I'm going Rivian

[19SL80s]

I was super excited to read and learn about the Slate and I think it's got a great future, but I'm going Rivian. I do have a long drive a couple times a week (over 200 miles) and Rivian just has the conveniences I like over a long drive and they are rolling out a smaller SUV this year for about $55k.

If Slate had adaptive cruise control I would probably go Slate, but it's not offering that as of yet.

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy your trucks I think they will be a wonderful product especially for city driving.

I’m a fan of Rivian, too. I test drove the R2 last month. It’s a great vehicle starting at $45K. I’d personally get the R2 Standard RWD Long Range (345 miles) for $48,490 coming in Spring/Summer of 2027. It doesn’t have the rear drop glass, ventilated seats, or tow hooks, but do you really need all of that?

Personally the R2 is still too expensive for me, which is why I’m going with the Slate, but I’ll definitely check out the R3 in 2029/2030, if everything goes according to plan. The R3 is a chunky crossover hatchback that has really cool retro modern styling. Rivian said it will be significantly cheaper than the R2. I’m thinking it will start at $35K for the base model. The R3X will come out first though (late 2028/early 2029) and be the performance version of the R3, just like they did with the R2.

 

[ScottSeibert]

Would you also let us know how many Slates you could buy with the final price you get on your Rivian. 🤔. Thanks!


/S.

2.5

 

[E90400K]

When my '19 Corolla gets a lock on the car in front of me, it maintains a pretty significant distance. I notice the rapid drop off in speed as my first indication that it may be wise to get in the other lane and pass. Sometimes, the radar picks that speed differential up faster than I can.


In heavy traffic situations, where lots of cars merge onto Interstate or near larger towns, the first thing to come off is the Adaptive Cruise. The Owner's Manual sums it up the best though:

I like to think rapidly approaching a much slower vehicle will prompt a natural reaction to turn Cruise Control off... probably. 🙃

LOL. So, when are you supposed to use it?

 

[ElectricShitbox]

The ACC in my MIL's '21 Prius phantom brakes so much it's useless, but that car has been in an accident, so maybe the cameras are messed up.

 

[whasupjohn]

That’s a tough situation. The more complicated the tech, the more you don’t know if you can count on it. -shakes fist-

 

[FlyHappy]

I think the Slate is rather odd in having auto collision avoidance braking but not tying that into the cruise control speed. I can adjust, my old Tacoma doesn't even have cruise control. The cruise control that was on the 2002 Prius we had would happily run you into the car in front of you. (Remember when cars didn't have cameras?)

I meant to reply early but somehow forgot.

Putting aside Tesla, and the wide opinions on them, most ACC systems rely on radar or Lidar. Camera only systems I know of are at least stereoscopic. Offering a convenience feature (that has safety implications) with only a single camera (which I believe Slate will have) seems perilous.

I do think this is a prime example of Slates original "only the tech you need" philosophy.

Now, that does raise the question of how accurate/effective AEB will be with a single camera. I don't pretend to know, but my guess is less reliable/accurate, certainly then systems with radar/lidar. I don't know the details of "5 star safety" testing and such aims, but I suspect that they are only so rigorous in terms of evaluating edge cases. I mean, if the testing standard called for AEB to work if "one sensor has been degraded with a film of mud" or such, then I imagine Slate would... have two cameras, right?

anyways, my point is that I can see that Slate has to be compliant (of course) and wants to be seen as modern in the safety context, but really - no more. Adding ACC is just creates reputational risk; they can't and won't try to compete on any tech features, because they simply cannot at the price level they are championing.

 

[EVfun]

I meant to reply early but somehow forgot.

Putting aside Tesla, and the wide opinions on them, most ACC systems rely on radar or Lidar. Camera only systems I know of are at least stereoscopic. Offering a convenience feature (that has safety implications) with only a single camera (which I believe Slate will have) seems perilous.

I do think this is a prime example of Slates original "only the tech you need" philosophy.

