To be honest they should have tested all of them around the track considering that is the point of these cars, would have loved to see the Radical go round
I would probably still go with the caterham because it's the perfect power for me and I like the look of it more, and I would love to take it for daily drives.
I bought my Atom in 2010 & there hasn't been a SINGLE day that ive regretted it. Its an amazing car that has provided me with some wonderful drives & wonderful experiences. BTW, I am SO GLAD you guys are back! I love the grand tour (I dont watch top gear anymore since jezza left) but I am a true petrolhead so I need a more car oriented show rather than a pure comedy show.
As a car to drive for kicks from my home, neither of which I can afford anyway- is take the Caterham any day. The Caterham is a proper sports car, I appreciate their dedication to the form that is the 7, yet the car simply will not grow old. Hell I’d probably be more than happy with a mid range Cat and then some. The Ariel Atom, ok its a rocket ship, but holy shit would I feel like a knob driving one through town. It’s just not my style - I may not even have any style but, that thing belongs on a track ripping past the eyes of those who pretty much know what it is. Just my opinion, mileage may vary.
Not really fair contest the atom got big bloody wings on it, take the Wings off and then see which is quicker? I think the Caterham would win plus it looks like it didn't have optimal setup.
You can now buy the KTM X Bow in The States. Base model is $88k all the way up to The Superlight X Bow for $139K. They are expensive but on the same plane as a Ariel Atom. BTW - You can also buy Ariel Atoms in The US. The 2018 Ariel Atom 3R is going for $93k(ish).
@Zombie Head Understood. You know I was just informing Gerald Good III that you can buy a Ariel Atom and a KTM X Bow in The States. I've seen a few running around in SoCal. He had made the comment "we can't get them here in The States."
DeenseDude VonAnd not really the caterham is a good design that is fundamentally a good design, its probably overpowered in this model. Harleys are just fundamentally shit motorcycles
@@felixarbable Yes Sr, totally agree, it´s like an old 2 Stroke GP bike, very powerful, but you have to be a very very good rider if you really want to get the most out of it, same thing with the Caterham, it´s a driver´s car, one of the purest driving there is, no traction control, no power steering, no HELP!, with traction control anyone can floor it out of a corner.
Still can't believe that these cars is street legal in Europe, why does the US said these were illegal to drive on public roads while they are totally fine in UK & Europe?
Its tyres look by eye like Avon ZZR which are very good (better than that on the atom) I assume Caterham gave them a good setup! I don't know which C you have but the highest power models do have a reputation for a light front and being much more twitchy. The lower spec models are much easier to drive.
Seems to be the other way around in my experience, the Caterham is the nicely balanced one the Atom is the tricky one. Hopefully they have improved the Atom now although they are stuck with a high rear mounted engine. In terms of racing the Caterham is considerably quicker to the equivalent Atom. In 'all comers races' Caterhams continue to be the fastest things out there without downforce.
richboy900 ... bit of an overstatement really. The atom is more prone to understeer with cold tires, but on a track it’s not an issue as the tires are warm very fast
@@cristianr3712 Karun is a very capable driver, he'd be a better person to get tips from. For this video I think they are exaggerating things like "too much oversteer" to try and differentiate the cars from each other. From what I can see, he's clearly provoking the rear to break loose at 2.13 - 2.15. Because of the nature of a Caterham being lightweight with a high power to weight, they respond best to a very smooth application of driver inputs, through the corners it's like threading a needle.
Fith Gear has actually been broadcasting since the relaunch of Top Gear in about 2002 or so with all the original Top Gear presenters excluding Jeremy Clarkson of course.
An ex--F1 driver, who obviously doesn't have any experience driving a Caterham (and didn't seem to have the skill to drive it on its power) out-driven by a TV presenter. If the ex--F had experience of driving Caterham's then the outcome would have been very different. Elsewhere on TH-cam you'll see amateur drivers driving the 620 at places like the Ring who obviously can drive this car flat out without losing control on every corner. The Caterham will always have a steeper learning curve -- it is a raw racer, and you can't jump into it and just go like the Atom. It takes time, but once you get to really know the Caterham, only then can you exploit all of it's potential.
