Old Atom FAQ

[Karlo]

Old Atom FAQ. Interesting.

[Karlo]

I wonder if the price increase is from the demand or rising costs?

$38 in 2005 Base model
$58 in 2008 Base model

[Gage]

My first and optimistic response is that business is expensive, like building a super car, that profit is the reason products are produced.. and a company should and must charge whatever is needed to continue making an incredible machine like the Atom. More power to them.

However, I think the following is more likely. This is my personal opinion, (not an attempt to start an argument or offend anyone) based on observable facts, (prices and news items) and statements made by employees of the company. (former stateside Atom manufacturer)

Why the price hike? Greed and or/poor management. Greed makes the world turn after all.

The Atom manufacturer was attempting to rapidly expand its facilities and reduce the production time of the Atom, while investing large amounts of profit into other projects. They ran out of money.

In response, items like lights, seats, and miscellaneous parts of the car that were already marked up significantly over the cost that an individual could purchase them for from the original manufacturer, were marked up another 10% to 15%, at least. Some items were marked up over 100%. I saw the itemized price lists on components of the car before and after the price hike. I made comparisons. A fifty dollar muffler, charged at 80 dollars, was then listed as a $150.00 component cost. A 5k to 10k mark up to get a Honda engine vs. an Ecotec engine... and so on.

Maybe the introductory price was just to get people hooked. Some will say the company made no money, and then finally charged enough on Atoms to make some profit. I personally do not believe that for a second.

But, the Atom is still in production, and available if you save long enough or happen to be very well off financially. That is a good thing.

The Atom is a phenomenal performance machine that I hope remains available forever. However, I hope it steers closer to Simon Saunders original concept for the car which as he explained to me in person was "..a supercar that a teacher could afford."

[Karlo]

Thanks for the perspective Gage.

BTW why did you sell your Atom?