Metal...body?

[Terrence]

In the new Shreveport video, did Frick (Elio Plant Mgr) say "...Metal body..." Anyone else catch this? It's @ the 2:13 mark of the video. If this is indeed the case, and Elio has switched to steel exterior panels, all I can say is...I'm THANKFUL I waited this long to buy in with my $. NO STEEL for this guy. If anyone disagrees with me about this, that's fine - your money, your call.

Galvanized Steel will work for me, they listed their reasons in that release. Rousch is in the engineering team eh. They have vast experiences! I am all in and pleased with what Paul Elio and Team Elio shares with me! I am pleased to be all in awaiting my well engineered/designed/functional Elio Autocycle!! Hoorah Elio Motors

 

[tfunster]

Two things, now that Elio is obligated to the fixed price for those that qualify we will see cost/quality/performance cuts that we may not have seen otherwise.
If we were to believe that they would be producing cars when they last stated, we could have safely assumed that the tooling design that it took to produce the SMC panels was at or near completion, changing to steel at this point will move the production out. I would really be interested to hear from Elio exactly what percentage of this car is production engineered.

 

[AriLea]

Two things, now that Elio is obligated to the fixed price for those that qualify we will see cost/quality/performance cuts that we may not have seen otherwise.
If we were to believe that they would be producing cars when they last stated, we could have safely assumed that the tooling design that it took to produce the SMC panels was at or near completion, changing to steel at this point will move the production out. I would really be interested to hear from Elio exactly what percentage of this car is production engineered.

What? hmmm,... The car or the manufacturing process? The car is done except for emerging changes. And that is not fully predictable. How about practically done? Or all done in principle?

As to the process, there is no such thing as a percentage for something like that, not an exact figure over the whole thing anyway. Somewhere in the middle dude. The process and facilities to support it is the 'gorilla in the room' however.

All that project engineers will quote over a full startup like this, is if they are on schedule. So is there a set schedule? Therefore no percentage would have meaning.
Internally I'm sure they do like to talk percentages, but of course, they all have a shared understanding that such numbers are elastic and built on top of sand. It's the schedule that counts.

 

[tfunster]

I guess I'm used to being told WHEN a project will be completed. The only way that changes is if management makes decisions that requires changes to the project timeline. Which in this case makes it apparent that there is no timeline for the project.

 

[Ekh]

It will be a lot easier to do major mods to the body this way. Look for lots of personalizations on the Elio. I know I am.

That way you can put your own little door in it and it's on YOU if the car sucks thereafter .... or maybe you'll be the Back Door King and customize Elios for your living ....

 

[Ekh]

I guess I'm used to being told WHEN a project will be completed. The only way that changes is if management makes decisions that requires changes to the project timeline. Which in this case makes it apparent that there is no timeline for the project.

Sometimes Divine Management is involved in forcing changes nobody anticipated! It's not entirely a matter of management choice, because too many parts of a complex project like this are not under direct control. In terms of large projects, WHEN is actually a wish, a hope, and an estimate. The actual date will flex like mad.

 

[booboo]

Steel away...

Steal Away and RIP Randy Rhoads

 

[Frim]

I guess I'm used to being told WHEN a project will be completed. The only way that changes is if management makes decisions that requires changes to the project timeline. Which in this case makes it apparent that there is no timeline for the project.

"Every project will expand to fit the timeline"
Jim Kern

 

[Coss]

Another little tidbit I found in the EM site, kind of buried.
We all knew (thought) the Elio was going to weigh 1250, I think that's always been the weight mentioned.
Then while building the P5 there was discussion about being 400lbs overweight.
Well surprise, surprise I found that the Elio now weighs 1,228lbs

So where did the 422lbs go? I think it went out the door when the stamped unibody and the steel body panels showed up.
Making the Elio lighter has been one of the "Prime Directives".
The lighter the car, the easier it is to move.

 

[Johnny Acree]

I wonder if the "time - money" paradox played a roll in the decision to switch to metal now?
EM has plenty of time now, but not enough money, so why not make the change now. It will save money down the road for EM and us. Some may say that changing to metal will push the start date out. The start date might have been in danger of being pushed out anyway, I don't know.
On the time side of the problem. EM can't keep pushing the date out much longer or loose credibility. No credibility = no money.