Performance Tires For The Elio Will Be A Pain.

[TeamCoconutOreo]

.85g is a very respectable number - even for a car with some sporty intentions. C/D once rated the skidpad performance of my old '72 Opel Rallye at .85g, saying, "it sticks to the road like lint to a navy blue blazer". . . and that was on the cheap French-made Goodyear tires (that I soon had to replace because with a full load of passengers and luggage, the rear tires were WAY out of their load range . . . yeah, I went to Michelins). The car took SCCA Showroom Stock championships for a couple of years before organizers changed what was considered "stock".

No, your Elio's not going to be a F1 contender, but it as currently advertised, won't exactly be a slug either. With 50+ hp and a curb weight (less driver) of -1300lbs, it has a slightly higher power to weight ratio than a whole lot of 2-seat sporty cars of the 80's. Light weight also pays off in cornering and braking, beside outright accelerative capabilities. That gives me hope that my cheap econobox will be able to deliver some entertainment on weekends out on the two-lane blacktop . . . in addition to being the economical weekday commuter that it was designed to be.

I really hope that the handling bar of the Elio is set a little higher than 80's specs.

 

[Coss]

Little reminder ... the Elio was never intended to be a performance vehicle, just respectable handling for every day driving.
A low priced, high mile per gallon, commuter vehicle.
The Gen 1 Elio is being built to "get it's foot in the door" of being a new car company; besides this first edition, they do plan on doing different models in the future. No one should be disappointed that it can't be an everything vehicle for everyone; it will be just what they have said it will be; the -and- vehicle.

 

[Drag0n]

I hope there's an option for a second set of wheels so i can swap out studded tires on it for winter driving and not have to worry about chains.

 

[xtspode]

At idea what the Elio's 1/4 mile times will be? I uses to race VW 's in the early 70's. Not fast .....but fun!

The 0-60 time of 10 seconds would put it around 18 second 1/4 mile and 80 mph. It should be fairly lively.

 

[xtspode]

Little reminder ... the Elio was never intended to be a performance vehicle, just respectable handling for every day driving.
A low priced, high mile per gallon, commuter vehicle.
The Gen 1 Elio is being built to "get it's foot in the door" of being a new car company; besides this first edition, they do plan on doing different models in the future. No one should be disappointed that it can't be an everything vehicle for everyone; it will be just what they have said it will be; the -and- vehicle.

I am impressed with how well Paul is staying focused on his "must haves". We can make modifications when they deliver, but Elio Motors knows that they have to deliver the car they are planning. Once that is done then they can branch out.

 

[Lil4X]

If you're looking for .98g on the skidpad and an 11 sec quarter-mile, you're going to be disappointed with your Elio. However, if a realistic avg. of 60+ mpg with AC, stability control, and a miniscule price tag intrigues you, maybe you can buy an Elio and save up enough for your rocket belt.

 

[Coss]

I hope there's an option for a second set of wheels so i can swap out studded tires on it for winter driving and not have to worry about chains.

Studs, and you live in Seattle?? Umm live here long? Because studs are the last thing you need in the winters around here, and I've lived here since 1975. There has never been weather bad enough to need studs, even if you go up to the mountains to ski.

 

[2barrel]

The 0-60 time of 10 seconds would put it around 18 second 1/4 mile and 80 mph. It should be fairly lively.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Drag0n]

Studs, and you live in Seattle?? Umm live here long? Because studs are the last thing you need in the winters around here, and I've lived here since 1975. There has never been weather bad enough to need studs, even if you go up to the mountains to ski.

But i just love the drone of the studs on asphalt. Yeah, I haven't needed them in 6 years, but i drive a subaru. I live on whidbey, it never hurts to have them and not need them, instead of need them and not have them.

 

[RUCRAYZE]

Studs, and you live in Seattle?? Umm live here long? Because studs are the last thing you need in the winters around here, and I've lived here since 1975. There has never been weather bad enough to need studs, even if you go up to the mountains to ski.

Only here a year Coss, and frequently the high passes require chains at times- was also recently at Mt. Rainier ( and thanks for the info it was very helpful), there were signs designating pull-off areas to put on chains