First sport's car: 370z or Ariel Atom?

flatrick · 06-25-2009, 11:36 PM

Hello,

I live in France with my girlfriend who is also a passionate driver. We both just recently graduated from law school and are saving up for our first very own and first sport's car.

As we do not want to take a loan to finance the purchase, we still have some time ahead of us before proceeding with the actual purchase. Time which I mostly seem to spend on pondering what car I want to buy

I have read tons of articles, reviews and specs about a lot of sport's cars these recent months and I have ended up with 2 picks: the 370z and the Ariel Atom. I am really torn between these two choices and I keep changing my preference from one week to another.

I have pinpointed the pros and cons of both cars in regard to each other.

370z

This is pretty much what I would like my 370z to look like, except that I would paint the brakes in red, add a slim red outline on each rim and maybe get some matte graffiti on one side of the car.

Pros:
- Price
- Comfort
- Security
- Trunk
- Audio

Cons:
- Pretty much nothing to put here

Ariel Atom

This is pretty much what I would like my Ariel Atom to look like, except that I would paint the rims black with slim red outlines and add maybe some matte graffiti on one side of the car.

Pros:
- My first automotive crush
- Speed and maneuvaribility
- Sensations (low-flyer + extreme roadster)
- Uniqueness

Cons:
- On the pricey side (about 50% more costy than the 370z)
- No comfort
- Less security
- No trunk
- No audio, but very noisy!

On first hand, you would say it is an easy pick, as the 370z has no cons. However, on closer inspection, you realize that all the atom's cons are in fact the 370z's pros...so, if you invert the situation, you could in fact add all atom's pros into the 370z's cons (i.e. it has less speed, less sensations and is less exclusive).

The thing is my girlfriend and I are really looking for the best driving experience within our budget's reach. So the atom seems like the ultimate solution, even though the 370z would not be a bad pick either. Nevertheless, I am still struggling with the atom's cons: paying so much for a car, having to withstand any weather condition at any given time, having no trunk, having no audio...this is why I keep changing my opinion all the time. I tell myself: "That atom is going to be more trouble than fun, just go for something more traditional." Then the week after, I will be telling myself: "Yeah, but what if I get the 370z and I regret that I never gave the atom a chance and what if I feel like I am not getting quite enough of sensations?"

I am not quite sure why I am writing all of this in the forum. I am guessing it is a way for me to explicitly see what I am thinking. Any comments are also of course welcome.
In any case, as I said in the beginning, I still have at least two years to make my mind up. In the meantime, I am looking forward to see for any improvements on the 370z and a probable new version of the Ariel Atom. Also, I think the best way to make up my mind will be to test drive both of the cars, although I reckon it is going to be hard to find an Ariel Atom to test...

SoCal 370Z · 06-25-2009, 11:37 PM

Atom...you only live once.

Minicobra1 · 06-26-2009, 04:22 AM

If it's your 2nd, 3rd, or weekend car, go with Atom, otherwise Z is much more versatile. With a bit of aftermarket suspension and engine parts, I'm sure you could get close to the performance of the Atom. and you'll still have a trunk and no bugs in your teeth .

Another choice would be a Lotus Exige S

Mike · 06-26-2009, 09:04 AM

If you live in the city and don't NEED a car, or if you are also going to have a small city car, go with the Atom, in a heartbeat! If its going to have to do any duty as primary transport, get the Z.

flatrick · 06-26-2009, 09:29 AM

Wow!

I am quite surprise all of you would recommend the atom, although this is a 370z forum. I really appreciate how open-minded you all are.

If we would get the atom, we would probably keep our current car. It is a small city-car, the Citroën C3.
Nonetheless, we almost only drive on weekends and almost never need any trunk space since we use bikes to travel to work and we buy our groceries online which are delivered directly home. In other words, with an atom in our hands, we would never even need to use our city car.
The only problem is that we are considering of getting a german or swiss sepherd which both are really big dogs. I am not sure if it could fit comfortably in the atom with a passenger.

By the way, I am not sure it will be that easy to get aftermarket stuff here in Europe, at east for a reasonable price. Also, if I end spending a total equivalent to the atom's price, it would be a little counter-productive, wouldn't it?
Moreover, the atom now has a real windshield, so it is basically a real roadster.

I had previously considered the Lotus Exige, but it feels just as a bad compromise between the 370z and the atom: it's not that good-looking, it's spartan, quite pricey and isn't as fast and fun as the atom (or so, at least, the critics tend to say).

nogoodname · 06-26-2009, 10:16 AM

it's pretty much if you need some space, go with the Z..if not, get the atom

shabarivas · 06-26-2009, 10:50 AM

your swiss / german Shepard will not fit in the Z either ..

flatrick · 06-26-2009, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shabarivas

your swiss / german Shepard will not fit in the Z either ..

