#Spotted - Polaris Slingshot

"SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie" (sidewaysondirt) 03/20/2015 at 10:43 • Filed to: polaris slingshot, spotted

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Sorry for the not terribly good pics. It's just the first one I've seen stationary. There are some cool details on it that surprised me. For example, the brake lines are braided steel all around, and it has one of the biggest ARBs I've ever seen. Also, what's with that bell looking thing dangling from the upper wishbone?

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 03/20/2015 at 10:45

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Possibly to scare deer off. Motorcyclists sometimes use a similar set up.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 03/20/2015 at 10:46

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though it's interesting looking.. I don't think it looks particularly good. Seems like they took a lot of styling from the X-Bow.. but not as well.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul 03/20/2015 at 10:49

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Yeah, but it's about a quarter of the price. It's also a different animal altogether. While the X-Bow is a serious track weapon, this is a fun machine. Also, is the X-Bow street legal in the US? The Slingshot is.

Textured Soy Protein > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 03/20/2015 at 10:50

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I'm used to seeing these little deedlyboppers on old people's Buicks here in Wisconsin.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 03/20/2015 at 10:50

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Hmm... wonder if its the same one driving around by my town! There's a guy with one in Englewood area

ToddyDotty > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 03/20/2015 at 10:52

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It's a good luck charm. The bells are used by bikers to ward off evil spirits. They are called guardian bells. Seeing as how this is damn near a motorcycle and probably had to be registered as one I can understand why.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 03/20/2015 at 10:52

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I've seen at least a couple of them in my area. Polaris products in general seem to do really well in Ft. Myers. Those three wheeled scooters they make are everywhere here.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 03/20/2015 at 10:54

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you're right, $25k vs $90k

looks like KTM does have a street legal US x-bow available- at least that's what Google says.

I didn't realize the slingshot is a 3 wheeler. Neat!

WiscoProud > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 03/20/2015 at 10:59

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My father-in-law really wants one, not sure if they're legal in Wisconsin though.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul 03/20/2015 at 11:02

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Yeah, I really want to drive one of these. It's so cheap relative to anything similar, that it seems like the perfect car for a spec series. I hope that the success (I'm guessing - I've seen them all over, but that might just be my area) of this "car" acts as a bit of a wake up call to the other manufacturers. Caterhams, Arials, Morgans, Lotii et al are just way to expensive here for what they are. This seems to hit the important points of similar fun cars, but at the right price point.

Milky > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 03/20/2015 at 11:04

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Thats an actual bell zip tied to the suspension. I know you said that, but I didn't believe you.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 03/20/2015 at 11:22

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definitely. With a starting price of $25k and not being too feasible as a DD you'll likely be able to find one used relatively cheap. Think: midlife crisis purchase followed by a pissed off wife = win for me since I get to buy Mr Midlife's sweet ride. Plus it looks nearly as much fun as a bike without as much danger / learning to ride a bike.

I believe caterham has been working on a more consumer level run ride but this kind of competition is great for buyers.

jariten1781 > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 03/20/2015 at 12:08

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Is-ish. It's kinda-legal in some states but not others (TX and CT). There's currently a bill being introduced in congress that will make it de-facto illegal if it goes through (and no one is paying attention to it): http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/autocycle-bill…

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > jariten1781 03/20/2015 at 12:13

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Yeah, I forgot to mention the Texas (small government state, amiright?) and Connecticut (but who cares about them? They're really just a lesser known suburb of New York) issues, but isn't the TX one a case of a DMV directive vs actual legislation?

EDIT - The autocycle bill specifies an enclosed passenger compartment. That would make the Morgan and Slingshot clear.

jariten1781 > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 03/20/2015 at 12:24

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Problem is no one (that I'm aware of) really has regulations that cover 3 wheeled vehicles with car controls. Because of that the legality/ability to get registered is always in limbo. Could be legal today/gone tomorrow.

I believe TX's thing was that their three wheeled rules fell under motorcycle yet their motorcycle rules required it to have saddle style seating so the Slingshot didn't fit in their rules anywhere and they just banned it.

The big problem with the new law being pushed into congress is that it starts with non-convertible automobile regulations then relaxes some. That'll make new Slingshots illegal nationally (though I imagine any already in peoples hands will be grandfathered).

MouseFitzgerald > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul 03/20/2015 at 14:18

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They start at $20k, $25k gets you the SL model