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

[TPL]

I am nominally OK with buying without a test drive. I'm average height and I know that the Slate will drive differently than my current vehicle. I expect visibility to be dramatically better than every car I've purchased since 2012 because the rear window is so close to the driver and squared-off with the roof. (I hate having to use the side mirrors in order to tell if the car behind me is a police car!)

I'm still torn about preordering vs waiting a year or two for the bugs to shake out. But since I put my $50 down so late it might be a year or two anyway.

 

[lindamjohn]

Someone mentioned videos of many size people sitting in a Slate. Are they on the Slate youtube channel? I don’t believe I saw them all.

I don’t need a test drive. I just want to have a ‘fit check’ of my body to their driver’s seat/cockpit.

 

[Dorbiman]

I was able to sit in one, and was VERY pleased with the size of the cabin. I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum from you @lindamjohn, at 6'3", but I had tons of leg room and head room.

My wife (5'2") sat in it and felt very comfortable, and said the visibility was great. Take that for what it's worth!

 

[SparkYellow]

Someone mentioned videos of many size people sitting in a Slate. Are they on the Slate youtube channel? I don’t believe I saw them all.

I don’t need a test drive. I just want to have a ‘fit check’ of my body to their driver’s seat/cockpit.

Here you go!


I am shorter and smaller than the last lady in the video and it looks like it would work. 🤩

 

[GrizzlysGhost]

Someone mentioned videos of many size people sitting in a Slate. Are they on the Slate youtube channel? I don’t believe I saw them all.

I don’t need a test drive. I just want to have a ‘fit check’ of my body to their driver’s seat/cockpit.

Others beat me to it, good luck!

 

[TPL]

Relevant to fit for differently-sized people, one of the reviews that came out today mentioned a telescoping steering wheel, which will help.

 

[P. Regent]

ClayJar said it well:

Blank Slate is pretty much the real-world incarnation of what I've long said would be my platonic ideal of a vehicle

And with the base range now over 200 miles and towing capacity confirmed at 2,000 lbs.... I can't think of any reason not to pre-order. If the drivers' seat was made of razor blades I guess I'd have to figure out a way to replace it; short of that I can't think of anything that would stop me. My delivery window is just "2027" - I only made my deposit earlier this month - so I'm anticipating that the first run production issues will have been ironed out by the time mine is built (late 2027, I'm guessing.)

 

[meedgar]

Nope. Im 6'3". The guy from TFL youtube is 6'2". The guy in charge of interior add ons is 6'5" and the video shows him in it. They are bigger boned than me and had room. Im good.

 

[RobertOne]

Personally, I have know some folks would have trouble buying the SLATE online. To accommodate potential buyers that may be reluctant to buy without seeing a vehicle first, I'd like to see SLATE institute a program whereby owners could earn commissions on sales for referrals. I suspect I'll be generating a lot of interest in my community. Many people are reluctant to buy a vehicle sight unseen. I'd like to capitalize on that a little bit. Here's how it might work:

Owner is approached in a parking lot by a curious person (cp).
Owner provides a short demonstration of their SLATE and perhaps takes them for a ride.
Owner provides cp with a card bearing the URL for a Web site and a log in code.
When the cp logs in, Owner receives a credit.
If the cp buys using the code, cp receives some kind of reward (like a free accessory) and the Owner receives a commission on the sale.

I call this a "grass-roots" referral program and believe it would work swimmingly. I'd even go so far as to having a special wrap prepared that invited inquiries. What are your thoughts? I've posted something similar elsewhere in the forum, but I thought it also fit this thread.

 

[bloo]

I was able to sit in one, and was VERY pleased with the size of the cabin. I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum from you @lindamjohn, at 6'3", but I had tons of leg room and head room.

My wife (5'2") sat in it and felt very comfortable, and said the visibility was great. Take that for what it's worth!

Here you go!


I am shorter and smaller than the last lady in the video and it looks like it would work. 🤩

I'm also 5' 2" at about 135 pounds. So a good fit for me, I think.

I like the telescoping steering wheel. I'd push it all the way forward so I could reach the pedals.

 

[ack154]

If you're really unsure, you just need to decide if it's worth a $300 risk of not fitting. And per the FAQ:

Later in 2026, we’ll have vehicles available for demonstration drives.

They don't say where those drives will be yet - but that would be the chance if you're on the fence or didn't want to risk the $300 first.

 

[cadblu]

Personally, I have know some folks would have trouble buying the SLATE online. To accommodate potential buyers that may be reluctant to buy without seeing a vehicle first, I'd like to see SLATE institute a program whereby owners could earn commissions on sales for referrals. I suspect I'll be generating a lot of interest in my community. Many people are reluctant to buy a vehicle sight unseen. I'd like to capitalize on that a little bit. Here's how it might work:

Owner is approached in a parking lot by a curious person (cp).
Owner provides a short demonstration of their SLATE and perhaps takes them for a ride.
Owner provides cp with a card bearing the URL for a Web site and a log in code.
When the cp logs in, Owner receives a credit.
If the cp buys using the code, cp receives some kind of reward (like a free accessory) and the Owner receives a commission on the sale.

I call this a "grass-roots" referral program and believe it would work swimmingly. I'd even go so far as to having a special wrap prepared that invited inquiries. What are your thoughts? I've posted something similar elsewhere in the forum, but I thought it also fit this thread.

While I kind of support your idea, I consider it is a huge liability in taking a ‘cp’ for a ride in your Slate. You cannot rule out the unimaginable. As the saying goes, a lot can go down in a NY minute.

Sure, I’d be excited to show off my new Slate. I’d like to say “You can look, but don’t touch.” But that might be a bit harsh.

On second thought, OK- “you can sit in it, but take off your shoes first.” Yea, being fussy, but for good reason. As for the many folks here, taking delivery of your Slate will prove to be a painful 2+ year wait (from the reservation date).

Finally, I wouldn’t expect any compensation from Slate as in credits or commissions. There is little to no margin on this truck. I’d like Slate to be around for a long time. The engineering and design team did a phenomenal job, and I have no doubt this truck will sell itself. Just drive it around as you normally would do, and it will get all the attention it deserves. With or without anyone’s help.

 

[GrizzlysGhost]

Replace the Harley with a Slate 😂

 

[EV Trek]

I like the fact the seat covers zip on and off, will make it much easier to add heated seats then.
https://a.co/d/0h8m4Whv

 

[EV Trek]

While I kind of support your idea, I consider it is a huge liability in taking a ‘cp’ for a ride in your Slate. You cannot rule out the unimaginable. As the saying goes, a lot can go down in a NY minute.

Sure, I’d be excited to show off my new Slate. I’d like to say “You can look, but don’t touch.” But that might be a bit harsh.

On second thought, OK- “you can sit in it, but take off your shoes first.” Yea, being fussy, but for good reason. As for the many folks here, taking delivery of your Slate will prove to be a painful 2+ year wait (from the reservation date).

Finally, I wouldn’t expect any compensation from Slate as in credits or commissions. There is little to no margin on this truck. I’d like Slate to be around for a long time. The engineering and design team did a phenomenal job, and I have no doubt this truck will sell itself. Just drive it around as you normally would do, and it will get all the attention it deserves. With or without anyone’s help.

There are EV events held several times a year in different cities that are for showing the curious about EVs people how EVs work and you can give demo rides to people.
it might also work by taking the Slate to local Cars and Coffee events.