Elio Motors, The Next Big Thing?!!...

[Xist]

If I ever see a 1996+ manual Metro for sale in my area I will buy it, hack off the back half, and ask you guys "What do I do now?"

I do not know anything about production, but people have made trikes before. If I end up making one Paulio doesn't have any excuses.

[redpoint5]

If I wanted to make a commodity successfully, I'd build it in China and name the products "Chicago" or some such non-China sounding name.

I'm still amazed that Musk managed to make cars in about the highest rent place in the world and hasn't gone under yet.

He threatened to leave, and I always wonder why he began there in the first place. If anyone in a public position dropped F bombs on me, I'd happily remove myself from their presence (and economic benefits).

[Xist]

Where are Pittsburgh, Chicago Electric, and U.S. General made, and where does it sound like they are made?

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

With the right marketing approach it could be viable even in the American market, including some commercial/professional configurations. On a sidenote, if it really had to resort to an engine specific for the project, an attempt to offer stationary/industrial variants of such engine could be interesting to lead to a quicker return of investment.

Even though the low-cost approach failed, the "recreational" bias followed by Polaris and Vanderhall is a clear statement about the technical and commercial viability of a somewhat similar vehicle.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

If I wanted to make a commodity successfully, I'd build it in China and name the products "Chicago" or some such non-China sounding name.

I'm still amazed that Musk managed to make cars in about the highest rent place in the world and hasn't gone under yet.

He threatened to leave, and I always wonder why he began there in the first place. If anyone in a public position dropped F bombs on me, I'd happily remove myself from their presence (and economic benefits).

Musk is in California because he got the old NUMMI (GM / Toyota) plant for almost free.

He also pays his assembly workers well below the industry wage ($17-$21 an hour) in a place were the minimum wage is $13 an hour. Honda pays $17-$28 per hour + platinum benefits in Alabama.

[RedDevil]

Maybe the trike should not be called Chicago but Fremont?

[Xist]

Do you guys remember this cost of living map that I made? Better pay in Alabama (#11) than California (#49)?

[oil pan 4]

Big difference in how good you can live on $20 an hour in new mexico compared to Colorado.

[Xist]

...and this is post #2,002 in this thread...

I do not have any idea what it actually means, but New Mexico is 28 places more affordable than Colorado. Idaho is also 28 places more affordable than Oregon. If at least one teacher drives from Yuma Arizona to California for double pay I am sure there are similar opportunities across those borders.

[oil pan 4]

Yeah you don't want to work in new mexico and live in texas, they get you for income tax in new mexico and hit you with 4 times more property tax in texas.