Introductions & Welcome Thread 👋

[tubes]

I'm here from the OdyClub, and now looking to the possibility of my first pickup and EV. I use the Honda Odyssey as a handyman vehicle. It is awesome for that, but also a bit unsafe with all those tools behind me. I'm retired, mostly do this as a volunteer, and expect to ratchet down my volunteering. So a small PU could potentially be perfect. Main everyday tools in the frunk, and extra tools for a special job in the back. I would hope to use the Cargo Kit option.

The Odyssey is also at 235k miles. I'm learning just how complicated and touchy a V6 with incredibly complex emissions and CAFE optimization devices can be. I DYI some of it, but just barely. It is a beast. It has problems and I frequently have it on life support. I do like being able to get full sheets of plywood and drywall in the Ody completely covered, but I think I could make a go of it with the Slate. I don't haul stuff that often.

As you can probably gather, I'm really interested in the DYI aspects of Slate. Simplicity speaks to me. As a retired person with less intense travel needs, the EV aspect also speaks to me. Quick runs to the store or Home Depot would be perfect. I have no grandkids in tow, so two seats is fine.

In some ways, I can't believe I'm here. When Leaf and Tesla came out all those years ago, I was perplexed. The Leaf is just too frumpy and small. The Tesla options at the time were for rich folks. As for pick up trucks: well they just got Too Darn Big and expensive. What the heck?

So, yeah, I landed here. Surprised myself with the $50 reservation last February, and am even considering going in for the preorder in a few weeks. My only concern? Will the seat be comfortable or will it kill me?

 

[BlackFlagBop]

Hi all - been lurking for months and decided to create an account if for no other reason than to keep track of what threads I've already read, etc.

Pretty excited about the truck - might not be an immediate purchase, but it's certainly my strongest leaning at this point. I'd originally been looking at the Telo, but honestly, the Slate's barebones BIY concept and cost are way closer to being up my alley.,

 

[adele]

Hi all - been lurking for months and decided to create an account if for no other reason than to keep track of what threads I've already read, etc.

Pretty excited about the truck - might not be an immediate purchase, but it's certainly my strongest leaning at this point. I'd originally been looking at the Telo, but honestly, the Slate's barebones BIY concept and cost are way closer to being up my alley.,

Nice to see a fellow Ramones fan! 👋

 

[EJensen]

Hello all. I put my reservation in on 04/29/2025, the day I heard about it. I think that was day five for the reservations. I wish I could remember where I first read about it.

I've leased two EVs, a Nissan Leaf and a Kia Soul. I really enjoyed the EV experience and I have wanted an EV pickup for some time now. I put down a reservation for the Lightning but I was pretty slow to get on the list. By the time I could have converted to a purchase, the $35k promise for that vehicle was nowhere in sight.

My wife and I are the only ones left at home so a crew cab is just wasted bed space from my perspective. We have her ICE Soul if we want to go on a road trip without planning ahead for charge stations or if we have other passengers.

The Slate just ticks so many boxes for me, it's like they had me in mind. I don't need or want a second row of seats. I can put full sheets of drywall and plywood in the back with the gate down. Replaceable body panels with exposed fasteners. No paint, just wrap as I see fit. As little as possible to break and strand me or someone else. Ultra low maintenance.

I'm not in the trades, but my background in engineering made me into a build-it and fix-it guy. I see every failure in the home or in one of our cars as a justification for me to buy a new tool. The Slate will just be the next new tool, and one that I customize to my heart's content.

I also like that Slate remains privately held. For as long as that remains the case, I will give them the benefit of the doubt in terms of the truth of their statements.

My only concern is that I'm starting to get emotionally attached to the idea of this vehicle. If I read about some other option like the Ford EV pickup I find myself wanting not to like it even before I know anything about it. I don't like being passionate about things I buy, I think that leads to bad decisions. I don't like that I'm starting to think like a fan boy.

I really hope the Slate ships, preferably reasonably close to their target timeline. I hope it's a good, basic truck. I hope they sell as many as they can manufacture and don't jack up the price if it is successful. I hope people stop and ask me who makes that cool little truck I'm driving. I hope Slate doesn't break my heart.