Elio In The Mountains

[JEBar]

Well, I am hoping the Elio does well; I have a lot of ups and downs where I live and drive.

with its dual valve system, its motor should produce sufficient torque to move an Elio up a pretty good grade but that has to come with a significant drop in gas mileage .... I really fear that folks fixated on 84 MPG are in for some eyeopening real life numbers

Jim

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

Drove a 1995 Metro through the Colorado Rockies several times and up Pike's Peak.
It was sluggish, but it didn't hold up traffic.
I'm sure that the Elio will still be able to keep up.

Fun fact, your car will actually get better MPG's at higher altitude due to reduced wind resistance.

(the more you know!)

 

[Truett Collins]

with its dual valve system, its motor should produce sufficient torque to move an Elio up a pretty good grade but that has to come with a significant drop in gas mileage .... I really fear that folks fixated on 84 MPG are in for some eyeopening real life numbers

Jim

Those of us who drive the mountains every day understand these facts but we also understand it normally cuts our mileage by anywhere from 4-8 miles per gallon, which could cut the Elio down to like 76 mpg, which is much better than the 14 I get right now.

 

[outsydthebox]

Those of us who drive the mountains every day understand these facts but we also understand it normally cuts our mileage by anywhere from 4-8 miles per gallon, which could cut the Elio down to like 76 mpg, which is much better than the 14 I get right now.

If I achieve 3x better MPG's than I am currently getting in similar situations, I will be happy!

 

[JEBar]

Those of us who drive the mountains every day understand these facts but we also understand it normally cuts our mileage by anywhere from 4-8 miles per gallon, which could cut the Elio down to like 76 mpg, which is much better than the 14 I get right now.

I'm really looking forward to reports from folks like you who have experience using a vehicle under the real world conditions in your part of the country .... I hope it does well but it has been my experience that powerful vehicles suffer a smaller percentage loss than less powerful ones .... that may be where the dual valve system can make a positive difference

Jim

 

[Johnapool]

The car I am currently driving weighs about 2250 lbs and has 108 hp. It is as peppy as some sports cars I've had, and goes up mountains in 5th gear without losing speed. At 1240 lbs, with 55 hp, the Elio should never be a problem in ordinary mountain road conditions.
One thing is for sure- you're NOT gonna carry around all that crap you have in your trunk now......that oughta lighten the load right there!

 

[Elio Amazed]

We all wonder until Elio Motors gets testing done or Cycle World does a new product road test on an Elio. I just did a quick internet search to find Curb weight, 2,282 lb for the Geo. The Elio is about 1,240lbs. To ascend a mountain with a vehicle on paved roads (no knobby tires needed), you'll benefit with lighter weight and lower gearing. The Elio motor, trans and aerodynamic body all designed for 84 mpg. They promoted Elio in the snow, snow follows mountainous areas. Elio Motors has hinted about hitting Canada with Sales soon; I am on the wait and see my Elio friends. Good comments about the original VW bug and what it had the capability of getting done. Elio Motors has put a tremendous amount of design, engineering,and safety into our Elio; they are always surprising us with their well thought out plans. The Elio was not just designed for flat/straight roads or no head winds.
Enjoy the Elio journey all my Elio friends Soon we'll have an Elio p5 to discuss
Terrence

Terrence, I don't know where you got your information on the "Geo", but the curb weight of the Geo Metro 1.0L 3cyl 5spd hatchback was 1890lb. That came straight from the manual. I've owned several.

 

[Elio Amazed]

The thing you gotta watch coming down are the brakes...I had a set of front brakes get so hot on a car coming down the Rockies one time that the plastic wheel covers actually deformed from the heat...

Was it a standard or automatic?
I've never driven the western mountains with a car, only the ones in the east that they call mountains.
However, I've driven the western mountains quite a bit in an 18-wheeler.
If it wasn't for engine-braking, every semi attempting to come down any decent western mountain pass would end up as a pile of scrap after the brakes caught fire and failed completely.
That said, I don't think I ever want to take an automatic car transmission down or up a western mountain road.

 

[Elio Amazed]

I remember scraping as well.
Another one of my funny VW stories:
A friend and I were driving around one snowy day in Erie, PA. We saw some guys riding snowmobiles through a high school field. Driving up over jumps, doing donuts in the snow. Looked like fun... So we joined them! Driving around, waving at them on their snow machines, all bundled up and with helmets on. We cranked the heat, cranked the tunes, and had a blast. They all thought we were nuts. Maybe we were just a bit. Oh to be 16 again...

I used to go hill climbing in a new '74 Super Beetle.
I was the only vehicle that could get to some of the remote party sites.
I had (for the day) a monster sound system and 40ft. of cord per speaker.
I was always welcome.

 

[CompTrex]

I used to go hill climbing in a new '74 Super Beetle.
I was the only vehicle that could get to some of the remote party sites.
I had a (for the day) monster sound system and 40ft. of cord per speaker.
I was always welcome.

Funny! My sound system was pretty major as well. Cost much more than the car.