The perfect car

[garak]

Check this out:

http://www.arielmotor.co.uk

especially: http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/04/press.htm

and these two videos: http://www.openwheelers.com.au/videos/Top_Gear_Ariel_Atom_2_Full_segment.mpg
http://www.openwheelers.com.au/videos/5th_Gear_Ariel_Atom_segment_20MB.mpg

http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/04/press/power_laps.gif

ppc (real world friend) and I are both casually into cars; just enough to tinker a little and read a lot, but not enough to really do anything serious. But I remember once talking with him about our ideal cars. He likes "nice" stuff, like Cadillacs and big chrome rims and stuff like that. On the other hand, I see a car like I have seen pretty much everything else I have ever been involved in tinkering with: a machine to be streamlined, stripped of everything unnecessary, and mechanically optimized without much concern for aesthetics. I basically envisioned my dream car as being some sort of insane go kart. Every possible piece of fluff removed, and just a well engineered machine left. Well this Atom car is basically that, but built from the ground up instead of working from an existing car. Instead of making things elaborate and expensive, they instead made the car simple and very light. The engine is just a Honda 4 banger.

Although the pointy look is probably not something I would have chosen, this is otherwise pretty much my dream car. And in any case it is insane.

:thumbup:

[Hypnos]

I'd like to see it go up against a liter-bike with someone who can ride, not that scrub on a 600cc bike :)

That said, definitely the choice when my future wife forbids me from riding.

[Bugeater]

Is it street-legal?

[garak]

I believe so.

[Bugeater]

Awesome. I'm sold on it. Now, if only I had some money, lol.

[panda]

Sweet.

[garak]

0 to 100 and back to 0

http://ms.groovygecko.net/groovyg/clients/haymarket/Autocar/Jun_05/Ariel_Atom_512k.wmv

http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/04/latest_01_04/autocar_times1.jpg

[PiccoloNamek]

My perfect car would have an absolute minimum in the way of moving or mechanical parts, as to optimize reliability. I was never one to care much about speed or power, I want something efficient that's not going to have some small part fail and ruin the whole car. (Like the thermostat, for example.)

[cathmc]

Yikes! You would drive on the actual road in that thing? Is there any accident you could survive in it? Of course, maybe you'd be able to slide right under the SUVs!

[garak]

My perfect car would have an absolute minimum in the way of moving or mechanical parts, as to optimize reliability. I was never one to care much about speed or power, I want something efficient that's not going to have some small part fail and ruin the whole car. (Like the thermostat, for example.)
Buy a Honda or Toyota; they're about as reliable as it gets.

The thermostat failing won't do you any harm if you keep an eye on the engine temp. Not that hard. And even if it does stick closed, your engine will just overheat. This means that you MIGHT have engine damage, but it's pretty likely you won't. And even if it somehow destroyed your whole engine, that's still far from ruining the whole car.

I've found that learning about cars really helps to ease mechanical fears. I feel much more in control now, just as it should be. Knowledge is power my friend! :sombrero:

[garak]

Yikes! You would drive on the actual road in that thing? Is there any accident you could survive in it? Of course, maybe you'd be able to slide right under the SUVs!
It's got roll bars; it'll be safer in a rollover than most passenger vehicles. Not to mention that it's pretty damn unlikely you'd manage to roll it in the first place. Other than that I'd imagine it's almost as safe as any other small car. And it's a hell of a lot safer than driving a motorcycle.

[Architectonic]

What happens when it rains?
Where do you put your shopping? :ph34r:

Seriously though, if I had better health and could afford a track only car, I'd definitely snap one of these up.

[Bugeater]

What happens when it rains?
Where do you put your shopping? :ph34r:

Seriously though, if I had better health and could afford a track only car, I'd definitely snap one of these up.First, it's not a track-only car...it's street legal. As for rain, there's a video of some guy taking the Atom through a car wash and it came out just fine. As for shopping, the panel in the front does lift up and there are what look like a few small bins that you could maybe put a bag in...but not much. And there is a passenger seat, if you're driving alone. You could put a few bags there and strap them in with the seat belt.

[garak]

First, it's not a track-only car...it's street legal. As for rain, there's a video of some guy taking the Atom through a car wash and it came out just fine. As for shopping, the panel in the front does lift up and there are what look like a few small bins that you could maybe put a bag in...but not much. And there is a passenger seat, if you're driving alone. You could put a few bags there and strap them in with the seat belt.
:D

"Yeah, this is just my grocery getter..."

