Elio Erks Me To No End

[goofyone]

wow, so many responses, love the enthusiastic group. To clarify a few things, I will still buy the Elio if its made. I understand both sides to this whole saga, and just wish we had better info. A small part of my might be comparing the experience with the purchase of the Slingshot. I heard about the slingshot, on 7/30/2014, put a deposit down the next day, and followed, still do, the slingshot forum like lunatic. Reach for my phone in the middle of the night to see new posts. Was told deliveries by end of Oct, and still nothing in Nov, BUT they kept us informed to progress. Finally received it in early Dec, only about a 45 day delay. Now granted Polaris is a 4 billion dollar company, and Elio is a start-up. So i am comparing apples to sour-grapes I guess.

I am sorry to hear you have given up on the Elio but I am glad you are enjoying your Slingshot and hope you continue to enjoy it for a long time.

I do however have to use your post to make a little bit of a point about production timelines and delays. Even with the resources Polaris has at their disposal it took years to develop the Slingshot and they still ended up delaying it's launch after waiting to unveil the vehicle until mere months before it was supposed to be released. As with most vehicle development as almost everything happened behind the scenes most delays in development or production were not a big deal to outsiders as not many people outside the company were following along.

If you search the internet and read some interviews from people involved in the Slingshot development you find that Polaris began playing with the idea of a Slingshot type vehicle about 2008 and by 2011 filed the first of a series of patents that year followed by more detailed patents in 2012. Even after having developed the vehicle to the point of filing patents which look just like the final vehicle it still took them until the end of 2014 to actually launch the vehicle. However from more reading you can find out that not only was there a last second production delay but the launch happened about a year and a half after the mid 2013 launch which Polaris had initially intended.

As a young start-up company EM just does not have the luxury that Polaris had in having the money available and being able to develop their vehicle behind closed doors. Also, unlike EM, Polaris was able to use their size to hide the fact that what some customers perceived as an annoying 45 day delay was actually just the last of a series of delays totaling about a year and half from the originally intended launch date at the end of a project which took six or more years from start to finish.

It would be nice if people could understand that delays in complex product development projects are very common and happen to everyone big or small regardless of funding levels so as such delays should be expected. This is also naturally compounded by the fact that as a start-up EM must also arrange for rounds of financing to complete various stages of development. Along with this any delays or issues they encounter which hamper, disrupt, and/or delay funding arrangements will simply lead to more project delays.

 

[Joshua Caldwell]

I have been coming into this forum for over a year, but have not posted or signed in a long time. I basically am kissing my deposit goodbye, and have come to the true fact this 'car' will never be produced. Its just mathematics that it can't be done.
And it bothers me that I saw the Elio display at Barret Jackson a month ago, and the salespeople were all excited about the Elio and were offering the all in 50% bonus again to unsuspecting suckers.

Sorry, its just the way I feel, and from reading all the posts, seems Elio is being extremely deceptive, and not honest at all.

Ok, going back to driving my 3 wheel slingshot, which is in my garage.

Thanks all.

Enjoy the slingshot and replace the breaks. Had an opportunity to try it, it was a blast but the braking SUCKS!!!!

 

[charchri4]

For what it's worth to the OP I live near the plant where the slingshots are made and know a few folks that work there. They limit who can weld up the frames to a handful of their best which is a tad scary for the rest of the product line. There are lots of good people building those 3 wheel buggies.

 

[JEBar]

I am sorry to hear you have given up on the Elio but I am glad you are enjoying your Slingshot and hope you continue to enjoy it for a long time.

I do however have to use your post to make a little bit of a point about production timelines and delays. Even with the resources Polaris has at their disposal it took years to develop the Slingshot and they still ended up delaying it's launch after waiting to unveil the vehicle until mere months before it was supposed to be released. As with most vehicle development as almost everything happened behind the scenes most delays in development or production were not a big deal to outsiders as not many people outside the company were following along.

If you search the internet and read some interviews from people involved in the Slingshot development you find that Polaris began playing with the idea of a Slingshot type vehicle about 2008 and by 2011 filed the first of a series of patents that year followed by more detailed patents in 2012. Even after having developed the vehicle to the point of filing patents which look just like the final vehicle it still took them until the end of 2014 to actually launch the vehicle. However from more reading you can find out that not only was there a last second production delay but the launch happened about a year and a half after the mid 2013 launch which Polaris had initially intended.

As a young start-up company EM just does not have the luxury that Polaris had in having the money available and being able to develop their vehicle behind closed doors. Also, unlike EM, Polaris was able to use their size to hide the fact that what some customers perceived as an annoying 45 day delay was actually just the last of a series of delays totaling about a year and half from the originally intended launch date at the end of a project which took six or more years from start to finish.

It would be nice if people could understand that delays in complex product development projects are very common and happen to everyone big or small regardless of funding levels so as such delays should be expected. This is also naturally compounded by the fact that as a start-up EM must also arrange for rounds of financing to complete various stages of development. Along with this any delays or issues they encounter which hamper, disrupt, and/or delay funding arrangements will simply lead to more project delays.

there you go again .... when will you ever learn .... pointing out the truth to folks dedicated to finding fault and bringing doom and gloom is seldom well received ..

 

[Ty]

When I put money down I knew that I was putting it at risk. That's my problem and I will sleep soundly even if it turns out that EM is a mirage. What makes me very angry is the lack of transparency from EM regarding what is going on and the fact that they continue to accept and actively court deposits. It must suck to be the guy on Elio Facebook having to answer the same line over and over. Do you think it is a bot? They should cease and desist from taking any NEW deposits immediately. Honestly if they keep taking all in deposits I would not be surprised if there were criminal charges filed from fraud in several states if this falls through. I have two all in deposits ($1000/$100 level) and at this point I am trying to hang on but my car is a 1998 Crown Vic that is a warrior but things are breaking down. By summer I may be using my Elio funds for new wheels. I am glad one of my t-shirts is still in the bag. Maybe I can recoup some money on Ebay as a joke.

