Author Topic: Polaris Slingshot merged threadfest (Read 33664 times)

cruzziguzzi · « **Reply #91 on:** February 02, 2015, 03:29:30 PM »

Quote from: lc4dakar on February 02, 2015, 03:14:14 PM

Yowza but that's some side-loading on that poor outside, spoked and under engineered wheel.

charlie b · « **Reply #92 on:** February 02, 2015, 04:23:42 PM »

The reason for 3 wheels is so they do not have to meet all the safety requirements (and emissions) of cars. 5mph bumpers, air bags, roll over protection, windshield specs, dashboard cushion/layout, etc, etc. I think car emissions are a bit tougher than bikes.

So, if they are classified as cars then they will not be road capable until completely redesigned.

If Polaris wins and gets them road legal then the first lawsuit after a fatal crash may be a big one. It will either go against the state for allowing a dangerous 'car' on the road or against Polaris for same. Especially if Polaris advertises it as 'safe' in any way, shape or form.

A side benefit if Polaris wins is that it may generate a glut of small 3 wheel vehicles with great gas mileage and none of the safety features that load up the weight and cost of cars.

sgtstinky · « **Reply #93 on:** February 02, 2015, 07:09:20 PM »

Quote from: lc4dakar on February 02, 2015, 10:28:34 AM

If you want 4 wheels and cheaper:

Is that Chiity Chitty Bang Bang?

Wildguzzi.com · « **Reply #93 on:** February 02, 2015, 07:09:20 PM »

lc4dakar · « **Reply #94 on:** February 02, 2015, 08:06:37 PM »

British kit car. Citroen based, front wheel drive.

56Pan · « **Reply #95 on:** February 02, 2015, 08:51:14 PM »

Quote from: dilligaf on February 02, 2015, 12:02:50 PM

It's like they are getting away with something and need to be punished more. ::( :BEER:
Matt

PS: Redrider-My son verified that the bill to ban mopeds in SC was the work of one person and is going no place. ;-T

Hell, it'll be scissor-lifts next.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30InBgGhiSo

Penderic · « **Reply #96 on:** February 02, 2015, 10:34:48 PM »

For the track, these look real basic, cheap and light.

Big single!

rodekyll · « **Reply #97 on:** February 02, 2015, 10:43:08 PM »

4-wheel IRS with overhead leaf springs. How very advanced for a minicar in the 50's!

lc4dakar · « **Reply #98 on:** February 02, 2015, 10:48:23 PM »

Coopers are about $40K and up these days.

Guido Valvole · « **Reply #99 on:** February 02, 2015, 11:07:07 PM »

50s F3 Cooper and other F3 cars get credit for the Triton "craze" of the day. Formula was 500cc, mostly single-cylinder. And the Norton Manx was The Deal for that… remove engine from frame, sell off frame to some crazy who wants a better home for the Triumph lump, and the rest is history.
cr

Sheepdog · « **Reply #100 on:** February 03, 2015, 07:57:34 AM »

Elio...a startup in Shreveport, LA has advertised their tandem 2-seater as safe, well-equipped, and capable of 84 mpg. The asking price is supposed to be $6,800 and service will be provided at Pep Boys service centers. They even bought an old GM truck plant as a production facility...
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1081467_80-mpg-elio-three-wheeled-car-to-be-built-at-former-gm-truck-pl [Lant

rocker59 · « **Reply #101 on:** February 03, 2015, 09:10:14 AM »

Quote from: Sheepdog on February 03, 2015, 07:57:34 AM

Elio...a startup in Shreveport, LA

We have a threadfest for that thing. What a mess...

http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=65708.0

Sheepdog · « **Reply #102 on:** February 03, 2015, 10:16:12 AM »

My wife brought the Elio to my attention. When I said that it was too small she said, "They're not small...they're 'fun-sized'."

rodekyll · « **Reply #103 on:** February 03, 2015, 01:44:15 PM »

Elio production pushed out another year to 2016. Nobody actually hired for the Shreveport plant and the realtor, who invested in Elio, is actively trying to peddle the property to someone else, which suggests elio doesn't own it. Also, their claim of 84mph is countered in their own literature by figures of 49 and 60mpg, and the figures are based on an engine that has not yet been designed - simply does not exist. Anything you can verify as actually having an engine in it is sporting the geo metro 3-banger.

On the good side, if you prepay for your elio before Feb 15th you get a free t-shirt. Also, they got the weather channel logo on their web page.

LowRyter · « **Reply #104 on:** February 03, 2015, 04:15:13 PM »

car and driver magazine has a test of this thing in the newest issue.

rodekyll · « **Reply #105 on:** February 03, 2015, 04:45:29 PM »

But it's not being tested with the engine they're promising, because the engine hasn't been designed or invented yet. Might as well be towing one down the road behind a horse for the value of any road testing.

LowRyter · « **Reply #106 on:** February 03, 2015, 05:06:27 PM »

well, I don't know what engine they are promising but it was the same engine I saw in the vehicle in Dallas. I was little surprised since it's not a particularly impressive engine but on the other hand, the vehicle is so light, the engine doesn't have to be special.

rodekyll · « **Reply #107 on:** February 03, 2015, 05:22:58 PM »

According to the last press I read, although the mock-ups have the metro engine, they are planning to design and develop their engine in-house. It's said that they're holding the design very close to the chest on account of it's so far advanced of anything currently offered. However, they have no staff hired to do the R&D, no tooling, and the only tangible evidence of activity at the proposed factory site is about 15 people doing general cleanup of rubbish and debris.

