Pick Your Model!!

[Craig]

Having ordered a vehicle via the dealership experience I can say that I prefer a relatively stripped "off the shelf stock" modify it later approach. If you really want to see how grueling ordering a car can be go play around in the Porsche online configurator. Not only can you nearly double the cars cost with options you can also loose several hours reading and weighing options on nearly everything!

The Tesla site took me about five min. to rack up a $170,000 price tag. I chickened out at the order now button.

 

[lafrisbee]

Having ordered a vehicle via the dealership experience I can say that I prefer a relatively stripped "off the shelf stock" modify it later approach. If you really want to see how grueling ordering a car can be go play around in the Porsche online configurator. Not only can you nearly double the cars cost with options you can also loose several hours reading and weighing options on nearly everything!

That would be funnier than hell(intentional confusing pun). I would do that just for the entertainment....it'd be like looking through the Sears wish book before Xmas.

 

[lafrisbee]

I am also in the camp of all the major optional stuff being done at the factory... Their might be a total of temp options but then that makes a bunch of different Elios minus the color variants.

30 years ago my parents got a personal tour of the. Jaguar plant. Dad was somebody, and. Mom knew how to chat people up. One of the VP's walked them through. They were offered a card "at an extreme discount" as a professional courtesy. So they put together a fairly modest jag, the one that was delivered to them stateside had everything. Intentionally had everything we figured. Did I mention. Mom's a good talker?
Talk nice to the guy giving you your tour, just sayin'

 

[Craig]

I am also in the camp of all the major optional stuff being done at the factory... Their might be a total of temp options but then that makes a bunch of different Elios minus the color variants.

30 years ago my parents got a personal tour of the. Jaguar plant. Dad was somebody, and. Mom knew how to chat people up. One of the VP's walked them through. They were offered a card "at an extreme discount" as a professional courtesy. So they put together a fairly modest jag, the one that was delivered to them stateside had everything. Intentionally had everything we figured. Did I mention. Mom's a good talker?
Talk nice to the guy giving you your tour, just sayin'

 

[jetpack54]

The Tesla site took me about five min. to rack up a $170,000 price tag. I chickened out at the order now button.

I rest my case! At your convenience, sitting at your favorite couch, if you don't like the total price tag, start over!!!! Works really well with my wife that changes her mind faster than a speeding bullet (a slight exaggeration). I just had to go there....again!

 

[Ty]

I still say it wouldn't take long to tighten 4 bolts per seat, slide the radio of choice into a double din slot, and attach the dash harness and clip it in. Done. Just that alone would make manufacturing much more simple (cost effective)... 3 radio's x 3 seat choices x 2 dash choices (gotta keep the well loved Elgin in there) x 2 transmissions x 7 colors = 252 combinations that the factory would have to maintain... not to mention that there is NO WAY to build a car with NO notice and then ship it 2,000 miles without hella transportation costs. I believe the trucks spent about a day on the line including the paint booth. Let the dealer slip in the radio, clip in the dash, and put your seats in... the dealer could have 14 cars, 3 sets of seats, radio's, and dashes and be able to have your car ready within 48 hours easily-no matter which of the 252 combinations you picked. Shoot, if it was a slow day, they could have it to you in an hour or so(coffee breaks, naps, etc.). Every task I've listed was performed in 52 seconds or less at the GM plant. I know this first hand. I was an industrial engineer there and my job was to ensure each work station had fewer than 52 seconds per the GM standard time tables. Of course, they had a lifting jig for the seats but other than that, all these parts were quick installs that took literally one repetition before you could do it yourself.

Why is it so hard to think a dealer couldn't do it?... Though, I'll be honest and admit I've been to some dealers where I'm surprised they knew the difference between a manual and automatic transmission.

...And that's the way the cookie crumbles.

 

[Craig]

Say you were a Manager of a show room with only five people working for you.
You have 3 or 4 people in the showroom, 1 wants to take a ride, 2 are asking questions and you have 6 to 10 cars in the back each needing on avg. 4 modifications, for delivery tomorrow and 9 orders off loading for the next day. GO

JMO. I think they should be delivered to the showroom with as many options on them as possible.

The addition of options during assembly does not slow down the process. Every car passes down the line at the same speed. The bar code reader at your station tells you to add your part or just let the car pass. If you do have to add an option, all you have to do is pivot to the right for the leather seat or to the left for the standard cloth seat. If zero options are placed in all cars, it will be faster, only because the assembly line is shorter. The show rooms will never be able to keep up with orders if required to add options. JMO

 

[goofyone]

I have to point out that the installation of options is planned for regional distribution centers not the stores.

From eliomotors.com Elio Store area:

Delivery: Once you make your choice of transmission, color, etc, we go to work fast and hard. We will have your new Elio cleaned and ready with options installed and back to the Retail Center within 24 hours of the order! Our distribution centers are designed to move Elios...lots of Elios, quickly, efficiently, and damage free. That is part of our commitment to you. Further, we are working on that fantastic “Factory Pick-up” program we mentioned earlier. Details are to follow, but this delivery involves a tour of the plant in Shreveport, Louisiana and more.

 

[H2odog]

I still say it wouldn't take long to tighten 4 bolts per seat, slide the radio of choice into a double din slot, and attach the dash harness and clip it in. Done. Just that alone would make manufacturing much more simple (cost effective)... 3 radio's x 3 seat choices x 2 dash choices (gotta keep the well loved Elgin in there) x 2 transmissions x 7 colors = 252 combinations that the factory would have to maintain... not to mention that there is NO WAY to build a car with NO notice and then ship it 2,000 miles without hella transportation costs. I believe the trucks spent about a day on the line including the paint booth. Let the dealer slip in the radio, clip in the dash, and put your seats in... the dealer could have 14 cars, 3 sets of seats, radio's, and dashes and be able to have your car ready within 48 hours easily-no matter which of the 252 combinations you picked. Shoot, if it was a slow day, they could have it to you in an hour or so(coffee breaks, naps, etc.). Every task I've listed was performed in 52 seconds or less at the GM plant. I know this first hand. I was an industrial engineer there and my job was to ensure each work station had fewer than 52 seconds per the GM standard time tables. Of course, they had a lifting jig for the seats but other than that, all these parts were quick installs that took literally one repetition before you could do it yourself.

Why is it so hard to think a dealer couldn't do it?... Though, I'll be honest and admit I've been to some dealers where I'm surprised they knew the difference between a manual and automatic transmission.

...And that's the way the cookie crumbles.

My take on your scenario: You've missed 2 options in NAV and cruise so permutations are now well over a thousand. Secondly, we are NOT talking traditional dealerships here with service bays and mechanics, but rather stores where you will go to place your order. All service is to be done by a partner business. I cannot envision the logistics, but I do know that if the vehicle is created for modular construction/upgrade as you have hinted at in your discourse, facilitating orders/builds will be vastly more simple.

 

[JP]

You are forgetting - Elio showrooms are not dealerships. They are showrooms staffed with salaried professionals trained by Elio to discuss your ideas for your Elio, tell you the non-negotiable cost and then arrange for Elio to get that vehicle to you in 24 hours. Oh, and they are supposed to be friendly, helpful and definitely people people rather than bottom line people. Read the details on Elio Motors website. It is very exciting to someone like me. I Love ELIO! Z

But, but, but I love the friendly people at the dealer. They charge nothing but good prices and would never try to rip me off