Don't you think it would fit in the trunk? I have only seen the Z in pictures, but the trunk looked just spacious enough.

nogoodname · 06-26-2009, 06:58 PM

gonna scratch up the leather seat when the dog comes in and out

flatrick · 06-26-2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogoodname007

gonna scratch up the leather seat when the dog comes in and out

Unless, he or she enters directly from the rear, right?

nogoodname · 06-26-2009, 09:05 PM

i hope he or she jumps high enough without touching the bumper

or place a towel each time the dog goes in and out in the edge of the trunk

flatrick · 06-26-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogoodname007

i hope he or she jumps high enough without touching the bumper

Did I mention I live in France?

Oh, and in case you are not aware of how people drive and park around here let's just say I don't need a dog to end up with a totally wrecked bumper

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogoodname007

or place a towel each time the dog goes in and out in the edge of the trunk

Good advice. I was planning in any case to keep a big towel in the trunk at all times for the dog to sit on in order to hamper as much as possible the mess he or she would cause.

nogoodname · 06-26-2009, 10:00 PM

oh damn...how could i forget...lol....i'm in Quebec.....land of the craziest drivers also

Mike · 06-26-2009, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatrick

Did I mention I live in France?

Oh, and in case you are not aware of how people drive and park around here let's just say I don't need a dog to end up with a totally wrecked bumper

Isn't that the truth! I am an airline pilot and have spent a lot of time in Paris on layovers, You guys parallel park by feel! I don't know how you can be a car lover and park on the streets there!

ChrisSlicks · 06-26-2009, 10:28 PM

The Ariel Atom is an awesome vehicle, one of the guys I race with has one. Unfortunately it is loud, uncomfortable in the summer and winter, and totally impractical. Basically it's a road legal track car.

If you have the ability to get it to the track on a regular basis then absolutely go for it. If you're not going to the track then you will hate it in 3 months and want to sell it due to its total impracticality.

... er Euros.

06-25-2009, 11:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
flatrick Base Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: France Posts: 11 Drives: Citroën C3 Rep Power: 15	First sport's car: 370z or Ariel Atom? Hello, I live in France with my girlfriend who is also a passionate driver. We both just recently graduated from law school and are saving up for our first very own and first sport's car. As we do not want to take a loan to finance the purchase, we still have some time ahead of us before proceeding with the actual purchase. Time which I mostly seem to spend on pondering what car I want to buy I have read tons of articles, reviews and specs about a lot of sport's cars these recent months and I have ended up with 2 picks: the 370z and the Ariel Atom. I am really torn between these two choices and I keep changing my preference from one week to another. I have pinpointed the pros and cons of both cars in regard to each other. 370z This is pretty much what I would like my 370z to look like, except that I would paint the brakes in red, add a slim red outline on each rim and maybe get some matte graffiti on one side of the car. Pros: - Price - Comfort - Security - Trunk - Audio Cons: - Pretty much nothing to put here Ariel Atom This is pretty much what I would like my Ariel Atom to look like, except that I would paint the rims black with slim red outlines and add maybe some matte graffiti on one side of the car. Pros: - My first automotive crush - Speed and maneuvaribility - Sensations (low-flyer + extreme roadster) - Uniqueness Cons: - On the pricey side (about 50% more costy than the 370z) - No comfort - Less security - No trunk - No audio, but very noisy! On first hand, you would say it is an easy pick, as the 370z has no cons. However, on closer inspection, you realize that all the atom's cons are in fact the 370z's pros...so, if you invert the situation, you could in fact add all atom's pros into the 370z's cons (i.e. it has less speed, less sensations and is less exclusive). The thing is my girlfriend and I are really looking for the best driving experience within our budget's reach. So the atom seems like the ultimate solution, even though the 370z would not be a bad pick either. Nevertheless, I am still struggling with the atom's cons: paying so much for a car, having to withstand any weather condition at any given time, having no trunk, having no audio...this is why I keep changing my opinion all the time. I tell myself: "That atom is going to be more trouble than fun, just go for something more traditional." Then the week after, I will be telling myself: "Yeah, but what if I get the 370z and I regret that I never gave the atom a chance and what if I feel like I am not getting quite enough of sensations?" I am not quite sure why I am writing all of this in the forum. I am guessing it is a way for me to explicitly see what I am thinking. Any comments are also of course welcome. In any case, as I said in the beginning, I still have at least two years to make my mind up. In the meantime, I am looking forward to see for any improvements on the 370z and a probable new version of the Ariel Atom. Also, I think the best way to make up my mind will be to test drive both of the cars, although I reckon it is going to be hard to find an Ariel Atom to test... Last edited by flatrick; 06-25-2009 at 11:40 PM.

