Aptera ride comfort and handling

[Aptera#965]

I have no experience with three wheeled vehicles. Let's discuss handling characteristics of the Aptera.

For one, I'm curious as to how comfortable the ride will be in the Aptera.

Anyone out there able to relate any experiences, or have any ideas on what to expect from a three wheeler like the Aptera?

How do you think it will handle the oscillating concrete seams of the 5 fwy?

Do you think it will be comfortable after a long trip or will we feel like hammered bandini after driving from San Diego to L.A.?

Will it handle like a sports car, handle like a Prius (read: poorly), or somewhere in between?

Braking: How stable is it? Will it come with ABS? Does it even need ABS??

Interested to hear your thoughts. Hopefully in about a year we can all look back and compare our projections to the real thing :)



Ride - I'm feeling a bit concerned on how the Aptera will handle the bumps. Something that light coupled with a short wheelbase could make for some pretty interesting ride characteristics :confused: I hope I'm wrong :D


Cornering - Personally I think the Aptera will handle moderately well cornering-wise, due to it's nice stable wide track at the front and ultra light weight. Responsive stable handling until 8-9/10ths of the limit, then begin to understeer like a pig. I'd love to hear from someone who may have owned or driven a trike w/rear drive. I wonder how well it will do "carving the canyons".


Braking - should be Aptera's strong suit IMO. Super light, and wide up front dilivering excellent stability. I expect impressive 60-0 figures.

Ok enough rambling; what do you all think?

[Yanquetino]

#965: I have no experience driving 3-wheeled vehicles. Well... at least not since I was a toddler on a trike in the Middle Ages, but that was very different with one in front and two in back. :) I can only offer my own guesses about how the Typ-1 will handle.

My first guess is that its wheelbase isn't really that short. I base this guess on what dimensions I can compare in the videos and photos: it looks a lot longer than one might assume, and certainly longer than, say, a Mini Cooper or a Smart FourTwo. I therefore surmise that it will handle bumps with aplomb. My main worry about bumps is if they are even taller than the wheels' covers: I'd hate to smack the front or rear edge on a curb or pothole, you know?

The second guess is that you wouldn't even notice those oscillating concrete strips on freeways. It is not as though it were a two-wheeled motorcycle --which can prove scary when "channeling" down those grooves!

My third guess is that, with the room it has inside, a longer trip would be plenty comfortable because you could shift around fairly easily if an appendage starts to go to sleep. :D On the other hand, the "flat" contours of the seats might prove tiresome, but it wouldn't surprise me if the production version boasts seats with more supportive, padded sides.

My fourth guess is that the braking will be much better than one might expect, thanks to the regen of the motor. I can't remember where I read this, but I think it doesn't use power brakes, so it requires more of a physical push to slow down and stop. However, I also recall that this didn't seem a problem to the test driver because of the vehicle's extremely light weight. And yes, I think it has ABS on all three wheels.

My last guess is that cornering will not compromise the vehicle's balance, thanks to having the two wheels up front. I doubt you could roll it any easier than any four-wheeled car. The only time you might get into trouble cornering would be if backing up at high speed and you suddenly crank the wheel. :eek: Hopefully nobody would be that reckless. But you never know with our homo insidious species. :rolleyes:

[Aptera#965]

Yes the seats countours also made me think that it might be a little uncomfortable on long rides but you won't really know until you sit in them. They might be great for all we know.

In anycase, the seats are always something that can be addressed down the road if need be. I have/had cars where I've replaced the seats for better bolstering. Interestingly enough the aftermarket seats also always worked out to be lighter than stock so that's an added bonus as well :) We'll have to wait and see if aftermarket seats will retrofit into the Aptera I guess.

I think those wheel covers on the Aptera are brilliant. But I bet replacement costs to repair/replace a cover would be minimal. I'm interested in how well the suspension components will hold up to potholes and the occasional "oops I hit the curb while parking" manuever. The A-arms look pretty robust; would hate to accidentally hit some road debris with the front wheel at 70mph and have it shear off the car! :eek:

[3-4-me]

I built a 2+1 3wheeler using a Fiat x-19, cut off in front of the rear wheel well, mated to a GL1200 goldwing(sans the front forks and bodywork). The combo worked very well. I drove it daily for ~5 yrs.
The only thing the two vehicles have in common is the wheel configuration, so my experiences may not be valid here.

My wheelbase is around 110" if I remember correctly. The ride is pretty good. Way better than my Jeep Wrangler.

The tracking was pretty good, but you could feel the grooves. The rear end would feel like you were in a small plane.
A little weird at first, but I got used to it pretty quick.

Brakes- mine has 3 wheel disc with the bike hooked up to the fiat master cylinder. The brakes were excellent, and it stopped straight.

I'm wondering about the seats myself. Hopefully they'll have enough support.

I'm betting it's gonna carve like crazy, with all the battery weight down below the front suspension, it should hug the road.
With the light weight, I think it's gonna be zippy.:D

I had the same thoughts about the wheel covers. Maybe the lower 2" should be made out of something flexible.

[Aptera#965]

3-4-me,

Thank you for your unique perspective. It sounds like a very interesting mating of vehicles to say the least! Do you have any pictures to share of your 3 wheeler?? Would love to see it!

Good suggestion with the wheel covers; use a rubber-like trim for the lower portion of it. Full aerodynamic benefits without worry from large potholes and such. You should send Aptera Motors an email about that :)

[3-4-me]

Thank you for your unique perspective. It sounds like a very interesting mating of vehicles to say the least! No Problem.
Like I say the handleing characteristics are probably completely different:
radically different suspension,
different weight distribution,
gas vs. elec
etc.
Do you have any pictures to share of your 3 wheeler?? http://s173.photobucket.com/albums/w47/toohandy/?action=view&current=2180298107_f5d0312c47.jpg


You should send Aptera Motors an email about that:) I'd like to see one in person before I try to improve it:D

[3-4-me]

I tried to add a pic above, but can't get it to display.

