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Does The Elio Make Sense As An "and" Car?

pistonboy

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Nope, but I have a small 2 seater car. I have no opportunity to sit in one. Again, you would buy it for that feel, but a lot of people don't like that tight feel.
Tight feel? I have set in the Elio five times and it is not a tight feel.

It's looks are very appealing to me and is one of the main reasons I have $1000 deposit on each of two vehicles.

People do not operate on logic, they operate on emotions. The only thing they use their intellect for is to rationalize their emotions.
 
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Sailor Dog

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Nope, but I have a small 2 seater car. I have no opportunity to sit in one. Again, you would buy it for that feel, but a lot of people don't like that tight feel.
When we talk about selling 100k per year, have to look at what a lot of people like. Very very few people are going to buy this car based on a cockpit feel.
I'm 6'6, 225# and my legs fully extend (wouldn't drive it with seat fully back) in the Elio P4 and I could only lean on one arm rest. Alburquque Balloon Festival was the opportunity! Probably 3-6 inches of headroom... didn't check that spec. closely. Cockpit feel refers to the center position of the driver. Roomiest vehicle I've ever been in....Honda Odyssey, Dodge Caravans, Toyota Prius, & Nissan Quest amoung them.
 
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Elio Amazed

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Again, the problem is you guys are only thinking about saving money. You are thinking of it as a business decision. Many people don't think that way. They think about bluetooth, the nice seats, the comfortable ride, looks, and yes, other comfort features and many people think of what others say about their vehicle.

There are a large group of people that mainly base their car buying decision based on the looks of a car. Many people aren't going to fall in love with the looks of this car.
The title of the thread is, "Does The Elio Make Sense As An "and" Car?'
I've made my case for answering yes to that question on a personal basis.
Schneider made some valid points. My conclusion is it's likely to make sense if...
You're a high-miler and your primary intent is to save money by driving it as an "and"

Again, you can lead people to common sense, but you can't force them to drink.
I think we've got to keep in mind that economy and uniqueness brought many of us here..

"Many people aren't going to fall in love with the looks of this car."

Sega... Valid point. But the only vehicles I know of that ever topped EMs numbers were Teslas.
No matter what we may think of their ability or lack thereof to bring this thing to fruition...
65,000 for something that never even got to a finished pre-production prototype...
Obviously there were some who didn't find the vehicle all that repulsive.
 

Elio Amazed

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When we talk about selling 100k per year, have to look at what a lot of people like. Very very few people are going to buy this car based on a cockpit feel.
My main concern is that there is a possibility that it's too late.
That EM and other start-ups may have damaged their images too much...
For enough people to put enough faith in them to form the mega-market they need.

That and the possibility that after 10 years, the age and attraction of quirky start-ups simply may have past us by.
 
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Rickb

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Dale, from my own experience nearly a decade ago chasing three wheeler concepts: I liked the Elio concept, styling was o.k./acceptable (love the Tesla’s form and function) but price point was the most attractive compelling must have, but thought to good to be true. My guess is that was the case with a high % of the 65,000 reservationists. Form follows function at any price point. I’d only buy an Elio based on a test drive to determine fit, finish, performance, and handling characteristics. Sadly, I agree with your statement, “the possibility that after 10 years.................. “. I’ve found a couple of concepts I like as well or better.
 

Sega

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Tight feel? I have set in the Elio five times and it is not a tight feel.

It's looks are very appealing to me and is one of the main reasons I have $1000 deposit on each of two vehicles.

People do not operate on logic, they operate on emotions. The only thing they use their intellect for is to rationalize their emotions.

It is going to feel a lot tighter to people that have regular cars. It's 1 seat in the front and 1 seat in the back. People love room.
 

Sega

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Another sad thing is they should be redesigning/ having a "2nd gen" body style by now. The styling is almost 10 years old.

Again, the things i'm saying don't really matter to me. I'm talking in regards to the masses. I've sold cars for a living and learned a lot about what people want. Many people aren't rational with their choices. I had a senior citizen couple that were looking at lifted trucks. They literally struggled to get in. I think they both had walkers. The guy wanted to the pull the trigger, but the wife gave me that look like she wasn't about it. I talked the guy out of it.

Another example would be someone that would get a 4 door truck....not because they needed a truck, but because they wanted the 4 doors.
 

Sega

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Tight feel? I have set in the Elio five times and it is not a tight feel.

It's looks are very appealing to me and is one of the main reasons I have $1000 deposit on each of two vehicles.

People do not operate on logic, they operate on emotions. The only thing they use their intellect for is to rationalize their emotions.

"to me"....those are the key words. You are already sold on it. You need others to be sold on it.

It's like politics. You don't just pander to your base since they are already going to vote for you, you need to real in the people that aren't sure.

Have to look at the big picture.
 

Neal

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It absolutely makes sense for me as an "and" car. I commute 80 miles per day round trip. When I put my deposit down, gas was around $3 a gallon. We calculated the the car payment on an Elio would be about the same as the gas savings each month on my SUV.
 

RSchneider

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I've been in the Elio twice. For the driver, it has plenty of room, as for the passenger, that's a toss up. On the second sitting for an Elio, I ended up getting in the back and had someone get in the front, adjust it and then shut the door. I could live back there but I don't think it would be a real selling point. Just like when Porsche threw rear seats in the back of many of their sports cars. Makes it a 4 seater but not something you'd want to camp out in for a while.

I would have to put in a rear view camera since I never had one up until recently and they are something that should be standard equipment on an Elio. Too many people are getting used to them and they are much better than looking around. Again, times have changed since 2009 and every car must have one now and people will expect it.

I wonder about the turning radius because those wheels with fenders will only turn so much. I seen them pushing it out and parking it but it took a 6 point turn to make what seemed to be something you could do easily with a small car.

Rear opening on the hatch. I never realized how small it was until I seen it in reality. You'd struggle trying to get a medium and forget a large pizza box in there. I see why they mentioned a golf bag about a million times. They are skinny and long, thus would fit. From what I realize, the poor people that drive 80-100 miles for work every day and need to save all of that money, don't golf. Forget skiing as that's even more than golf (plus unless you had ski blades or a snowboard, anything else has to go on the roof).

There will be some hurdles but in the end, I don't see it as big as a seller for the average person. I think they could carve out a great niche customer base and then use those profits to make the next generation Elio. Honestly, Elio should be selling Elio 2.0 and testing Elio 3.0 right now if they would have got selling them when they first said they would.
 
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