06-25-2009, 11:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
SoCal 370Z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: US of A Posts: 2,842 Drives: Answers Rep Power: 33	Atom...you only live once. __________________ ( Click to show/hide ) Why I NEVER say NO to the Panda Lou Fusz!!!

06-26-2009, 04:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
Minicobra1 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Orange County, CA. Posts: 1,205 Drives: 370Z Tour, Spt, 6mt Rep Power: 644	If it's your 2nd, 3rd, or weekend car, go with Atom, otherwise Z is much more versatile. With a bit of aftermarket suspension and engine parts, I'm sure you could get close to the performance of the Atom. and you'll still have a trunk and no bugs in your teeth . Another choice would be a Lotus Exige S __________________ 370z Tour\| Spt Pack\|Navi\|BERK CBE\|Berk HFC's\| Eibach Springs\| Hotchkis Sway Bars\|SPC Camber Arms\|15mm Ichiba Wheel Spacers\| 19"Factory Nismo Wheels-Matt Black\|Stop Tech Rotors\|TWM Shifter\|3M Tint\|Black Fangs\|Black Rear Valance\|JDM Fog Light\| MY BAND-www.myspace.com/petroleum

06-26-2009, 09:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
Mike The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 5,944 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 2186	If you live in the city and don't NEED a car, or if you are also going to have a small city car, go with the Atom, in a heartbeat! If its going to have to do any duty as primary transport, get the Z. __________________ NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

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06-26-2009, 09:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
flatrick Base Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: France Posts: 11 Drives: Citroën C3 Rep Power: 15	Wow! I am quite surprise all of you would recommend the atom, although this is a 370z forum. I really appreciate how open-minded you all are. If we would get the atom, we would probably keep our current car. It is a small city-car, the Citroën C3. Nonetheless, we almost only drive on weekends and almost never need any trunk space since we use bikes to travel to work and we buy our groceries online which are delivered directly home. In other words, with an atom in our hands, we would never even need to use our city car. The only problem is that we are considering of getting a german or swiss sepherd which both are really big dogs. I am not sure if it could fit comfortably in the atom with a passenger. By the way, I am not sure it will be that easy to get aftermarket stuff here in Europe, at east for a reasonable price. Also, if I end spending a total equivalent to the atom's price, it would be a little counter-productive, wouldn't it? Moreover, the atom now has a real windshield, so it is basically a real roadster. I had previously considered the Lotus Exige, but it feels just as a bad compromise between the 370z and the atom: it's not that good-looking, it's spartan, quite pricey and isn't as fast and fun as the atom (or so, at least, the critics tend to say).

06-26-2009, 10:16 AM	#6 (permalink)
nogoodname Lifetime Premium Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 22,357 Drives: E46 M3 Rep Power: 1764	it's pretty much if you need some space, go with the Z..if not, get the atom

06-26-2009, 10:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
shabarivas A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,188 Drives: 370z MB 6mt Rep Power: 914	your swiss / german Shepard will not fit in the Z either ..

06-26-2009, 06:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
nogoodname Lifetime Premium Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 22,357 Drives: E46 M3 Rep Power: 1764	gonna scratch up the leather seat when the dog comes in and out

06-26-2009, 09:05 PM	#11 (permalink)
nogoodname Lifetime Premium Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 22,357 Drives: E46 M3 Rep Power: 1764	i hope he or she jumps high enough without touching the bumper or place a towel each time the dog goes in and out in the edge of the trunk

06-26-2009, 10:00 PM	#13 (permalink)
nogoodname Lifetime Premium Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 22,357 Drives: E46 M3 Rep Power: 1764	oh damn...how could i forget...lol....i'm in Quebec.....land of the craziest drivers also

06-26-2009, 10:28 PM	#15 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	The Ariel Atom is an awesome vehicle, one of the guys I race with has one. Unfortunately it is loud, uncomfortable in the summer and winter, and totally impractical. Basically it's a road legal track car. If you have the ability to get it to the track on a regular basis then absolutely go for it. If you're not going to the track then you will hate it in 3 months and want to sell it due to its total impracticality. ... er Euros.