Options And Upgrades, Cruise Control, Etc...

[emt1581]

All of the above numbers are hypothetical, even the $6,800.

Well $6800 is what Elio himself has said repeatedly in a LOT of conferences and events publicized by the media. So if that number comes up $100 or $200...not the end of the world but if you start diverging from that too much it'll turn a lot of people off and amazing gas mileage be damned. At least that's my thoughts on how the general public/consumer base's mind works.

I know this site is a pretty big Elio cheer-leading squad... and in theory (at this point) it is really an amazing concept that has great potential that really peaks my interest!!

But if those figures are correct and it's going to end up costing close to $10K for a new one (with all the fees and extra cost for standard parts I don't want like power windows/etc.)...personally...no thanks, I'll wait and buy one used down the road. Hell, for $10K I can buy a used Mustang GT, 350Z, or Camaro. Different purposed vehicles in a different category but just my view of things. Again, this is something I saw as a dirt cheap car that was cheap to feed. Take one of those away and it decreases the attraction significantly.

The argument might be "yeah, well all those fees...that's just how it works when you buy a new car"...which is why I've only bought one new car in my tenure and everything else (car, truck, boat, bike, etc.) has all been used. Now if Elio works their tail off to keep it as close to $7000-$7500 OTD as possible, great!

Again, my personal preference.

-Emt1581

 

[Craig]

Well $6800 is what Elio himself has said repeatedly in a LOT of conferences and events publicized by the media. So if that number comes up $100 or $200...not the end of the world but if you start diverging from that too much it'll turn a lot of people off and amazing gas mileage be damned. At least that's my thoughts on how the general public/consumer base's mind works.

I know this site is a pretty big Elio cheer-leading squad... and in theory (at this point) it is really an amazing concept that has great potential that really peaks my interest!!

But if those figures are correct and it's going to end up costing close to $10K for a new one (with all the fees and extra cost for standard parts I don't want like power windows/etc.)...personally...no thanks, I'll wait and buy one used down the road. Hell, for $10K I can buy a used Mustang GT, 350Z, or Camaro. Different purposed vehicles in a different category but just my view of things. Again, this is something I saw as a dirt cheap car that was cheap to feed. Take one of those away and it decreases the attraction significantly.

The argument might be "yeah, well all those fees...that's just how it works when you buy a new car"...which is why I've only bought one new car in my tenure and everything else (car, truck, boat, bike, etc.) has all been used. Now if Elio works their tail off to keep it as close to $7000-$7500 OTD as possible, great!

Again, my personal preference.

-Emt1581

Hay, to each his own. No normal car on the market today will make you money immediately after driving it off the lot. Like I said in another post, I drive all my cars into the ground. When they leave it's for scrap. On two Elio's I will save over 3K a year in gas. If I bank that for 15 yrs I will have around 52K to buy something new. Can you say that with anything you may buy instead of an Elio?
This is not an apple to apple situation. It's apples to Elios.

 

[pj rogers]

Joshua, try it this way: a 2016 elio built in the 4th quarter of 2015 (2015 mustangs ads on tv.)
(this is the way it will probably look on the purchased agreement)

$6995 14 months from now cost will go up $200 (maybe $7200)
+$795 auto Jerome said in OKC, they are trying to keep the automatic under $1000
+$250 cruise about right, might be $50 more
+$750 destination locked in stone but to where?
+$150 store prep. Your elio must be cleaned, inspected and gassed up
$8940 total price of your elio
-$500 a discount from elio motors
$8440 your final price
+$422 a 5% estimated tax, lic and document charge for your state, might be ,more or less.
$8862 total
-$1000 your down payment
$7862 amount you owe..cash, credit card or financing?

As a retired car salesman I did over 1300 of these in about 10 years. Probably hasn't changed much.
All of us who are really going to get an elio will expect these numbers for the auto/cruise elio.
The problem as I see it, is the number of $100 all in folks who when they see these numbers of over $9000 for the elio they want. How many will say "what happened to the $6800? " Will these folks buy or cancel?
Same with the refundables, will they be shocked and cancel..by the time we get to production late next year, will they change their minds. I'm afraid over 40% to 50% will cancel..I hope not!
Because of my experience with selling vehicles, I wonder if a lot of people would consider this to be a "bait and switch" tactic. It is close to it because of the $6800 makes people want to get a inexpensive vehicle.
Elio owners is the best site to keep everyone informed without the crazies in facebook screaming reserve no, or die, or it is vaporware..or even worse...we are practical people who need to know the score, good or bad right?

 

[Tomg3rd]

Spending $900-$1100 extra for an automatic on a car that sells upwards of $20,000 makes sense to me but on the Elio spending that much more is a significant % of the total cost of the vehicle... Just saying...I think I may stick with the manual...

