Forget the engine swaps ..

[nefarious986]

I've been on a mission lately making plans for X51 swap, and what not to make my car a bad ass Boxster.

However, all those plans are gone now.

Saving ALL my pennies for this beauty.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/02/first-blood-ariel-atom-500-v8/

[limoncello]

What a car! It's the Lotus approach taken to to new limits.
Driving it won't be for the timid or weak...or careless

[Cloudsurfer]

Holy &#^@% an Atom with 500HP? Now that would be a wild ride.....

[wild1poet2]

LOL and they offer a Lexan windscreen now.

[rick3000]

I saw either that car or one very similar on Top Gear. They loved it and it looked like a lot of fun. It was bare bones racing, and I think was under $80k.

[fragdude]

im surprised they didn't give it huge rear tires to put that power down. When its all said and done though I'd rather have my Box, especially one with an x51

[Sputter]

yah but will it hold a set of golf clubs?

[Adam]

Man, those Atoms are deadly quick with half that power. Even with slicks, I bet full thotttle in the first couple of gears only results in tons of wheel spin. 500hp in a car that weighs under 2,000 lbs is insane! Even pro drivers would have their hands full taming this beast.

[Stroked & Blown]

Pretty cool, but not the first V8 powered Atom....
This guy: http://www.dpcars.net/
Put an N/A 375HP 2.8L V8 in his atom as a testbed for a track car/chassis he is building.

[RandallNeighbour]

Same price as a new boxster:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2007-Ariel-Atom-convertible-supercharged-300HP-5-speed_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1011Q7c39Q3 a1Q7c66Q3a1Q7c65Q3a12QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14Q2e l1318QQhashZitem250275148880QQitemZ250275148880

[23109VC]

I remember watching Jeremy Clarkson test out one of the earlier Atom cars - and seeing his cheeks flapping away due to wind / G forces..... it looked like a REALLY fun car.

the downside to the Atom is that what you are really buying is a toy or a total track car. I know you can license them and drive them on the street - but c'mon - would you really want to drive that around?

Hot? Cold? Rain? - not enough storage space to put a 6 pack... it's just such an impractical vehicle. Fun yes, realistic for most of us - NO.

I'd much rather have a boxster - that can also serve as a daily driver, go out to dinner in, enjoy twisties on the weekend, or take to a track. The boxster cna do it all - albeit it's not as focused.

if you are in the market for a track toy - this would probably be a BLAST.

i wouldnt' want to take it on the street due to safety.

if you want the same "fun factor" and are n a budget, just go buy a crotch rocket. Far cheaper, and pretty much the same thing on two wheels. if you get hit by a car on the bike you are dead. if you get hit ba car in the atom you are probably dead too.

[nefarious986]

This would totally be a track car / special event car. I can see rolling up to a spot with this and everyone's eye's on you. LOLs.

500hp naturally aspirated IS crazy. I don't want it as a daily driver. That's what the boxster is for.

The one Clarkson tested was either a 240hp or 300hp supercharged version. I forget. Not this 500 version. He did test the Caparo T1 which has about as much power / weight ratio, but the Caparo's aerodynamic for some reason wouldn't let you make low speed turn. You can get traction at 100+ mph, but not 30mph. So not really a streetable car. It kicked the crap out of everything else in the Stig's hand though.

And yes, you can fit a set of golf club in the Atom. If you golf by yourself, there's always the passenger seat. =D

[70Sixter]

Somewhere Colin Chapman is chuckling and wondering where to "add lightness."

[Adam]

Originally Posted by 23109VC

I remember watching Jeremy Clarkson test out one of the earlier Atom cars - and seeing his cheeks flapping away due to wind / G forces..... it looked like a REALLY fun car.
.

Haha...yeah I remember that episode, except I thought it was Tiff Needel on 5th gear, not Clarkson. His face was literally distorted from the brutal acceleration. Definately more G's than most or us would ever want to feel. It would make a GT2 feel slow and that one wasn't even as powerful as this 500 hp beast. Atoms are one of the most potent street legal track weapons out there. It's basically a mini F1 car.

[nefarious986]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0PDkfBgC_w

Nope, definitely Clarkson.

If this thing is anywhere around 80-100K brand new. Its one hell of a deal. Considering the Caparo is 250k+.

[Adam]

Oh yeah...that's it. Sorry, my memory is a bity fuzzy. For some reason I thought it was Tiff. I love seeing that video!

[Topless]

The challenge with a 500hp Atom will be keeping the rubber side down. Stout roll cage I trust.

[Ike]

Hey Motorheads,

Forget the Tee Time, grab your putter and drive! That crazy ride would be da bomb......It would make a smokin' open casket too.

I agree with Nefarious.

And to think that my little brother wants one of these:
http://www.aptera.com/details.php

Sheese, I'm sure I was adopted now.

Hasta,
Ike

'03 S - 3.6L x51, PSS9s, M030 sways, Paget Blues, RUF tower brace & aero nose.

[nefarious986]

LMAO @ It would make a smoking open casket.

Ike, its ok, in every sibling pair, there's always a cool one .. and the other one.

[limoncello]

Wandering a little off thread here, but -
I remember reading in an SCCA mag a while back that there was great hope among the track crowd that the next generation of track toys would be the combination of a simple frame (like the Areil) with a rear hung motorcycle engine & trans, making a lightweight, slick handling, yet reasonably affordable track toy. Clutchless shifting too. The concept is sort of a Formula Vee re-visited, but drawing on the large pool of used bike engines out there.