I've stopped defending the Slate

[whasupjohn]

I also think fleet sales are important and perhaps a good initial feedback loop for the Slate truck. Not that the retail consumer isn't also important, but the more bugs, kinks and acceptance that can be derived before the public gets their hands on one is invaluable. Consider a single person who drives the Slate and theoretically tears it to shreds... what would that do to perception? What if they try to compare it to anything else and say I'm buying an X over a Slate? I mean, you'd have to believe that person, at minium drove both right? That'd be impossible until all the other competitive vehicles that have been brought up are also test driven, at the same stage of development. That's not going to happen if some of these other brands are yers away or never come at all.

 

[tubes]

I think is also very likely (and I am NOT pointing at anyone in this forum) that some people post to roast. They say something to inflame others because they just want to joust on the internet with a random stranger and what they like. To each his own. The practical matter is this is and should be an open forum. That being said, don't feed the trolls. There are some obvious posts and posters that can be seen to do nothing more than cause chaos. Its not why I'm here.

Yeah, let's not make this Reddit.

 

[AZFox]

One way to frame "missing fEaTuReZ" is the way Slate Auto does.

Slate excluded what isn't a car from the design to keep the vehicle simple / affordable / repairable / reliable / etc.

If they left out something you want -- a radio, for instance -- you're free to add that to your Blank Slate whenever you decide you want it and know you can afford it.

It's a new and different paradigm, and a good one, IMO, once someone understands it.

It doesn't come with a rAdiO!!​

​

That's because not everyone wants infotainment, and they know customers' infotainment preferences will vary widely.​

​

Slate offers a few Bluetooth options already in the maker now, and there will certainly be other alternatives available in the future so you can get exactly what you want.​

...or something like that.

 

[tubes]

I also think fleet sales are important and perhaps a good initial feedback loop for the Slate truck. Not that the retail consumer isn't also important, but the more bugs, kinks and acceptance that can be derived before the public gets their hands on one is invaluable. Consider a single person who drives the Slate and theoretically tears it to shreds... what would that do to perception? What if they try to compare it to anything else and say I'm buying an X over a Slate? I mean, you'd have to believe that person, at minium drove both right? That'd be impossible until all the other competitive vehicles that have been brought up are also test driven, at the same stage of development. That's not going to happen if some of these other brands are yers away or never come at all.

If you didn't see @KHN707 's post about this, check it out. The fleet sales manager for Slate is arranging test drives. So, yeah, fleet is important. You betcha.
https://www.slateforums.com/forum/t...ing-price-news-info.15907/page-23#post-270743

 

[MadKemist]

As a lifelong maker and tinkerer with 50+ yrs of experience , I am enthralled with the Slate ethos. Not having a bunch of systems I don't have a use-case for , simple styling, acceptable performance and range etc. is a great fit. FOR ME.
I have been trying to explain it to the "no radio" folks since I got onboard, no more. If someone is going to take time out of their life to complain and try to diminish what Slate is trying to accomplish ( on purpose), then let them.
If they don't get it, then they don't get it. The Slate was always , and by design and intent, not for everyone. If they can only see what they think are shortcomings in it then they are part of the group that the Slate is not for. It's not our job to convert them. Too many of the posts on this forum are trying to do that, and I have been guilty of it as well, no more. </end rant>

I agree.

I am too freaking old to care about what other people think, especially when I did not ask.

I like the Slate, I’m getting a Slate.

 

[Slated]

Your cell phone can have a VPN so your not tracked and sold. Easy Peasy

 

[whasupjohn]

Your cell phone can have a VPN so your not tracked and sold. Easy Peasy

True. I use Cloudflare as primary and have other as well. I think people need to investigate how to keep themselves safe. In places with free WiFi you need to be very careful, airports, even the usb ports you plug into. Carry your own stuff, use it wisely.

 

[Moe]

Your cell phone can have a VPN so your not tracked and sold. Easy Peasy

FWIW, this is the only forum I have to disable NordVPN to access.

 

[whasupjohn]

FWIW, this is the only forum I have to disable NordVPN to access.

it’s why I have more than one VPN provider. Depending on the VPNs reputation score for the IP you are browsing through… yeah any number of bad actors are also using the same service. It sucks.

 

[GaRailroader]

The only defending of Slate I have to do is to my wife. And to myself just to rationalize that this business endeavor that I have chosen to be a part of is actually going to work out and sustain itself. I do not think Slate Auto has done a good job in the past few weeks promoting its viability in the market. Since the 7/24 window closing, I would be nice to know how many reservations translated into $300 pre-orders. The recent add to the site that lets pre-order holders move their delivery date up to December 2026 is not confidence inspiring.

I am guessing that some of the people that have $300 pre-orders will not be able to come up with $30k when the time comes. When this happens they need an orderly process to let another pre-order holder fill that slot. We pre-order holders would not be happy if they let a non-preorder holder claim the vacated spot in line.

 

[Moe]

it’s why I have more than one VPN provider. Depending on the VPNs reputation score for the IP you are browsing through… yeah any number of bad actors are also using the same service. It sucks.

Another forum admin was able to fix it for me. This one not even the courtesy of a reply. It is what it is.

 

[sodamo]

Yeah, let's not make this Reddit.

Sure hope not and I’ve followed both since very early days and I have seen the crossover, but thankfully it doesn’t tend to last.

One way to frame "missing fEaTuReZ" is the way Slate Auto does.

Slate excluded what isn't a car from the design to keep the vehicle simple / affordable / repairable / reliable / etc.

If they left out something you want -- a radio, for instance -- you're free to add that to your Blank Slate whenever you decide you want it and know you can afford it.

It's a new and different paradigm, and a good one, IMO, once someone understands it.

It doesn't come with a rAdiO!!​

​

That's because not everyone wants infotainment, and they know customers' infotainment preferences will vary widely.​

​

Slate offers a few Bluetooth options already in the maker now, and there will certainly be other alternatives available in the future so you can get exactly what you want.​

...or something like that.

going to disagree a bit, not a new paradigm. Radio did not always come with a vehicle, had to be ordered, additional charge. And if I remember correctly, my parents 51 Chevy, heater/defroster was not standard, and we lived in Maine.
Yes, the younger amongst us are more used to trim level with little to no choice. Refreshing to see Slate step back and let buyers only get what they want.

 

[Moe]

Radio did not always come with a vehicle, had to be ordered, additional charge. And if I remember correctly, my parents 51 Chevy, heater/defroster was not standard, and we lived in Maine.

The heater was optional in our 1950 Ford which didn’t have a radio. The only reason our 1958 Ford did was because it came from factory with that option and my Dad tried and failed to get the dealer to remove it. FWIW, both had vacuum motor wipers. His 1970 Beetle and my 1973 Super Beetle came without radios.

 

[EV Trek]

For one most buyers will not be using the Slate as their primary vehicle. Most will have a second vehicle to do Family stuff.
The Slate for me is a errand vehicle and a way to save wear and tear on my primary vehicle to use for trips and hauling more than one passenger.
What the Slate lacks in convenience features they are there in my primary vehicle when I need them.

 

[E90400K]

I mean, adding a radio capability is not hard with the Slate. It's really open-source if you think about it. Plenty of BT amps to wire up and power speakers with. Heck, personally I ride mostly with the radio off anyway. I'll probably just go with Slate's system, it's cheap enough and will be plug 'N Play.