Thread(s) Of Elio As Long-distance Highway Machine

[pistonboy]

I sent the following email to Elio motors.


Hello,

I am all in for $1000 with a spot in line of 7761. I have some ideas to consider and would appreciate if they could be forwarded to the correct person. I realize this is late in the Elio’s design for change and others have probably said these same things before.

Item 1

Switch the drivers shoulder belt from his left side to his right side. When getting in and out of the back seat or moving items in and out of the back seat, I have sometimes had problems with the shoulder belt being in the way. It would hang down and snag me or items. The Elio is unique in that the shoulder belt can be put on the driver’s right side, out of the way. No other vehicle is like this.

Item 2

Provide a place under the hood for installation of aftermarket hood release. This will please people who prefer traditional hood release and make them happy.

Item 3

Build the two standard hood locks to use the same key as the rest of the vehicle.

Item 4

Build the front suspension so diagonal coil over shocks (similar to the P3) can be used in place of the standard coil over shocks. A simple boss where holes can be drilled might be good. Yes, fuel economy may be hurt but many of us want the vehicle because it looks so fantastic.

 

[JEBar]

Item 1

Switch the drivers shoulder belt from his left side to his right side. When getting in and out of the back seat or moving items in and out of the back seat, I have sometimes had problems with the shoulder belt being in the way. It would hang down and snag me or items. The Elio is unique in that the shoulder belt can be put on the driver’s right side, out of the way. No other vehicle is like this.

when I spoke with Jerome when the tour was in Charlotte last December he said the driver's seat belt would be mounted on the right

 

[Catia]

I sent the following email to Elio motors.


Hello,

I am all in for $1000 with a spot in line of 7761. I have some ideas to consider and would appreciate if they could be forwarded to the correct person. I realize this is late in the Elio’s design for change and others have probably said these same things before.

Item 1

Switch the drivers shoulder belt from his left side to his right side. When getting in and out of the back seat or moving items in and out of the back seat, I have sometimes had problems with the shoulder belt being in the way. It would hang down and snag me or items. The Elio is unique in that the shoulder belt can be put on the driver’s right side, out of the way. No other vehicle is like this.

when I spoke with Jerome when the tour was in Charlotte last December he said the driver's seat belt would be mounted on the right

That is a good point pistonboy, and I am glad you ask question to Jerome, JEBar. I'm glad drivers shoulder belt will be relocate from left to right side.

 

[imageon]

when I spoke with Jerome when the tour was in Charlotte last December he said the driver's seat belt would be mounted on the right

Yes! This is good. It will make emergency extrication or evacuation from the vehicle much quicker and easier.
And the belt is out of the way entering and exiting.
MK

 

[grampi]

I'm planning on working with whatever is available for a hitch. My Can Am trailer for the Spyder is going to be doing double-duty when the Elio heads out of town and we need some storage.
The trailer is pretty streamlined, and doesn't affect mileage at all. Hardly even know it's behind you...tows like a dream.

View attachment 3821

That would be a great trailer for towing behind the Elio. Who makes it and how much are they?

 

[grampi]

I sent the following email to Elio motors.


Hello,

I am all in for $1000 with a spot in line of 7761. I have some ideas to consider and would appreciate if they could be forwarded to the correct person. I realize this is late in the Elio’s design for change and others have probably said these same things before.

Item 1

Switch the drivers shoulder belt from his left side to his right side. When getting in and out of the back seat or moving items in and out of the back seat, I have sometimes had problems with the shoulder belt being in the way. It would hang down and snag me or items. The Elio is unique in that the shoulder belt can be put on the driver’s right side, out of the way. No other vehicle is like this.

Item 2

Provide a place under the hood for installation of aftermarket hood release. This will please people who prefer traditional hood release and make them happy.

Item 3

Build the two standard hood locks to use the same key as the rest of the vehicle.

Item 4

Build the front suspension so diagonal coil over shocks (similar to the P3) can be used in place of the standard coil over shocks. A simple boss where holes can be drilled might be good. Yes, fuel economy may be hurt but many of us want the vehicle because it looks so fantastic.

I'm a bit puzzled by #s 2 & 3. Who cares what type of hood release it has so long as it works? I've never heard of an aftermarket hood release. What are hood locks?

 

[JEBar]

I'm planning on working with whatever is available for a hitch. My Can Am trailer for the Spyder is going to be doing double-duty when the Elio heads out of town and we need some storage.
The trailer is pretty streamlined, and doesn't affect mileage at all. Hardly even know it's behind you...tows like a dream.

View attachment 3821

its been my experience (all else being equal) that a vehicle's horsepower has a great deal to do with how much its mileage will drop when towing a trailer .... the stronger the motor, the less the drop .... as best I can remember a Spyder has more than twice as many ponies under the hood as will be found in an Elio .... consequently, I would suspect towing the same trailer will result in a much larger drop (in both percentage and actual numbers) with the Elio .... that said, the resulting mileage of an Elio will still be pretty good and the drop will be better than not being able to make the trip

 

[pistonboy]

I'm a bit puzzled by #s 2 & 3. Who cares what type of hood release it has so long as it works? I've never heard of an aftermarket hood release. What are hood locks?

The two chrome pieces in the corners of the hood in front of the windshield are two separate locks into which a key must be inserted (each one)and unlocked. I have been told this will be standard.

I like engines and am constantly looking at them. It would be more convenient for people like me (and many people like me are buying these vehicles) to be able to use the same key as the rest of the vehicle. One key is simpler than two. It would also be inconvenient if someone was away from home, had engine problems, but the mechanic could not open the hood because the key was at home. But they would of course have the ignition key with them.

It would be even more convenient for people like me to be able to install an aftermarket hood release where a lever is pulled under the elgin dash and the hood pops up like other cars.

I am only a moderate gearhead. I have only rebuilt three engines. There are many people on this website that have rebuilt far, far, more engines than I.

I find the people who like this vehicle to be fascinating. Economy people who have no interest in things mechanical like it. Extreme gearhead people who have not interest in economy also like it. These are very different people who both like this machine. This just adds to the uniqueness of this vehicle.

 

[grampi]

The two chrome pieces in the corners of the hood in front of the windshield are two separate locks into which a key must be inserted (each one)and unlocked. I have been told this will be standard.

I like engines and am constantly looking at them. It would be more convenient for people like me (and many people like me are buying these vehicles) to be able to use the same key as the rest of the vehicle. One key is simpler than two. It would also be inconvenient if someone was away from home, had engine problems, but the mechanic could not open the hood because the key was at home. But they would of course have the ignition key with them.

It would be even more convenient for people like me to be able to install an aftermarket hood release where a lever is pulled under the elgin dash and the hood pops up like other cars.

I am only a moderate gearhead. I have only rebuilt three engines. There are many people on this website that have rebuilt far, far, more engines than I.

I find the people who like this vehicle to be fascinating. Economy people who have no interest in things mechanical like it. Extreme gearhead people who have not interest in economy also like it. These are very different people who both like this machine. This just adds to the uniqueness of this vehicle.

I had no idea the hood was secured this way. I figured it would have a release inside the interior, and a safety latch just like cars have. The way they have it now seems like a royal PITA...I hope they change their minds and put a normal hood release on it...

 

[BilgeRat]

Probably not going to happen. According to what I've seen from Elio, a "normal" hood release costs $20+, and the clips cost around $3.