Noble M400 vs Ariel Atom 300 vs Caterham CSR 260

[Jack_Bauer]

Interesting article in the Times Motoring section this weekend comparing these three cars and trying to see which was the fastest going from 0-60. They were trying to see if they were anywhere near the manufacturer's claimed timings and to see if anything could beat the fabled McLaren F1s 3.1secs. (Although someone should've told them that the Ultima GTR actually holds the record now! :rolleyes: )

Good to see them doing it as scientifically as possible, doing six runs (three in either direction to negate any prevailing wind advantage) and taking an average. :)

The Atom was looking set to steal the show until it became apparent the factory had fitted it with illegal tyres. :( Stupid really, as I reckon if they'd fitted it with road legal trackday tyres like Dunlop Formula Rs or Yoko AO48s it probs would've won the test anyway. :rolleyes:

Here's the full article: http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,12389-1667864,00.html

[Clique]

Intriguing isnt it... (Spelling Mistakes)

[Quiggs]

Speed is overrated. Give me the Noble. I can drive that every day, and won't have to hide under a bridge when it rains.

[UCR]

Speed is overrated. Give me the Noble. I can drive that every day, and won't have to hide under a bridge when it rains.
You Mardi :D

[CdocZ]

I'd take the Atom, but the Caterham and Noble have a veeerrry good argument.

[Matra et Alpine]

yeah typical "quality" motoring journalists from the British newspapers :)

" You rev the engine until it’s screaming and then you feed in the clutch. Lift your right foot too fast and you’ll induce unnecessary wheelspin; too slow and you’ll cook the clutch "

:D

[clutch-monkey]

^^^lol "no, your other right"

[Coventrysucks]

Speed is overrated. Give me the Noble. I can drive that every day, and won't have to hide under a bridge when it rains.

Get a hat you wimp!

[Quiggs]

Get a hat you wimp!
Not so much to keep me dry, but do you want to get your $60,000+ sports car interior wet? And what's a mardi? I don't speak English. I speak American.

[Matra et Alpine]

Not so much to keep me dry, but do you want to get your $60,000+ sports car interior wet?
They're designed to cope with getting wet :)

The Elise was fine until some twat decided they needed to add "comfort" and put carpets in the bloody things. THEN water was getting trapped causing corrosion in the floor !!!

For the REALLY heavey rain you can always fit the hood. BUT for lighter rainfll it's easier just to keep the speeds up and use the air to keep the rain away :)

[Coventrysucks]

Not so much to keep me dry, but do you want to get your $60,000+ sports car interior wet?

I think they probably already thought of that.

Anyway Tom Kristensen doesn't hide under a bridge when it starts raining on his $60,000+ open-top Le Mans car.

[nist7]

In the Atom at least, there is no such thing as an interior ... because there is no exterior.

But give me the Atom, it's not like cops will be scrutinizing for the legality of your tires anyways....

["Clevor" Angel]

2.88 seconds, Holy shit. That is extremely fast, legal tires or not. I'd take the Atom in heartbeat. I wonder what its 0-60 would be if the Atom had 400bhp?

[h00t_h00t]

I think it would be 2.87 at the most, when you are accelerating that fast you need to add alot more power or loose alot more weight to get a noticable improvement.

[The_Canuck]

man with the atom you'd probably get whiplash when your accelerating.

[RS6]

I'd take the atom. If I were going to drive one of these, I'd wear a helmet. That would protect me from wind and rain. I don't think it is going to matter if the atom gets wet anyway. I'm British and used to rain, so yes, the Atom definately.

[h00t_h00t]

Wearing a helmet would ruin the chance to get out the aviator hat & goggles and a white scarf!

[jump15vc]

the m400 is definatley the most practical but the atom is so damn cool