Will Your Elio Retain Its Resale Value?

[Edward]

Many factors involved, including location. Here in Az we have roads without potholes. We also don't have coastal salty air, nor do we have tons of salt applied to our roads every winter. When I shipped my old hotrod out here from the midwest, it stopped rusting.

I did notice that Colorado has a lot more old Beetles than NJ did.

 

[GEC]

Let's say you end up spending $7,500 for your Elio. After two years you can sell it for $4,500. Why? The past two years you've saved $3,000+ in gasoline and maintenance and drive a uniquely fun vehicle. So, why would you sell?
Plan to take good care of mine and drive it for years (and continue to bank the gas and maintenance savings).

 

[Horn]

Maintenance should be ridiculously cheap on these cars.

For example I just replaced the rings in my 3 cylinder engine. The rings were about $30 and I rented a hone from the auto parts store. Probably another $60 for head gasket and bolts. Add in other expenses and you can just imagine how cheap it is.

Now I'm assuming that this will be the same as the 3 cyl suzuki engine (for the most part). You can do an oil change with 3 qts of oil. Also, the maintenance is so easy that most people will be able to do this stuff on their own. Not having to take a new car to a dealership for maintenance will save tons.

But its pretty bad that you are already talking about reselling cars that you haven't even bought yet.

 

[vtx04]

Since there's been so much discussion about the clutch, is there any reason they couldn't use a "wet" clutch, like on most motorcycles? Some of our aficionados know a lot more about this than I do.

 

[olddog1946]

Since there's been so much discussion about the clutch, is there any reason they couldn't use a "wet" clutch, like on most motorcycles? Some of our aficionados know a lot more about this than I do.

While a wet clutch would work, it would require a complete redesign of the entire drive train (ain't gonna happen). Don't forget the entire drive system is derived from an automobile. ( I think I can call a GEO an automobile and get away with it)

 

[Snick]

Clutch will probably be automotive with reduced clamping pressure and reduced friction material diameter--will probably go a typical 160,000 mile life.

 

[Craig]

Clutch will probably be automotive with reduced clamping pressure and reduced friction material diameter--will probably go a typical 160,000 mile life.

Technically, wouldn't it all most double with having half the weight of a normal car and thus half the drag to over come to get the car rolling.JMO

 

[Horn]

Technically, wouldn't it all most double with having half the weight of a normal car and thus half the drag to over come to get the car rolling.JMO

Really all depends on the driver. Several stock clutches can go over 200k.

Actually your throw out bearing will probably start making a noise before you have clutch issues. You would want to change the bearing and while you have the trans pulled apart, you would change the clutch just because.

You don't want to do a wet clutch and make this car over complicated. Keep it simple, basic and use a cable clutch. Hopefully they don't put a hydraulic clutch on it.

 

[Snick]

Technically, wouldn't it all most double with having half the weight of a normal car and thus half the drag to over come to get the car rolling.JMO

I doubt it, if they reduce clamping pressure and reduce effective friction area, the clutch life will be correspondingly lower. It doesn't make sense for Elio to over-specify or overbuild components that are wear items. Not cost effective.

 

[Horn]

I doubt it, if they reduce clamping pressure and reduce effective friction area, the clutch life will be correspondingly lower. It doesn't make sense for Elio to over-specify or overbuild components that are wear items. Not cost effective.

But what does make sense for elio is to use a part that they don't have to spend time over engineering though.

Lets say they were thinking about redesigning a new clutch specific to the metro. They would have to go through that whole process when the geo metro clutch is still mass produced, proven and dirt cheap. I guarantee they could get those clutches for $10 or $20 if the bought in bulk.

This car is not going to have a bunch of new redesigned parts.