100 Preproduction Elio's To Be Built In December!!

[Karnaj]

Or just pull it in far enough to reach the oil pan and filter. No need to go all the way in

That's what she said.

 

[HonestTex]

That's what she said.

She never said that!

 

[RUCRAYZE]

You won't be able to get your oil changed at most franchise oil and lube garages either. The pit is in the middle of the vehicle track, right where the rear tire is.

with a stop to prevent the rear wheel from "dropping in", ride over as a normal vehicle

 

[AriLea]

with a stop to prevent the rear wheel from "dropping in", ride over as a normal vehicle

Voted BEST answer! (by me), yes just stop once the FE is over the pit. It helps to be FWD doesn't it?

 

[Sethodine]

I'm more concerned about getting new tires than I am about oil changes. Will my local tire place be able to do it/offer the right sizes, or will I have to drive the 100 miles to the nearest Pep Boy's?

 

[RUCRAYZE]

I recall, that the tire sizes will not be exotic, and readily available, currently many shops do not have all sizes in stock but tap into (what must be their "staging area") and have a few hour wait to have the size delivered. Not knowing too much about tire wear, with the light weight of the E we should be getting excellent milage, for some they will not be whole without double white sidewalls! Ah! someone mentioned that in fact whitewalls are on both sides??

 

[Muzhik]

I hope the E Build testing includes running at least one E series through a car wash to see if it survives the test or can even track through a typical auto wash. Crap, I'll probably have to driveway wash the Elio.

Where I live, we don't have a whole lot of those "pull-through" car washes -- they take up too much real estate. We usually have the ones where the machine goes around the car. If the front wheels are far enough apart that they can trigger the sensors (where you drive forward until a light goes on to tell you to stop) then you can use one of these automatic washers; otherwise you'll have to use the self-serve wand wash.

You won't be able to get your oil changed at most franchise oil and lube garages either. The pit is in the middle of the vehicle track, right where the rear tire is.

Talked about this with my mechanic. Again, most places don't have pits; they have hydraulic lifts -- makes it easier to work on multiple cars if you don't have to climb in and out of a pit. You move the lift pads so they are under the places where you put a jack to raise the car to change the tire, then lift the car and go to work. As someone else pointed out, a 2x6 under the rear part will fix that.

 

[Sethodine]

Something just occured to me... What if we formed our own "business", then became a "fleet customer"?

However many fleet E's we can get, we have delivered across the country to different areas based on Member population density. All the members who pitched in to purchase the fleet get on the map, and each member gets to drive the fleet car for a set time before handing it off to the next geographically-nearest member. Once our own E's start to be delivered, we auction off the fleet cars (either to members or the general public) and the proceeds are divided among the rest of the members.

I'm thinking we could call it something like "Elio Testing Authority" (ETA for short ). Or maybe "Elio Association of Testers, Mechanics, and Enthusiasts" (EATME)

 

[Rickb]

Something just occured to me... What if we formed our own "business", then became a "fleet customer"?

However many fleet E's we can get, we have delivered across the country to different areas based on Member population density. All the members who pitched in to purchase the fleet get on the map, and each member gets to drive the fleet car for a set time before handing it off to the next geographically-nearest member. Once our own E's start to be delivered, we auction off the fleet cars (either to members or the general public) and the proceeds are divided among the rest of the members.

I'm thinking we could call it something like "Elio Testing Authority" (ETA for short ). Or maybe "Elio Association of Testers, Mechanics, and Enthusiasts" (EATME)

You know perfectly well that I have a pending copyright on EATME, but happy to let the newly formed Elio Association of Testers, Mechanics, and Enthusiasts use it as I will certainly become a charter member. My EATME T-shirt suddenly becomes more versatile to wear to the monthly meetings of both groups.

 

[AriLea]

Something just occured to me... What if we formed our own "business", then became a "fleet customer"?

However many fleet E's we can get, we have delivered across the country to different areas based on Member population density. All the members who pitched in to purchase the fleet get on the map, and each member gets to drive the fleet car for a set time before handing it off to the next geographically-nearest member. Once our own E's start to be delivered, we auction off the fleet cars (either to members or the general public) and the proceeds are divided among the rest of the members.

I'm thinking we could call it something like "Elio Testing Authority" (ETA for short ). Or maybe "Elio Association of Testers, Mechanics, and Enthusiasts" (EATME)

I had considered that. One thing it could do is remove the PR politics that EM has associated with selling 'advanced release product'. And also allows the higher price tag, EM not even having to disclose the price if we get in on the 'testing-partner' wagon for it.

I think you have a good chance with this so long as it's not exhibited in any other way except as advanced testing of product !-by a business partner-!. But then you have to also secure owners insurance. Yet the fleet entity could swing a group discount on that as well.

What you would have to do is secure $500 - $1000 (refundable) deposits from some number of people, and start negotiating for the right to do this as well as a viable price for the vehicles per unit. As a 'partner' the 'entity' would also have to sign a non-disclosure for the contracted unit sale price and other details.

I think EM could do this themselves, calling for interest in being part of a 'pilot-test-program'. But it could be a PR nightmare should the current 'all-in' react negatively and start calling 'fowl'. Creating our own business-fleet agency hides all those controversial details behind confidential contracts.

I would negotiate in this way, have EM propose a price, then the fleet investors say I'm in or not. Loop the response-count back to EM. EM then commits to the count or proposes a new price. When EM commits to a price AND count, those not voting yes, get their money back. All we need is a good name and a smart and savvy web-site (with private voting) to support this idea.

EM would also have a -stiff- legal release that all buyers would have to sign on to. We would allow/require EM to place a copy of that on the website as well (updated with their price proposal). When you vote 'yes' the sub text would say "by checking yes, I agree to this release and non-disclosure agreement (link)".

EM may require a single color or same outfitting for the whole fleet, but would have to disclose that as well.

Business name: Alternative Certifications LLC. Or Alt-C for short.