I love this car...

Top gear did a test on it a while back. Apparently they loved it, basically said the thrill of a motorcycle combined w/ the safety and practicality (as safe and practical as it can be) of a car. Not to mentions "the stig" piloted it around the track faster than any production car they had tested except the Enzo. Pretty crazy.

 

Top Gear very-low-res video

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6514168251893889573

 

Well, I am sure it's fun car... BUT I don't think I can drive this car in US. Too many SUV's and Trucks on the road and you know how people can get when they talk on the phone...

 

Yes it is probably fun but I would hardly call it a car.

 

I wonder how the crash tests would fair out? And a roll over? Stunning car and lightning quick... but would you live if you "got it wrong"?

 

Is this US legal? I did not see any 5 mph bumpers.

 

check out the forum at www.atomclub.com (forum.atomclub.com)

 

You won't find 5 MPH bumpers on the Elise either.....

 

I put a deposit down on one in mid-September. I should get it sometime early in 2006. It will be legally titled in Pennsylvania, and road worthy.

It's pretty obviously not an everday car; neither were early Ferrari barchettas.

In a way, it is like the olden days, where I can drive my car to the track, lap everyone else, and then drive it back home on the public roads.

Thank you for the post, jsedlak. I love the Atom, too!

--Matt

 

Are you going for the supercharged one?

 

You bet I am!

It's actually going to be the supercharged version of GM's Ecotec instead of the Honda. It builds more torque, and can actually be tuned to nearly unbelievable levels:
http://www.gm.com/company/gmtunersource/html/race_shop_build_book.htm

 

NEAT! The ecotec is a SOLID motor. You are going to have a flood of mods avaliable for that once the Cobalt SS gets more settled

 

I just don't get it. It's a cool car and all, probably a blast to drive, but, the more I think about it, the more I wonder why anyone would want it. Let's face it, you're not going to drive it around the streets to often, certainly not without some safety equipment on. So it's basically a track car. But why? why not just get an open wheel race car? get something you can race, something more popular with other people. I could never see myself in one.

 

I like the angle Top Gear played on it. It's a safe alternative to a Sport bike (liter bike). I would enjoy it MUCH more than a liter bike actually.

On the track though, I think I would rather have a LIGHT underpowdered 911. I wouldn't be able to handle the atom.

 

It's a safer alternative to a bike, I suppose. But, I would hardly call it safe. I would love to see a picture of that thing nose to nose with a Yukon. I imagine the bumper would be a head hieght. I can tell you one thing, you couldn't get me in that thing on the road with all the non-mirror checking soccer moms, any more often than I will ride a motorcycle on the road at anytime other than the wee hours of the morning.

 

Yea, I would imagine that the atom would be in everybody's blind spot; wether they check mirrors or not.

 

Does it get registered as a car or motorcycle?? Do they have to crash test these?? I'm assuming they got a waiver on the airbag? One other thing. Do they make pads for the seats????

 

Watch out!
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John, looks like we both love this car. hehe.

 

Taken in the summer?

 

I think the Atom will sail right under that doe!

I don't really think of the Atom as an alternative to a motorcycle. I think of it as more of a small, street-legal formula car. Like the Van Diemens of the Jim Russel school or the Formula Dodges of Skip Barber. But with more power, of course!