Will you buy one of these when/if they actually come out?

[Tinkles]

The problem is, cars like that are made for roads in the country that they were made in.  A car like that I think wouldn't be good for any other roads. The car should be sold in an area that it wouldn't be a safety hazard to the driver or anyone around the vehicle. Sadly, most companies don't have their customers best interests/safety at heart.

I highly doubt that a motorist would survive a crash in that going 30+ MPH.  Seen one crash up close with a smart car (one of the three I've ever seen). It wasn't pretty, I suspect that this 'vehicle' would have a similar ending to it as well.

[morfiend]

They will more than likely not pass emissions set by the EPA. That is why we don't have a lot of the VWag products that you see over seas.

 Actually I think it's the quality of fuel we use here! IIRC the diesel used in Europe is different in that it has no sulfates in it and the sulfates cause problems with the cats used on those VW's.

  Shame because a hybred using that type of diesel with small displacement and an electric motor with switchable battery packs would be the way to go.  Hmmm I think they have buses in Sweden that work like that.....



   

[danny76]

American made in Louisiana, 2 seater (inline), a/c standard, 3cyl engine that achieves 84mpg, 5 star (car) crash ratings (It is technically classified a motorcycle), and only costs $6800! Supposed to hit the market in 2015. I am very skeptical about it as it seems to good to be true. But if it does actually do what it claims and still costs under $7000 new I will buy one. I currently drive a 2003 Yukon XL (suburban) daily and it is usually just me in the truck commuting to work and school. Only on the weekends is the truck actually used as intended as a family hauler. I spend over $100 just to fill the tank and that lasts me a little over a week. The Elio is ugly but I'm all about cheap and efficient transportation. I don't see how it can only cost $6800 when a can-am spyder motorcycle is over $20k new. This car/motorcycle will destroy the hybrid/compact car market over night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ge1ZGi1bTQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpSn00HlM30

http://www.hybridcars.com/elio-motors-three-wheeler-coming-in-2015/

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$100 to fill a tank on a large sum????
$100 at current exchange rate would buy me just over 9 gallons of unleaded

[RotBaron]

Sorry but nope. Buy/drive the biggest piece of steel w/best accident ratings possible. Too many irresponsible ppl. CA woman past weekend plowed into group of 4 teens reaching for her cell, given a misdemeanor, she's prolly driving again soon if not already. Two winters ago, women entered I-17 between Phx/Flagstaff going wrong way, plowed headon killing herself/passenger and others vehicles passenger iirc. Thousands more stories...

Chevy/GM not even making the 3/4ton chassis anymore for whatever reason. Ford did away few years ago iirc 

I did clinicals at a medicare/caid nursing home. Saw way too many patients there with tracheostomies from car accidents, very scary and very sad.

Give yourself the best fighting chance you can have for your daily ride, not always possible of course

Maybe I'll buy a rig. 

[SilverZ06]

You guys do realize that bigger doesn't equal safer right? You can die in any vehicle.  No body is saying this thing will stand up to a semi.  But if it does pass all of the safety tests the average car passes then it is as safe or safer than what you are already driving.
 

$100 to fill a tank on a large sum????
$100 at current exchange rate would buy me just over 9 gallons of unleaded

the gas pumps stop at $100, as of now I can't fill the tank for $100, I get just over 3/4 tank (32 gallon tank).  I understands gas is expensive where you are but I'm betting you don't have to rely on a personal vehicle for transportation. Where I live you do. Everything is spread out and there are no trains and hardly any busses or any other forms of public transportation. My daily round trip commute is about 25 miles(and that's actually pretty good compared to most).  At approximately14mpg (at best) my gas goes quick. If the Elio is everything they claim it will pay for itself in a couple years in gas savings.