@@voncoconut5293 Quite. And KC knows what he's doing. He's pushing it harder than most drivers can which is why its on the edge. The idea the C is the one that needs time is even funnier. Its the Atom that you need to learn the way to maximize it more.
Strap two tacky looking Halfords wings to the Caterham as well and it would be a lot lot closer..... but then it would look a bit Heath Robinson, very much like the Atom does.
wohhh the ariel looks like it can turn around 620r every 3 laps..ariel looks like it took it to next level grip..but damn i like caterham looks..if that honda engine was in caterham it will be the best car in the planet
Caterham is a like a drift car, designed to drift in every corner and not just drive in a single line. Wrong track, wrong driver and wrong driving style.
it's unfair contest because he's got wings on his car and the caterham doesn't, and I think it's got thinner tyres. with better setup on the caterham fatter tyres and a under diffuser the caterham would be in the ultimate winner. the Ariel atoms going to drive like a pig with no wings should have taken them off made it fair contest
Pretty simple equation, one is a fun toy, open wheel, classic British petrol head beauty with no fancy stuff, raw, the other is a tricked out toy with tons of gadgetry and aerodynamics... The Caterham is also a chick magnet.... A chick would not know what it is looking at if an Ariel blew by....
Copy? Nope...Top Gear got cancelled in 2001 but Channel 5 bought everything and continued it- the name changed to Fifth Gear because Channel 5 plus the BBC kept the Top Gear name. Wilman, Clarkson & co then rebooted Top Gear in 2002 after Fifth Gear started, so no this isn't a Top Gear copy, it's a continuation of the 1977 Top Gear whereas the 2002 Top Gear is the "copy". That's why Tiff Needell and Vicky Butler-Henderson are on Fifth Gear, they're the old TG presenters, plus Jon Bentley who produced both.
It's perfection. What other car is still following the design ethos from the 1950's? And it's still beating modern day super cars where it's meant to be at home when driven.
The Caterham is by far the best-looking of those two.
How lol
@@ajzillaproductions816 It looks classic in an elegant way. But I guess it's subjective.
@@ranchius true.
One of the few times the Atom can be referred to as "the big one"
The knock out formula was the only disappointing thing. I would have liked to see the results in all three tests on all of the cars.
Shoulda switched drivers just to see what happened then.
I think he can pedal pretty good he was an F1 driver for a bit perhaps swap tires...
batty boy a terrible f1 driver is still a good driver
Does not matter, both are proper drivers
@@Edison73100 Yeah I know.
@batty boy How would you rate as a F1 driver?
As a car enthusiast this is what i want to see from motoring channels. Fast cars going head to head kn a track with good drivers at the helm! So good
So glad you are back!!
I'd like to have seen the radical Vs the atom around the track
To be honest they should have tested all of them around the track considering that is the point of these cars, would have loved to see the Radical go round
Agreed, it seems the cool cars get eliminated early on. They should have done the lap with the 4 cars as the first challenge
I think radical is faster around the track
@@McNamEvan it probably would be, The radical relies more on aerodynamics. It would murder them on the high speed corners
The fact that this little machine has that much grip without aero is truly amazing, I would take one in a heartbeat even as a daily.
no mate, no grip at all, even with those "massive" rear tires, caterhams just go on the air.
Love to see the real-time heart rate of each of the drivers during this race!
That's the reason why some prefer the Caterham hehe
Lol just look at the tachometer on the dashboard, I'm pretty sure it's about right for driver heart rate.
If only Tiff was here to lend some experience and knowledge to the subject.
Incredible Vibery
Beautiful work
I just Love that retro simplistic design
I drove a racing version of the atom three weeks ago and it was absolutely incredible
Ima always love 5th gear....I just like how they go about their business.
Caterham has engine in front. How can the front end be too light to corner?
Most the weight is up front so more grip in front which makes it a bit twitchy.
"please don't bite me please don't bite me please don't bite me !" lol
I would probably still go with the caterham because it's the perfect power for me and I like the look of it more, and I would love to take it for daily drives.
Try to be on Netflix, please, I want to watch it but I don't live in UK
VPN mate
@Benenen big brain
I think the caterham is absolutely predictible. More difficult to drive, but if if you lose the rear is much more easier to bring it back
Yeah but they probably mean it's hard work. Controllable maybe, but putting the power down is the problem.
