If It Weren't for Slate, I Would Get...

[danielt1263]

There is a lot of speculation about what Slate's competition is, but everybody is always talking in the abstract, what people are comparing against. Rather than telling us what you think other people are cross shopping Slate against, tell us what you personally are cross shopping against.

I pulled the selections from a couple of recent posts and the poll system limits the number of choices so this poll will have to be dynamic. If your choice isn't on the list, make a comment and I'll try to bump poor performing selections. This is my first poll, hopefully I can edit the choices as I'm expecting and this will work.

I tried to edit the poll to include the Chevrolet Bolt, but it looks like I can't do that. I thought I would be able to update the selections but I guess not. So I'm going to try to maintain a spreadsheet here:

Nissan Frontier	1
Ford Maverick	2
Chevrolet Bolt	3
Aptera	2
Announced Ford EV	1
Telo Truck	1
Tesla Model S (used)	1
Chevrolet Spark	1

 

[danielt1263]

I've said on this forum many times that I'm looking for the cheapest new vehicle that can tow. Before Slate was announced, I was looking at the Ford Maverick, but frankly I was gritting my teeth and really didn't want the vehicle. I kind of wanted to go EV, and I've never bought a 4-door vehicle in my life.

I was quite grateful to have a better option when Slate came out of stealth mode.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

I'm looking for a utilitarian EV that can be my daily driver, isn't massive and super heavy, and isn't stuffed with crap I don't want that's probably going to break. So right now the options are Slate or Bolt.

 

[beatle]

I picked the new Maverick. I'd like another EV, but there are currently no small EV trucks other than the Slate, except maybe Ford someday. I already have a gas car. I am tired of large trucks. I almost never use their full utility, but I enjoy driving smaller vehicles, and I find they are generally a lot better to live with day to day.

People always complain about the cost of the Maverick rising being a problem, and I get that, especially for the base model where price is the most important. But when people also say of the higher spec Mavericks, "Well, you might as well get a Ranger or an F150 at that price" I say, "But I don't want a bigger vehicle just to have a nicer interior, more power, better handling, improved tech, etc." Manufacturers often "sizewall" premium features behind their larger vehicles. Phone manufacturers often do the same. I don't mind paying for better, but don't also saddle me with larger dimensions. They are more a liability to me than an asset.

The Slate is appealing since it's small, EV, and I'll have plenty of money left over to outfit it the way I want.

 

[GaRailroader]

None of these choices. I’d much rather keep driving my 8 year old Model 3 than have any of those ICE vehicles. I like the Slate and Telo. I might consider the $30k Ford EV pick-up depending on how length efficient it is. If these small EV pick-ups don’t pan out then I would likely get a Floe CargoMax aluminum utility trailer and pull with my Model Y.

 

[Orley]

I would continue to drive my 2015 Forester w 85K miles. My wife has a 2025 Outback we use for traveling. Smart money says keep driving the Forester.
However, I am excited to buy an EV and a small truck would fit for hauling a bike or bags of mulch and trips around town. This truck is a want, not a need. I'm 73 and this would probably be my last vehicle. After that we could manage w 1 vehicle.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

I've said on this forum many times that I'm looking for the cheapest new vehicle that can tow. Before Slate was announced, I was looking at the Ford Maverick, but frankly I was gritting my teeth and really didn't want the vehicle. I kind of wanted to go EV, and I've never bought a 4-door vehicle in my life.

I was quite grateful to have a better option when Slate came out of stealth mode.

I totally get where you're coming from. Three years ago I had to part with my ancient two door Ford Ranger. That thing got 30 mpg with a four cylinder engine and manual shift, but here in WNC with a crazy steep driveway and occasional snow I just needed AWD. I had to bite my tongue and buy a Maverick (Santa Cruz was #2), and I drove out of the dealership steamed at having to buy a vehicle that was longer than a Telluride. I hated 4 doors. I hated automatic transmission. I hated the cruiser liner turning circle.