If this is all it takes to harvest $6800/head from people who don't expect anything for it, I ought to go public with my trike design. I meant it as a one-off, but hey -- it exists.

grebmrof · « **Reply #108 on:** February 03, 2015, 07:17:19 PM »

Quote from: lc4dakar on February 02, 2015, 10:28:34 AM

If you want 4 wheels and cheaper:

Good grief, that is beautiful! Although I think it would look even better with a round head 850 motor.

leafman60 · « **Reply #109 on:** February 13, 2015, 08:11:11 AM »

My local Guzzi/Indian dealer texted me yesterday to come by and take a look at the two new Polaris Slingshots that they just received. I did.

I haven't devoted a lot of attention to this new vehicle and I was surprised when I first saw it. It is bigger than I expected. For some reason, I was thinking about a vehicle comparable to the 3-wheeled Can-Am Spyder.

The Slingshot is basically like a small car. Think Mazda Miata-like. It is nothing like the Can-Am Spyder. It's a car.

You shoehorn yourself into the two-seat cockpit and sit very low to the ground. The front fenders flare out rather widely and the rear bodywork comes up over the level of your head. Out of the car and looking at it from the rear, the tail lights are every bit as plentiful and high above the ground as most road-going sedans.

You sit in a tight cockpit, out in the open with the Slingshot. There are no doors and minimal wind shielding. The shift stick is right there to your right. Overall, the car reminds me of a sporty and new version of an old MG TD.

The front plastic hood and fenders tilt forward to reveal the surprisingly-large-to-me 173HP GM Ecotec 2400CC four-cylinder engine mounted fore and aft mated to a 5-speed tranny.

My question is whether that sort of power wouldn't easily break-loose that single (albeit automotive) rear tire under acceleration. Apparently, that is easily done except when you have the Traction Control feature turned on.

I didn't try it but the rig looks like it would be a hoot to ride, err, I mean drive. I bet it handles like a go-kart on twisty roads and would be great fun.

Price-wise, the Slingshot is cheaper than many motorcycles. The plain-Jane version is about $20k and the full-zoot version is priced at about $24K. In further fairness, you can get a new Miata for about the same money.

http://www.polaris.com/en-us/slingshot

.

rboe · « **Reply #110 on:** February 13, 2015, 08:21:34 AM »

With the Miata you get heat and A/C, a lockable boot, top, quieter interior - pretty much the full monty. At a good price. With what appears to be very good resale value.

I'm a wee bit biased, but for three wheelers, I'll take the Morgan but if I'm going from two wheels to more; something like the Miata makes more sense.

But hey, you have choices!

redrider · « **Reply #111 on:** February 13, 2015, 08:25:07 AM »

How long before the Aged Pirate People start to rally around this thing? I agree, it is a 3 wheeled automobile or trike.

Motorcycle=2 wheels and an engine
Sidecar=semi enclosed conveyance attached to a motorcycle for motive power.
Trike=A vehicle with two wheels at the front or rear with a third wheel at the opposite end.

leafman60 · « **Reply #112 on:** February 13, 2015, 09:06:38 AM »

The Slingshot has an automotive-like cockpit with 2 side-by-side automotive-type seats and a steering wheel. The shifter is an automotive-type stick located right where it would be on a car. There is also a pretty substantial "hood" in front of you and an automotive-like windshield. You also have what looks like automotive-type bumper up front.

At least with the Can-Am Syder you sit on a motorcycle-like saddle and hold handlebars.

I'm not knocking it at all but I think it's a huge step away from being anything "motorcycle."

The dealer said they had sold several and have a waiting list.

I may be wrong but, if the profile of purchasers is anything similar to that of sports cars and motorcycles, I expect to see a lot of grayhairs with disposable income interested. I wonder how long that will last when they have the experience of fitting themselves into and out of that tight seating hole of the Slingshot.

I like it, though. Go look at them. Sit in it.

leafman60 · « **Reply #113 on:** February 13, 2015, 09:11:48 AM »

If I was drawn to this sort of thing, I'd like to have one of the new versions of the classic Morgan 3-wheeler that is now being made by Morgan with the S&S Wedge motor. I know it's a lot more money. I sat in one and looked it over at Daytona last year.

http://www.morgan3wheeler.co.uk/desktopindex.html

.

Lannis · « **Reply #114 on:** February 13, 2015, 09:23:37 AM »

I would go with a Caterham Super Seven if I was looking in that direction.

Not sure I'd want something with all the disadvantages of a car and none of the advantages of a motorcycle. And vice versa!

Lannis

fotoguzzi · « **Reply #115 on:** February 13, 2015, 09:57:14 AM »

my first car in 24 years is a Miata.. I didn't know I could like a car so much.. first time in those 24 years that I only have one motorcycle.. (not counting the family heirloom Trail 90's)
sadly, both are parked for the winter.

rocker59 · « **Reply #116 on:** February 13, 2015, 10:23:49 AM »

Quote from: fotoguzzi on February 13, 2015, 09:57:14 AM

my first car in 24 years is a Miata.. I didn't know I could like a car so much.. first time in those 24 years that I only have one motorcycle.. (not counting the family heirloom Trail 90's)
sadly, both are parked for the winter.

I miss my 1991 Miata every day! Though lacking some power, it was great fun!

cruzziguzzi · « **Reply #117 on:** February 13, 2015, 05:42:17 PM »

Quote from: rocker59 on February 13, 2015, 10:23:49 AM

I miss my 1991 Miata every day! Though lacking some power, it was great fun!

Sure low grunt but... Get 'em on the cam and emasculation be damned! They're rockin' fun.

Well, fer a chick's car. ~;

Todd.

oldmxdog61u · « **Reply #118 on:** February 15, 2015, 08:42:57 AM »

Rode in a guzzi powered morgan and I loved it. Total fun.

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Author Topic: Polaris Slingshot merged threadfest (Read 33664 times)

sgtstinky

Wildguzzi.com

56Pan

Penderic

redrider