ballistic goggles but folk use Skiing goggles, Skydiving glasses etc. Even with goggles and a mask getting hit by a bumble bee at 50mph is never fun and gravel even less so.
A more responsible vehicle for the road which would be fun without ridiculous speeds would be the Caterham 7 160.
You're probably spot on there TBH but I just want to experience a supercharged Atom. For the roads I drive an early R53 Cooper S would probably be all I'd ever need.
Anyway, I'm playing the long game. After the Atom, any other fun car - no matter how ridiculous - will seem like a sensible choice to Her Indoors....
Wonderful stuff!
I've considered the same (expensive sportscar, keep for a couple of years, sell before much depreciation) before, since single, no kids, no mortgage. Just short of the £40k! I also don't think I'd get away with parking it in the residents parking zone outside my city centre flat!
I actually think that a nice, light car that is low to the ground and has a nice feel to it makes for the best drive. Loved taking my 140hp MX5 around the highlands, and also enjoyed borrowing a pal's S1 Elise that didn't have much power but felt amazing! I had a 250hp Saab Estate that, while much faster, wasn't exactly exciting to drive.
I was cycling across the Flow Country in Caithness last summer (a huge big empty moor/bog near the NC500) when 5 Atoms in a row came past - everyone looked like they were having a great time and we were all waving to each other.
I’ve always been a fan but could only afford an ep3 type r, I can only imagine how well the drivetrain works in car like the atom.
Hadn't realised they had Type R engines, if I knew how to post vids I'd drop the latest one I got from my eldest - he's rebuilt his EP3 engine (again), previously he'd got it to 450bhp (turbo'd) and now up to 611bhp...
Nope, running costs would be so much higher as I'd be driving it far more. It looks great and would great to just drive. I'm no boy racer and I enjoy driving so something like that would have me out for a drive at ever opportunity.
I'd love a Nomad. I'd need the suspension for the potholes, and the rally style lightbar as the only way to get a clear road round these parts would be to wait for 4am.
Now, where would I store it, and how will I pay for it?
Brilliant.
VS bikes, I reckon you've got all the advantages (crazy acceleration, direct feeling to the road), with slightly less overtaking as you still need a cars width for that, but with the massive advantage of being able to recover a loss of grip if you hit mud/oil on a corner, and crash protection.
I own a 140bhp v-twin motorbike and riding on the road is less and less appealing with the amount of people on phones/not paying attention etc.
Plus, you get an epiglottis full of beeees! Obviously.
Not quite an Atom but maybe too much power, cold tyres , and very lightweight
Man maths is winning there, lovely thing!
My cousin has one of the original Atoms, he could easily sell it for near what he paid for it despite it being thrashed and not kept particularly clean. I've never driven his but have had a go in one at an Experience Day a few years ago, drove a Caterham, F430 and a Gallardo on the same day. The Ferrari and Lambo were just big, fast cars with loud exhausts. The Caterham was lovely and raw, really enjoyed that despite it being the slowest car on track.
The Atom though, oh my God!! They were only letting people drive it who could show they were safe in the other cars, not many were making it that far. Thankfully as I'd driven the Caterham before it the instructor knew I could cope with a lively chassis (his words) so got to go in the Atom. First run was gentle, no throttle until in 5th gear then only shortish bursts on the straights. Such an impression just from that. Idle to the rev limiter was pretty much instant! The second run (was only meant to be one run but the instructor was in a playful mood due to the Caterham, it only runs on certain days) and he got me to floor it in second all the way up to 6th out of the pits. I had real trouble changing gears fast enough while keeping it in a straight line. An absolute animal of a machine.
You'll either love it or stick it in a hedge 🤣
Hadn’t realised they had Type R engines, if I knew how to post vids I’d drop the latest one I got from my eldest – he’s rebuilt his EP3 engine (again), previously he’d got it to 450bhp (turbo’d) and now up to 611bhp…
I'd be interested...
I had an EP3 CTR, and would look at the bolt on superchargers (never got one)... would take it to 300BHP immediately, 380ish with intercooler..
I could just IMAGINE what that engine, in a go cart would be like!!!!
Good choice OP!!
DrP
Great cars those. I've been lucky enough to have driven a couple on track and they're certainly a lot of fun. I'm no driving expert either but they're not intimidating to drive fast.
Jealous.
Of all the cars that have appeared on Top Gear, the Atom is the one that sticks in my memory and I'd love to have a go in one. Doubt my driving is up to dealing with its "livelyness" though!