I'm here to attest that things grow on you over time. Now I don't notice the automatic transmission. I'm used to the turning circle. I actually grew to appreciate four doors (great place to store assorted junk). And I really grew to love car-like road manners and no axle hop.on rough roads.

I also spent an entire lifetime (70+ years) never driving anything, and I mean that, which didn't have two doors and a manual transmission. 3 Miatas. RX7. Mustangs. Two door trucks. Two door RAV4. The list goes on. Love small vehicles of all sorts. Hope to get back to one some day (I don't consider the Maverick small, which is heresy over on the Maverick forum). Not sure if it'll be a Slate or something else, but small is good.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

I would not be buying a new vehicle, none of them meet my needs for simple, cheap grocery hauler. I have other vehicles that meet my heavy haul and comfortable long trip requirements.
Now if only I could figure out a insurance solution that didn't penalize me for having a fleet where all are parked but one at a time. . .

 

[OliverBoliverButt]

If I don’t get a Slate, I keep my 2013 Elantra GT.
As mentioned above by other posters, this is a want, not a need. I would have to think that would have to be the case for all first-gen purchasers, right? We are just supporting the idea at this point; it’s a big risk to buy an OEM from a start-up and expect to count on it as a primary vehicle.
Wife has a 2018 Sienna so we have the big car for road trips.
The Slate would be for my 10-mile commute to work and taking the doors off in the summer.
This would be my first EV so I do have range anxiety already. I don’t like to get below half a tank of gas; how will I be able to count on a battery to not let me down?

 

[E90400K]

Nissan Frontier king cab, base trim. Better hauling (1,590 pounds) and better tow capabilities (7,100 pounds) than the Slate. Real transaction prices are near or just below $30K depending on the dealership local to me.

Slate's towing at just 1,000 pounds is a major issue in my opinion.

 

[Ali]

I’m mainly looking for a fun vehicle or a car I can tinker with, so my second choice would be Aptera. If neither works out, I’ll go with Kia EV6.

 

[Sparkie]

None.
I was only interested in a Slate Pickup for the easy DIY modifications.

 

[phidauex]

To the actual thread topic, the question is a bit hard to answer. I have a used Tacoma now, and that is what any new truck is cross shopping against - does it meet my needs better than a '97 Tacoma? Honestly surprising that few vehicles check this box today. It will be an EV, because I'm ready to move on from ICE, it will be a truck (or substantially truck-like, could include vans) and it needs to be relatively compact. Literally no one makes one, and if they don't, I'll just keep rolling the Tacoma.

This would be my first EV so I do have range anxiety already. I don’t like to get below half a tank of gas; how will I be able to count on a battery to not let me down?

There is a lot written about range anxiety, but the short answer is that you'll adapt quickly, and it will be fine. Battery usage is fairly consistent, and now after 5 years with my MachE and the help of some software tools like ABRP (A Better Route Planner), I can nail my consumption for a trip very precisely. I rolled in the other day with 5%, and was unconcerned. There is an adaptation period where you get used to the dynamics, but then it is easy.

The other part is that you will not be going under 50% battery as often as you go 50% on your gas tanks, because ideally you will be charging at home. So if you set your max daily battery charge to, say 90%, plug in every day, and commute 10 miles each way, you'll just be bouncing between 80 and 90% every day. Your average range will probably be higher than in your gas vehicles where you have to take it somewhere else to fill it up. Its only on longer trips that you'll drop under 50%.

You plug your phone in every night, probably, and don't worry about it much. Imagine if you had to take your phone to a special phone charging store and fill it up with phone juice a few times a week? (stole this metaphor from someone else here, but I love it).

 

[null98115]

The survey needed a None option.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

Since most won't be able to buy a Slate till early 2027, I think in fairness the poll should include the Ford Maverick EV, which a leak says is the name of the new Skunk Works vehicle. I mean, they're both available within six months of each other.

After all, if you are restricting choices to currently available vehicles when the Slate is currently unavailable - that is apples to oranges.

Also, it would be nice to have three "other" choices. One would be "other EV". The other "other hybrid". And maybe "Other ICE".