Actively considering cancelling reservation.

[Tom Sawyer]

Knowing the people who buy Teslas, no one could force them to do anything. The car was always much more a status symbol than an environmental statement. They didn't give a damn about global warming, but instead wanted to show how fast they could go in "quiet sophistication." I doubt the incentives helped much with this group, as they could afford a Tesla without them.

Now that the big T isn't so cool, someone I know with money to burn bought a Mach-E.

Slate isn't angling for the bouge. Their market is firmly middle class - which the Tesla never was. The same guy who bought a new '88 Civic two-door hatch would buy a Slate today.

Sorry, I gotta disagree. Not all Tesla buyers fit this description.

 

[AZFox]

Part of the reason I'm driving a car pushing 20 years old is that I DON'T want to deal with all the fancy computerized, automated, screen controlled stuff I see these days.

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
-- Leonardo da Vinci

 

[ElectricShitbox]

"Simplify and add lightness"
-Colin Chapman

 

[zipn]

Y’all all move up in line.

I had a very early reservation but we found a gently used Ioniq 6 for $28k that meets ( actually wildly exceeds ) our needs, and not too happy about some of the minimalist choices from Slate.so I cancelled our reservation too. I wish them well. Good luck and hope it all works out for everyone.

 

[sodamo]

Y’all all move up in line.

I had a very early reservation but we found a gently used Ioniq 6 for $28k that meets ( actually wildly exceeds ) our needs, and not too happy about some of the minimalist choices from Slate.so I cancelled our reservation too. I wish them well. Good luck and hope it all works out for everyone.

Thanks, hope you were ahead of me 😁

 

[zipn]

In case anyone was wondering, I just received my $50 credit applied to my CC for the early reservation. I cancelled on Sunday so Thursday is 5 days for the credit to appear.

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

 

[dark star]

I put down my $50 on day two and I’m not asking for it back yet, but the Slate has become much more expensive than I expected when I first got excited about it. Losing the $7,500 EV rebate really hurt. Then I’d need the SUV kit, which adds another $5,000. I could live without many of the extras car companies charge for, but I’d still need basics like a stereo, and I’m sure a few other necessities would quickly raise the price.

At that point it’s no longer an inexpensive EV option for me. As the cost creeps up into the range of what I actually need, there are other EVs that include those essentials, and even features I could take or leave, like automatic windows and adjustable mirrors. I also prefer AWD over rear-wheel drive.

This would also be a first-generation vehicle from a brand-new factory. I’ve always felt it’s safer to buy the second or later version of a new model. Waiting seems wiser. If I’m still around when Slate version two comes out, I can reconsider it then.

The funny thing about early adopters is they subsidize the debugging phase of history. Every shiny first-gen product is a field experiment wearing a showroom smile, and patience is sometimes the most underrated feature package.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

I put down my $50 on day two and I’m not asking for it back yet, but the Slate has become much more expensive than I expected when I first got excited about it. Losing the $7,500 EV rebate really hurt. Then I’d need the SUV kit, which adds another $5,000. I could live without many of the extras car companies charge for, but I’d still need basics like a stereo, and I’m sure a few other necessities would quickly raise the price.

At that point it’s no longer an inexpensive EV option for me. As the cost creeps up into the range of what I actually need, there are other EVs that include those essentials, and even features I could take or leave, like automatic windows and adjustable mirrors. I also prefer AWD over rear-wheel drive.

This would also be a first-generation vehicle from a brand-new factory. I’ve always felt it’s safer to buy the second or later version of a new model. Waiting seems wiser. If I’m still around when Slate version two comes out, I can reconsider it then.

The funny thing about early adopters is they subsidize the debugging phase of history. Every shiny first-gen product is a field experiment wearing a showroom smile, and patience is sometimes the most underrated feature package.

I wouldn’t want to depend on it as my daily driver as first gen EV…but my use case is luxury as it would be a second vehicle for me and more of a glorified open air golf cart that would be garaged most of the time…I would look carefully at the warranty service possibilities and being without a loaner if it was going to be my primary ride. That’s GenX logic though.

I don’t need the $50 so I’ll wait and see.

The poor kid in me still revels in the toy truck possibilities that I never dreamed of decades ago…

 

[fuzzyweis]

I actually used Chat to debate this similar topic, maybe even less of a question than you have. I have a 2000 Ford Ranger electric, to update the batteries to get over 100 miles range would be about $5k with used LFP batteries, including new charger and bms.

