CarEdge Live: Customers Refuse to Purchase

[KevinRS]

Part of the issue with the idea of "young people trying to start a family" is that many young people just aren't.
Between the economy, job insecurity, politics, climate etc. There are lots that either can't afford kids, can't afford health care, don't want to bring kids into what's going on, etc.
Birthrates are down, but not necessarily a crisis, the worry for decades has been too much population growth.
But this all means there is a growing group that doesn't need, and doesn't plan to need somewhere to buckle in car seats.

 

[Freyar]

Having less is the point. I don't drive often, so I just need something that can move me 20 miles or so, can carry things when I need it to, and can be dead simple for most repairs/service.

A big reason I've stayed with my 2013 is because I can't really afford to do anything big. I look at Chevy, Honda, etc. and I just see the sheer complexity of what's been put in and don't want to play that game.

On the plus side, the lack of built-in telematics is a major benefit. I'm tired of companies selling a product, then using it as a trojan horse to steal and resell data collected on you.

Not meant as a slight to anyone, but.. when someone's able to own more than one car, it sounds like they're doing pretty well for themselves. Slate as a "second car" sounds incredibly funny to me but people can buy and do what they want, of course. I just don't see a lot of people having more than one vehicle.

 

[KevinRS]

Having less is the point. I don't drive often, so I just need something that can move me 20 miles or so, can carry things when I need it to, and can be dead simple for most repairs/service.

A big reason I've stayed with my 2013 is because I can't really afford to do anything big. I look at Chevy, Honda, etc. and I just see the sheer complexity of what's been put in and don't want to play that game.

On the plus side, the lack of built-in telematics is a major benefit. I'm tired of companies selling a product, then using it as a trojan horse to steal and resell data collected on you.

Not meant as a slight to anyone, but.. when someone's able to own more than one car, it sounds like they're doing pretty well for themselves. Slate as a "second car" sounds incredibly funny to me but people can buy and do what they want, of course. I just don't see a lot of people having more than one vehicle.

"Second car" in a family with more than one driver makes more sense for most. If we are talking one person on their own with multiple cars, then yeah, you are right.

 

[Freyar]

"Second car" in a family with more than one driver makes more sense for most. If we are talking one person on their own with multiple cars, then yeah, you are right.

Sure, but that in my head sounds like one car to a person (or less) to me.

 

[KevinRS]

Sure, but that in my head sounds like one car to a person (or less) to me.

You've got families making do with less than that, and basically carpooling. You've also got families with kids, where you really need a vehicle with more doors, but a Slate can work as a "second car" and save on the car payment and save on fuel, and save on maintenance.

 

[RobertOne]

In 1972, I bought a new "bare bones" Toyota p/u. That was the best decision I ever made. Cheep to buy and cheep to operate. It served me well. By the time I was ready to buy another, the industry had decided to "upscale" everything, especially the prices, equipping every vehicle with a lot of junk, whether you wanted it or not. The lase "bear bones" vehicle we were able to buy was a 2007 Toyota Echo (we had to special order it on a dealer trade). We kept it 10 years. When we went to buy a new car we found that "bare bones" had gone the way of the dinosaur. That's why I'm excited about SLATE. It's almost like going back to 1972.

For decades, the industry has been trying to tell me what I want instead of the other way around. SLATE is beginning to turn things back to the old way, putting the consumer in the driver's seat instead of the other way around.

 

[Johnologue]

From the low-end of the market, I think a lot of people will want the Slate, but be unable to buy it until it's used. Or at least until it's possible to get a bit of money reliably without standing next to two vowels that aren't EOUY. Times are tough.

To some extent, what Slate is offering with the low cost of ownership, longevity, and ability to add on later is at least the idea of "upward mobility".

People who understand the principle of Terry Pratchett's "Boots Theory" will appreciate what Slate is selling.

If someone can only afford cheap boots that wear out and need yearly replacement, they end up spending more money for less comfort than someone who can afford solid boots that last a long time.

The problem is, understanding this doesn't make you able to afford the expensive boots. On the other hand, there are even more expensive shoes that definitely won't last as long as the boots, and that's what most other cars are.

There will be budget-conscious people who stretch to buy a used or new Slate that wouldn't have bothered without the option of a car that promised repairability and longevity.

 

[jonboy108]

I’m looking at the Slate as a bit of ‘reverse snobbery’. Way back when, people who clearly could afford a more expensive car bought Volkswagen beetles to show off they bought cheap but high quality. A lot of my friends have pretty spendy cars, and i think this will just be fun.

 

[dmon4u]

These days a Slate will outlast most Marriages !

 

[Brabbit]

From the low-end of the market, I think a lot of people will want the Slate, but be unable to buy it until it's used. Or at least until it's possible to get a bit of money reliably without standing next to two vowels that aren't EOUY. Times are tough.

To some extent, what Slate is offering with the low cost of ownership, longevity, and ability to add on later is at least the idea of "upward mobility".

People who understand the principle of Terry Pratchett's "Boots Theory" will appreciate what Slate is selling.

If someone can only afford cheap boots that wear out and need yearly replacement, they end up spending more money for less comfort than someone who can afford solid boots that last a long time.

The problem is, understanding this doesn't make you able to afford the expensive boots. On the other hand, there are even more expensive shoes that definitely won't last as long as the boots, and that's what most other cars are.

There will be budget-conscious people who stretch to buy a used or new Slate that wouldn't have bothered without the option of a car that promised repairability and longevity.

That's similar to where I'm at. Inexpensive doesn't have to mean "cheap", but it's important to have quality on things that need to last for long term affordability; which to an extent is far more important than upfront cost. Realistically, as much as I'd like to be in the "first wave", I'm looking at placing an order near the end of Slates first full production year or beginning of the second. This gives enough time for people to get hands on and test the final builds as well as me saving up some extra financial "padding" so it won't be a strain on the budget; heck, if theres a used one that hits market in that time I'll probably swoop in and give it a new home, lol.

 

[AZFox]

These days a Slate will outlast most Marriages !

Maybe not all...

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Having less is the point. I don't drive often, so I just need something that can move me 20 miles or so, can carry things when I need it to, and can be dead simple for most repairs/service.

I love False Knees! Great webcomic.

I made the comic a link to the entry at False Knees - please browse!

 

[Tom Sawyer]

One of my favorites: