Elio reality or bust?

[Bradley G]

I see the NY Auto show will display the unique craft.
Eighty MPG and a five star crash rating!
Just an idea I have been kicking around.
Prolly won't even fit inside !
Thoughts?

[fastblackmerc]

I see the NY Auto show will display the unique craft.
Eighty MPG and a five star crash rating!
Just an idea I have been kicking around.
Prolly won't even fit inside !
Thoughts?

Saw one in person. I'm seriously considering purchasing one.

[Bradley G]

Please give me your impression(s)
Everything I have read makes me think this is a remarkable little craft!

[cvpiftw]

That is not a car, that is a personal transport device.

[fastblackmerc]

I think its classified as a motorcycle..... sort of....

[rauder88]

According to what I read it is considered a motorcycle but depending on your state you may or may not need a motorcycle endorsement to drive it. I have motorcycles so no big deal there, but I would be required to wear a helmet inside due to Nebraska's helmet law....

[lji372]

In 14' they said it would be out in 15'. Now they say 16', I'm thinking it's a bust. I hope I'm wrong. There's a place here in mi that is working on the engine I'm told (iav).
I would buy one.

[Pat]

I have a $100.00 reservation and was very excited about getting one. Perfect for my simple
needs.
But in traffic you may not be seen. Get a medium flag on a pole taller than a truck's hood .

Bump, bump "what was that, honey", the wife shouts from the cab of hubby's F-150?

[handmouth]

Great idea. I have been watching it.
No, spare tire they give you a can of fix a flat.
That kind of bothers me.

[Bradley G]

I'm leaning toward putting a deposit down, I just want
to sit in it .
I think black is stealthy looking

[Bradley G]

That is not a car, that is a personal transport device.No where in my post did I call it a car!


I think its classified as a motorcycle..... sort of....Is that what tags you have to carry?


According to what I read it is considered a motorcycle but depending on your state you may or may not need a motorcycle endorsement to drive it. I have motorcycles so no big deal there, but I would be required to wear a helmet inside due to Nebraska's helmet law....That seems crazy being that it does have a formidable crash rating.


In 14' they said it would be out in 15'. Now they say 16', I'm thinking it's a bust. I hope I'm wrong. There's a place here in mi that is working on the engine I'm told (iav).
I would buy one.That concerns me a little , but the more I research the more I think its going to catch on, & be a go.
*Especially if fuel goes back to five plus a gallon!


I have a $100.00 reservation and was very excited about getting one. Perfect for my simple
needs.
But in traffic you may not be seen. Get a medium flag on a pole taller than a truck's hood . They mention that in the blogs! They have those already!


Bump, bump "what was that, honey", the wife shouts from the cab of hubby's F-150?
What color ? any options are you gonna get?
Is your reservation refundable?

Great idea. I have been watching it.
No, spare tire they give you a can of fix a flat.
That kind of bothers me.Yeah , that could be a problem.
several models of sports cars are going to that sh*p

[Bradley G]

Anybody see it at the New York auto show?
Now its in Florida at Barret Jackson!

[fastblackmerc]

The only thing I don't like is Manny, Moe & Jack are the only "official service centers". Wouldn't be my first choice.....

[lji372]

I would have it sent to zack to figure out a way to load a 4.6 in it :D

[Bradley G]

Yeah the pep boys did not impress me, but I don't have any experience with them to be too critical.

[Fastbob]

http://carbuying.jalopnik.com/elio-motors-pushed-its-release-date-back-a-year-and-peo-1682456076

Looks to me like it is a bust!

[Bradley G]

http://carbuying.jalopnik.com/elio-motors-pushed-its-release-date-back-a-year-and-peo-1682456076

Looks to me like it is a bust!

That article is several months old.
Since then they have successfully dyno'ed the motor.
Next step is 31 units produced for demo cars.
The company is offering investment opportunities for folks that make at least 250,000
Besides the government money and the deposits, I think its a go!

[Fastbob]

That article is several months old.
Since then they have successfully dyno'ed the motor.
Next step is 31 units produced for demo cars.
The company is offering investment opportunities for folks that make at least 250,000
Besides the government money and the deposits, I think its a go!I think the car is a neat idea, but I think the company has a promise the moon give them Rhode Island mentality. The car or whatever it is has been delayed too many times. We will see.

[rauder88]

I saw an Elio trailer behind a F350 at the gas station across the street from my work. I rolled up and started asking the driver questions.
He was very informed on everything going on at Elio. The trailer contained a P4 model, the P5 is undergoing testing right now which is the final configuration.
He told me that they will have a "rock solid" release date by the end of the month.
He let me look at it through the side door on the trailer, wouldn't let me get in or take pictures, but it was interesting to see in person. 14,400 have been reserved so far.

[cat in the hat]

Please give me your impression(s) . . . .

Looks like a great way to be the first one at the scene of an accident IMO (since you asked ;) ).


According to what I read it is considered a motorcycle but depending on your state you may or may not need a motorcycle endorsement to drive it. I have motorcycles so no big deal there, but I would be required to wear a helmet inside due to Nebraska's helmet law....

That sounds like good advice, considering the number of accidents people have because they didn't see stuff like freight trains and 40-foot-long chrome tank trucks.

