by AJLewis » Wed Aug 13, 2014 3:06 am
I became the proud owner of a shiny new Atom a couple of weeks ago (supercharged, alcons, adjustable suspension), drove straight from the factory to Folkestone and spent the next week running it in round the Alps. 3,300 miles later I have only one question - why didn't I buy one years ago? What a phenomenal machine. With 12h of adrenaline every day for six days I think I have become addicted.
Once I had adjusted to the immediacy of the controls and the general sensory assault I began to relax into the experience and to trust all the information that comes to you. The acceleration overwhelms the initial impression but then you start to revel in the grip, the steering feel, the 'grand piano landing from above' power of the brakes and the amazing balance of the chassis. You begin to feel the shift in how it behaves on different surfaces, in the wet, across rough and smooth roads, with different suspension settings - with everything so transparent it gives you the confidence to play, and then to start feeling that the performance and the balance are somehow 'normal'. Until you step into something else and you realise how your perceptions have been warped. I was lucky enough to be travelling with someone in a 360CS (serious car, highly recommended) where the carbon brakes make even the Alcons seem half-hearted and where the noise makes you feel you should be constantly apologising but where the acceleration is just not the same and the overall sensation is one of the bulk of the thing, and with a 997 C2S, that is a fine car but stepping out of an Atom feels like you're driving a sherry trifle. The acceleration, the turn in, the brakes (especially the brakes) feel like you're communicating with them via exchange of post cards.
Some things really surprised me. First, how incredibly friendly everyone is and how everyone wants to chat. As I'm used to driving classic cars I'm familiar with the curiosity and conversations at petrol pumps but nothing like this. And the fantastic reaction from bikers. After a few stints jousting with bikes over mountain passes (which is huge fun in itself) the camaraderie is great. The lack of petrol it swallows (I needed to fill up as often as the other guys, but put in 30ish litres rather than +/- 60). The guy in the Aventador who wanted a photo of the Atom as it's rarer. It makes everyone smile. Apart from the sour faced old woman on a mountain pass with her fingers in her ears. Poor dear.
What would I change? The petrol gauge may have a huge reserve because of fuel surge on track but on a tour knowing where you are in your final third would be more useful. The tiny mirrors are tricky on a long trip, especially at night, and the dipped headlamps are not great, although full beams are remarkably strong. There were a couple of moments at night in the rain where I started to wonder what I was doing. But then you start to spear down a winding forest road and it all becomes clear again.
The route, by the way, is something I can seriously recommend for a life affirming trip by Atom - Ardennes, Alsace, the French TdF stages (Madeleine, Izouard, Galibier, Vars, Bonnette), up through Northern Italy via Como, into Switzerland and the Albula Pass (perennial favourite), back into Italy, North of the Stelvio, a few laps of the Dolomites, up into Austria via Timmelsjoch, Silvretta then home.
A huge thank you to Tom and everyone at the factory for all their help and for finishing the car literally the day the trip began - you have created a truly wonderful thing. I now look forward to heading to a track (Goodwood's booked for September) and to learning more about how this crazed machine behaves. Looks like I need to up my agreed mileage. And it needs its running in service as a matter of urgency.
Adrian
I became the proud owner of a shiny new Atom a couple of weeks ago (supercharged, alcons, adjustable suspension), drove straight from the factory to Folkestone and spent the next week running it in round the Alps. 3,300 miles later I have only one question - why didn't I buy one years ago? What a phenomenal machine. With 12h of adrenaline every day for six days I think I have become addicted.
Once I had adjusted to the immediacy of the controls and the general sensory assault I began to relax into the experience and to trust all the information that comes to you. The acceleration overwhelms the initial impression but then you start to revel in the grip, the steering feel, the 'grand piano landing from above' power of the brakes and the amazing balance of the chassis. You begin to feel the shift in how it behaves on different surfaces, in the wet, across rough and smooth roads, with different suspension settings - with everything so transparent it gives you the confidence to play, and then to start feeling that the performance and the balance are somehow 'normal'. Until you step into something else and you realise how your perceptions have been warped. I was lucky enough to be travelling with someone in a 360CS (serious car, highly recommended) where the carbon brakes make even the Alcons seem half-hearted and where the noise makes you feel you should be constantly apologising but where the acceleration is just not the same and the overall sensation is one of the bulk of the thing, and with a 997 C2S, that is a fine car but stepping out of an Atom feels like you're driving a sherry trifle. The acceleration, the turn in, the brakes (especially the brakes) feel like you're communicating with them via exchange of post cards.
Some things really surprised me. First, how incredibly friendly everyone is and how everyone wants to chat. As I'm used to driving classic cars I'm familiar with the curiosity and conversations at petrol pumps but nothing like this. And the fantastic reaction from bikers. After a few stints jousting with bikes over mountain passes (which is huge fun in itself) the camaraderie is great. The lack of petrol it swallows (I needed to fill up as often as the other guys, but put in 30ish litres rather than +/- 60). The guy in the Aventador who wanted a photo of the Atom as it's rarer. It makes everyone smile. Apart from the sour faced old woman on a mountain pass with her fingers in her ears. Poor dear.
What would I change? The petrol gauge may have a huge reserve because of fuel surge on track but on a tour knowing where you are in your final third would be more useful. The tiny mirrors are tricky on a long trip, especially at night, and the dipped headlamps are not great, although full beams are remarkably strong. There were a couple of moments at night in the rain where I started to wonder what I was doing. But then you start to spear down a winding forest road and it all becomes clear again.
The route, by the way, is something I can seriously recommend for a life affirming trip by Atom - Ardennes, Alsace, the French TdF stages (Madeleine, Izouard, Galibier, Vars, Bonnette), up through Northern Italy via Como, into Switzerland and the Albula Pass (perennial favourite), back into Italy, North of the Stelvio, a few laps of the Dolomites, up into Austria via Timmelsjoch, Silvretta then home.
A huge thank you to Tom and everyone at the factory for all their help and for finishing the car literally the day the trip began - you have created a truly wonderful thing. I now look forward to heading to a track (Goodwood's booked for September) and to learning more about how this crazed machine behaves. Looks like I need to up my agreed mileage. And it needs its running in service as a matter of urgency.
Adrian