Then a lot of the unknowns you pose are known, insurance not too bad, maintenance, outside of the hv system, which I would have updated myself, it’s a Ford Ranger, I mean I’ve replaced the brake booster and sway bar links myself, getting the part the same day at the local Napa.

Chat basically flat out said update the Ranger. But, it won’t fast charge, it is SLOW, and it is 25 years old, things are starting to break on it and I’m not getting any younger.

I’m basically going to wait to test drive the Slate, they said there should be some test drives this year. If that sells me then I may be trading up, regardless of logic, you only live once.

-Jim

 

[Doctors Do Little]

So, the Slate has become a timing issue for me. I decided to upgrade my motorcycle situation and spent most of the funds earmarked for the Slate on a new scooter in December. The Slate is in the consideration for replacing my aging-out GM midsized pickup truck that will become difficult to maintain as parts go obsolete and the frame continues to rust and fatigue (I've had it repaired twice in the past 5 years). I will have the Bronco paid off in mid-2027, which I about the time I expect Slate to get to my reservation number. My budget has a continuous vehicle payment in it, so there is no sweat in financing twenty or so thousand for a Slate purchase. Convincing Mrs. E90400K is the hurdle. Convincing me of accepting the low trailer towing spec is now a hurdle as well, but I do have a workaround for it.

Depending on how the GM truck is holding up some 18 - 20 months from now I may push the Slate acquisition out a bit. I wonder how long Slate will hold reservations...

I tell the Mrs Doctors Do Little that this is much cheaper than golf. (Like, it ain't even close....ironically, we live on a golf course and I don't golf!)

The trailering thing is real though...it really limits what kind of weekend HD stuff I can do, given that my 6x10' trailer weighs about 800# by itself.

 

[Sl8rGrl]

the way i see it, is I really have nothing to lose by letting them hold onto my reservation. It's fully refundable at any time, and I'm not necessarily hurting for an extra $50 for now. In my most recent convo with Slate (they must be so tired of me by now lol) they referenced the Warsaw article mentioning production starting this summer, with a lot of exciting announcements planned "for launch".
Many companies lead with the "under promise, over deliver" mindset, I hope it's the same here.

 

[GaRailroader]

I have a day 2 reservation taken at 6:30am. My thought in making the reservation is to send a message to Slate that I like what they are doing and am interested in buying. I will not be converting my reservation to an order until the 2nd model year, presumably a 2028. With it being a new company as well as first model year, I think it would be prudent to let them get the initial bugs out of the design and manufacturing.

I bought a 2018 Model 3 in September of 2018. I had no reservation, went in to Tesla store and took a test drive then went home and placed an order. 2017 was the first model year and when mine was made it was around 50,000th unit made. I believe there were over 450k reservations and the reservations cost $1k, yet I was able to buy 1, 50k in without a reservation. I do think the conversion rate of the Model 3 was pretty good, not like the Cybertruck conversion rate which was dismal. That is to say, unless production ramp goes really slowly, I don’t think it is that important to have a reservation. When they open it up for various reservation holders to place an order, the reservation holder might not be in a position to pull the trigger at that point in time. This should be more so the case with a reservation cost of $50 versus $1000.

 

[KevinRS]

I think with the lower truck cost, even lower relative to Tesla than it looks due to inflation, and more developed charging infrastructure, there may be a higher conversion rate than some expect. Sure it won't be 100%, probably not very close, but the lower price puts it closer to a casual purchase than other vehicle launches for some percentage of higher income buyers.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

Cancelled my reservation this morning. Love Slate's mission and I wish them success, and I wish all my fellow Slate forum members a super happy ownership experience. I look forward to hearing all about your Slates in the coming years.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

I rented a 10’ Uhaul truck today to move a kid and it was completely analog…crank windows and locks and knobs and buttons with AM/FM radio on a GMC truck…I certainly thought about that being a Slate reality.
What I noticed vs my ridiculous tech-heavy X5…I like power mirrors and BSM and parking assist.
Most of the other stuff I didn’t miss too much, though I wouldn’t want to road trip in something with subpar seats. In background mode, I found myself wondering about the Scout EREV….Im now thinking that I’d definitely want a test drive vs just taking it as advertised. So, I’m evolving…