Absolutely buying, but worried about this one thing...

[The Dude]

usually that would take time. the plastic cladding on my trucks bed rail still seem good after 3 years usually at 5-6yearsthats when real signs of degradation start to show and you get fiber glass arms every time you lean on it

That's where aftermarket bed comes in.

 

[The Dude]

On speed, I've found by testing that people's claims that if you go only at the speed limit, you will nearly get run off the road or something are false. There are probably plenty of people driving that one toll road in Texas at 80, 75, 70 or even lower, just staying in the right lane. I am kind of curious if that is the road you are talking about, because it's the only place with an 85 limit, and it's a lot farther than 85 miles from Florida. Florida tops out at 70 for speed limits. You've got to go to Louisiana to get to a 75 speed limit.


The plan is for there to be heated seat covers, with a connection for them ready to just plug in. It's been mentioned in interviews, I expect we will see more details next month.

I drive it and usually it's 90-95. Pasted a parked patrol doing 90 and I think he just waved. Lol. Felt really strange. I'm not planning on driving the Slate any faster than 70.

 

[The Dude]

I’m definitely buying. I don’t have any real concerns, but I do have questions, non deal breakers. I fully expect most of those to be addressed as we get closer to actual delivery as Slate releases final specs etc. I also think this forum can and will become a reasonable source.
My main question at this point is the bed topper. Slate is aware that many of us are concerned about a doggy friendly solution and has indicated they will have one. Personally, I will not spend $5K on the SuV kit and have seat etc I don’t need nor want. Of course it will come down to what is the cost of Slate’s solution. Worst case, I get nothing and hope for a 3rd party alternative.
Early on, I also questioned battery size, even attempting a spreadsheet, ended up my making the extended battery justifiable only if cost was $2500 or less. I have since found the ABRP app and learned my range anxiety likely a non issue. As I’ve stated elsewhere, a primary goal is only pay for charging in emergency.
So while there are numerous nice to have discussions in the forum, for me no deal breakers as long as Slate delivers as expected at the mid $20k price range. Then in that regard, I sincerely hope I’m not penalized for not living in a prime delivery area, my point being that should they make me wait additional 6 months or longer, they will have found the deal breaker.

Wonder if you can just order one back seat? For the grand kid to pickup from school.

 

[The Dude]

I did a junkyard trip out to Reno, TX this weekend. I tried to take note of the average highway speed along US82 during most of my drive and in all traffic averaged 80-85. 145 mile round trip with a supercharger / chargepoint station in Paris if I really need it.

I think if the truck has no issues with holding 85, I'll plan for a short charge break for lunch. I might just treat it like my LTD and make it a 75mph max car, the real question comes from passing times of 70->90 for the asymmetrical passing sections they have:

Yeah but depending on wind direction. Driving west during the fall and winter will eat your lunch. You can see your battery level indicator moving. And at higher speeds forget about it. 65 seems about the sweet spot for me.

 

[The Dude]

100% gonna buy, with SUV kit and larger battery. Living in the rust belt (Michigan) my top concern is rust and corrosion. Obviously the body panels will be fine. I've spent my life fighting rusty bolts, rotting frames, etc. Will those body panel bolts sieze up after a couple winters?
Slate headquarters in Michigan, I wonder where corrosion resistance falls on the developement priority list.

It just like 16 bolts. Switch out with SS.

 

[The Dude]

My biggest concern is even though Slate is a Michigan based company, the Direct purchase process may still have problems. I had to drive to Ohio to purchase my first Tesla, and I have not heard how Slate will address this. The dealer lobby is very strong in Michigan.

Also, will Slate take trade-ins or will that be thru one of the car web sites?

How did that feel driving into Ohio? 🤣. OH. Lol. just kidding.

 

[The Dude]

On speakers, we will have to see what Slate actually comes with, AFAIK everything shown will be bluetooth based, but some bluetooth speakers actually sound really good, surprisingly good for their size and price.

3500 watt inverter and your choice is limitless. Go deaf if you want in that small cabin.

 

[Luxrage]

usually that would take time. the plastic cladding on my trucks bed rail still seem good after 3 years usually at 5-6yearsthats when real signs of degradation start to show and you get fiber glass arms every time you lean on it

There's something to be said about how the OEMs manufacture it, I think we've come a long way in the automotive plastics space and have probably learned something over the years. The 30+ year old deformable plastic bumper trim on my LTD (and every one I find in the junkyard) looks the day it did coming out of the factory yet the trim on similar Cadillacs have all but disintegrated back into raw petroleum.

 

[1yeliab_sufur1]

There's something to be said about how the OEMs manufacture it, I think we've come a long way in the automotive plastics space and have probably learned something over the years. The 30+ year old deformable plastic bumper trim on my LTD (and every one I find in the junkyard) looks the day it did coming out of the factory yet the trim on similar Cadillacs have all but disintegrated back into raw petroleum.

I see also depends where you live i live in az and the sun beats the plastic like ot own it money but also depends if yiu have a garage or not ny trucks in the sun pretty much all day

 

[kvermeer]

It just like 16 bolts. Switch out with SS.

I've switched out some bolts on my bike with blued titanium ones:

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/M3-M5-M6-M8-M10-M12_1601748348598.html

Completely ridiculous from a strength and weight perspective - but also gorgeous. Might be just the thing to make a wrap pop! Black/satin/chrome stainless can look good too, depending on color, but that rainbow titanium oxide is amazing. You can get aluminum anodized bolts in any color, but they're a fraction (~25%) the strength of steel bolts. Pale blue dyed metric screws are also commonly available.

Don't forget to use a drop or two of blue loctite on the bolts. I wouldn't use grease/antiseize/superlube because you won't be able to drive them to full self-locking thread-stretching torque with plastic in the stack, but even liquid "thread locker" can reduce the tendency of dissimilar metals to corrode.

 

[phidauex]

Don't forget to use a drop or two of blue loctite on the bolts. I wouldn't use grease/antiseize/superlube because you won't be able to drive them to full self-locking thread-stretching torque with plastic in the stack, but even liquid "thread locker" can reduce the tendency of dissimilar metals to corrode.

I'm a big fan of Vibratite VC-3 for applications like this - it is a removable threadlocker, but it doesn't fully dry like loctite - it retains a firm gel-like texture, almost like that skin that forms on Jello if you leave it in the fridge too long. That makes it very resistant to vibration loosening, but stays soft enough for easy future adjustments or removal and reinstallation.

https://www.vibra-tite.com/threadlockers/plastic-compatible/vibra-tite-vc-3-threadmate/

 

[ElectricShitbox]

I'm a big fan of Vibratite VC-3 for applications like this - it is a removable threadlocker, but it doesn't fully dry like loctite - it retains a firm gel-like texture, almost like that skin that forms on Jello if you leave it in the fridge too long. That makes it very resistant to vibration loosening, but stays soft enough for easy future adjustments or removal and reinstallation.

https://www.vibra-tite.com/threadlockers/plastic-compatible/vibra-tite-vc-3-threadmate/

Seconded. Don't put loctite on anything you're unwilling to heat with a torch.

 

[DT444T]

Seconded. Don't put loctite on anything you're unwilling to heat with a torch.

They make different grades of loctite...

 

[ElectricShitbox]

They make different grades of loctite...

I've very aware of loctite's product range, and stand by my statement.

 

[phidauex]

I for one am just glad to have stoked the fires of division on one of automotive enthusiasts favorite endless arguments. Should we cover oil sampling and testing methods next?

To those who have no idea what we are talking about, just use Blue Loctite, Vibratite, or three hail marys when securing fasteners that can't be torqued down hard. Don't use Red Loctite.