Now, that does raise the question of how accurate/effective AEB will be with a single camera. I don't pretend to know, but my guess is less reliable/accurate, certainly then systems with radar/lidar. I don't know the details of "5 star safety" testing and such aims, but I suspect that they are only so rigorous in terms of evaluating edge cases. I mean, if the testing standard called for AEB to work if "one sensor has been degraded with a film of mud" or such, then I imagine Slate would... have two cameras, right?

anyways, my point is that I can see that Slate has to be compliant (of course) and wants to be seen as modern in the safety context, but really - no more. Adding ACC is just creates reputational risk; they can't and won't try to compete on any tech features, because they simply cannot at the price level they are championing.

That is what made me wonder about AEB w/o ACC. It would seem they would need some decent level of confidence about distance to implement AEB -- of course, that is also needed for ACC. Hopefully the Slate AEB doesn't end up with an AEB system that is constantly hitting the brakes or sounding the audio alarm due to a lack of confidence about distance to objects in front of the vehicle. I'd rather not have AEB that have a version that mostly acts at the wrong times.

 

[Rocks]

The Scottsdale event is being held where there's both a Tesla and Rivian showroom in the same mall.

 

[xtrapickles]

I'm all for latent safety features that I don't have to think about. Like, I don't have to actively think about pumping my brakes thanks to ABS, more importantly I don't have to actively think about ABS either. But if a convenience feature requires my attention to stay safe, how convenient is it really? "Trusting" the technology, whether it be ACC or FSD, can feel a lot like babysitting, and it should. Software crashes planes. I don't have to worry about maintaining my speed or holding the gas pedal thanks to CC, but I still have to worry about the cars in front of me. I don't have to worry about maintaining my speed or holding the gas pedal (and in some cases the brake pedal) thanks to ACC, but I still worry about the cars in front of (and behind) me. So I was honestly a little excited about the Slate only having CC and for the fact that it is standard and not an add on. My first two cars (both Hyundai Accents) had rolls windows and NO CC, I am only negotiable on the former!

 

[19SL80s]

Do enjoy.
I test drove the R2, and was very impressed, but came to the conclusion that it was just too much car for me; along with my discomfort with some unwanted tech.

But ya know, I'm awaiting the R3, which would be an excellent stablemate for my future Slate!

I had the same thought! It also looks kind of like my first car only chunkier, higher off the ground, and more capable. I had a Plymouth Horizon in Slate Gray!

 

[19SL80s]

I would also like ACC... but im still sticking with the slate.

I am hopefull that Comma.ai can bring ACC to the slate for us. I am like 25% sure that it will work with the hardware that is in the slate since it has automatic braking already.

If not then im not that upset, my current daily driver has it and it is fine without.

I do love it on the minivan for long trips though.

I like it when I start to have a sneezing fit and need to blow my nose. Damn pollen is off the charts around here. The scale is supposed to be from 0-10.

 

[Freyar]

I looked at Rivian too, but man they're just so expensive and I known nothing about their privacy policies and data handling practices. Given that Rivian also mostly makes money out of software services (not cars yet), I'd be concerned about how else they'd be monetizing me.

That said, I do hope the OP enjoys what he's getting. Maybe one day I'll get an opportunity to ride in one.

Edit: Turo wants $1200 for a weekend with one? The farg?

 

[FlyHappy]

I had the same thought! It also looks kind of like my first car only chunkier, higher off the ground, and more capable. I had a Plymouth Horizon in Slate Gray!

this is hilarious. I don't recall the Horizon/Omni being so attractively styled. They were all around me and I recall (privately) being horrified by them. Even the performance GLH which one of my friends had, completely disinterested me.

Yet more proof that I am getting long in the tooth?

 

[19SL80s]

this is hilarious. I don't recall the Horizon/Omni being so attractively styled. They were all around me and I recall (privately) being horrified by them. Even the performance GLH which one of my friends had, completely disinterested me.

Yet more proof that I am getting long in the tooth?

Haha. Yeah, it was a terrible car. I had to share it with my brother. My Dad bought us a used one in the 90’s, so I could get back and forth to college and work. Nostalgia is a hell of a drug.

 

[19SL80s]

2.5

Actually the cheapest R2 is the R2 Standard RWD for $44,990 and the cheapest Slate is the Blank Slate, so 1.8 Slates.