Comments From A Mechanical Engineer

[goldwing06]

If I was a gambler for things other than my Elio, I would be curious about the kind of odds that would be placed in Las Vegas on this topic. I personally feel the Elio's light weight will aid and abet it in being pushed away from crashes. The exception being if/when it is being hit from two sides at once or is hit against a solid object by another vehicle. Both situations would be very bad in almost any car but especially small cars. Of course that is my totally biased and not the least bit humble opinion. Z

i see where u r coming from but it's not the vehicle surviving that impresses me. crash testing to prove the surviability of the occupants will be the most impressive. the one nagging question is egress after a collision that may involve fire. that rear seat could be hard to exrtacate yourself from if the driver is incapacitated during the collision. i don't see a solution for that senario.

 

[Dusty921]

i see where u r coming from but it's not the vehicle surviving that impresses me. crash testing to prove the surviability of the occupants will be the most impressive. the one nagging question is egress after a collision that may involve fire. that rear seat could be hard to exrtacate yourself from if the driver is incapacitated during the collision. i don't see a solution for that senario.

Can we say "sunroof".

 

[goldwing06]

was hard to find this picture if you watch a lot of sports car racing as I do FWD cars 3 wheel it around turns sometimes.

that's the problem with taking 4 pax car and running it on a race track. u r doing something with it that it was not designed to do. it was designed to haul 4(maybe more) adults from point a to point b with a modicom of comfort, economy and safety. that fact that this metal box leans when pushed through a tight turn, is simply observing physics at work. however, as long as people will pay to watch machinery being punished, cars will be raced.

 

[BlioKart]

that's the problem with taking 4 pax car and running it on a race track. u r doing something with it that it was not designed to do. it was designed to haul 4(maybe more) adults from point a to point b with a modicom of comfort, economy and safety. that fact that this metal box leans when pushed through a tight turn, is simply observing physics at work. however, as long as people will pay to watch machinery being punished, cars will be raced.

I would say pro level racing is the exception not the rule. Elio spec racing anyone?

 

[Jim H]

i see where u r coming from but it's not the vehicle surviving that impresses me. crash testing to prove the surviability of the occupants will be the most impressive. the one nagging question is egress after a collision that may involve fire. that rear seat could be hard to exrtacate yourself from if the driver is incapacitated during the collision. i don't see a solution for that senario.

I don't see much difference in back seat extraction from the Elio than any other 2-door car which often requires the "jaws of life" to cut the person out of the vehicle.

 

[goldwing06]

I don't see much difference in back seat extraction from the Elio than any other 2-door car which often requires the "jaws of life" to cut the person out of the vehicle.

maybe the word fire was overlooked in the post. and we know that when seconds count, rescue can be there in minutes. i'm not interested in being saved at the last second but having a way out the first moment of the event.

 

[NSTG8R]

maybe the word fire was overlooked in the post. and we know that when seconds count, rescue can be there in minutes. i'm not interested in being saved at the last second but having a way out the first moment of the event.

Possibly egress out the back hatch? Should be a way to pop it from the inside just like every trunk in the last 25 years. Then again, it might be a tighter squeeze that I think...haven't seen the Elio in person [yet!].

 

[goldwing06]

Possibly egress out the back hatch? Should be a way to pop it from the inside just like every trunk in the last 25 years. Then again, it might be a tighter squeeze that I think...haven't seen the Elio in person [yet!].

that's a good thought, providing these ole bones could contort them selves into such a manuver, after surviving the initial mishap. i'll give it a try if i make the showing in north ga next month. however, what u can plan on with the vehicle sitting upright, undamaged, and what u might have to contend with after a wreck, doesn't always hold true.

 

[wheaters]

Passenger vehicles on a racetrack.....unsafe?
I really don't know what people are worried about.

 

[goldwing06]

Passenger vehicles on a racetrack.....unsafe?
I really don't know what people are worried about.

now thats a demolation derby!