Poll: Does the release of Fathom price and info affect your Slate decision?

[Doctors Do Little]

It's vindicating to know I am not the only one that gets the car bug every now and then, and that I am not the only one to take a wild chance on these unknowns.

If you like your X5 you will likely enjoy the Scout.
I had a very love/hate relationship with my X5. That damn thing had everything but reliability. I loved driving it, it looked great and it performed great, and it sucked to own.
At 112k and 10 years old, it was plagued with problems that cost me thousands to repair and months of downtime over the last couple years I had it. BMWs are best leased.

I signed up for Slate, Telo, and REO, and I bet the Slate is the only one to take off.

To me, the Scout is a beautiful vehicle. But I fear for it's reliability and In that price range. I am still in love with the Rivians, just can't justify spending that much on a vehicle any more.
Plus I like the funky fun cars I don't have to wory about.

Well Brother Chris, you are not wrong.

I am counting on my bmw to have expensive repairs so I will be parting with it no later than the CPO extended warranty’s expiration date. My love of cars is only limited by my current garage space. I’ve owned more than 45 in only 40 years of driving.

I am in the current position of having a business with an auto allocation, so my wife can’t complain much when I tell her it is buy a car and expense it, or simply pay more taxes.

I loved the OG Scouts, and realize that they weren’t reliability kings like the Land Cruisers. If Toyota hadn’t screwed the pooch on the current LC/GX/LX series, I’d have one of them long term. I don’t expect them to fix things for this model life cycle, so let’s give the Scout a go!

Finally, all of my vehicles are manufactured in the US, regardless of company. I feel strongly about this. An IN truck and a SC SUV sounds great to me and I’m not trying to pay extra tariffs just because.

 

[slp]

I hope the digital version is printable, especially pagination

I prefer electronic documents. Command-F (or Ctrl-F) doesn’t work on printed pages. Neither do hyperlinks.

 

[sodamo]

I prefer electronic documents. Command-F (or Ctrl-F) doesn’t work on printed pages. Neither do hyperlinks.

I like both. Sometimes there is advantage to print off a page or two, mark it up, then have a clean copy in future. I love searching a digital version.

 

[Moe]

For the physical, I like wire bound that lays flat.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

I like both. Sometimes there is advantage to print off a page or two, mark it up, then have a clean copy in future. I love searching a digital version.

I find myself attempting to “expand” written paper instructions with my thumb and finger…then have to go find my 2.5x surgical loupes to read the mice type and micro diagrams.

 

[KevinRS]

Well, yeah, I think paper service manuals may be a thing of the past. Like half the thickness of one of those was for parts the Slate won't even have though anyway. A chapter on each engine, a transmission chapter, etc. I did buy one for my previous car, but never have for my current one. When I have had work to do, I've logged into the library's site and looked it up on their chilton digital manuals.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

This poll is like asking the audience at a Taylor Swift concert if they prefer classical over country...

 

[Doctors Do Little]

This poll is like asking the audience at a Taylor Swift concert if they prefer classical over country...

It’s market validation?

 

[NMNeil]

The same location you can test drive a Fathom.

That would be my local Ford dealership, so could you tell me the closest Slate dealership to New Mexico so I can arrange this elusive test drive?
It's funny that I just bought a new TV and they let me turn it on and check the picture before I paid for it.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

That would be my local Ford dealership, so could you tell me the closest Slate dealership to New Mexico so I can arrange this elusive test drive?
It's funny that I just bought a new TV and they let me turn it on and check the picture before I paid for it.

In 4 months that answer will be???

Phoenix? Austin? LV? But might be a while for Albuquerque….fortunately Slate has a year head start, so if you are a preorder guy, you might get to travel to drive one before the Ford Fathom Platinum/Limited/King Ranch edition is available to see, but not buy, at MSRP.

For your sake, I hope I’m way off. Me and F are not on speaking terms right now.

 

[KevinRS]

That would be my local Ford dealership, so could you tell me the closest Slate dealership to New Mexico so I can arrange this elusive test drive?
It's funny that I just bought a new TV and they let me turn it on and check the picture before I paid for it.

So, yeah, have you taken the Fathom test drive yet? Everyone is waiting to hear about it, because as far as anyone knows, you would be the first.

 

[RevMS]

In 4 months that answer will be???

