# Elio 3 wheeler Anybody seen these yet? Thoughts? **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [March 3, 2014, 6:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445 "2014-03-03T06:52:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Vandal171](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/vandal171/32/6259_2.png) [@Vandal171](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Vandal171)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 6:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445/1 "2014-03-03T06:52:18Z")
> **[Elio Motors | The next big thing in transportation!](https://www.eliomotors.com/)** > > The next big thing in transportation! ![https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcToeuViVQTud_UYBSwyIhy6boqdO2i9y-hiuOXgYN4A4mvlHGAOCw](https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcToeuViVQTud_UYBSwyIhy6boqdO2i9y-hiuOXgYN4A4mvlHGAOCw) I like the whole idea here. Being classified as a motorcycle it should be cheap to insure and $6800, 84 mpg is hard to argue with. Looks like it would be a fun little ride for beating around in. Being built in the US is a big bonus too. Kudos for thinking outside the box. ---
**Author:** ![Bsp\_TC](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bsp_tc/32/4998_2.png) [@Bsp\_TC](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bsp_TC)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 7:03am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445/2 "2014-03-03T07:03:54Z")
Being classified as a motorcycle aren’t you required to wear a helmet with this? ---
**Author:** ![Vandal171](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/vandal171/32/6259_2.png) [@Vandal171](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Vandal171)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 7:17am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445/3 "2014-03-03T07:17:32Z")
Elio has been obtaining waivers for helmet use from most states that require helmets. They should have all states on board by the time they go into production. ---
**Author:** ![LZ1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LZ1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LZ1)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 7:19am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445/4 "2014-03-03T07:19:59Z")
So I enjoy driving… I would get 0 enjoyment out of driving this “It can hit 60 mph (96.5 km/h) in 9.6 seconds” ---
**Author:** ![bamfapotamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc79bd/32.png) [@bamfapotamus](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bamfapotamus)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 8:17am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445/5 "2014-03-03T08:17:34Z")
> [@LZ](#): > > So I enjoy driving… > > I would get 0 enjoyment out of driving this > > “It can hit 60 mph (96.5 km/h) in 9.6 seconds” that’s still faster than my defender was lol ---
**Author:** ![Minglor](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/minglor/32/7373_2.png) [@Minglor](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Minglor)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 5:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445/6 "2014-03-04T05:27:33Z")
> [@LZ](#): > > So I enjoy driving… > > I would get 0 enjoyment out of driving this > > “It can hit 60 mph (96.5 km/h) in 9.6 seconds” This. Being classified as a bike - what could you swap in it… ---
**Author:** ![Vandal171](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/vandal171/32/6259_2.png) [@Vandal171](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Vandal171)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 1:16pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445/7 "2014-03-04T13:16:00Z")
It wouldn’t need to be plugged in for inspection so pretty much anything you can get in there will work. 100 hp gives it the same power to weight as a new Mustang GT. ---
**Author:** ![rugsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rugsr/32/7474_2.png) [@rugsr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/rugsr)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 8:20pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445/8 "2014-03-04T20:20:23Z")
Are these out for sale yet or are they still taking deposits ? - - - Updated - - - nevermind, clicked link ---
**Author:** ![91MR2](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/91mr2/32/7217_2.png) [@91MR2](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/91MR2)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 11:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445/9 "2014-03-05T11:48:23Z")
Reminds me of “The Howard” ---
**Author:** ![rugsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rugsr/32/7474_2.png) [@rugsr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/rugsr)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 12:23pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445/10 "2014-03-05T12:23:49Z")
The more I read/look at this the more I want one. I just wouldnt want to buy one without a test drive. Wonder how long it will take for someone to boost it ---
**Author:** ![GV1390](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/gv1390/32/5432_2.png) [@GV1390](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/GV1390)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 12:38pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445/11 "2014-03-05T12:38:31Z")
Gay. ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 12:47pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445/12 "2014-03-05T12:47:06Z")
I wonder how it is in the snow ---
**Author:** ![fairgentleman\_Z](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fairgentleman_z/32/7263_2.png) [@fairgentleman\_Z](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/fairgentleman_Z)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 1:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445/13 "2014-03-05T13:00:46Z")
It’s a fwd car with one less wheel, I’d imagine most of the driving characteristics are similar. Short wheelbase? Throttle lift over steer worse? Cornering weight transfer is the one that I am having a hard time visualizing. Typical fwd the inside rear is always being unloaded. The Elio rear will always have a “consistent” load on it. I saw this a few months ago and thought can I take a Sentra/Civic/etc. and add a swing arm, center the driver and steering wheel, move in the A-pillars and call it a custom motorcycle? ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 1:09pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445/14 "2014-03-05T13:09:35Z")
I’m picturing the back going everywhere and no traction or ABS. ---
**Author:** ![fairgentleman\_Z](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fairgentleman_z/32/7263_2.png) [@fairgentleman\_Z](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/fairgentleman_Z)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 1:21pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445/15 "2014-03-05T13:21:19Z")
Here’s the thing, let’s say that this has a typical fwd weight distribution of 60/40. A single rear tire will have the highest load on it vs. the individual fronts. Two rears with half the load will perform better than one rear with all the load, but I don’t think it will be “all _that_ bad”. I don’t know about owning it, but it would be fun to find the limits of this thing. ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 1:26pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445/16 "2014-03-05T13:26:08Z")
but it’s not just load, location on the chassis matter a lot when traction is compromised in any way. ---
**Author:** ![rugsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rugsr/32/7474_2.png) [@rugsr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/rugsr)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 1:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445/17 "2014-03-05T13:43:16Z")
I dont think people will be tracking the car. Its a A to B cost savings vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 1:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445/18 "2014-03-05T13:44:41Z")
we’re not talking about tracking, we’re talking about snow and ice, although it’s really the same issue. ---
**Author:** ![Vandal171](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/vandal171/32/6259_2.png) [@Vandal171](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Vandal171)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445/19 "2014-03-05T13:55:24Z")
Elio says the weight distribution is 33% on each wheel which would be perfectly balanced. They claim .9G on the skid pad. ABS and traction control are going to be offered. As far as handling in the snow, it could be tricky with the rear wheel running between the tracks. Production looks to start in about a year. FWIW, it looks like a lot more fun than a Prius for a quarter of the money with better economy. ---
**Author:** ![fairgentleman\_Z](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fairgentleman_z/32/7263_2.png) [@fairgentleman\_Z](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/fairgentleman_Z)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 2:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445/20 "2014-03-05T14:33:55Z")
> [@theblue](#): > > but it’s not just load, location on the chassis matter a lot when traction is compromised in any way. I was looking for a track width calculator and see what would happen if you enter in a rear track width of “0” (probably track width would be equal to tire width). Deffinately a car with a rear track width equal to the front track width would be more stable. But, I don’t think that means the Elio is automatically “unstable”. Load directly effects the lateral force a tire can produce. Weight transfer effects the dynamic reponse of the vehicle. “Bad” weight transfer one tire produces a lot of grip while another produces too little grip. The way the suspension works effects weight transfer. It goes back to > Cornering weight transfer is the one that I am having a hard time visualizing. > . What is the roll center of the rear suspension? How flat is the tire footprint during cornering? There’s a bunch of what if’s… I’d rather drive one than try to figure them all out. - - - Updated - - - > [@Vandal171](#): > > They claim .9G on the skid pad. A skid pad is steady state cornering when the suspension has taken a set, it _could_ put down good numbers there but be terrible in emergency lane change maneuvers. [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/elio-3-wheeler-anybody-seen-these-yet-thoughts/268445.md?page=2)