Will the Slate’s 8 seconds to 60 mph be adequate for safe highway merging?

[eightOne]

My LR3 was rated at 8.5s 0-60 when new, and I imagine that’s romping on it. Between the escaped horses and rarely feeling the need to try for that level of performance, I’ve not encountered any issues merging.

 

[sodamo]

62 years of driving a wide variety of both cars and trucks, couldn’t give you a 0-60 value on any of them. Even drove a ‘72 VW bug on the autobahns. Still here, so guess I adapted.fill adapt with my Slate.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

62 years of driving a wide variety of both cars and trucks, couldn’t give you a 0-60 value on any of them. Even drove a ‘72 VW bug on the autobahns. Still here, so guess I adapted.fill adapt with my Slate.

Come on, David! You are not auto-bahning on the Island? You’re not going to encounter merging madness with wild chickens (Kauai as I remember!)?

 

[sodamo]

Come on, David! You are not auto-bahning on the Island? You’re not going to encounter merging madness with wild chickens (Kauai as I remember!)?

Well, we do have a couple of passing zones on our otherwise single lane highways. And the closet thing to autobahn (the new saddle rd) is also favorite hangout of the local cop$.

 

[Dorbiman]

This discussion is pretty eye opening to me. I wonder how many people want the number, but don't really need the performance. For reference, here are some modern, every day cars.

2013 Subaru BRZ	7.3 seconds
2021 Subaru Crosstrek	7.8 seconds
2019 Chevy Blazer	8.1 seconds
2025 Chevy Colorado ZR2	7.3 seconds
2019 Chevy Malibu	7.9 seconds
2023 Honda Accord	7.3 seconds
2025 Honda Civic Sport	8.9 seconds
2023 Honda CR-V	8.2 seconds
2018 Ford F150	7.6 seconds
2022 Ford Fiesta	8.6 seconds
2015 Ford Focus SE	9.4 seconds
2019 Ford Fusion (Police)	8.2 seconds
2024 Ford Maverick Hybrid	7.4 seconds

Are these concerning times to people? This is so interesting to me. The Slate is supposed to be a cheap, barebones vehicle. It's right in line with other cheap vehicles too. I never thought someone would say any of this about the Ford Fusion police interceptor. "It's not suited for interstate traffic"

 

[AZFox]

Acceleration from a stop will be good, especially compared to ICE vehicles, because the electric motor makes its torque starting from essentially zero RPM.

As speed builds that advantage diminishes, and eventually vanishes, because things like the one-speed transmission and the boxy aerodynamics become important.

I think city drivers are going to enjoy zipping away from stoplights to get ahead of the cluster of traffic.

OTOH I think at freeway-merge speeds people are going to be contemplating the advantage they'd get from having either a more powerful motor or a second motor and some extra driveline componentry under their frunk .

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Acceleration from a stop will be good, especially compared to ICE vehicles, because the electric motor makes its torque starting from essentially zero RPM.

As speed builds that advantage diminishes, and eventually vanishes, because things like the one-speed transmission and the boxy aerodynamics become important.

I think city drivers are going to enjoy zipping away from stoplights to get ahead of the cluster of traffic.

OTOH I think at freeway-merge speeds people are going to be contemplating the advantage they'd get from having either a more powerful motor or a second motor and some extra driveline componentry under their frunk .

💯. Precisely my thoughts

 

[RevCaptJack]

I got a 63 beetle in 1974 when I turned 16. Zero to Sixty was measured in fortnights.

Yup! 😊

 

[RevCaptJack]

Yup! 😂

 

[AZFox]

A while back I tried to determine how much the extra weight of the Extended Battery option would slow down the 0-60mph time.

I came up with 8.4 seconds, but that could be off. If it's off I'd expect less effect, not more.

Hey! This could be a good time to post an ever-so-popular Edge Case!

If your Truck has an Extended Battery, larger-diameter (and heavier) All-Terrain tires, an SUV Kit with seats and rollbar, a spare tire, and passengers you're not going to achieve anywhere near 8.0 seconds.

 

[YDR37]

I looked at a list of the 25 top-selling vehicles in the US for 2024. Plenty of them need 8.0 seconds or more to go 0-60, including the Nissan Sentra, Subaru Forester and Crosstrek, Chevy Trax and Equinox, Toyota Corolla and RAV4M, Hyundai Tucson, and Kia Sportage.

However, it looks like inexpensive vehicles are getting quicker with the growing popularity of hybrid powertrains. Some of these models do have hybrid options that are faster.

 

[cadblu]

This discussion is pretty eye opening to me. I wonder how many people want the number, but don't really need the performance. For reference, here are some modern, every day cars.

2013 Subaru BRZ	7.3 seconds
2021 Subaru Crosstrek	7.8 seconds
2019 Chevy Blazer	8.1 seconds
2025 Chevy Colorado ZR2	7.3 seconds
2019 Chevy Malibu	7.9 seconds
2023 Honda Accord	7.3 seconds
2025 Honda Civic Sport	8.9 seconds
2023 Honda CR-V	8.2 seconds
2018 Ford F150	7.6 seconds
2022 Ford Fiesta	8.6 seconds
2015 Ford Focus SE	9.4 seconds
2019 Ford Fusion (Police)	8.2 seconds
2024 Ford Maverick Hybrid	7.4 seconds

Are these concerning times to people? This is so interesting to me. The Slate is supposed to be a cheap, barebones vehicle. It's right in line with other cheap vehicles too. I never thought someone would say any of this about the Ford Fusion police interceptor. "It's not suited for interstate traffic"

Just curious what states / districts are still using the ‘Police version’ of the Ford Fusion.

Maybe in the Amish Country, Lancaster PA?
It can still outrun the fastest horse. 😆

 

[Doctors Do Little]

A while back I tried to determine how much the extra weight of the Extended Battery option would slow down the 0-60mph time.

I came up with 8.4 seconds, but that could be off. If it's off I'd expect less effect, not more.

Hey! This could be a good time to post an ever-so-popular Edge Case!

If your Truck has an Extended Battery, larger-diameter (and heavier) All-Terrain tires, an SUV Kit with seats and rollbar, a spare tire, and passengers you're not going to achieve anywhere near 8.0 seconds.

But, but, but…that’s my setup! Jeez…I haven’t clocked my golf cart’s 0-25 times lately. Surely the Slate will be faster?

 

[sodamo]

Haven’t clocked my Mule either. Shoot, don’t know its top end either. ☹

 

[fuzzyweis]

My Bolt does 0-60 in about 6.5, prior to that the fastest car I had was a manual Dodge Neon that did it in....8 seconds, so this should be fine. Especially compared to my Ranger Electric that does it in a solid 18 seconds so one more check in the "For Slate" column there.