 

[ecdriver711]

Hay, to each his own. No normal car on the market today will make you money immediately after driving it off the lot. Like I said in another post, I drive all my cars into the ground. When they leave it's for scrap. On two Elio's I will save over 3K a year in gas. If I bank that for 15 yrs I will have around 52K to buy something new. Can you say that with anything you may buy instead of an Elio?
This is not an apple to apple situation. It's apples to Elios.

Good reason. My attraction is the milage and the low price is just a plus. I have bought many used cars not excluding my present daily ride, and like it's four predecessors, it will finally fall behind the cost to value for repair curve. Then I call for the free pick-up from the organization I donate the retired (tired) car to. Last thing I always get from the car is a modest tax write off. None of these cars have come close to the Elio in milage and it will be new. With over 40,000 miles a year, I'm ready for Elio.

 

[Joshua Caldwell]

PJ thanks for the additional breakdown. The difference between that and $10k that I planned on + trade-in value of my car will go to a custom paint job ($3k, trade-in should be about equal to this - KBB is 4300 but I'd only expect to really receive 3/4 of that) and other options. I intend to pay it out of a 401k loan, I figure that the opportunity cost of lost interest on my 401k will be less than the additional cost from an APR over time from other sources of funding.

I figure that as long as the total cost is less than the total cost of a Chevy Cruze or Ford Fiesta (the other 2 cars I was considering when I heard about the Elio) I'm ok even if the Elio price increases, the difference in total cost goes towards making it nicer.

 

[Joshua Caldwell]

Spending $900-$1100 extra for an automatic on a car that sells upwards of $20,000 makes sense to me but on the Elio spending that much more is a significant % of the total cost of the vehicle... Just saying...I think I may stick with the manual...

I would say the same, except for killing my father's transmission when I was 16.

 

[jetpack54]

Hay, to each his own. No normal car on the market today will make you money immediately after driving it off the lot. Like I said in another post, I drive all my cars into the ground. When they leave it's for scrap. On two Elio's I will save over 3K a year in gas. If I bank that for 15 yrs I will have around 52K to buy something new. Can you say that with anything you may buy instead of an Elio?
This is not an apple to apple situation. It's apples to Elios.

Couldn't agree more! Totally no brainer...for those that understand the ELIO concept that is! I'll be a proud owner of an ELIO when production starts because I know I HELPED gave those workers a job, that I'm spending less money on gas w/c by the way if we put more ELIOS on the road, this would mean less demand for gasoline....less demand will cause the price of gasoline to drop! Like I said, no brainer.

 

[olddog1946]

Spending $900-$1100 extra for an automatic on a car that sells upwards of $20,000 makes sense to me but on the Elio spending that much more is a significant % of the total cost of the vehicle... Just saying...I think I may stick with the manual...

If the cost for an automatic, is that high, I will also stick with the stick.

 

[DWR]

Well $6800 is what Elio himself has said repeatedly in a LOT of conferences and events publicized by the media. So if that number comes up $100 or $200...not the end of the world but if you start diverging from that too much it'll turn a lot of people off and amazing gas mileage be damned. At least that's my thoughts on how the general public/consumer base's mind works.

I know this site is a pretty big Elio cheer-leading squad... and in theory (at this point) it is really an amazing concept that has great potential that really peaks my interest!!

But if those figures are correct and it's going to end up costing close to $10K for a new one (with all the fees and extra cost for standard parts I don't want like power windows/etc.)...personally...no thanks, I'll wait and buy one used down the road. Hell, for $10K I can buy a used Mustang GT, 350Z, or Camaro. Different purposed vehicles in a different category but just my view of things. Again, this is something I saw as a dirt cheap car that was cheap to feed. Take one of those away and it decreases the attraction significantly.

The argument might be "yeah, well all those fees...that's just how it works when you buy a new car"...which is why I've only bought one new car in my tenure and everything else (car, truck, boat, bike, etc.) has all been used. Now if Elio works their tail off to keep it as close to $7000-$7500 OTD as possible, great!

Again, my personal preference.

-Emt1581

Hi EMT,

The Elio is dirt cheap for a new car with a warranty. It may not be for you, but you can't cheat Uncle Sam (taxes), or the truck driver that has to deliver it to you. Really, buying a $10,000.00 Camaro or Mustang is no comparison. A sports car worth $10,000 is going to have about 80k-90k miles on it and needs some TLC to get it right. So now your $10,000.00 car has turned into a 13,000.00 car. But wait! It still has 80k-90k miles on it, and something else could crap out on it at any time. Oh, and you still have to pay taxes, title, and tag fees on the used car. The Elio is a pure economy car, and since you're young (you mentioned a 3 year old) it may not be what you're looking for at this stage in your life. Remember, $13.000.00 and a possible money pit, or $10,000.00 with a 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty. Yeah, you'll spank an Elio's a$$ from hell to breakfast in a drag race. But we'll wave to you while you're filling up and we're driving by the gas station.