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Selling My $1000 Reservation For $800

RSchneider

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You know, part of the reason today's cars are so darn expensive – are the constant model revisions. Just superficial changes to the bumpers, mirrors, grills, etc. Year after year…
Actually cars are not as expensive as we think they are. Here's just one example when it comes to the cheap low end market. A 1980 Chevy Chevette had a base MSRP of $4,057. If you correct that to 2018 that same Chevette would cost $13,039 today. A 2018 Chevy Spark has a base MSRP of $13,050. So the base cheap Chevy over 38 years has gone up $11. As for Ford, a 1980 base MSRP of a Pinto was $4,605. Correct that for 2018 and that's $14,801. A base MSRP for a 2018 Fiesta is $14,205. So for Ford, the base cheap car has gone down $596. If you were thinking a 1980 Fiesta, then that ran you $5,032 which is $16,173 today.

So what most don't realize that that in the cheap car segment, cars really have not got that much more expensive. Technically for what you get and what is packed into a car today, you get much better value. What I don't do is compare expensive cars because we need to stick with the cheap car market as that's what the Elio will be.

For the fun of it, I looked up what the average national price for a gallon of gas was in 1980. It was $1.19 and that would be $3.82 today. The average price of gas today is $2.87. Gas is actually $0.95 cheaper right now. A disclaimer, this is an average so I know there will be a post of someone saying, "My gas costs $4.50/gal." I believe that, but back in 1980 gas varied too and it is why they call it a nationwide average.

In conclusion, the cheap car segment has either stayed the same or got cheaper and gas is cheaper than it was in 1980.
 

RSchneider

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Something else to consider,
That market analysis predicts annual U.S. demand for the Elio in excess of 315,000 vehicles
So since Elio has that much demand other manufacturers will copy the Elio plan and be selling the same type of car within a year or two. That means the demand for the Elio will put it at #11 in overall vehicle sales in the US. Other companies know this and will react swiftly because they need to be part of that movement. So Elio will have to do redesigns because they will have competition within two years after they start selling. Plus Elio could become a victim of their own success. With demand outstripping supply, people will start flipping the Elio for double the price and that starts a real conundrum. Does Elio raise the price to make a massive profit on each car or stay the course and keep it cheap? If Toyota comes out with their Elio killer for $10K, will people go that route and force Elio to keep up with them and not lose sales? Only time will tell. It's good to see that there's such a huge demand already in place.

If you want to know where I got my quote from, it's on page 6 from the latest 1-K Elio SEC filings dated June 8, 2018.:
https://ir.eliomotors.com/all-sec-filings#document-364-0001140361-18-027806

So this $800 reservation offer just might be worth keeping. I'd just put up a bid on Ebay when this number is getting closer. The person that has this reservation can order it however the final buyer wants it. If the car is around the average Elio price of $10,700 then this car might be worth $20K just because of the demand. My suggestion is to use that game plan and make money on Elio.
 

84mpg

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There has been a need for an Elio for decades. There should be a safe, practical, fairly and reasonably priced vehicle positioned between the "cheapest" car manufactured in the US and motorcycles. There's always been that gap. $13,039 for a "cheap" Chevy now, is too much for many consumers – just as $4,057 for a base Chevette was in 1980. If there had been an Elio in 1980, what would the Elio have cost? Like $2,500 or so? Think about that for a moment.

For many people – $7,400 is easier to cough up than $13,039. And $2,500 would have been easier to pay than $4,057 back in 1980.
…. and you drive twice as far on a dollar of gas – whether in 1980 or 2018.

For me, I can pay the price of the Spark just as fast as I could for the Elio. But why waste my money? I don't need the extra doors or wheel. Don't need the extra seating. Don't want to spend an additional $6,000 for a vehicle that gets 1/2 the mileage. That's not of value to me.

Go Elio!
 

mkiker2089

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Wow, reported just for having some fun on an internet forum. You must be a blast at parties. Sorry to ruffle your feathers. Report this post too if you feel the need.

No need to report it. I assume the one reported was the lame Chapel pic.

I've seen ignorant trolls before. You'll move on eventually.

edit- for the record I did report it as well. The op was asking for help and people troll him.
 

Made in USA

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I don' think any of the large auto makers could produce a Elio-like vehicle at the same price. Their overhead and labor costs would make it unprofitable.
 

RSchneider

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I don' think any of the large auto makers could produce a Elio-like vehicle at the same price. Their overhead and labor costs would make it unprofitable.
I'm going to tell you that you are wrong on that one. What you say is true if you are talking about GM, Ford or FCA. As for all of the rest, they could do it without a problem. For example, VW could just add onto their existing plant and make them. They have no union to deal with and their overhead costs can be diluted among the other two products the make at that plant. Same for Kia, Honda, Subaru, Toyota and Mazda. In addition to that, the companies I mentioned would be using machines that are 10-30 years newer and a much more efficient line which would drive the cost down more. Elio is stuck with old equipment and old lines and not close to the bulk of their suppliers.

One other thing to remember, since the Elio will be 90% USMCA content (that's what North American Content is called today) and the new rules that will be into place, Elio's cost for parts will go up. This, they cannot avoid. Now in Mexico, you need to pay them according to US standards, so those $5/hr workers will be making at least $15/hr. Since Elio never said "90% American Content" that means they priced it out according to NAFTA. Since that's gone, the pricing has changed. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but that's what is happening.
 
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