Doubts...to Buy Or Not To Buy...

[Ty]

If they plan on a real "5 Star" rating (which I don't know how you get for a motorcycle) doesn't that mean expensive testing by destruction of expensive prototype vehicles as you slam them into walls/cars/each other? Plus the re-designs needed (if needed) to make it pass.

I think the 5-star thing was added to make people feel more comfortable about buying a "motorcycle", but it will bite Elio in the ass in the end.

I don't think that they will ever get a 5-star rating until the Federal Government either creates a rating system for autocycles or they reclassify the Elio as a car (Please, no). Elio doesn't even claim that it will receive a 5-star crash rating. They never have. However, this is one of the things that gets repeated so much that people assume they are going to try to get a 5-star crash rating. What Elio actually says on their web site is, and I quote "Engineered for a 5-Star Crash Test Safety Rating." They will surely crash enough of them to make sure they are safe and that they WOULD receive a 5-star rating if it applied. I am willing to bet that with today's modeling software that Elio will build the couple dozen P5s, crash test several, video them, of course, show the best videos and say "See, this would be a 5-star rating if the Elio was classified as a car".

What I'm saying is that while Elio will ensure 5-Star level safety protection, he'll make sure that before the P-5 is produced (probably already is either done or in work), that it is over engineered to be easily over that crash rating thus limiting rework to almost nothing. Not having a door on one side will really stiffen up protection quite a bit, too.

 

[KenK]

Elio doesn't even claim that it will receive a 5-star crash rating. They never have. However, this is one of the things that gets repeated so much that people assume they are going to try to get a 5-star crash rating.

Not just on their website, but on their trailer...

And my interpretation of this, which seems reasonable to me, is that if the government doesn't develop a 5-star plan for their vehicle, then they will apply all the same criteria required for 4-wheel cars to theirs and meet them on the honor system, since no one can really hold them to it.

How rigorous will they be? Who knows, but if Paul is the saint he is portrayed as, then I would assume they aren't going to cut corners ($).

 

[pj rogers]

EM has said several times they are within $300 of the $6800 so that makes it $7100 now, in the next 15 months do you folks think the price may go up a couple of hundrd bucks..plus a $750 destination charge and a small dealer prep charge..am I missing something here????? Jerome said to several of us in OKC..that the auto would be under $1000 dollars..i"m guessing $800 bucks...forget the $6800 figure, it is just a number now after almost 2 years of advertising..oh, wait, maybe if they take out the air conditioning! $8500-$9500 elios will be common!

 

[Rickb]

Not just on their website, but on their trailer...

And my interpretation of this, which seems reasonable to me, is that if the government doesn't develop a 5-star plan for their vehicle, then they will apply all the same criteria required for 4-wheel cars to theirs and meet them on the honor system, since no one can really hold them to it.

How rigorous will they be? Who knows, but if Paul is the saint he is portrayed as, then I would assume they aren't going to cut corners ($).

I agree. Elio has always stated anticipated 5 star safety........and won't know if it passes the same criteria used for cars........until they crash test a few. Safety Officials will have to conduct the testing, evaluate, and certify the testing or it's meaningless. Frankly, it may fail and then it is what it is a classified enclosed three wheel motorcycle which is somewhat safer...............requiring no MC endorsement or helmets......I hope.

There is a narrow commuter EV called the Tango which is NASCAR 200 mph Crash Certified having 4 x the side impact protection of an SUV...........so it can be done.

 

[Snick]

I guess in your last line you must be claiming to be God then since apparently everything you say is the truth and you are exempt from your own stated standard of providing evidence to back up your claims.

Can you back up anything you have said with any evidence at all?

Errrr, wow. Now you're being completely absurd. You have no evidence, no facts, you make grandiose, wild claims of somehow being connected to a super uber secret innner circle that gets onto conference calls with Mr. Paul Elio himself, yet OTHERS who question this bold BS need to present evidence?

Evidence of what? Proof that you DIDN'T meet with the Martian Ambassador?o_O

 

[Snick]

Current ride:
2001 Triumph Sprint ST --daily when it's not too hot (Monsoon from 4th of July to 1st week of September).
During the hot weather: '98 BMW 318ti (the 4 cylinder--gets 32mpg freeway)

I would LOVE to trade both for a 2015 Elio in Creamsicle or Silver.

Mr. Paul Elio, please build it. I will buy it. I will even work for free to make it reality. I'm not sure that the suppliers are really up to the task. You still need a hard-nosed, reality-based Project Manager and Process Engineer. I'm here, will work for free for this car--been waiting my whole life for a 2F/1R to become reality--let's make it happen.

 

[briish]

well dont look to me to take over i dont have 2 nickels to rub together cheers chet

 

[briish]

hahahh why can,t we all just get along

 

[Ty]

I meant that there is a difference between "engineered for" and "will receive" a 5 star crash test rating. People keep assuming that Paul has to crash a whole bunch of these to keep his word. All they say is that it will be engineered so that it COULD receive the rating if it were to be tested... that's all. People want to stretch out the production timeline for "6 months to a year" of testing when not only is that not necessary, it isn't probable either. Testing probably won't be done by a government agency. There aren't even standards for the autocycle or rather, motorcycle as the federal government has it classified.

 

[Tomg3rd]

Well, we kinda do know about the price of an basic elio. We know the base price is $6800 but EM says it is about $300 more right now..so lets use that ok. $7100. The destination charge is basically $750 because many tour officials are quoting that. $7100+$750 is $7850....then a prep fee has been mentioned by EM..I'll guess $150. $7850+$150.= $8000. I can say with confidence the price may be at least $200 more by late 2015..because i see my grocery bill go up every month. Add at lease, another $700-$800 according to Jerome the national sales manager for the automatic. (we are trying to keep it under $1000.)
..If the versa 5 speed is $11,000 then it is $3000 more but can carry 4 people and has a decent sized trunk. I am not sure of the warranty, but Elio is only 3/36. That is not going to stop me, will it stop any of you ?

Not sure you could really get a Versa out the door for 11K. Is this a fair comparison? Wouldn't they have to also add on the same extras/fees as you have quoted on the Elio??