Of all the cars that have appeared on Top Gear, the Atom is the one that sticks in my memory and I’d love to have a go in one. Doubt my driving is up to dealing with its “livelyness” though!
TBH I'm not finding it as intimidating as I feared. Let the tyres warm up a bit. Do your braking and gear selection in a straight line and don't apply the throttle too eagerly as you exit the corner. Much like a big sportsbike really. You can drive it slowly as well and just bimble about if the fancy takes you.
Obviously I've got a long way to go with it though.
Very nice.
My boss has a Nomad, bloody mental things, perfect for the rough roads around here!
Great stuff OP. You are only here once, if you can afford it then why not. Hope you enjoy it. I had a mate who had an elise as a track day car. It was his hobby and passion and he spent most weekends in Anglesey at the Ty Croes track.
If i could afford it I would buy something unusual but fun and just keep it. good for you!!
Needs to be narrower than 1.85m to fit down the side of the house though.
The answer would be a Caterham then. Rumour has it that when we shortened our garage, *just* enough room was left to fit a se7en in, as long as it didn't have a spare tyre fitted...
Nice, I bought a Caterham 20 years ago, used to do track days, at least one a month for a good few years. But haven't done one for years now. I never used to bother with track day insurance it wasn't worth the cost.
I still have the caterham though, it sits in the garage and never gets used these days, it's just no fun on the roads round here, no sooner do you over take one car then you're up behind the next 30 seconds later.
That atom won't be expensive to run, and you'll get your money back when you come to sell it.
Epic! Although BAngernomics may be a stretch...
On the basis that all moderately desirable cars are way cooler as daily drivers...
Two things:
- When I lived in London, I'd often park next to an Atom at Sainsburys - someone was using it for supermarket shopping. You should do so, if only to justify the man maths.
- Where do the bikes go?
Don't know if I missed it, but wOOdster... I now need to know what car you bought?
OP.... can't really think of anything that would put a smile on my face a lot more than an Atom. Every time I go go-kart racing I feel like I'm flying (probably only about 20mph) so God knows what you must feel like.
Dear OP,
you lucky, lucky bast... ( please see Life of Brian for finish)!
I posted recently about getting a fiesta st - for various reasons, its not happening.
I'm poor! I cant afford expensive cars!
However, i have had 2 "drivers" cars in the past. A DC2 and '72 Mini with a 1380 in it.
The DC2 was incredible, much better car than i am a driver, but it could get you banned "nae danger".
The Mini, would be lucky if i got it over a ton, but no matter where i went in it, it was a bloody hoot!
So i think i get what you say about the Atom. Some one else said they have just sold their GR4! Bloody hell, left arm for a shot of it time... but i can see what they mean!
If you can have fun in the Atom, without triple figure speeds (or not :)) then you knock yersel out bigman!
I'm well jel!
Great choice! Atom isn't about straight line speed. It's all handling and exiting corners like its attached to a steam catapult. Bangernomics is possibly stretching it a bit.
Now it just needs tuning. mate of mine does this....
His brother puts K20s and supercharged K20s in Elises. Now they are special.
looks great fun. And even less practical than a motorbike ... 🙂
Love those cars. I want a nomad though.
Plus want to get my hands on the father in laws lotus 7 or jps elan
well done op. dead jealous.
if i could i`d have a caterham 7 tomorrow. driven one a few times. easily the closest to bike fun levels ive found on 4 wheels.
just go out in it early sunday mornings and you`ll have a blast!
A while ago I thought about the idea of a fun car for my retirement years. The trouble is I live on the coast down in the South East. Most of the summer ( and especially this one) it is rammed. Add to that the general awful standard of driving in the Brighton area, the std of road care that East and West Sussex councils offer, the vague OAP driving that scares me shitless on a bike etc, and it all becomes a little pointless - living in Scotland, you have a huge advantage - and the lack of body work will let all the rain out.
I went to look at a Cayman - it was in Chichester, a 30 mins drive from me. It took 1 3/4 hours because of the traffic.
I ended up buying a sensible car instead - and another motorbike.
Looks like it would be fun but I imagine the novelty of driving it on the road would wear off pretty quickly. That said it's in a different league performance wise to anything I've ever driven so I'd love to have a go in one.
Chapeau to the OP... The very dictionary definition of man maths! 👍🏻
Just going through the current conundrum myself... Have decided not to move house now until GF's kids have finished school, so another 2-3 years... That means the £20k I'd got saved to go towards the house move can be "re-invested" for a while, and my current BMW 135i is now worth more than I paid for it so probably get £10.5k back for that...
Which brings me neatly onto looking at BMW M2's... 😁