I rarely come here anymore . I had to set up a new account just to post. Previously if you said anything even slightly negative or even neutral about this car (even if you were all in), an army of evangelical koolaid drinkers would shout you down. At least now people talk rationally/realistically. I am hoping for good news and will buy my Elio if it comes to pass but realistically my confidence level is a 0.5 out of 10. I think in the end the automobile lobbyists are killing this company. Not blaming Paul as he is trying to bring this car to market. That said it is time for EM to refuse all ins and make any new deposit going forward as refundable.

A delay does not make them a fraud... just saying. They can still take deposits as long as they intend to build the things.

 

[Ty]

I am sorry to hear you have given up on the Elio but I am glad you are enjoying your Slingshot and hope you continue to enjoy it for a long time.

I do however have to use your post to make a little bit of a point about production timelines and delays. Even with the resources Polaris has at their disposal it took years to develop the Slingshot and they still ended up delaying it's launch after waiting to unveil the vehicle until mere months before it was supposed to be released. As with most vehicle development as almost everything happened behind the scenes most delays in development or production were not a big deal to outsiders as not many people outside the company were following along.

If you search the internet and read some interviews from people involved in the Slingshot development you find that Polaris began playing with the idea of a Slingshot type vehicle about 2008 and by 2011 filed the first of a series of patents that year followed by more detailed patents in 2012. Even after having developed the vehicle to the point of filing patents which look just like the final vehicle it still took them until the end of 2014 to actually launch the vehicle. However from more reading you can find out that not only was there a last second production delay but the launch happened about a year and a half after the mid 2013 launch which Polaris had initially intended.

As a young start-up company EM just does not have the luxury that Polaris had in having the money available and being able to develop their vehicle behind closed doors. Also, unlike EM, Polaris was able to use their size to hide the fact that what some customers perceived as an annoying 45 day delay was actually just the last of a series of delays totaling about a year and half from the originally intended launch date at the end of a project which took six or more years from start to finish.

It would be nice if people could understand that delays in complex product development projects are very common and happen to everyone big or small regardless of funding levels so as such delays should be expected. This is also naturally compounded by the fact that as a start-up EM must also arrange for rounds of financing to complete various stages of development. Along with this any delays or issues they encounter which hamper, disrupt, and/or delay funding arrangements will simply lead to more project delays.

Well said. It is Elio's transparency that has made delays so obvious. Every company can face delays behind closed doors. Even Apple has delayed production... Where is that Sapphire screen, anyway? Unfortunately for Elio, there are those who expect exact dates and releases and who lament Tech News that isn't news to them. Some don't understand that there is a wide range of Elio enthusiast... from those of us who check often for updates to the people who merely follow on ocassion. I, for one, applaud the way Elio has handled the scrutiny... The engine "First official start" was delayed as we all know. Elio chose not to throw another date out there. Did they learn a lesson about over promising? Can they not yet iron out the date? Did they see that they may be able to show the Official first start in the finalized Elio prototype? We'll see. Sure is an exciting ride though. Just like in good movies, there are ebbs and flows of action, emotion, and excitement!

 

[John Painter]

I am sorry to hear you have given up on the Elio but I am glad you are enjoying your Slingshot and hope you continue to enjoy it for a long time.

I do however have to use your post to make a little bit of a point about production timelines and delays. Even with the resources Polaris has at their disposal it took years to develop the Slingshot and they still ended up delaying it's launch after waiting to unveil the vehicle until mere months before it was supposed to be released. As with most vehicle development as almost everything happened behind the scenes most delays in development or production were not a big deal to outsiders as not many people outside the company were following along.

If you search the internet and read some interviews from people involved in the Slingshot development you find that Polaris began playing with the idea of a Slingshot type vehicle about 2008 and by 2011 filed the first of a series of patents that year followed by more detailed patents in 2012. Even after having developed the vehicle to the point of filing patents which look just like the final vehicle it still took them until the end of 2014 to actually launch the vehicle. However from more reading you can find out that not only was there a last second production delay but the launch happened about a year and a half after the mid 2013 launch which Polaris had initially intended.

As a young start-up company EM just does not have the luxury that Polaris had in having the money available and being able to develop their vehicle behind closed doors. Also, unlike EM, Polaris was able to use their size to hide the fact that what some customers perceived as an annoying 45 day delay was actually just the last of a series of delays totaling about a year and half from the originally intended launch date at the end of a project which took six or more years from start to finish.

It would be nice if people could understand that delays in complex product development projects are very common and happen to everyone big or small regardless of funding levels so as such delays should be expected. This is also naturally compounded by the fact that as a start-up EM must also arrange for rounds of financing to complete various stages of development. Along with this any delays or issues they encounter which hamper, disrupt, and/or delay funding arrangements will simply lead to more project delays.

 

[BlioKart]

Why do these type of Elio Goodbye threads all remind me of things like this.

 

[John Painter]

The rabbit is laying on a ball... he's laying on a ball! LMFAO.

Why do these type of Elio Goodbye threads all remind me of things like this.

 

[outsydthebox]

I've thought about that and am a bit perplexed by it .... all I can guess is something changed, some other funding source must have dried up .... someday when a book is written about EM's development we may know but I wouldn't count on that

Paul explained it in the "crystal ball cracked" interview. IIRC, He said that getting the excess equipment "to market" was taking longer than expected. This was one of several "factors" involved in the delay.