[Bugeater]

Finally found confirmation of it being street-legal:

Ariel Atom Questions and Answers
For North America
Call 541-482-9555 x 315 with any additional questions.
http://www.ariel.us.com/

Q: Is the Ariel Atom Available in the US?
A: Yes it is. Effective June 2005, we have begun production in the US.

Q: How much do they cost?
A: The base model is expected to be $38,000, but final pricing will be revealed in July,
2005.

Q: How much is the 300hp supercharged version from the BBC Video?
A: This car is expected to be in the 55-60,000 price range depending on options, final
pricing to be announced in July 2005.

Q: Is this car street legal in the US?
A: Currently the car is registered in the western US states as a component vehicle with
the final assembly by the owner prior to registration. We are working through these
issues now and will determine state by state the registration process. We are working
on California now and will know how to register it there in July most likely.

Q: I want an Ariel, I want on the list, and I want one now!
A: We will announce in July, but we expect a $5,000 fully refundable deposit will hold your
production order.

Q: Can I drive one?
A: We have a demonstrator available in Ashland, Oregon, you are more than welcome to
call us and arrange a test drive here. We will be taking cars around the US in late
2005.

Q: When will they be shipping?
A: We should have pricing finalized in July of 2005 and at that time will announce the
ability to place a deposit to hold your space in the production order for 2005 cars. We
don’t yet have a firm production release date for the first US cars but we are working
hard to not have you waiting too long.

Q: Can I become a dealer?
A: We currently plan on selling direct from the factory in Oregon due to insurance
purposes, but we may revisit this in 2006. However we are planning to announce an
“Atom Evangelist” program in 2005, providing benefits to early US owners who help
promote the car and offer rides to potential customers in their cars.

Q: Is the car legal in Canada?
A: We do not yet have Canada importation sorted out, and are working on the issues. If
you want one in Canada and are interested in helping with the first car, let us know.

[Architectonic]

First, it's not a track-only car...it's street legal.

I do realise its street legal, but would you drive that car daily around town? I wouldn't.

I'd keep it as a track car. Street legality would be handy for driving to races, getting it serviced/modified etc.

[garak]

I do realise its street legal, but would you drive that car daily around town? I wouldn't.

I'd keep it as a track car. Street legality would be handy for driving to races, getting it serviced/modified etc.
Hell yeah I would. Why not? Why buy it only to use it once in a while? That's retarded.

[Bugeater]

Hell yeah I would. Why not? Why buy it only to use it once in a while? That's retarded.
Same here. It would be silly to buy something that expensive and only use it as a track car when you can legally drive it on the open road. Plus, how could anyone resist showing off a car like that?

[Burble]

Perhaps a fun, extreme go-cart. It also has the aesthetic prowess of a go-cart, which is unappealing to me.

[Architectonic]

I wouldn't mind one of These (http://www.autoblog.com/entry/1234000263054348/#comments).

[Dman]

From my SUV -

"bump,bump

what was that, did I run over a cat?

- no, it was an ariel atom."

$38k for a glorified go-kart? Nuts. I doubt it's any safer than a cycle, at least a bike is more maneuverable and smaller target. What do you think happens when someone hits one of those ariel atoms at even just 25 mph? It would be a fun toy, but as a "drive around town" car? Nuts.

[Hypnos]

You're just a pussy. I understand that a wife and kids will do that to you. ;P

[Dman]

You're just a pussy. I understand that a wife and kids will do that to you. ;P

I'd ride a crotch-rocket, but not a go-kart

and, yeah, it does

[Promethean]

The Mercedes McLaren SLR is definitely my all time favorite car. It's the ultimate blend of class and performance and gives nothing up on either one. You could drive that car to the super market, the office, the opera, the game or whatever else and it would never be out of place. The only things about it I'd do different would be the suicide doors and the red leather (god I hate red). I like low key and once those doors open anyone who wasn't already looking sure would be then. I'm gonna buy one any way, while I'm at it SLR's all round for the board!

http://www.mbusa.com/brand/models/SLR.jsp

[Hypnos]

The SLR costs 8 times as much as the Ariel, and is nearly a full second slower to 60.

For that money, why not a his-and-hers pair of these (http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=19&article_id=9474&page_number=1)?

[coffeezombie]

Perhaps a fun, extreme go-cart. It also has the aesthetic prowess of a go-cart, which is unappealing to me.
You should get a Mini Cooper S with John Cooper Works add-on package, Burble. 210 hp and 0-60 in 6.6 seconds in a car that basically handles like a go-cart (I know because I own one, although I have the low-output base model).