Hog
Elio Addict
1,490 miles according to mapquest. And we will be making the trip at least twice... But should be a nice drive. Trailer towing all the way back though.
-
Welcome to Elio Owners! Join today, registration is easy!
You can register using your Google, Facebook, or Twitter account, just click here.
How Far Is Your Trip?
- Thread starter Craig
- Start date
Lil4X
Elio Addict
Three weeks after taking delivery of my first Lexus RX I launched on a month-long 6,800 mile trip up through the Pacific Northwest and back, visiting friends and relatives along the way. I hadn't had a real vacation in 24 years and figured I was due. It was a real leap of faith, I discovered, because Lexus had no dealer representation west of Kansas, except for California. If something major had gone wrong with about 1800 miles on the clock when I left, I would be well and truly screwed. I did find a "Lexus dealer" in Redmond WA - he must have been the maverick. One-car showroom, one service bay shop. If Bill Gates showed up wanting a new car, this guy was ready. Oil changes, however were another matter - he had a 3 week waiting list.
Elio in the first few months of release may experience the same "what the heck is THAT?" response across the nation too. It's kinda neat when you get stares from the public, but not so much when you pull into a service garage. Ruh-roh. Pep Boys need to get up to speed before the roll-out, or the early adopters among us may have some stories to share with us here.
I spent a few days under a John Deere mower last week, and was saved by literally hundreds of owners who posted home videos of "how-to" jobs on YouTube. I was overthinking the job - that turned out to be WAY simpler than I was trying to make it. I'll bet Elio owners are quick to adopt this kind of shared expertise - it's a relatively simple machine and we are starting out with a pretty tight-knit community of "Future Elio Owners" who already know how to share.
Elio in the first few months of release may experience the same "what the heck is THAT?" response across the nation too. It's kinda neat when you get stares from the public, but not so much when you pull into a service garage. Ruh-roh. Pep Boys need to get up to speed before the roll-out, or the early adopters among us may have some stories to share with us here.
I spent a few days under a John Deere mower last week, and was saved by literally hundreds of owners who posted home videos of "how-to" jobs on YouTube. I was overthinking the job - that turned out to be WAY simpler than I was trying to make it. I'll bet Elio owners are quick to adopt this kind of shared expertise - it's a relatively simple machine and we are starting out with a pretty tight-knit community of "Future Elio Owners" who already know how to share.
fpelsdca
Elio Addict
My wife and I will fly SAN to SHV one-way about $800. The drive back will be our vacation, to south GA to visit family, then FL panhandle to visit brother, then home to San Diego.My very long trip is posted above and it doesn't include a side trip to Pennsylvania to pickup the Mini Mate Camper Trailer. I figure 1 month ought to be enough to do the entire trip and still survive. LOLZ
Shreveport to San Diego: 1,530 miles at 21.6 hours and $73 Elio gas, or $219 on the Elio financing Credit Card. In our case, 7 hours to Georgia, 5 hours to Florida, 30 hours back to San Diego. The number of overnight stops varies, depending on how much time we have off. Next week we will drive cross-country for two weeks, 24 hours straight to Little Rock, 12 hours to GA, 5 hours to FL, finally 30 hours to home. My wife and I just trade-off driving, usually stopping a few minutes every hour or so.
Z, I have been thinking of the Mini Mate also, even designed a storage compartment on the front tongue for both aerodynamics and light weight storage, but finally determined that the cost of the trailer and loss of effeciency outweigh the cost of just staying in a much more comfortable motel room. It would be nice, but I think that being on the open road without the drag of the trailer would be a much more enjoyable trip. I believe the problem most of us have is using all our available space to fit more "stuff" that we could actually get along without. When my wife and I travel, I only use a very small space in one of her bags. Now if we only had the small space in the back + the back seat rider's lap I am sure she would be able to pack what will fit in the back.
I agree with traveling light and staying in motels, but would still like the trailer hitch option to be able to tow a small trailer for my wife's travel suitcase or for that shopping trip to the big box store. Wouldn't have to be any larger than this MC trailer.
zelio
Elio Addict
My main reason for wanting the Mini Mate is it means I have my own bed at all times. I have family I love to visit but don't because I have pet dander allergies and can't climb stairs. All their homes have stairs and they all have pets. Motels are very simply out of my budget range. Plus, I love to camp. Of course that also means I have to come up with the money for the MM. LOL It seems expensive for what you get but I think that is the old supply and demand thing. As I understand it, they are currently built as ordered rather than being part of inventory. In the mean time, I've put the energy out to the Universe and time will tell the results. :-) Z
I can see myself turning a corner, looking the mirror, and seeing this trailer sticking straight out trying to pass me.
Doesn't look like it would hold enough to hold it to the road. However I would like to check it out. Do you have a link?
fpelsdca
Elio Addict
At $3,000, that is 30 nights of $100 motel rooms. Or 60 nights of $50 rooms. For that matter, it is only one night in a $3,000 room. If you can put it to use, then I think it may work well for you. Just get the trailer hitch option on your Elio, and drive to the Washington D.C. area to sight-see and then pick up your Mini Mate. Happy camping!My main reason for wanting the Mini Mate is it means I have my own bed at all times. I have family I love to visit but don't because I have pet dander allergies and can't climb stairs. All their homes have stairs and they all have pets. Motels are very simply out of my budget range. Plus, I love to camp. Of course that also means I have to come up with the money for the MM. LOL It seems expensive for what you get but I think that is the old supply and demand thing. As I understand it, they are currently built as ordered rather than being part of inventory. In the mean time, I've put the energy out to the Universe and time will tell the results.
As a side note, seeing the post of the Father's Day gift of the all-in reservation, is there any way your children or grandchildren are able to help chip in for the rest of the $900 all-in that you need? Make a nice Mother's Day-Birthday-Christmas gift. If they are unable just let us know. I am sure there are at least 90 of us here on the forum that could chip in $10 each to get you there. Just a thought.
zelio
Elio Addict
Thanks for the thought, it is very sweet. I have no grandchildren and my two sons have helped out over the years. By very careful use of my income I have managed to squirrel away almost $400 needed to upgrade to $500 so I am getting there. It simply takes time and careful budgeting. And it has the added bonus of helping me see I really can do this - buy an Elio. After all, I will have to make the payments once I get it so this is excellent practice. :-) Z
fpelsdca
Elio Addict
And by using the Elio Credit Card to make your payments will be like paying for gas in a car that gets 28 mpg.Thanks for the thought, it is very sweet. I have no grandchildren and my two sons have helped out over the years. By very careful use of my income I have managed to squirrel away almost $400 needed to upgrade to $500 so I am getting there. It simply takes time and careful budgeting. And it has the added bonus of helping me see I really can do this - buy an Elio. After all, I will have to make the payments once I get it so this is excellent practice.