Road & Track Livestreams A Test Drive Of The P5. And The Fender Falls Off... :(

[Bill Graves]

Since I've never actually been inside an Elio or even seen one in person, I liked seeing the video. It raises a few questions, however.
First, the driver said he needed a little engine rev and clutch slip to get the car going in first gear. I wonder if this will be the same for the final production car. I have burned out a clutch in a little Subaru GL and a Geo Metro, because I liked to accelerate faster than those cars wanted to. Now I have aged a couple decades since then and no longer feel the need for speed like I used to, but I don't relish driving a car that needs that kind of clutch finesse to get going. If that is the case I will probably pay extra for the automatic transmission.
Second, "the gas and brake pedal seem far apart." Doesn't seem like a huge deal to me but I wonder if anyone else notice this who has actually sat in the drivers seat? I hope the Elio engineers take notice ergonomics is kind of important in a car these days.
Third, I can imagine the fenders coming off or loose in even a minor collision. (Someone cut a corner too sharp in a parking lot the other day and clipped the fender on my Dodge Journey.) If the shape of the fender makes it want to roll under the wheel and harm steering -- this seems very unsafe and a serious engineering issue. Might be motivation enough to bring back the retro fenders.
Finally, I noticed the cameraman in back was only wearing a lap belt. Will the production model have a shoulder restrain in back? I hope so - worth the extra cost to me.

I did not realize the P5 was so unfinished. I might get to see it in Colorado Springs next week - can't wait, but I really can't wait to see one that is completely finished e.g., with windows that roll up. Better yet, I can't wait to see production #19186.

I agree about about all three of your issues needing addressed. My wife brought up another good point about the seat belt. It should come over from the right side & buckle on the left.

 

[Coss]

I agree about about all three of your issues needing addressed. My wife brought up another good point about the seat belt. It should come over from the right side & buckle on the left.

EM did try that and found that the motion didn't feel right to the driver, making it an item that would be used less (that's their findings, not mine). They had like a two line mention in one of the emails. They also brought up a couple of other reasons, but I don't recall them.

 

[Jambe]

My wife brought up another good point about the seat belt. It should come over from the right side & buckle on the left.

Safety is the reason. The two points have to be on the door side. In an accident if the door is flung open the belt is more likely to hold the driver in than if only one point was on that side.

 

[Coss]

Safety is the reason. The two points have to be on the door side. In an accident if the door is flung open the belt is more likely to hold the driver in than if only one point was on that side.

I can see that; if the door popped open, your upper body would slide out from behind the belt leaving you flopping like a fish.
With the belt on the left side your neck would keep your upper body under the belt. Even though that sounds like it would be tough on your neck, it's better then the alternative.

 

[bowers baldwin]

My favorite comment was 'it feels like an old volkswagen'. Having owned 8 VW's, from a 1956 VW beetle convertible to a 1969 bug (all bought well used) and after loving them all, now I'm even more excited to get my hands on my (2) Elios and I don't think it's going to be hard to get used to driving in the center of the lane, as a matter of fact I think after we all do get used to it, it will feel more natural than driving from the left side of a 'normal' car and we'll have to get used to that.

Might be a tough transition for me, hope I can get used to it.

 

[Jeff Porter]

[Broken External Image]
Read full story here ---> https://www.eliomotors.com/more-legislative-progress/ <---

Well-done, William!

 

[LillyMayPatterson #1685 & #5648]

March 11, 2015, Paul Elio at St. Francis University in Loretto, PA in front of a whole theater full of naked people and said the belt will be over the right shoulder.

 

[Stephen Workman]

post deleted due to containing political commentary

 

[AriLea]

Well played... Perhaps the first 19 were all white and what we are seeing are the last 4 unfinished E series. But, the realist in me says we are seeing E1A-E1E.

Oh, hmm, given this is testing and possible upgrading, I suspect it's actually E1A to E23A. Then if something is adjusted on E1, it becomes E1B to better designate what version is given to which test.
In this case I suppose a B would be a specific kind of adjustment. So a E1B and E2B both have the same upgrades.

 

[bowers baldwin]

political commentary deleted

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