Your First Atom

[JohnyQ]

After reading around some on the forum and getting to know a bit about the regulars here I have a question about Atom ownership. How old was everyone when you purchased your first atom? When did you all learn about the car and through what venue? And finally, if you have owned more than one what was the progression of Atoms?Personally I am 23 and do not own an Atom. I learned about it two years ago or so when BBC Top Gear broadcast about the car. How about the rest of you?

[FrankRizzo]

45, probably top gear as well. Looked up the price and said "HOLY CRAP! $65K BASE price? Cool car, but I'll never own one at that price!" (I'm FAR Too stingy for that!)

[bolus]

around 35. I saw they were being made about 4 hours from me after the top gear spot

[McFred]

27, learned about it from the UK Top Gear episode. A little mucking about and I learned about Brammo's intent to make it in the US (circa June/2006) base price of about $30,000. The turn-key, delivered, registered and insured price wasn't as outrageous as it is now.

[mrwoolery]

36 years old when I placed my order. I had learned about the Atom as part of my online web-browsing/fantasizing about light weight sports cars (my passion). Up until that point, my two "holy grail" cars were the Lotus Exige and the Light Car Company Rocket. Both were unavailable in the states, but I had admired them since their inception in the early 1990's. I considered them unattainable Brit cars, and when I first read about the Atom (online and in magazines, prior to the Top Gear segment), it was added to the top of my "unnattainable Brit cars" list. I think I first learned about the Atom around 2002 or so, sometime around when Ariel switched away from the Rover engines, adopted the Honda powerplants, and getting some suspension tuning input from Honda. I considered the Atom and LCC Rocket to both be way too bonkers to EVER come to the US, as the Lotus Elise/Exige couldn't even make it here (at the time). I had been saving up my money to purchase a serious sports car for years, was ecstatic to learn and almost bought a Lotus Elise when they first came to the states in 2004 (placed a deposit)...but pulled out & cancelled my purchase due to ridiculous dealer shenanigans. I came back to the Lotus table to purchase the Lotus Exige when it was released in the US a year later, and again placed a deposit (at a different dealership). Literally hours before finalizing my Lotus order and progressing past the deposit stage I heard about the Atom coming to the states. I was flabbergasted, did some quick research into the possibility of making it street legal--and then cancelled my Exige deposit and instead put my money down on an Atom, taking advantage of some early adopter offers and pricing (couldn't afford it otherwise). Took delivery of my Atom nine months later, then got it registered in CA (most stressful automotive experience EVER) five months after taking delivery. I still have it, and never plan to sell it.

[silver]

28 when I place my order and took delivery, I also saw the video on top gear while looking at videos of used viper's....I bought a ticket to Oregon and flew out in a week and spent a week there checking out the sights and going for a test drive, and put my deposit down immediately after returning from my trip. Took delivery in march 07.

[JohnyQ]

That is some great information! From the looks of things I am on track to ownership in the next 3-5 years. Would definitely love to hear about other folks' stories too.