[danny76]

You guys do realize that bigger doesn't equal safer right? You can die in any vehicle.  No body is saying this thing will stand up to a semi.  But if it does pass all of the safety tests the average car passes then it is as safe or safer than what you are already driving.
 
the gas pumps stop at $100, as of now I can't fill the tank for $100, I get just over 3/4 tank (32 gallon tank).  I understands gas is expensive where you are but I'm betting you don't have to rely on a personal vehicle for transportation. Where I live you do. Everything is spread out and there are no trains and hardly any busses or any other forms of public transportation. My daily round trip commute is about 25 miles(and that's actually pretty good compared to most).  At approximately14mpg (at best) my gas goes quick. If the Elio is everything they claim it will pay for itself in a couple years in gas savings.

On the contrary, i live 40 miles from my place of work, the nearest store to me i just over 7 miles away. I drive a Land Rover and my fueld consumption is not terrible but nevertheless, relying on public transport in the UK would not be feasible.

[SilverZ06]

On the contrary, i live 40 miles from my place of work, the nearest store to me i just over 7 miles away. I drive a Land Rover and my fueld consumption is not terrible but nevertheless, relying on public transport in the UK would not be feasible.

then you really need one of these!   

[danny76]

Well I tend to use a motorcycle for trips to the shops/gym and the like, this looks to have none of the Pro's and all of the Cons

[SilverZ06]

Well I tend to use a motorcycle for trips to the shops/gym and the like, this looks to have none of the Pro's and all of the Cons

  Really? Here is my comparison based on the motorcycle I used to have...

2007 Suzuki GSX-R 600  cost: $7400new          A/C: no          MPG: ~45          Radio: no        Keep me out of the rain: no        Fun: hell yes
2015 ELIO                    cost: $6800 new         A/C: yes        MPG: ~84          Radio: yes       Keep me out of the rain: yes       Fun: possibly but definitely not as much as the gsx-r

and I'd bet survivability in ANY crash is going to be higher in the ELIO with rollcage and airbags protecting the occupants vs the occupant protecting the motorcycle.

none of the pro's and all of the cons huh? 

[danny76]

Really? Here is my comparison based on the motorcycle I used to have...

2007 Suzuki GSX-R 600  cost: $7400new          A/C: no          MPG: ~45          Radio: no        Keep me out of the rain: no        Fun: hell yes
2015 ELIO                    cost: $6800 new         A/C: yes        MPG: ~84          Radio: yes       Keep me out of the rain: yes       Fun: possibly but definitely not as much as the gsx-r

and I'd bet survivability in ANY crash is going to be higher in the ELIO with rollcage and airbags protecting the occupants vs the occupant protecting the motorcycle.

none of the pro's and all of the cons huh? 

$7400 new? He'll, I'mmoving to the states!

[SilverZ06]

$7400 new? He'll, I'mmoving to the states!

yeah, I got quite a good deal on it.  I sold it two years later for 7200  

Here is my wife riding it the day I brought it home:
edit: upon further review this was the weekend after I brought it home, not the same day. I already added the wheel stripes and removed the factory license plate/fender assembly.



She only dropped it twice that day  

[Zoney]

I ride a motorcycle every day and have for 40 years.  I live in Arizona so motorcycles can be much more than a toy, it is my transportation.

Friday I took delivery of a 2014 Honda CBR1000RR SP.  This bike is unbelievable.  400 pounds and 155 HP.  Full Ohlins Race suspension, Brembo Monoblock Brakes, and an engine built by HRC (Honda Racing Company) that is blueprinted and balanced from the factory.  It is also a "monoposto", no passengers, maximum rider weight is 200 pounds.  The bike has a mileage computer on it, even new and tight, it gets 55 MPG at 65 MPH, sitting straight up.  If I go into a full tuck it is 63 MPG at 65 MPH.

Not only is the gas mileage very good but it is very exciting to ride.  It would be a half a million dollar super car to have this performance.

This is not however a cheap machine to operate.  The bike is $17,000.  Tires which are Honda spec tires built by Pirelli will only go about 3,000 miles and are $500.00 a pair.