Phoenix? Austin? LV? But might be a while for Albuquerque….fortunately Slate has a year head start, so if you are a preorder guy, you might get to travel to drive one before the Ford Fathom Platinum/Limited/King Ranch edition is available to see, but not buy, at MSRP.

For your sake, I hope I’m way off. Me and F are not on speaking terms right now.

This got me thinking about how Tesla did their rollout of cars and (more importantly) their showrooms/galleries. So I asked Grok about it:


Tesla’s vehicle model rollout has followed a deliberate “high-end to mass-market” strategy, starting with a low-volume sports car and expanding into sedans, SUVs/crossovers, a pickup, and commercial trucks. As of mid-2026, Model S and Model X production has ended, leaving Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck as the main consumer vehicles, alongside the ramping Semi.

Key Model Timeline (Unveiling / First Deliveries / Notes)
Here’s a chronological overview of major production models:

• Original Roadster (2008–2012): First deliveries in 2008 (prototype unveiled ~2006). Limited production (2,500 units) based on a Lotus Elise chassis. Proved high-performance EVs were viable.
• Model S (2012–May 2026): Unveiled 2009; first customer deliveries June 2012 at Fremont. Luxury sedan that redefined EVs. Multiple refreshes (including Plaid). Production ended May 2026 after ~14 years; space converted for Optimus robots.
• Model X (2015–May 2026): Unveiled 2012; first deliveries fall 2015. Falcon-wing door SUV. Production ended alongside Model S in May 2026.
• Model 3 (2017–present): Unveiled 2016; limited production July 2017, volume deliveries late 2017. Mass-market sedan (Highland refresh ~2023–2024). Continues as a core volume model.
• Model Y (2020–present): Unveiled March 2019; first deliveries March 2020. Compact crossover that became the world’s best-selling vehicle in some years. Juniper refresh rolled out around 2025. Dominates Tesla’s mix.
• Cybertruck (2023–present): Unveiled November 2019; limited production and first customer deliveries November 2023 at Giga Texas. Stainless-steel exoskeleton pickup; ongoing with AWD, Cyberbeast, etc. variants.
• Semi (limited 2022; high-volume from 2026): Unveiled 2017; limited production/deliveries starting 2022 (e.g., PepsiCo). High-volume production began April 29, 2026, at a dedicated factory next to Giga Nevada (target capacity ~50,000/year; “many thousands” expected in 2026).
• Next-gen Roadster (upcoming): Prototype unveiled November 2017 (promised ~2020). Repeated delays; public demo/unveil targeted for August 2026 or later at Giga Texas, with production expected 2027+ (low-volume initially). Features extreme performance claims and optional SpaceX thruster package.

Tesla also has the Cybercab (robotaxi) in early production at Giga Texas (from ~early 2026). Overall production scaled dramatically: first million vehicles took ~12 years (reached March 2020), with the 10 millionth produced in July 2026 (mostly Model 3/Y).

Refreshes (e.g., Highland Model 3, Juniper Model Y) and lower-cost “Standard” variants of 3/Y have continued to evolve the lineup without full new platforms in recent years.

Tesla Showrooms / Stores Locations
Tesla uses a direct-to-consumer model with company-owned Stores (or Galleries—for viewing, configuring, and demo drives), Service Centers, and delivery hubs. There are no traditional franchised dealerships. Customers primarily order online, with physical locations for experience and support.


Tesla’s U.S. galleries/stores (company-owned showrooms, often in malls or high-traffic areas) began with a small number of locations in California and expanded gradually, then more rapidly with Model S/X and especially Model 3 production. Exact opening dates for every location are not comprehensively published by Tesla in one public timeline, but key early milestones and patterns are well-documented. “Galleries” were often used in states with direct-sales restrictions (where full sales/test drives might be limited), while “stores” allow more complete retail functions.

Early Timeline (First Locations)

• May 2008 (grand opening party ~May 1–2): First Tesla store/retail outlet opens in Santa Monica, California (near Santa Monica Blvd and the 405 freeway). This was Tesla’s inaugural showroom worldwide, focused on the Roadster. It remains a notable early site.
• July 2008 (~July 22): First Northern California showroom opens in Menlo Park, California (300 El Camino Real, former Chevrolet dealership site).
• Early expansion (2009–2011): Additional California locations and select others. By early 2011, Tesla had roughly a dozen+ U.S./global stores. Examples include:
  • February 10, 2011: Washington, D.C. showroom opens (1050 K St. N.W., near the White House; described as the 16th store worldwide). Test drives of the Roadster began the next day.
  • April 13, 2011: San Jose, California (Santana Row) store opens (described as the 18th company-owned store).

