Level-headed Slate video posted today

[ScooterAsheville]

This guy totally captured my feelings about Slate. I don't know what Slate's future is - neither do you - only the 16 million people buying a car in 2027 know what Slate's future is. I personally feel that Slate missed on the price. I know most of you violently disagree - this is, after all, a fan site. Of course you love Slate. But do 80,000+ people a year love Slate?

Give it a watch. I think he's fair pro and con. Interested to hear rebuttals. I really am.

 

[GaRailroader]

If you could buy a brand new Chevy Cavalier equipped identically to how his 1991 was equipped and sell it for $19k today and then have Slate for $25k I would submit that the take rate of the Slate would be orders of magnitude higher than that of the Cavalier. Pretty impressive that he kept a car without air conditioning for 30 years. The longest I've lasted with 1 car without AC was 9 years. That was a Ford Ranger.

 

[P. Regent]

He makes the case for the premise that Slates aren't for everyone. A renter in a apartment with two kids and only budget for one vehicle? Slate would be a bad choice IMO. But if you want a simple vehicle - think original VWs - and/or a pickup truck, and can arrange at home charging, it might be a good choice. Would $20K be a "game changer?" Probably any new vehicle at that price would be, let alone an EV.

Here's the thing: I build stuff. Not cars or trucks (although I did wire up a '76 Courier to run on 13 100 AH AGMs a couple of decades ago) but more like furniture, a guerilla solar + battery station - random stuff. And that makes me aware of how much parts cost. Inflation is real. I'll be honest: I'm seriously impressed that they've been able to design this vehicle to pencil out at $25K. A lot of their design choices make sense for that: steel unibody; LFP batteries, a lot of off-the-shelf components.

$20K would be losing $ on every vehicle sold. That's not a game-changer - it's either a loss leader or bait and switch ( like the $28K Maverick.)

 

[LevelHeaded]

Hey, I didn’t make this video…
Nor do I endorse it!

 

[tubes]

I don't violently disagree. I would have liked to see it cheaper. Who wouldn't? $23k would have blown me away.

$20k these days is dreamland, especially for something built on American soil. Hell, around here people are spending $15k to $20k to get their HVAC swapped out.

But he has some great points. And the top trending comments on his youtube also have some great points. I guess that's balance, and that's OK.

Maverick comparisons are fine, even with the switch from ICE to EV. But one has to work really, really hard to get the stripper price and not get hosed by the finance guy at the dealershit.

 

[SailorDan]

I must agree for that for most car buyers the Slate is not complete enough at $25,000. Remember it was supposed to have a $7500 tax break to lower the cost.

Then again, 2-door Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco buyers are all over the place in terms of what they want on their new car and what they want to add later. Some buy the lowest level trim and build on it; some buy the highest-level most tricked out model available. The folks who build out the cheapest SUV's, and the people who used to own 2-door work trucks that they loved (like me) , but who would really like an electric vehicle this time, are the most likely Slate customers. To Wrangler and Bronco buyers, a fully accessorized Slate will be cheaper than the lowest trim level their ICE SUV's come in. And electric.

There is nothing else out there for us. A mid-size and much higher dollar 4-door Jeep Recon does nothing for me, or for a 2-door Wrangler-lover or Bronco fan. It's been a while since there was a Chevy Blazer that was part truck and part SUV, so it does not matter whether the current name-sake becomes EV. The upcoming 4-door Ford EV pick-up is closer if you just want a pick-up truck, but it doesn't have much customization potential.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

Yea, if there's one group that seems to be the core of the Slate buyer ethos, it seems to be the "make it mine" crowd. Which is super cool, because it promises a lot of fun ahead. I can't wait to watch what you folks do with your Slates.

 

[EV Trek]

I have always bought Base model trucks and later added what I wanted to them, unfortunately none of them had AC on them which is a must for me in my old age. But prices adjusted for inflation are right on par with what the Slate is today.
People always think things should cost less than they actually do. But companies have to make a product to make money, not lose money or they go out of business.

 

[Nivek]

It's a well reasoned conversation about Slate's business proposition. I think the sticking point in a lot of ways is misconception and/or bots spewing non truths. Heck, maybe even big auto is behind it. I cant even say how many times people have said Slate doesn't come with arm rests, or AC, or power locks. In one video I watched of "journalists" reviewing it they said they thought it didnt come with a fob. There seems to be a major gap in what people know.

Another problem I think slate has is that everyone keeps comparing the slate to other vehicles with the SUV kit. I think in order to get ahead of that and keep that SUV entry price low, they should subsidize the SUV price a little bit when bought at the same time as the truck. That way they can say the out the door cost for the SUV package is more like 28,500... instead of being rounded to 30k and more by lazy journalists.

It also doesn't seem to help that Maverick prices seemed to have dropped around the same time as slate's pricing announcement making the comp's look less appealing.

 

[Rocks]

I'm actually surprised that Ford didn't release some UEV renders as counter programming to the Slate pre-order launch.

 

[jmason]

Basic utilitarian vehicle that no one has really had the opportunity to get up close and personal with as of yet. So opinions will be plentiful. Basic questions - what are you planning on using it for? what tech/no tech is a deal breaker? why do you even want one?

Easy to take shots at something that is currently vaporware (regardless of the proliferating vids on 'Tube about first rides/reviews). Interesting that the Events Near You! is still touting updating the locations and dates in...June 2026? Um...tomorrow it will be July. Wonder if I'll ever get to see one much less drive one before it uh, shows up in my driveway? shows up at a Carvana lot? shows up at a 'designated point'?

Matter of faith. Do I have faith in American craftsmanship and ability to put out a dependable vehicle at this price point? Put my money down so I guess I do.

 

[tubes]

Interesting that the Events Near You! is still touting updating the locations and dates in...June 2026? Um...tomorrow it will be July.

They seem to do a lot of things at noon Pacific. They have 1 1/2 hours.

 

[Postie]

s/ I told Wilbur. I told Orville. And now Imma tellin´ you: That thang will never fly! s/