Reservations: 65341 As Of 6/20/2017

The reason I'm here is because vehicle costs are insanely high and the Elio represents a return to rational purchasing decisions in the automotive market.

There's no rational reason to buy a Tesla when you can buy an Elio plus a lightly used similar quality vehicle and all of the fuel you'd need for 15 years of driving both for the same price:

Tesla model 3 $35k + ~ $7k in electricity > $42,000
$20k used small "luxury" sedan + $7200 Elio + $14k in fuel (5k miles/year sedan, 12k Elio) = $41,200

And that's assuming only a single driver. If you have a two driver family, then the entire cost of a second car and the fuel for it would need to be added to the Tesla, but only the fuel costs need to be added with the Elio.

slinches said:

The reason I'm here is because vehicle costs are insanely high and the Elio represents a return to rational purchasing decisions in the automotive market.

There's no rational reason to buy a Tesla when you can buy an Elio plus a lightly used similar quality vehicle and all of the fuel you'd need for 15 years of driving both for the same price:

Tesla model 3 $35k + ~ $7k in electricity > $42,000
$20k used small "luxury" sedan + $7200 Elio + $14k in fuel (5k miles/year sedan, 12k Elio) = $41,200

And that's assuming only a single driver. If you have a two driver family, then the entire cost of a second car and the fuel for it would need to be added to the Tesla, but only the fuel costs need to be added with the Elio.

Click to expand...

This is why I'm going to buy my Tesla Model 3 from somebody else after their 3-year lease is up, and the car has depreciated into a more reasonable price range (In all seriousness though, I probably won't buy a Tesla. But I'd like to, if given the chance and the price was right )

slinches said:

The reason I'm here is because vehicle costs are insanely high and the Elio represents a return to rational purchasing decisions in the automotive market.

There's no rational reason to buy a Tesla when you can buy an Elio plus a lightly used similar quality vehicle and all of the fuel you'd need for 15 years of driving both for the same price:

Tesla model 3 $35k + ~ $7k in electricity > $42,000
$20k used small "luxury" sedan + $7200 Elio + $14k in fuel (5k miles/year sedan, 12k Elio) = $41,200

And that's assuming only a single driver. If you have a two driver family, then the entire cost of a second car and the fuel for it would need to be added to the Tesla, but only the fuel costs need to be added with the Elio.

Click to expand...

What you point out is what most of us probably think here otherwise we wouldn't be here. But what I'm trying to say is that there are probably at least a million + of $35k+ luxury car sales each year, you could argue not one of those people need those cars, there is always a cheaper alternative that does the job. But the fact is people buy them, and the Tesla 3 will be right in the middle of that market. Thus, if a BMW 3 series is worth $40k, then why not is a Tesla 3 worth $40k.

Looking out at my companies parking lot, a whole bunch of people buy more car than they need because why the heck not if you have the money. A few of us have economy cars and drive them until they are all used up, but we are in a minority.

True, rational buying decisions are certainly not the norm. The auto industry has done an excellent job of selling vehicles as a status symbol rather than purely utilitarian transportation. But just because a majority of the new car market buys into that doesn't mean it's a smart decision.

We are all here because we share an interest in the Elio, but it's fun to discuss other vehicle options while waiting on delivery. The Elio simply isn't designed and marketed to be a families primary vehicle. So possibly owning both the Model 3 as a primary vehicle and the Elio as the range extender. Or the Model 3 as the 'and' vehicle with a crew cab pickup as the primary vehicle. Who the heck needs a $40-50K crew cab pickup? Why do they even manufacture those? LOL. Perhaps the Elio is all you need better yet. Buy and drive what you like and more importantly can afford. Regardless, I'm impressed by both vehicle concepts, the new tech of the Model 3 and the old off the shelf tech repackaged in the Elio. They both have target markets.......me.

The crew cab pickups are for businesses that have small "crews" of 4-5 guys plus some heavy gear and/or a trailer full of equipment to haul out to different work sites every day. I don't know why suburban families would buy them.

By the way, I'm not trying to tell people what to do with their money. I'm just trying to make sure that people know what they're paying for and that there are alternatives if they don't place that high of a value on status and other less tangible benefits.

slinches said:

True, rational buying decisions are certainly not the norm. The auto industry has done an excellent job of selling vehicles as a status symbol rather than purely utilitarian transportation. But just because a majority of the new car market buys into that doesn't mean it's a smart decision.

Click to expand...

Apparently you see a car as a status symbol, which is fine, but if you happen see me driving my future Elio or Tesla Model 3..........status has nothing to do with why I purchased either vehicle and both vehicles are smart choices. LOL

slinches said:

The crew cab pickups are for businesses that have small "crews" of 4-5 guys plus some heavy gear and/or a trailer full of equipment to haul out to different work sites every day. I don't know why suburban families would buy them.

By the way, I'm not trying to tell people what to do with their money. I'm just trying to make sure that people know what they're paying for and that there are alternatives if they don't place that high of a value on status and other less tangible benefits.

Click to expand...

That's funny! Suburban families must buy those crew cabs as status symbols.

slinches said:

I don't know why suburban families would buy them.

Click to expand...

One possible explanation...
The heads of those families are avid country music fans?

Sethodine said:

This is why I'm going to buy my Tesla Model 3 from somebody else after their 3-year lease is up, and the car has depreciated into a more reasonable price range (In all seriousness though, I probably won't buy a Tesla. But I'd like to, if given the chance and the price was right )

Click to expand...

That's good advice for buying any car. Imagine buying an off lease Elio for $3400.