Anybody know the trick? I've done it before on another forum that is similar, but never seem to remember the sequence.:(

[Aptera#965]

3-4-me,

If you can upload your pic to a personal webspace or similar, you can then post the pic here by using

value

Let's see it! :D

[3-4-me]

I did upload it to photobucket(I also tried Fliker), copied the address, pasted it into the "image box", and I get a box with an X in it.

I edited my original post with a link to the pic.
I'd like to know how to get it to display on the page in the post:confused:

[MegaAutoBit]

Originally I too was concerned about the seats. But, after reading the Popular Mechanics article, my fears were mostly over. The article claimed that the concept seats were vary hard, but according to Aptera, they are planning to install more conventional seats in the productions model.

About the ride quality, I remember reading somewhere, I can’t recall where, that the wheelbase of the vehicle is about the same size as a Corvettes wheelbase.

[Aptera#965]

Now that looks like some fun. What kind of mileage #'s are you getting?

http://members.cox.net/dante1/fiattrike.jpg

I see you like primer grey; very practical :p

Want to sell the VW? :D

[Aptera#965]

Originally I too was concerned about the seats. But, after reading the Popular Mechanics article, my fears were mostly over. The article claimed that the concept seats were vary hard, but according to Aptera, they are planning to install more conventional seats in the productions model.

About the ride quality, I remember reading somewhere, I can’t recall were, that the wheel base of the vehicle is about the same size as a Corvettes wheelbase.


Excellent. Thanks for the info.

[3-4-me]

Now that looks like some fun. What kind of mileage #'s are you getting?



I see you like primer grey; very practical
Want to sell the VW?

OK...
1st...How did you get the pic to display(don't leave me hangin' )?

2nd...I was getting around 50 mpg, and it was a blast to drive.
Unfortunatly the stator went out on the goldwing, making it a crappy hybrid with about 30miles range.:p
It happened when I was starting a remodel on my house, so it got "backburnered", and is in sad shape right now.:o

and C... I already sold the '60 double cab(thanks for picking that scab:mad:) $2500 :eek:

[LQUAN]

I guess it does not have power brakes and power steering. My wife would be screaming without those accessories. A long drive in the city would give me plenty of arms and foot sore. This is probably the reason why Steve let the Popular Mechanic guy drive the car but would not let the lady from the LA Times test drive the car.

[IanO]

I guess it does not have power brakes and power steering. My wife would be screaming without those accessories. A long drive in the city would give me plenty of arms and foot sore. This is probably the reason why Steve let the Popular Mechanic guy drive the car but would not let the lady from the LA Times test drive the car.

Light vehicles don't need these features. Back when I had a Geo Metro, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy and responsive the manual steering and brakes were. The Aptera will be even lighter than the Geo.

[c0mp13x]

I guess it does not have power brakes and power steering. My wife would be screaming without those accessories. A long drive in the city would give me plenty of arms and foot sore. This is probably the reason why Steve let the Popular Mechanic guy drive the car but would not let the lady from the LA Times test drive the car.I understand what you are saying, but part of the appeal of the Aptera is a simple vehicle, unburdened by additional systems that add weight and complexity. I'll be happy to muscle the steering around when parking, for the trade off of a vehicle that I could actually work on and maintain!

If you've looked under the hood of any modern vehicle and seen the spaghetti of smog hoses and sensors, you'll know what I mean. The simplicity of a battery system, electric motor and single, belt drive rear wheel have tremendous appeal to me.

I really think that keeping it simple, not only keeps weight down and efficiency up, but also helps define the perfect type of commuter vehicle for me. Can't wait to pull into work and plug it in...

[Aptera#965]

3-4-me,

I just saved your pic to my HD, uploaded it to my personal webspace, then inserted it here using the

XXXXwebpage code.

hope that helps :D

[3-4-me]

Thanks for that reply. It has to be something with photobucket or flicker.
I actually posted a video using the [youtube] function.
So even a blind squirrel gets a nut sometimes:D

[KarenRei]

Re, bumping the curb: This isn't plastic; it's carbon fiber. Yes, carbon fiber will crack and even shatter -- but only when hitting things at high speed (it dissipates crash energy in the process, several times better than the same weight of steel). In low speed collisions, it's amazingly resilient stuff.

If you do manage to damage a panel of any sort, you can't just hammer it out like you might with a dent. The whole panel needs to be replaced. On the upside, damage shouldn't be transferred from one panel to the next in the way that crushing one steel element can warp a connecting one.

This all assumes quality carbon fiber and a proper design, of course.

[qpham63]

I think the seats are comfortable. Good fit is better than soft. I hate my crappy POS Cadillac CTS seats. I have done the Lodi to San Diego drive too many times it is cushy but no lower back support. I paid 33K for the darn thing and I had to add a pillow at my lower back.

The Apera seat has lower back support and felt very comfortable. No side support though. Cushion is limited but adequate. I think I would be more comfortable in it than my Caddy.

As far as comfort hitting bumps, although a light weight vehicle, you just have to keep sprung weight low and they have done that moving all the springs and shock absorber into the middle over the battery cage.

Another thing to think of is if you have to mis debris on the road, you are tracking three lines not 2 like a normal car. I ride a trike to work and find it to be bother some versus my single track on my regular bike.