Thats cos its a series 3, if they ran a csr260 it would match the atom easy and still be more practical
CSR 260 quick look up shows its acceleration is a mile behind the 3.5r
The Ariel has front and rear wings don't forget.
It does though that's more significant for stability than absolute downforce. The traction is more about rear engine and great suspension geometry.
I bought my Atom in 2010 & there hasn't been a SINGLE day that ive regretted it. Its an amazing car that has provided me with some wonderful drives & wonderful experiences. BTW, I am SO GLAD you guys are back! I love the grand tour (I dont watch top gear anymore since jezza left) but I am a true petrolhead so I need a more car oriented show rather than a pure comedy show.
As a car to drive for kicks from my home, neither of which I can afford anyway- is take the Caterham any day. The Caterham is a proper sports car, I appreciate their dedication to the form that is the 7, yet the car simply will not grow old. Hell I’d probably be more than happy with a mid range Cat and then some.
The Ariel Atom, ok its a rocket ship, but holy shit would I feel like a knob driving one through town. It’s just not my style - I may not even have any style but, that thing belongs on a track ripping past the eyes of those who pretty much know what it is.
Just my opinion, mileage may vary.
Not really fair contest the atom got big bloody wings on it, take the Wings off and then see which is quicker? I think the Caterham would win plus it looks like it didn't have optimal setup.
its the first time in my life I hear of a Caterham as "nervous and unpredictable"
I'd like to've seen the Radical's performance in this last test...
I take the Cat - more fun
If you want fastest laptime - take Radical
BAC MONO too should had been a contender but why is it missing in here for the showdown ?
Notice how all the good track day cars come from the U.K.😂
William Dawber12 yea and we can’t get them here in the states :(
Same with hot hatches
You can now buy the KTM X Bow in The States. Base model is $88k all the way up to The Superlight X Bow for $139K. They are expensive but on the same plane as a Ariel Atom. BTW - You can also buy Ariel Atoms in The US. The 2018 Ariel Atom 3R is going for $93k(ish).
@Zombie Head Understood. You know I was just informing Gerald Good III
that you can buy a Ariel Atom and a KTM X Bow in The States. I've seen a few running around in SoCal. He had made the comment "we can't get them here in The States."
They are certainly legal in many Eu countries under single vehicle rules that doesn't expire for those registered.
An Ex-F1 driver scared by a measly 310hp car, that's what makes the Caterham so great!
no its like harley davidson , looks great , sounds great .. but its a terrible ride ... shit happens when creators just dont give up bad techniques ,
DeenseDude VonAnd not really the caterham is a good design that is fundamentally a good design, its probably overpowered in this model. Harleys are just fundamentally shit motorcycles
@@felixarbable Yes Sr, totally agree, it´s like an old 2 Stroke GP bike, very powerful, but you have to be a very very good rider if you really want to get the most out of it, same thing with the Caterham, it´s a driver´s car, one of the purest driving there is, no traction control, no power steering, no HELP!, with traction control anyone can floor it out of a corner.
Are Arial Atoms streetable?
Not a fair race as the Atom has all its aero, would love to see the caterham with some aero then a rematch.
Still going for the Caterham. On track I want to have fun, fighting all the way.
Atom 3.5R 367BHP
Year: 2015
Colour: Orange Chassis, Gloss Black Panels
Mileage: 6035
Price: £89,950
Caterham every time. Thing looks just right
Where's the first half where they compare the other two cars?
Still can't believe that these cars is street legal in Europe, why does the US said these were illegal to drive on public roads while they are totally fine in UK & Europe?
Caterhams are legal to drive in the US
There are plenty of legal atoms in the us
Where did you get that idea?
Yes...it's just like Nazi Germany here...
Doesn't your shithole country issue driver's licenses?
EugVR6 You have a point but it's a bit harsh mate...
I've had a go in an atom. The 240r so not as ballistic as the 3.5r and it was the way it brake that really stud out. Enough to make me feel sick
Two of favorite cars that normal people can afford for tearing up back roads
Why not both??
How can one watch complete episodes outside uk?
Why did they not swap drivers?
Phil Day No need really, it’s not a close race between the cars.