I don't want to sound like a nay-sayer ; I'd be fine with it if it was confined to a quiet little town or a resort area or something.
I would not be able use it in rush-hour traffic or on a big Interstate even if it was indestructible, and it got 8,000 mpg, because it would be terrifying - it sounds Ok on paper, until you look over and the lug nuts on a cement truck are two feet from your head at 60 mph.
Again, that's just me.

[RF Overlord]

I agree with CITH...

I was driving on Rt 128 outside of Boston...anyone from New England knows that speed limits on 128 are just a suggestion and that drivers on that road deserve the name "M*******s". I was probably doing 70 and was passed at a great clip by a Smart car...not something I would do on a dare.

[Pat]

The deposit is not refundable but I'm still hoping to get one. My only concern thus far is getting lost from view in full size vehicle traffic. This is going to get a few people mashed, IMHO.

My plans are to drive it to the neighborhood stores using our not so crowded parkway or city streets, no highway or interstate. This thing is just too low. I live in a small city, max speed limit is 45 MPH.

[fastblackmerc]

I'd like to use it as a commuter also. Mostly city streets.

I'll be looking for a tune from Mo's....... :D

[Bradley G]

The tour cams as close AS a couple hundred miles from me but I did not have it in me to go see it.
Still want to see it and sit in it
I'll know rite away if it will work or not just by seat test.

[Bradley G]

I put an "All In" deposit down today.
I hope to build on that by the time it may be produced.

[Pat]

I'm also patiently waiting.

The official news letter is still optimistic and some behind the scenes progress is reported.

But realistically, maybe 2018 before actual production. The world might end before that.

[Bradley G]

Lol ! I doubt they can sustain two more years of teasing , If it never comes to fruition.
I read a review of the first prototype P4 by Ric Titus and he claimed it was as fun to drive as many exotics.

I'm also patiently waiting.

The official news letter is still optimistic and some behind the scenes progress is reported.

But realistically, maybe 2018 before actual production. The world might end before that.

[lji372]

I'd say it's a bust at this point.....

[rauder88]

Started taking reservations 3 years ago.
Bought assembly plant January 2014.
Unveiled their prototype engine in March 2015.
And debuted their 5th prototype at the LA auto show in November 2015.
Things still aren't ironed out there. I don't see a 2016 release date at all. They haven't started production yet. They only have 2 vehicle right now. The P4 and P5 prototypes that is it. No test mules or anything.

Would be a great commuter. Realistically looking at 2018 for actual delivery dates. I have concidered putting a deposit down. With over $20 million in reservations I would hope this actually happens, for all those with money down.

[Bradley G]

The positives I've seen are;
The company has opened up to public stock options
They have nearly fifty thousand deposits on committed orders for this unique craft.
They have had very successful campaign thus far,
I thought the test mules were being produced currently.
Just the fact that 20 million vehicles currently get less than 20 mpg is a good indicator that we need a cheap transportation craft.
Last fact .
I want one!

[03blackvegas]

Little cars like this will only be viable, if everyone drives them.

[1Marauder]

This whole campaign scares me.

Hate to say, definite form, formate, structure of a pyramid or ponzey type scheme.

Keep teasing the investors to garner more funds, only providing "something" when investors start questioning validity of thier investments... All spread out over a long time frame. And that "something" that is provided is in itself just barely substantial enough to to keep those who believe snared... As they already believe--and have already been caught.

The psychology of the individual that has been duped or conned is to want to believe they have not (they would have to admit failure). Everyone "wants to get in on the ground floor" and be special. No one wants to be the victim of a fraudulent scheme-- and so they help keep the facade alive.

But to someone who doesn't care, this is clearly not enough to "invest." And the timing, delay, spread out nature of the "company" (newsletter, 2 mock up bikes, then clothes line, then ?) all lead to a the atmosphere of a complete sham.

Just one guy's thoughts.

I would look up the SEC or government paperwork and banking papwork. If $20,000,000 were truley in play, there would be a significant paper trail. The SEC would have some jurisdiction, if again it is open the public (aka-a public stock offering). BTW, Numbers like this always astound me. That would mean that 1,000 people have already caughed up $20,000 in cash and "let it ride" for three years (10,000 put up $2,000, 100,000 put up $200) --with no interest or dividends of any kind, all under the promise of a large future payout... Without any guarantee what-so-ever. Not saying this is not possible--simply that if I, or you, gave them $20,000 three years ago--and they sent me a cool leather jacket (or something similiar) I am fairly sure we would not be placated.

I would be pissed! Further, simply, why not guarantee the refund? If they can't be made...

Again, just one skeptics' thoughts.

PS I'd bet Zach, Jerry, Spectragod, and FastBlackMerc could come together and build these two units in thier spare time in three years--especially if they had $20,000,000. As a matter of fact, I'd bet they could build out 100 units in three years time.

The idea is cool. The execution is far from above board, and is in fact, extremely suspect.

[Pat]

The fact that Elio decided to build an engine from scratch, was, IMO, extravagant, when the rest of the car is "off the shelf".

Most of the criticism I've read concerns the tight control over every aspect of this development by Mr. Paul Elio himself.

Other three wheeled vehicles have been brought to market in much less time but not at Elio's target price.

I'm in for $100 bucks, not much of a dog in this fight. Fingers crossed.

[1Marauder]

$100 is not bad at all, and kind of a fun gamble. Any more than that...