New member from Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

[Smiffy555]

Hello everyone, I'm Dan.

A familiar story, I've been hankering with a new weekend / 2nd car for quite a while now.  I had pretty much pinned it down to a home build Caterham 420S over an Elise S3 SC and then I went and did the Palmersport day last weekend. This saw me hollering with delight at the wheel of an Atom 3 245 in which I was the fastest on that day,  which taking in to account my age (46) and weight (getting on for 17st)  I am very chuffed with. I think it's a sign that an Ariel my just be for me.

Anyway, good to be here and hopefully in the near future I'll eventually make my mind up and become an owner of one of these fantastic cars.

[John Scherrer]

Hello Dan!
Welcome to the Atom Club forum ..

They're great cars to drive and a unique experience ..

If you have any queries just ask away and someone on here will be able to help.
If you know you want one, when you're ready you can contact the factory and arrange a visit/test drive.

[Smiffy555]

Thank you John.

As a heads up, does anyone have to hand the basic prices of the different Ariel models (Atom and Nomad)?
They seem to vary from article to article.

[Spikey_head]

If you phone the factory up they'll send you through an excel spreadsheet where you can tick all the options you need, go EEEEK at the total price, remove all the options that you now realize you don't actually need and then place an order.

[Smiffy555]

HAHAHA - that bad ey??

Thanks - will give them a call pronto.

[phil4]

I think when I did this a year ago, the start price was just over £32K for a 245, with IVA and roadtax.

But if you went bananas, ticked every box, then over 100K is attainable. 

And that's just the 3.5, not the 3.5R

[Trigger]

Nomad starts at £33,000 but you need to add a few thousand to be road legal then there is the brakes and suspension etc.

I am surprised a Caterham was on your list as I just feel so cramped in them - The extra width of the Atom makes a massive difference and is so much more comfortable than the Caterham.

The Palmersport cars are good but the seats are a bit odd - you sit alot higher than in normal ones. The sequential box is fun though - very expensive option.

[Hedge]

[quote="Trigger"]I am surprised a Caterham was on your list as I just feel so cramped in them - The extra width of the Atom makes a massive difference and is so much more comfortable than the Caterham[/quote] That of course, Trig, being that you're a bit of a unit, eh.

Cheers,
Hedge

[Trigger]

I am indeed.....BUT he did say he was 17 st............

[Hedge]

[quote="Trigger"]I am indeed.....BUT he did say he was 17 st............[/quote] Tee hee. Maybe not spec the Tillets then, eh..
Cheers,
Hedge

[Smiffy555]

The Caterham would have to be the SV (the Man version) with lowered floors, this was pushing the price in the region of £38k.

The Tillet seats are a definite 'no-no', I heard these seats were designed for ladies......I might be wrong though! 

The seat in the Palmersport car I drove was perfect, but then I had no other seat to compare it to, and the gearbox was a delight, very quick shifting, but I think in a car like the Atom then a manual would be best suited, as in after all, this is a car that is meant to be driven.

Still not got round to ringing Ariel yet.......busy schedule at the moment.

Loving the reviews on the Nomad, and am thinking this may be more suited to the rural roads around me and not having to worry about ground clearance on our ever increasing rutted and pot holed roads.

Thanks for the replies.

[Trigger]

I wouldnt worry - Tom is the man and he is off for another week on holiday - so no hurry.

[Steve Gibson]

Dan,

You have a longtime owner just around the corner from you - Andy Smith is in Deppers Bridge, near Southam. He has a 310 and an Ace. He's Atom120 on here.

S

[Nomad]

I used to work for AP Racing in Leamington!

[roger morton]

I only live in Hagley by junction 4 of the M5, I'm on my second Atom, so if you want any advice or help let me know.