The Atom was the obviously choice from the beginning
OH Hell yeah the sequential two wings 3.5 R!
is just that ariel has the reliable honda engine..caterham sounds and looks so damn good...both are beast
More entertaining than F1 👍🏾
Sounds better too 🤣
I own a Caterham aswell but i never had so much problems with the balance. The Caterham tyres may be bad or the setup ist just rubbish.
Its tyres look by eye like Avon ZZR which are very good (better than that on the atom) I assume Caterham gave them a good setup! I don't know which C you have but the highest power models do have a reputation for a light front and being much more twitchy. The lower spec models are much easier to drive.
I’d rather tow my own gears in the Caterham.
This video proves it's well past time to twice bend the deDion tube and fit inboard rear discs!
Dog fight is my favorite part of fifth gear
Seems to be the other way around in my experience, the Caterham is the nicely balanced one the Atom is the tricky one. Hopefully they have improved the Atom now although they are stuck with a high rear mounted engine. In terms of racing the Caterham is considerably quicker to the equivalent Atom. In 'all comers races' Caterhams continue to be the fastest things out there without downforce.
DrPittenstein That’s what I thought. But I am judging that from Driveclub.
The 3.5R isn’t like that at all (especially with the Ohlins and the wider rear rubber). Earlier atoms, maybe. Either way, both great cars
I heard that also. The atom is also said to have massive understeer when the tyres are cold as it's so light
@@jasgts maybe the wings help on the faster corners. The old ones didn't have that
richboy900 ... bit of an overstatement really. The atom is more prone to understeer with cold tires, but on a track it’s not an issue as the tires are warm very fast
Just got back from the Ring in our 620R, if you drove it like that you'd be dead! Learn how to drive a Caterham before reviewing it.
You realise he used to drive a Caterham F1 car, right?
As a Caterham owner, please share some tips on what was the driver doing wrong and how should he do it properly.
@@csread Do you mean Team Lotus :') Yeah remember he was a reserve driver for 2011 season, who crashed on the installation lap?
@@cristianr3712 Karun is a very capable driver, he'd be a better person to get tips from. For this video I think they are exaggerating things like "too much oversteer" to try and differentiate the cars from each other. From what I can see, he's clearly provoking the rear to break loose at 2.13 - 2.15. Because of the nature of a Caterham being lightweight with a high power to weight, they respond best to a very smooth application of driver inputs, through the corners it's like threading a needle.
@@csread you realise a 7 and an F1 aren't comparable, right?
That caterham only had its rear wheels touching the track it looked like 👀
2:50 ..."clunck, and pop away"...lad, that was called driving ;)
Is this the new top gear?
This is Top Gear 1.3. where the Grand Tour is version 2.1
Adamast, thanks, gotcha. Dudes talking about cars. I’m sure I’ll like it
Fith Gear has actually been broadcasting since the relaunch of Top Gear in about 2002 or so with all the original Top Gear presenters excluding Jeremy Clarkson of course.
thats a go cart right there got to be so much fun to drive
Sorry but NO! You are most alive right at the edge of dying and it is the 620R that deliver it at most.
The imperfections are making it perfect!
Now test them against the Donkervoort GTO Rs
Show us the Radical lap then
Should have put the wing on the Caterham.
An ex--F1 driver, who obviously doesn't have any experience driving a Caterham (and didn't seem to have the skill to drive it on its power) out-driven by a TV presenter.
If the ex--F had experience of driving Caterham's then the outcome would have been very different.
Elsewhere on TH-cam you'll see amateur drivers driving the 620 at places like the Ring who obviously can drive this car flat out without losing control on every corner.
The Caterham will always have a steeper learning curve -- it is a raw racer, and you can't jump into it and just go like the Atom.
It takes time, but once you get to really know the Caterham, only then can you exploit all of it's potential.
William R. "...out-driven by a TV presenter." William, you really do need to research Jason Plato.
@@voncoconut5293 Quite. And KC knows what he's doing. He's pushing it harder than most drivers can which is why its on the edge. The idea the C is the one that needs time is even funnier. Its the Atom that you need to learn the way to maximize it more.
Caterham’s numberplate reads Lego cat?!?!
Yep haha,this one gets around too🤣
Touring cars v F1.........BTCC every time Go JP!
