Atoms for sale - information thread

[danbevan]

Hello! New member to the forum, and (hopefully) soon to be joining the Atom owners club!

I’m looking for a non-supercharged 245, two of which are up for sale at the moment:

https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2011-ariel-atom-3

https://www.castlemotors.com/used-ariel ... ll-3774212

Both cars look good, but I’ve been reading through this excellent thread and wondered if anyone has any knowledge of these two cars?

Any advice greatly appreciated, fingers crossed I’ll be wrapping up warm in time to enjoy an Atom, just as winter arrives

[mynamesnotbob]

[mention]danbevan[/mention]
See this thread for second car
viewtopic.php?f=33&t=18333

[danbevan]

Thanks @mynamesnotbob! I did use the search function but I clearly missed that. Much appreciated!

[atomiser]

Welcome James!

Yes, the atom 4 will be alot cheaper on track.

It costs me around £6k for 8 trackdays per year. £500ish per trackday all in and ~£2k pa maintenance & consumables.

Front brakes usually last the season, rear tyres for 3 trackdays, fronts for 6. Usually replacing a few rose joints and 1 or 2 wheel bearings (porche ones) during annual service.

The engine and gearbox (touch wood) are ultra reliable providing the oil gets changed on a regular basis. Last k20 engine did 22.5k before selling and had exactly the same horsepower/torque from day one.

I'd expect the shocks to need replacing at around the 8 year mark (or they certainly did for me).

Usually I'm also replacing the tea tray and mudguards every 5-10 years since they either break due vibrations or get nicked/spidered by stones.

I'd recommend PPFing the frame etc otherwise you will be repainting wishbones and frame every 5-10 years!!!

Enjoy!



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[Luckky]

Welcome James!

Yes, the atom 4 will be alot cheaper on track.

It costs me around £6k for 8 trackdays per year. £500ish per trackday all in and ~£2k pa maintenance & consumables.

Front brakes usually last the season, rear tyres for 3 trackdays, fronts for 6. Usually replacing a few rose joints and 1 or 2 wheel bearings (porche ones) during annual service.

The engine and gearbox (touch wood) are ultra reliable providing the oil gets changed on a regular basis. Last k20 engine did 22.5k before selling and had exactly the same horsepower/torque from day one.

I'd expect the shocks to need replacing at around the 8 year mark (or they certainly did for me).

Usually I'm also replacing the tea tray and mudguards every 5-10 years since they either break due vibrations or get nicked/spidered by stones.

I'd recommend PPFing the frame etc otherwise you will be repainting wishbones and frame every 5-10 years!!!

Enjoy!



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Atomiser,

There’s some really interesting insight in your post so thank you. Assume the £500 rough cost is mainly fuel and track admission costs (obviously we a good lunch thrown in too)

And assume maintainance is the usual trip down to Crewkerne, some brake pads and liquids but mainly tyres?

I’m keen to do more track days next season so keen to know what to plan for.

I’m also wanting to get a second set of tyres as my 4 is 90% road so the ZZS tyres seem to be fine for this. For the track though, a set of stock Forged Ariel wheels (unless anyone can suggest any alternatives) with some sticky AO52’s


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[atomiser]

Yes, the £500ish includes trackday costs, petrol (~130litres) and towing to track (~37p per mile - yes I have that on a spreadsheet as well!). If you go to places like castle combe or Llandow the cost lowers given its around £150 per slot for two people.

I normally share the trackday with a friend so the 130litres allows us to do ~250miles on track - yes it does drink on full chat.

Tyres I buy separately in bulk (kumhos), though ariel are competitive so sometimes they are replaced in service.

I'll also drop the oil in between services - not strictly necessary given how clean the oil is coming out, but the k20 engine are sensitive to oil quality.

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[Luckky]

Yes, the £500ish includes trackday costs, petrol (~130litres) and towing to track (~37p per mile - yes I have that on a spreadsheet as well!). If you go to places like castle combe or Llandow the cost lowers given its around £150 per slot for two people.

I normally share the trackday with a friend so the 130litres allows us to do ~250miles on track - yes it does drink on full chat.

Tyres I buy separately in bulk (kumhos), though ariel are competitive so sometimes they are replaced in service.

I'll also drop the oil in between services - not strictly necessary given how clean the oil is coming out, but the k20 engine are sensitive to oil quality.

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Thanks,

I’m 10miles away from Snet so easy to get there. I’m sure when I’m more experienced I’ll go elsewhere too.

Well done for the mpg (under 9mpg with my man maths) that’s good going


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[James McBrown]

Thanks atomiser for the very comprehensive reply. I really appreciate it.

Today I've ordered a set of Ohlins shocks and pushrods, AP racing brakes and the adjustable brake bias kit from the guys at Ariel. The AP brakes won't arrive until November so it'll be part of my Winter 21 project.

I will also order a baffled sump and I've been told it's an engine out job on the 4. I'm not quite sure of the length of time in removing and refitting but I expect someone on the forum can give me a steer on this. I'll also take your advice and have the body and frame fitted with PPF. It's been ace on my McLaren.

[John Scherrer]

Ariel used to do a part exchange on the sump but even so back in 2017 on a '3' it was around £1.5K fitted.

[911tom]

It’s 12 hours labour. Works out at just under £1.5k including vat and club discount. I got a price for the exact same job from the factory earlier in the week.

[atomiser]

[mention]Luckky[/mention] and [mention]James McBrown[/mention] enjoy your atoms!

I've had plenty of very tasty performance cars come and go including an Ultima 1020, but various ariel atoms have remained a constant in my garage since 2004.

[Alec]

Well done for the mpg (under 9mpg with my man maths) that’s good going

9MPG

You have to be joking, surely?

I know I only have my 2006 Atom 2 245bhp, but I used to keep everything in a spreadsheet early on when I did a few track days each year and although I'll admit that I'm not the fastest driver, I certainly don't hang about dawdling along.

Any way, I'd always averaged over 20mpg apart from two track days when it dropped into the 19mpg bracket, plus, when we were on the AAOC Alpine Tour in 2008, where the roads are more open, three of us used to blat off ahead of everyone else, and it went into the 30mpg a few times between fill-ups.

If my Atom was only doing 9mpg, no matter in what situation, I'd be checking it over for a fuel leak.

[John Scherrer]

Presumably that mpg is calculated just from on track miles.

If so, 9 mpg seems about right for a S/C car that’s ‘fully on it’.

[AMH 142]

When on track I'm at about 11-12 mpg in the Atom 4. That includes gentle sighting laps and always a full slowing down lap after each session. Under full beans I'd think it could well be less than 10 mpg!
Aidan

[atomiser]

Presumably that mpg is calculated just from on track miles.

If so, 9 mpg seems about right for a S/C car that’s ‘fully on it’.

Yep - track miles only. I thought 9 mpg was pretty good for s/c on full chat!

Donny and Bedford GT are particularly hard on fuel and we usually go above 130litres.

Don't think there is a fuel leak, the last atom wasn't quite as bad but the front end grip on the cup is in a different league so you tend to push on.

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