how much do they run new? any used ones for sale?
Not 100% on this but if you somehow could get one new (unlikely) I think they are running just north of $100K. Used subtract maybe 5-10K depending on mileage. I know there was a guy on 6speed trying to sell one a few weeks ago.
You can "build your own" and price a new one on the Brammo website... http://www.arielatom.com/ There have been a couple of used ones on eBay a while back, if I remember right the bids were somewhere in the $60's. There are 4 used ones (3 sold) for sale on the Brammo website in the $70's.
Very few are road legal. I've been looking into getting one, but cannot get any guarantee it can be made road legal in NY State. There is one for sale in CA ($79K) that is emissions exempt, but that cannot be transferred to NY.
They can be MADE road legal for the most part they already are. How do i know? theres a guy in the Upstate NY region with a black panel one and he has brought it out to car 'shows" before with plates on it. You just have to register it as a kit car i believe because the chassis is made by them and then the motor by honda ( dont quote me though)
I have seen about 4-5 around the greater seattle area, they are pretty cool and I am sure a blast to drive. I dont understand the question why would want anyone want to drive it on the street becuase far as i am concerned they are a lot more safe to drive around then a motorcycle. I wish we were more like europe when it comes to letting cars like the Ariel on the streets. Radicals would be nice as well.
Getting a title and hence a plate from any particular state doesn't mean that it will transfer to another state or that the car meets correct EPA/DOT specs. Most titled Ariel Atoms are technically not legal to drive on US roads. It is just that most states don't care/know about DOT/EPA regs and will register just about anything. (Which I think is a good idea!) But the EPA does run random vin number checks now and then (though pretty rare) and if on comes up suspect they have been known to check out the car. If it doesn't meet EPA or DOT regs for that year car and they suss out that your "toy" is not legal then they can impound and crush it, regardless of tile, plate or insurance. You can get titles plates and insurance on just about anything in certain states. Florida, CT and CA are known as "easy" states, with TN and AL being good places also. I know of a street legal INDY IRL car in FL, a tank (Centurian MK7) in TN, (It is registered as a "farm implement") and a plane! registered and licensed in CT. As a example, you can import Japanese "Kei" cars from Japan/Canada into the USA. The importers ship them to Florida, get a title and off you go! You swap titles into your state and your are all set-right? Wel the chance of getting caught is probably nil but these cars are not road legal cars and the Feds can take your toy away. It has happened (I was hired to "prove" a certain car meets DOT crash standards when the Feds took it from the owner.) The Feds ultimately crushed the car. Caveat Emptor.
before lotus elise's were imported into the us, a local guy (houston) bought one and imported it. it was registered and on texas plates. he attended a car show and about a month later, he receievd a letter. he was allowed to sell the car with in 45 days (if i remmeber correctly) outside the usa. he listed it on ebay and it sold. he lost his ass on the car and i have no idea what the fine was, but according to the local lotus dealer (who i asked about it at the time) , it was not inexpensive. however, the ability to sell and pay a fine was probably better than the cost if it was crushed. i don't know how he went about getting it road registered in texas, but just because it has a title and plates, doesn't mean it is legal.