Need a better more confident driver in the caterham to push it to the max I reckon it could beat the atom
Wow. I just wanna tow one Camping and this my scenic car.
Looks like a lot of fun
Strap two tacky looking Halfords wings to the Caterham as well and it would be a lot lot closer..... but then it would look a bit Heath Robinson, very much like the Atom does.
Should have taken the V8 Radical obviously... would smash em all.
Yup, while the Radical might not be the fastest off the line, it sure does a good job of holding on to the speed you've built up.
wohhh the ariel looks like it can turn around 620r every 3 laps..ariel looks like it took it to next level grip..but damn i like caterham looks..if that honda engine was in caterham it will be the best car in the planet
Caterham is a like a drift car, designed to drift in every corner and not just drive in a single line. Wrong track, wrong driver and wrong driving style.
What did the Indian bloke say . Could not understand a word he said. Were is Tif
it's unfair contest because he's got wings on his car and the caterham doesn't, and I think it's got thinner tyres. with better setup on the caterham fatter tyres and a under diffuser the caterham would be in the ultimate winner.
the Ariel atoms going to drive like a pig with no wings should have taken them off made it fair contest
Too much unusable power in the 620R, i bet the 420R would do better!
Pretty simple equation, one is a fun toy, open wheel, classic British petrol head beauty with no fancy stuff, raw, the other is a tricked out toy with tons of gadgetry and aerodynamics... The Caterham is also a chick magnet.... A chick would not know what it is looking at if an Ariel blew by....
If the Caterham have the K20A supercharged, it will be the winner
Shame Rockingham isn't like that anymore
"...the atom won all three challenges by a cun... country mile."
Get in atom!
ariel atom is more expenisve but its the same performance as caterhan
Mantap...atom :-) cantik stereng belah kanan...cun sebijik game AE real racing3...perghhh mantap...
Really intense speed and blow guys? Or meth?
Nice top gear copy
Copy? Nope...Top Gear got cancelled in 2001 but Channel 5 bought everything and continued it- the name changed to Fifth Gear because Channel 5 plus the BBC kept the Top Gear name. Wilman, Clarkson & co then rebooted Top Gear in 2002 after Fifth Gear started, so no this isn't a Top Gear copy, it's a continuation of the 1977 Top Gear whereas the 2002 Top Gear is the "copy". That's why Tiff Needell and Vicky Butler-Henderson are on Fifth Gear, they're the old TG presenters, plus Jon Bentley who produced both.
A proper way to ruin your your at speed just like Jeremy Clarkson did on TG
Who is that kalkutta taxi driver?
Salil Sawarim coming from a guy whose name is salil sawarim
Bit of an idiot ain't ya
@EugVR6 failed Formula 1 driver
He used to drive in F1 for Force India
@EugVR6 And Jason Plato used to drive Touring cars
An atom for me please :)
Just has that ‘something’ extra the caterham misses.
I'd love an Atom, but I don't want to have to replace engines as often as I change socks.
spraynpray It’s a Honda Civic type R engine it can go 100k before it needs replacing
Loose the first, win the rest. Stupid test...
Wowwowowowowow he has a 6000 pounds helmet just wow
Ford or Honda hmm..
OATH!
yes.the atom is better. but the caterhamhas a roof
No, the Caterham doesn't have a roof.
@@freenational yes. It's an option.
radical is a real track car the others are toys with not enough rubber
i think you just have to be a better driver for the 7 620R
Subtitles.
Radikal would've taken it in a full on race
Caterham is pré-historic...
It's perfection. What other car is still following the design ethos from the 1950's? And it's still beating modern day super cars where it's meant to be at home when driven.
@@foxracerdrew Is a very demanding car for the driver.
To drive fast a Caterham, on the edge you have to be a racing driver.
Yeah Caterham was driven by a... well
With over 770,000 subscribers, I’d really hope you could pull 1,000 likes per video. Although, after this I can see why you’ve failed.
The Calcuta driver is less than poor, he drives so bad... Caterham is much more car than Ariel
Yay, because positive discrimination.
Oh no, not 5th gear too, you really had to do a diversity hire?
Indians and cars just don't go together.
user12345 do you even know who he is?
Obviously not.