Ariel Nomad 2: hit or miss?

Ollie Marriage: “If the 2 is more house trained, I wouldn’t complain”

I know what’s going to happen. Jack’s going to claim the Nomad has got too grown up, that it will have lost its mad mojo. That thought had crossed my mind too.

Then I remembered I’d expected the same when Atom 3 became Atom 4. What we got was undiluted thrills but better composure and control. The sweaty palm factor was reduced. I thought the original Nomad was essentially unimprovable, the motoring equivalent to strapping a GoPro to the back of a Labrador.

But now I think back to it, it could be a bit disobedient. If this one is a dash more house trained and knows to avoid rolling in fox poo, I wouldn’t complain.

Jack Rix: “I’m not sure how this version can improve on the original”

Look, I’m a fool for the Nomad’s charms as much as the next man. I mean, who doesn’t want to scramble around off-road pelting yourself with cow pats?

But I’m not sure how this new version can genuinely improve on the original recipe. It’ll be faster and more expensive... but more fun? Not sure that’s possible. I’m also concerned about the engine swap – a Honda screams engineering integrity and bulletproof quality, a Ford not so much.

I’ve also lived with a lightweight fitted with the 2.3 EcoBoost (Zenos E10, remember that?) and my eardrums are still recovering from the excessive induction noise. It sucked, I’m worried the new Nomad might too.