Are you planning to pre-order without ever having sat in a Slate?

[lindamjohn]

I know you are excited about Slate. I’m excited too!

But are you concerned at all about putting down $300 non-refundable without having sat in the driver seat?
I am very short and stout; I need to know that I will be comfortable and have great visibility when I’m driving any vehicle.

Please share your perspectives on this question? I really want to know.

Linda in California

 

[sodamo]

Going to assume you have reviewed all the various videos with various sized people? And the postings on here of those fortunate to sit in one early on?

 

[Luxrage]

I don't like it, but I will. Hopefully when the release date is posted they'll have some more tour locations listed. Being in California you might have an opportunity within the next 30 days. I at least got to see two of them in person to get an idea of the layout (but didn't get to sit in it).

 

[GrizzlysGhost]

I consider myself to be pretty average (height, weight, health) so may have less concerns than some, so I don't mind putting down $300 for a Slate I've never seen.
Heck, I lost a lot more than that on a stupid Kickstarter project (I'm looking at YOU, Coolest Cooler)!

 

[stEVe]

Some people need to see it, touch it, and test drive it. I looked at three photos and said, "Yep, that's my personality now."

 

[slate808]

Based on what I read and see online I am ready to put my money down on a Slate. If you have any concerns that a Slate may not be right for you then best for you to wait until you can check out a Slate in person.

 

[1yeliab_sufur1]

I am not personally ive sat and driven all types of vehicles and riding mowers so if its better then a riding mower ill be happy XD I do wonder if the steering wheel tilts if not i hope the aftermarket makes something

 

[FlyHappy]

1) I'm a risk taker, by nature
2) Slate truck will never be my only vehicle
3) I'm physically small, so even in an uncomfortable space, I have "margin" to make accomodation
4) I have general "Macguyver"skills, I always find a way to make things work
5) I don't have a work commute
6) worse case, Slate becomes a toy/hobby
7) its cheaper then a Rivian
8) I've done stupider things

 

[Luxrage]

I've had good luck buying 'old' cars without driving them. My Country Squire was shipped and I didn't know how to drive stick when I bought the Geo. Most of my concerns are just reaching the buttons and things like that more than ride quality.

 

[sodamo]

I did sit in my Tundra before buying, didn’t drive it, but wife was with me 😁.
can’t remember last vehicle I did test drive or even sit in before that.
tractor I bought last year, about 2x Slates, i didn’t even see until delivered to my property.

 

[tubes]

I understand OP's concern. I've set aside this $300 as a little risk money, knowing I may lose it.

The point will be mute if my window is revealed to be in 2028, in which case I simply won't pre-order. I would then wait for show and tell events.

 

[ClayJar]

Technically, I did test drive my current car, a Mazda 3 Sport, before signing, but I had already determined it was my only option. My criteria were:

• New
• Hatchback
• Stick
• Cruise control
• Available immediately (within a day's travel)
• Reasonable (i.e. less than my house... which, okay, I did purchase as an uninhabitable foreclosure)

That pretty much left me with just one option. Not one model, even. Just one actual vehicle. Of course, It wouldn't behoove me to tell the de*ler that it was fait accompli, so I took a test drive in order to appear normal.

While this isn't quite the same -- I have my delightful Mazda, which I am certainly keeping until it is no longer a car -- a Blank Slate is pretty much the real-world incarnation of what I've long said would be my platonic ideal of a vehicle... if the price for the extended battery version is in my preconsidered range.

I'd certainly love to have a sit in one (or a test drive, if I'm dreaming) before delivery, but I'm perfectly content wagering $300 on a preorder.

 

[bitpop]

Slate is being extremely open in their design and plans to stay that way, along with repairability and respecting your privacy. They want you to actually own your slate truck.

If I can't sit in one before I put 300 bucks down, so be it. I must support them for going down what I see as the correct path.

 

[The Weatherman]

I bought a Ford Maverick without sitting in it or test driving. As was said earlier, it won’t be my only vehicle, I won’t be road tripping and it won’t be driven everyday. I’m good with that.

 

[EV Trek]

Not my first time doing it.. ordered a 2007 Saturn Sky in 2005 before they were in production in 2006, Ordered a 2010 Camaro in 2009 before they went into production, those were fine.. hoping this will be too.