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"powers To Be" In The Auto Industry Are Keeping 10k Priced Products From Coming To Market

Dewey

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I am an Elio owner.... OK I paid a down payment. My not get a car...sorry auto-cycle, but I'm good with that. I may also put down $100 for a Sondors auto-cycle as well. I believe in what these people are doing. It is my opinion that every car maker that is vested in the current automotive production effort is scared to death that one of these 10K products will get to production. They can not compete. It breaks their product demand paradigm. No current manufacturer has a product to compete with these guys. I would stake my life that there is something going on that keeps the Elio and Sondors out of production that will someday come to light. The 400 million Elio needs is a drop in the bucket. Mark my Word.
 

Made in USA

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Perhaps it's the "science" of marketing that has been training our ways of thinking for years that is to blame? Back in the 70's I read a book by Vance Packard called Hidden Persuaders that showed how they were using sub-conscience and subliminal messages to influence our purchasing choices. It was even being used for political speeches (they say what we want to hear - but why is that what we want?).

The big auto makers have been selling us more, using terms like "Special Edition", "Limited", "Super Sport", "Rally", or even "SUV".
It's a façade that we try to keep up with the neighbors on who has the best toys and is therefore more successful. In South Korea there are virtually no used cars. Their façade is that someone who must buy a used car must not be very good at their job.
 

RSchneider

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It is my opinion that every car maker that is vested in the current automotive production effort is scared to death that one of these 10K products will get to production.
If this was true then this is what would have happened.
1. The car companies would have told Stu Lichter to not deal with Elio Motors, thus no car plant and equipment
2. The car companies would have told the blue chip suppliers not to deal with Elio Motors
3. The car companies would have told Pep Boys to not deal with Elio Motors
4. Roush would have been told not to deal with Elio motors
5. When Elio Motors did the IPO, the car companies would have told all of the investors not to buy the stock
6. If Elio was a real threat, the car companies would have bought Elio Motors, wrote Paul a massive check and then shut it down
7. The car companies would have told the banks not to deal with Elio Motors for the Elio credit card people will use to pay off the car
8. The car companies would have told the states not to allow the Elio legislation for three wheelers to be operated without a helmet
9. The car companies would have passed legislation to make every autocycle meet every passenger standard for emissions and safety
10. The car companies would have not allowed autocycles to be eligible for the ATVM loan program

The car companies had plenty of ways to shut down Elio Motors over the last 10 years. They never did. So, the actions up to this date shows that the car companies did nothing to stop Elio Motors. Same for the banks and government. Unless someone has something of substance, then we can't blame anyone else except for Elio themselves.
 

Made in USA

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I remember back in the day when the automakers would tell you the retail price. Now they just tell you the discount. Anything to get you into the dealerships. I contacted a local dealer about a used car. It was sold, but they said they might have something else. I told them my criteria. Next thing I know is that three other people at the dealership sent me emails wanting to set up test drives. None of them had anything matching my criteria. Again, just trying to get me into the dealership and try to sell me something that I really don't want.
 

RSchneider

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I remember back in the day when the automakers would tell you the retail price. Now they just tell you the discount. Anything to get you into the dealerships. I contacted a local dealer about a used car. It was sold, but they said they might have something else. I told them my criteria. Next thing I know is that three other people at the dealership sent me emails wanting to set up test drives. None of them had anything matching my criteria. Again, just trying to get me into the dealership and try to sell me something that I really don't want.
I think it's much easier to buy a car today than years ago. Now you can research all of the info and figure out what the price is. Back in the day, you had the newspaper and then multiple trips to various dealers. I hated that. When I bought my TDI back in 1999, barely any dealers had them, thus they really didn't want to sell you one. I found one VW only dealer had had a single TDI, so I test drove it. Told the salesman that i wanted the top of the line model and it had to be green. A day later the salesman found on and I bought it. Best part was I did a loan online and already had a check. When I showed up, the OTD price had to be no more than that check, or I was going home. The salesman made it work and it was a really easy sale.

My Alltrack I bought was pretty funny. They had two and I chose the top of the line version. Then when it came to be handed off to the F&I guy, he did the usual thing, try to sell you on extra stuff. So, I just got up and started to walk out. When he stopped me I told him, "Just keep talking, I'm getting a coffee. When you are done, I'll come back in." He took the hint and we just did the necessary paperwork.

In this day of age, just do your homework. Use a burner email and don't give them your phone number. With Tesla and Elio, you know what the price is and then you just price it out until you are happy. Those two are making it harder for the traditional car companies.
 

Elf

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$10,000 car won't happen ,ever.Can't buy a motorcycle ,golf cart or small farm tractor .I'll stake my life on it
 

Coss

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$10,000 car won't happen ,ever.Can't buy a motorcycle ,golf cart or small farm tractor .I'll stake my life on it
I can find you a few bikes under $10K, a Kawi comes to mind first, then a few of the Hondas, and a Suzi. So careful what you say.
 

Ty

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I can find you a few bikes under $10K, a Kawi comes to mind first, then a few of the Hondas, and a Suzi. So careful what you say.
Too late... he's dead.
For cars in the US, the Nissan Versa retails for as low as $12,460 before any bargaining or discounts. Though it doesn't meet the "under $10K" statement, it's close.
 
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