I hate the dashboard!! (and I propose a redesign)

[AZFox]

Just wondering...

I have an epistemological (how you know what you know) question.

What do we know about how these decisions were made?

Could we be missing some important information that would make the design choices make more sense?

FWIW, personally I'd prefer something resembling a "RAM Mount" (articulating modular mount with interchangeable components) for the phone that floats it in front of the dash and would make the phone's location more adjustable.

 

[Driven5]

I still don't recall seeing reasonable and rational arguments as to why the DIN mount centered below the HVAC controls, much like the Bluetooth speaker, is not an acceptable existing alternative. It keeps the head unit visible while encouraging the safer use of steering wheel audio controls. While it may take slightly longer to look at the radio display than ideal, doing so should be infrequent and low priority anyways... Epecially compared to the frequency and time spent actually controlling the radio.

I also have been an engineer long enough to know that, despite their best efforts, CSR's often misspeak about what we did... and even more so why we did it. Note that one SA CSR also told me the truck has hydraulic (rather than electric) assisted power steering... Edit: Meanwhile another CSR stated it's electric, AND visual evidence would seem to back the latter (EPS) as being correct.

 

[Dorbiman]

I still don't recall seeing reasonable and rational arguments as to why the DIN mount centered below the HVAC controls, much like the Bluetooth speaker, is not an acceptable existing alternative. It keeps the head unit visible while encouraging the safer use of steering wheel audio controls. While it may take slightly longer to look at the display, doing so should be infrequent and low priority anyways... Epecially compared to the frequency and time spent actually controlling the radio.

I also have been an engineer long enough to know that, despite their best efforts, CSR's often misspeak about what we did... and even more so why we did it. Note that one SA CSR also told me the truck has hydraulic (rather than electric) assisted power steering.

Likewise, a CSR told me it has EPS rather than hydraulic power steering, while the rep at the Olympia event yesterday said it was hydraulic. Seems no one on the customer facing side really knows.

 

[Driven5]

Exactly. I guess I should have finished that thought for anybody that didn't read the space needle thread. Yes, we got a conflicting report from another CSR, and determined through pics that it's electric and that at least one CSR was either misinformed or misunderstood.

 

[Dorbiman]

I am quite curious about the third reservoir cap in the frunk area now though. Do we know if the Slate has 2 coolant loops? I know that's quite common, at least on HD trucking BEVs.

 

[granite_slate]

Likewise, a CSR told me it has EPS rather than hydraulic power steering, while the rep at the Olympia event yesterday said it was hydraulic. Seems no one on the customer facing side really knows.

Hopefully the rep misspoke. Electrohydraulic is almost *almost* enough to be a deal breaker for me. The less fluids involved in the workings of this vehicle the better as far as I’m concerned.

Maybe I’m traumatized from my time spent dealing with it on R50/53 MINIs, but they were noisy, leak prone garbage in that capacity.

My current daily has EPS and it’s more than fine. Maybe not the best for road feel, but one less fluid to deal with from a maintenance/repair standpoint is glorious.

 

[AZFox]

Likewise, a CSR told me it has EPS rather than hydraulic power steering, while the rep at the Olympia event yesterday said it was hydraulic. Seems no one on the customer facing side really knows.

I had a similar experience when I asked if 16-inch wheels would fit because I was hoping 215/85R16 (30.4" x 8.5") tires could be an option.

I suspected the agent's answer was wrong, so I asked two more times, with increasing specificity, before getting the correct answer. And there's no guarantee that answer is actually correct.

FWIW, I specifically noted in the first request that it was a question for the engineers / design team.

 

[sodamo]

I can imagine some of the CSR team is challenged.

 

[Letas]

Didn’t read all that, but yeah the phone mount next to where the double DIN needs to go feels like a clunky oversight. I want one screen, my head unit!!! And frankly yes I agree, the head unit is awkwardly far to the right.

 

[cadblu]

I'm honestly impressed they were able to open up so much of the dash for use for customization. That's a lot of real state inside that dash.

Profoundly true statement. Name any other modern vehicle with in-dash modular spaces for stuff like speakers or electronics like this. I think we should all remain patient and optimistic in what the aftermarket brings to the table. It could get wildly creative.

 

[E90400K]

Perfect radio set up.

 

[AZFox]

Double Bonus Points if you can find a Chevy Citation that made it to 300,000 miles.

Good luck! 😉

 

[Letas]

So I guess their claim that "Slate is listening to customers" only matters if they agree with you...

I remember this truck was initially marketed as a BYOD (bring your own device) and the DIN radio option was kind of an afterthought. I'm guessing that 99.9% of customers have cell phones; and less that 50% will want to bring a DIN. Yes, Slate is listening... to the majority.

Well to play devils advocate here…. Look in the mirror.

You’re making up stats to try to prove your point. I think more than 50% of customers will want a permanent head unit. One of us is incorrect!

And no, this forum is not an accurate representation of the buyer base for the slate

 

[Bonjo]

I didn’t read any of that post because who has the time. I do hope that the Slate phone mount is removable and replaceable with my own mount. I’ve been using the Peak MagSafe iPhone mount for awhile now, and wouldn’t want to give up the convenience.

 

[E90400K]

The Bronco has front speaker sizes of 4" in the top of the dash that fire up into the windshield and 6-1/2" speakers in the kick panels. Bronco doors come off in a jiff.

Once you remove the doors, all acoustics go out the window, err... door.