Nothing makes me feel like I feel when riding a bike in the Arizona mountains on a sunny Saturday morning.  My brothers Prius gets the same gas mileage, but the experience is not quit the same.

[BluBerry]

I ride a motorcycle every day and have for 40 years.  I live in Arizona so motorcycles can be much more than a toy, it is my transportation.

Friday I took delivery of a 2014 Honda CBR1000RR SP.  This bike is unbelievable.  400 pounds and 155 HP.  Full Ohlins Race suspension, Brembo Monoblock Brakes, and an engine built by HRC (Honda Racing Company) that is blueprinted and balanced from the factory.  It is also a "monoposto", no passengers, maximum rider weight is 200 pounds.  The bike has a mileage computer on it, even new and tight, it gets 55 MPG at 65 MPH, sitting straight up.  If I go into a full tuck it is 63 MPG at 65 MPH.

Not only is the gas mileage very good but it is very exciting to ride.  It would be a half a million dollar super car to have this performance.

This is not however a cheap machine to operate.  The bike is $17,000.  Tires which are Honda spec tires built by Pirelli will only go about 3,000 miles and are $500.00 a pair.

Nothing makes me feel like I feel when riding a bike in the Arizona mountains on a sunny Saturday morning.  My brothers Prius gets the same gas mileage, but the experience is not quit the same.

pics

[danny76]

I ride a motorcycle every day and have for 40 years.  I live in Arizona so motorcycles can be much more than a toy, it is my transportation.

Friday I took delivery of a 2014 Honda CBR1000RR SP.  This bike is unbelievable.  400 pounds and 155 HP.  Full Ohlins Race suspension, Brembo Monoblock Brakes, and an engine built by HRC (Honda Racing Company) that is blueprinted and balanced from the factory.  It is also a "monoposto", no passengers, maximum rider weight is 200 pounds.  The bike has a mileage computer on it, even new and tight, it gets 55 MPG at 65 MPH, sitting straight up.  If I go into a full tuck it is 63 MPG at 65 MPH.

Not only is the gas mileage very good but it is very exciting to ride.  It would be a half a million dollar super car to have this performance.

This is not however a cheap machine to operate.  The bike is $17,000.  Tires which are Honda spec tires built by Pirelli will only go about 3,000 miles and are $500.00 a pair.

Nothing makes me feel like I feel when riding a bike in the Arizona mountains on a sunny Saturday morning.  My brothers Prius gets the same gas mileage, but the experience is not quit the same.

I am utterly jealous. I am looking at a Zzr1400 for my next bike to replace the VTR thou and the ST1100.

[Sol75]

I ride a motorcycle every day and have for 40 years.  I live in Arizona so motorcycles can be much more than a toy, it is my transportation.

Friday I took delivery of a 2014 Honda CBR1000RR SP.  This bike is unbelievable.  400 pounds and 155 HP.  Full Ohlins Race suspension, Brembo Monoblock Brakes, and an engine built by HRC (Honda Racing Company) that is blueprinted and balanced from the factory.  It is also a "monoposto", no passengers, maximum rider weight is 200 pounds.  The bike has a mileage computer on it, even new and tight, it gets 55 MPG at 65 MPH, sitting straight up.  If I go into a full tuck it is 63 MPG at 65 MPH.

Not only is the gas mileage very good but it is very exciting to ride.  It would be a half a million dollar super car to have this performance.

This is not however a cheap machine to operate.  The bike is $17,000.  Tires which are Honda spec tires built by Pirelli will only go about 3,000 miles and are $500.00 a pair.

Nothing makes me feel like I feel when riding a bike in the Arizona mountains on a sunny Saturday morning.  My brothers Prius gets the same gas mileage, but the experience is not quit the same.

Man I love the honda's.  I have a 06 600RR, and love it... Doesnt get ridden too much anymore though.. I probably should sell it.  I stepped into a Ducati 1199 last year, and never looked back. What a mean machine that is.. and yea, not cheap either..wound up dropping 26k with all the options.. but it's WELL worth it!