Atoms for sale - information thread

[Cro]

Hi, regarding the above It fetched £30k after plus 6% is that fair money or to expensive?

There was one sold on the Ariel for sale fb page I think for 29995 or thereabouts, similar miles and age. Had a rear wing from memory so maybe that’s a fair price

[Fastlane]

£31800 inclusive is low for a good supercharged Atom 3, but this one had only been serviced 4 times in 13 years and needed work, so I think it's a fair price.

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[Namastebuzz]

but this one had only been serviced 4 times in 13 years and needed work, so I think it's a fair price.

Fair point but if an Atom has done 20k over 13 years does it HAVE to have had 13 services over that time?

I realise an annual service is recommended (My Ford Galaxy gets serviced whether it's done 12k each year or not) but if a car's laid up or only doing a couple of hundred miles a year then is there much point in servicing it?

Just asking in general, in terms of looking at other Atoms for sale.

[hamtt]

People put too much emphasis on factory services. I've seen some cars that are dogs that have a lot of history but for a lot of people, especially jn the North, transporting to the factory and back every year isn't feasible so they get them serviced locally or even do it themselves. I know owners that have cars that are serviced before every track day and very well maintained but have never been back to the factory since they bought it.

[Luckky]

[mention]Fastlane[/mention] has it been serviced 4 times or only 4 of the services are from the factory? I’m with [mention]hamtt[/mention] here, if it has been maintained well with a professional, that wouldn’t worry me... it’s not easy for everyone to get back to the factory every 6/12months for a service so whilst that would be my ideal, I’m not sure it would be a pre requisite. I’m contemplating getting my first service done locally as I understand it’s more of an oil and filter change (plus software update but I don’t believe that has changed in the last 6 weeks) as an example

[Alistairbuchanan]

[mention]Fastlane[/mention] has it been serviced 4 times or only 4 of the services are from the factory? I’m with [mention]hamtt[/mention] here, if it has been maintained well with a professional, that wouldn’t worry me... it’s not easy for everyone to get back to the factory every 6/12months for a service so whilst that would be my ideal, I’m not sure it would be a pre requisite. I’m contemplating getting my first service done locally as I understand it’s more of an oil and filter change (plus software update but I don’t believe that has changed in the last 6 weeks) as an example

Whats the software update for on the first service?


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[John Scherrer]

The factory first service at 500 miles is worth having done. - it’s not just an oil and oil filter change but more importantly a spanner check. Nut/bolts checked for tightness and correct torque and to ensure everything is ok and no leaks etc.

[atomiser]

Gotta say having had honda, indy and factory services. The factory is good value for money and have an Eagle eye for what needs replacing and what is about to go.

The k20 engine needs regular oil changes so needs to be evidence of this, particularly if tracked.

As previously said, you need to check this including ringing up the indy. The number of service historys that I discovered were fake was alarmingly high.

The other bonus of a full factory service history is the factory will be able to give a condition/usage report based on latest service.

For me this was particularly valuable, since the factory identified a chassis change and two crash repaired atoms that I was looking at. No issue with this but not at top dollar.

I'd also be suspicious of a short/infrequent service history. On my last atom, I spent in excess of £25k over 14 years and 22.5k miles. My latest, excluding tyres, is £6+k over 5 years and 4k miles. We do use it as intended, but if previous owner hasn't obviously kept on top of the maintenance it will come home to roost for any future owner.

[Fastlane]

@Fastlane has it been serviced 4 times or only 4 of the services are from the factory? I’m with @hamtt here, if it has been maintained well with a professional, that wouldn’t worry me... it’s not easy for everyone to get back to the factory every 6/12months for a service so whilst that would be my ideal, I’m not sure it would be a pre requisite. I’m contemplating getting my first service done locally as I understand it’s more of an oil and filter change (plus software update but I don’t believe that has changed in the last 6 weeks) as an example

According to Collecting cars listing, there is no mention/evidence of any other services outside of the 4 that it mentions (including the 500 mile service). If it had been home serviced or otherwise, then it would have mentioned receipts, but it doesn't so we have to assume not.

Factory serviced cars are worth more - there are no specialists for Atoms, so unlike many other marques, you are taking a risk with anyone else. IMHO anyone who is spending £50k+ on a very specialist car that is capable of 0-60 in less than 3 seconds and 150mph+, and gets it serviced at a local garage is bonkers. The factory can collect and deliver your car if needs be, or you could have bought something with a local dealer/specialist if you didn't fancy that.

Ultimately it's your choice, but don't expect your car to hold its value as well as a factory-maintained car. As Hamid says, even that does not guarantee a good car - owners can refuse to have work done suggested by the factory to keep costs down or just not look after the cosmetics - that it why it is always good to ring the factory and ask about the car (and potentially the owner) first.

I bought my car second hand and I enjoy doing some of my own maintenance (mainly cosmetic) but it still goes through the factory every year for a full service and any suggested work is done. This has been the case for the last 13 years and so the total value of all the invoices is huge, but the the car was £57k back in 2007 (pretty much £80k in todays' money) so that is not surprising.

[Alec]

I've come to this late, but I've just looked at the photos for the 2008 Atom with 20,000 miles on it that sold for £30,000 and it seems a bit rough around the edges.
For one, I bought my Atom 2 245 new in August 2006, and it's now done 29,000, but the steering wheel looks nowhere near as worn out as that shiny one, so I'd personally query the mileage as it appears to have been driven a lot more than that figure of 20,000 miles would indicate.
Secondly, that shows why I don't like Dymags, because they protrude proud of the tyres, and a couple of them have been marked.
I had a set and one was similarly marked when a van squeezed past in a very narrow road and something touched the rear wheel.
It didn't look too bad, as these don't, but when I sent mine back to Dymag to be refurbished, they said that it couldn't be done, which showed to me how fragile they can be.
I then sold them on priced accordingly as "Buy Three, Get One Free".
Any way, that's the impression I got quickly looking at the photos, but it is just my own personal opinion.

[atomiser]

They are specialists outside the factory - there is at least CPL Racing, which i used for 10ish years.

Guy and Lynn of CPL racing are excellent and have also got an eye for the detail and a good relationship with the factory.

There is also back draft motorsport - which have a good rep though I've never used them.

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[drozek]

Hi everyone joined because I found an atom for sale in North America, where I live, and wondering what to look for when going to check it out next weekend?

It is a 2015 3S with 23,000 miles (37000 km).

Thanks for responding.

[Cro]

Hi everyone joined because I found an atom for sale in North America, where I live, and wondering what to look for when going to check it out next weekend?

It is a 2015 3S with 23,000 miles (37000 km).

Thanks for responding.

Fastlane posted this recently which has some decent info to sift through. There might be some USA specific details different or missing though

viewtopic.php?f=47&t=18185

[drozek]

Hi everyone joined because I found an atom for sale in North America, where I live, and wondering what to look for when going to check it out next weekend?

It is a 2015 3S with 23,000 miles (37000 km).

Thanks for responding.

Fastlane posted this recently which has some decent info to sift through. There might be some USA specific details different or missing though

viewtopic.php?f=47&t=18185

Thanks for this really appreciate it

[Encro]

I would say expensive for an ex track day car