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http://money.cnn.com/2014/06/26/autos/elio-motors/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

I hope this company can deliver on what they're promising, because I've been waiting for a car like this. Not too crazy about the look, but I could get used to it as a pure commuter car.

The "Unleaded Fuel Only" notice on the dash turned my head. Has there been anywhere in the US post 1980s you can still get leaded?

It is basically an update of the 1950s bubble cars. New technology should make it more efficient and safer. They didn't have ABS in the 50s, for example. The thing is whether they can get the price down.

Right now you could get a Smart car or a Fiat 500 which gives nearly as good mileage but they are more expensive.

Yeah...they're much too expensive. Most people are going to want a car like that for pure cheap commuting purposes in conjunction with a "main" car with more room.

Its been several years since I checked prices, but I do recall that the Smart Car was well too expensive for what it is.

 daedalus wrote:
The "Unleaded Fuel Only" notice on the dash turned my head. Has there been anywhere in the US post 1980s you can still get leaded?

Vs Diesel, I think?

As a 6'3 260 pound black guy, that car looks like a death trap to me, much like the Fiat and the smart car.

Frankly, I don't give a gak how expensive gas gets. I am not down with these tiny soup-can cars that'll crumple when hitting a fire hydrant at 5mph.

 BlaxicanX wrote:
As a 6'3 260 pound black guy, that car looks like a death trap to me, much like the Fiat and the smart car.

Frankly, I don't give a gak how expensive gas gets. I am not down with these tiny soup-can cars that'll crumple when hitting a fire hydrant at 5mph.

The preview seemed to imply that you were a 63260 pound black guy. The real thread disappoints me, though you must be paper thin for a 6'3 guy.

 jasper76 wrote:
Yeah...they're much too expensive. Most people are going to want a car like that for pure cheap commuting purposes in conjunction with a "main" car with more room.

Its been several years since I checked prices, but I do recall that the Smart Car was well too expensive for what it is.

That is because petrol is much cheaper in the US than Europe. A high mileage car makes a lot more sense over here. Also there are congestion charges and road fund licence which can be a lot cheaper for a small car.

As a 74 year old, 98 lb grandmother of 12, this thing won't allow me to take my turn driving the kids to soccer practice.

I approve.

Not going to lie, if it gets to the point that I think this is a good idea, I'll probably just stick an electric motor on a bicycle. It accomplishes approximately the same thing as far as I'm concerned.

 daedalus wrote:
The "Unleaded Fuel Only" notice on the dash turned my head. Has there been anywhere in the US post 1980s you can still get leaded?

Well, I suppose one could stumble into a local airport and end up with 100 or 110 octane low-lead Avgas (aviation fuel).

More expensive but don't you get bluemotion VW's in the states?

No clue. In my experience, VWs are good for one thing...breaking down.

 daedalus wrote:
The "Unleaded Fuel Only" notice on the dash turned my head. Has there been anywhere in the US post 1980s you can still get leaded?

Possibly some old regulation in some law somewhere that mandates that cars be labeled that way when we made the switch and then was never repealed.

I could see that. I bought a new car a week ago. 2014 Ford Fusion. I don't think it's displayed anywhere in it.

I am dubious... perhaps I just remember all the grand claims that were made about the Chevy Volt before they actually released it, not the least of which was the appearance.

Hyped as, for $22,000:



released as, for $40,000:

Kinda cool really. Reminds me I've that 3 wheeled Morgan track racer a bit. I'd totally throw some spoked wheels on one

Needs more spikes and skulls.

Chains too.

 KingCracker wrote:
Kinda cool really. Reminds me I've that 3 wheeled Morgan track racer a bit. I'd totally throw some spoked wheels on one

I was thinking of something like an Arial atom or KTM XBow but the Morgan three wheeler is apt. probably more fun.

Now if we could combine this with Google's self-driving car I would be happy.