Confirmed: 4x4 all-wheel drive AWD planned for future Slate version!

[Duke Slater]

I wouldn’t go AWD on a Slate. That would probably be about $32K and get about 120 miles of range, unless they did a bigger battery easily pushing that to $35K. Now we’re nowhere near that magical $20K price.

 

[sodamo]

I wouldn’t go AWD on a Slate. That would probably be about $32K and get about 120 miles of range, unless they did a bigger battery easily pushing that to $35K. Now we’re nowhere near that magical $20K price.

I’m gonna agree for the most part.
i can go with the smaller battery, just means I won’t make a certain few trips during the year.
I can go without 4WD. I can choose not to drive where it might be required or even nice.
But if I did want those capabilities I should expect they will cost extra, just like my crewcab, 4wd, Hybrid cost me extra in Tundra. I could have gotten a truck without and saved money. Choices cost money.
I’m fortunate in that my Slate will not be my only vehicle, therefore it doesn’t need to do all things, so I can adjust my expectations accordingly.
Of course there are some with different needs. If tey need a fully tricked out truck that serves them a beverage at a stoplight fine, but they have to be realistic and pay for it and complain their $35k truck isn’t available for the basic $20k just as my 1794 wasn’t priced as a basic SR5.

 

[AZFox]

And on the dark side, the passes sit in R1 from approximately 30 minutes after the first snowfall in November, until a week after the last in May. Usually about a week gap in January/February when there’s a drought 😂.

I thought they were going to call chain control last weekend!

California Chain Control! 😧 Who knew there was such a thing.

After giving it some thought when the Performance In Snow Thread was active I concluded, at least for myself, that the RWD Slate, when equipped with appropriate tires and a lift especially, will handle snow like a boss... assuming Slate designs and implements Traction Control that works the way Traction Control should.

Do some research when you select a tire because some tires perform far better in snow than others. Make sure your tires are 3PMSF Certified so you can show the Chain Scrutinizers the Official Logos. 👮‍♂️

Apparently Toyo AT3 and BFG K03 are good choices for snow, Falken AT4W maybe not so much.

235/75's (30.9"x9.3") are an ideal size. They're about the same diameter as the optional tire shown by Slate's configurator, but they're lighter and, importantly, narrower so they can advantageously pizza-cut through snow. Follow the link for size-comparison screenshots.

 

[Letas]

California Chain Control! 😧 Who knew there was such a thing.

After giving it some thought when the Performance In Snow Thread was active I concluded, at least for myself, that the RWD Slate, when equipped with appropriate tires and a lift especially, will handle snow like a boss... assuming Slate designs and implements Traction Control that works the way Traction Control should.

Do some research when you select a tire because some tires perform far better in snow than others. Make sure your tires are 3PMSF Certified so you can show the Chain Scrutinizers the Official Logos. 👮‍♂️

Apparently Toyo AT3 and BFG K03 are good choices for snow, Falken AT4W maybe not so much.

235/75's (30.9"x9.3") are an ideal size. They're about the same diameter as the optional tire shown by Slate's configurator, but they're lighter and, importantly, narrower so they can advantageously pizza-cut through snow. Follow the link for size-comparison screenshots.

I’m hoping CC2s will be available and suitable on the Slate. Popular choice on M3s out here. Nice to not have to switch year round.

KO3s will likely be my choice, depending how much they ruin gas mileage.

 

[Hollywood]

I’m gonna agree for the most part.
i can go with the smaller battery, just means I won’t make a certain few trips during the year.
I can go without 4WD. I can choose not to drive where it might be required or even nice.
But if I did want those capabilities I should expect they will cost extra, just like my crewcab, 4wd, Hybrid cost me extra in Tundra. I could have gotten a truck without and saved money. Choices cost money.
I’m fortunate in that my Slate will not be my only vehicle, therefore it doesn’t need to do all things, so I can adjust my expectations accordingly.
Of course there are some with different needs. If tey need a fully tricked out truck that serves them a beverage at a stoplight fine, but they have to be realistic and pay for it and complain their $35k truck isn’t available for the basic $20k just as my 1794 wasn’t priced as a basic SR5.

I agree with this, I want the Slate for the million times I need to run to a jobsite and have other vehicles when I need to get materials and large things moved around. A cheap EV truck that will pay for it self with the fuel I do not use in my Sprinter makes it worth every penny. If I want to upgrade stuff makes it no different than buying a corvette or a zr1, I expect it to cost more.

 

[Benjamin Nead]

Maybe Slate will sell 4x4 as a kit , you can install at home.

Not likely . . .

 

[5ohbrad]

airing down tires can help a lot.

I got stuck in the sand on a beach in my rwd 2000 tundra. It was one of the reasons I sold it. In 15 years of owning it, I really needed my 4wd in my 2010 tundra for only one week during an ice storm in texas.

I have driven all the North Texas winter storms pulling people out with RWD Silverado. A few sandbags for weight in the bed go a long way. As others have said, the better weight bias should make it better in the snow than a typical RWD truck.

 

[Letas]

I have driven all the North Texas winter storms pulling people out with RWD Silverado. A few sandbags for weight in the bed go a long way. As others have said, the better weight bias should make it better in the snow than a typical RWD truck.

Ahh north texas, known for their challenging winter driving conditions

 

[OldGoat]

Ahh north texas, known for their challenging winter driving conditions

Yet in the late 1970's I was a ski rep in Michigan with a RWD Datsun 620 manual with bed cap and with snow tires, never missed a beat in snowy weather. 200 lbs of bagged rock salt over the rear axle along with my ski gear and I went anywhere and everywhere. Only thing that stopped me was -15 below zero temps which would make starting it impossible since the oil would not allow the engine to turn over. Learned to park on a hill, coast down a bit, pop the clutch and she'd fire up. Yeah, not recommended by mechanics but I got where I needed.
So sure, Slate's RWD only will be fine by me or anyone else who knows how to drive.

 

[Tinker]

I don’t understand why this is so divisive.

I’ve noticed over the years that some Internet communities are aggressive, and just straight mean. This forum seems to be heading that. It’s ok for people to have disagreements without insults.

 

[Letas]

Yet in the late 1970's I was a ski rep in Michigan with a RWD Datsun 620 manual with bed cap and with snow tires, never missed a beat in snowy weather. 200 lbs of bagged rock salt over the rear axle along with my ski gear and I went anywhere and everywhere. Only thing that stopped me was -15 below zero temps which would make starting it impossible since the oil would not allow the engine to turn over. Learned to park on a hill, coast down a bit, pop the clutch and she'd fire up. Yeah, not recommended by mechanics but I got where I needed.
So sure, Slate's RWD only will be fine by me or anyone else who knows how to drive.

Again- it's not "knowing how to drive" for me, it's meeting the legal requirements and not chaining up/down dozens of times in the winter.

I'm team RWD as standard, AWD as an option. Totally think that a light duty truck has limited/no need for 4x4 for most consumers. In fact, modern trucks probably don't "need" about 80% of what goes into em.