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Old 01-01-2012, 01:32 PM   #55 (permalink)
Arragonis
The PRC.
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Fry View Post
...The real disadvantage to four wheels is that you are then a car, and are playing in a market where a $billion to develop a single new model is standard, and Aptera's 24 million in funding is a rounding error. You can expect to spend millions in crash testing.
You raise two points here.

Firstly crash testing is something worth having IMHO, it has improved safety even if it did lead to cars being like tanks for a long time before engineers got crash testing time and improved on design without adding so much weight.

And secondly if 3 wheelers worked really well, why isn't a maker out there promoting them, outside concepts of course ? If they did then they wouldn't sell. You could put this down to education of the marketplace, but lets come back to that later.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Fry View Post
Three-legged stools are more stable than four-legged stools. Camera tripods are tripods for good reasons.
Stools and camera tripods don't move or go round corners. They also don't have suspensions allowing their "legs" to vary in length, or steering, or brakes. And if you put them on a slope, they tip over.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Fry View Post
It's just a matter of engineering a three-wheeler to work right, as Morgan did in the 1930s.
You do know Morgan stopped making 3 wheelers in 1952 and had switched to 4 wheels for all of their new models long before then ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Fry View Post
The T-rex out-handles a Porsche.
In what way ? Do they have a GT team that demonstrates this ability ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Fry View Post
Jay Leno raved about the modern Morgan Three Wheeler.
I love it too (despite the carp engine choice), but its a toy not a practical car for most people.

This is the preserve of the 3 wheeler like the Aptera - its a toy for people who like unusual or extreme efficiency vehicles to play with. When they need to carry something, or someone, or need to go on a longer journey or need to go NOW in an emergency, then they will revert back to their normal car with a full complement of wheels, and seats, and a fuel tank that can be refilled and extend the range by 100% in minutes time and time again.

Most people don't have the space or money for a second vehicle so what they choose has to serve all purposes - commuter (1-up), family car (3 (or more) -up) and shopping getter (2-up with load). Occasionally it will be a holiday car (3 (or more) -up + load) too.

A Geo Metro (or modern equivalent) will do all of this out of the box, a TDI will do it and make better FE with some work.

If anyone wants to invest in one of these cars, I suggest putting your money into Italian Government Bonds - at least you may get 50% of your money back.
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