Entry Level Ariel Atom 3 Cheap Like The Budgie

Ah, Ariel Atom, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways ... OK, not just now, but boy are these great cars (if you think like I do), and they just got better. That is, if better equals cheaper, and for me, it usually does. Ariel has just put out a newer version of their Atom, called the Ariel Atom 3 and the prices start from $49,980

Sure, just under $50k ain't cheap, but it IS the cheapest of the Ariel Atoms you can get, ergo, it counts as "entry level". The version in question is available via TMI AutoTech, the folks that have been charge of importing Ariel Atoms into the U.S. The new "base model" comes with a 2.0-liter Honda motor that cranks out 219 horsepower.

And 219 in a car that tips the scales at 1,350 pounds, that equates to a LOT of power. Enough power to blast you from naught to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. If you can get your hands on a 638-hp supercharged Corvette ZR1, you'll get to 60 in "only" 3.3 seconds. The Atom is four tenths quicker.

And we're talking about the base model here, with the lowest performance of the lot. There are two other Atoms to be had, one with a 245-hp plant and another with a supercharged mill that puts out 300-hp. Now, for me, the base level will do just fine. I have a heavy right foot as it is, and going with a 219 horsepower and 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds versus something like 245-hp or 300-hp means I'd live a lot longer, or stay out of jail with greater ease.

TMI AutoTech also sells a rolling chassis, and you can drop in whatever engine catches your fancy. Then again, if you really want to go down this road, you could always go with a Lotus 7 variant for less money and, saints be praised, less weight.

Source: AutoBlog