Expansion into Restricted States and Broader Growth (2011–2015)
Tesla began opening “galleries” (educational/display-focused, often without full sales authority due to state franchise laws) in places like Texas:

• October 2011: First Texas gallery in Houston.
• ~2013: Austin, Texas gallery.
• August 2013: First Maryland gallery at Westfield Montgomery mall (Bethesda area).
• June 2014 (Friday opening): Dallas, Texas gallery at NorthPark Center (North Texas’s first).
• Continued California densification (e.g., additional LA-area sites) and entry into more states. By the mid-2010s, Tesla had stores/galleries in roughly 17+ states plus D.C., with galleries in restricted markets like Texas, Arizona, Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia.

Acceleration with Model 3 Era (2016 onward)

• 2016: Fort Worth, Texas gallery opens (February, University Park Village). Nordstrom pop-up/gallery partnerships begin (e.g., The Grove in Los Angeles in June 2016 featuring Model X).
• 2016–2017: Michigan presence starts with a Nordstrom gallery (late 2016 at Somerset Collection, Troy), followed by a standalone gallery in October 2017 (same mall, next to Apple Store). Direct sales were restricted in Michigan at the time.
• Late 2010s–2020s: Rapid growth tied to Model 3/Y volume. Many mall-based stores and service-integrated locations opened across major metros (California still densest). Examples of later firsts include tribal-land workarounds (e.g., New Mexico in 2021, Connecticut at Mohegan Sun in late 2023) and firsts in additional states (e.g., Vermont in 2024).

Current Scale (as of 2026)
Tesla operates hundreds of U.S. locations (stores, galleries, and combined sites—sources cite ~300+ total retail/service points across most states). California leads by a wide margin, followed by high-population states like Texas, Florida, and others. New openings continue, often announced via Tesla’s site/app or social channels, including pop-ups.

Notes on the network:

• Early focus was California (home of Fremont production and HQ at the time).
• Expansion prioritized high-demand or early-adopter areas, then filled in for Model 3 accessibility.
• State laws heavily influenced “store” vs. “gallery” labeling and capabilities (sales bans or limits in some places led to creative approaches like tribal land or online + limited display).
• Many locations combine retail with service or delivery.

 

[NMNeil]

[/QUOTE]

So, yeah, have you taken the Fathom test drive yet? Everyone is waiting to hear about it, because as far as anyone knows, you would be the first.

They have only just announced the Ford so of course there's no vehicles available for a test drive 'yet' and I'm sure the automotive press will be the first to test drive one.
The press were 'allowed' a 30 minute test drive of a Slate and did not seem overly impressed.
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a73296422/2027-slate-ev-truck-prototype-drive/
And the reporter from Edmund's didn't even get to drive it, he was only a passenger.

 

[AZFox]

They have only just announced the Ford so of course there's no vehicles available for a test drive 'yet' and I'm sure the automotive press will be the first to test drive one.
The press were 'allowed' a 30 minute test drive of a Slate and did not seem overly impressed.
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a73296422/2027-slate-ev-truck-prototype-drive/
And the reporter from Edmund's didn't even get to drive it, he was only a passenger.

[/QUOTE]

Seriously?

 

[KevinRS]

They have only just announced the Ford so of course there's no vehicles available for a test drive 'yet' and I'm sure the automotive press will be the first to test drive one.
The press were 'allowed' a 30 minute test drive of a Slate and did not seem overly impressed.
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a73296422/2027-slate-ev-truck-prototype-drive/
And the reporter from Edmund's didn't even get to drive it, he was only a passenger.

So it's too early to test drive the ford, about which we have a name, video of camo'd test vehicles, a promise of a price, and a bunch of "to be available" specs, like "up to 300 mile range" which reads as the extended range version.

It's also too early for customer test drives of Slate. We should and I expect we will have those well before anyone is asked to convert from a preorder to an order. As it is, they appear to have enough $300 preorders to take up the first 6 months of production, they did have a list of reporters each have longer test drives just recently, I wasn't looking for "overly impressed" this isn't some supercar, or even a sportscar.

If you need a test drive, then just wait for that to happen, those who are confident enough that it will be acceptable will be happy to have made their deposits and get in line ahead of you to actually get the truck.