Pre-orders starting in June! See OFFICIAL confirmation from Slate Auto

[Luxrage]

Me too. I test drive everything before I buy it, with one very recent exception, the BMW motorcycle I bought in December.

When I have been shopping for the cars I am going to rely on as daily, I always have test drove them. Most of the experiences have been good, I have yet to find a car that really turned me off. I still have some regrets of not getting the Regal Tour X I test drove many years ago. The only two cars I never test drove were my '89 Squire and my Geo which were both side projects. The Squire was halfway across the country at a Ford dealer and the Geo I, admittedly, bought without knowing how to drive a stick shift LOL. Had a friend drive that one home for me.

Edit: I'll add when ~I~ wanted to test drive a two - door Bronco they wouldn't let me. They probably had me marked as a tire kicker.

 

[phidauex]

So for me there is hope I will like the Slate, but I still need to see one and drive it before I pull the order trigger.

It actually sounds like the test drive is a bad idea, because in both of your examples you disliked the vehicle at first, and then grew to love it later. Just skip the uncertainty and go straight to the loving it part.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

It's hard to overcome confirmation bias with expensive purchases. I fully expect this forum will be swamped with gushing, overwhelmingly positive reviews when (if?) the trucks finally deliver.

 

[E90400K]

It actually sounds like the test drive is a bad idea, because in both of your examples you disliked the vehicle at first, and then grew to love it later. Just skip the uncertainty and go straight to the loving it part.

Well, both Ford and BMW are 100-year old manufacturers of trucks and motorcycles respectively. I have extensive ownership track records with both. Slate is a fresh-out manufacturer with which I have zero experience.

Uncertainty with Slate is a serious concern. It being an EV makes it worse because of the EV steep depreciation curve. The Bronco back in 2022 had an appreciation curve rather than a depreciation curve, so it was low risk. With the Beemer, I bought a new leftover 2024 model that was deeply discounted, which significantly reduced the financial risk of depreciation if I did not like it.

Slate has to prove to me it knows what it is doing. Some of what they are trying I see as marketing gimmickry.

I had the same reservations about Tesla back a decade ago. I've been in an early model Model 3 (2018), which is just a horrendous automobile when it comes to refinement.

 

[JoeBlow-Kokomo]

It's hard to overcome confirmation bias with expensive purchases. I fully expect this forum will be swamped with gushing, overwhelmingly positive reviews when (if?) the trucks finally deliver.

Only if you have trouble being honest with yourself. We ALL make mistakes in choosing what we think is important.

 

[phidauex]

Confirmation bias is strong, for sure. Hard to admit you were wrong, and also even if you are happy admitting you were wrong, it is a big pain in the butt to sell a vehicle and figure something else out.

I'd certainly prefer to test drive as well, but my needs are simple, and my situation allows for some additional risk taking, so I'm waiting to see how things unfold from here.

For what its worth, two of my last three cars were bought sight unseen. One was the MachE (established manufacturer, but a totally new model for them). The other was a 1982 Mercedes 300TD wagon with 200k miles, which I took a train to Dallas to pick up. Of course that one has a very well established reputation, but still a risk. Years later I sold it - also sight unseen! - to a buyer who flew to me from Tennessee, picked it up, and drove it home.

 

[aquaman811]

I would usually do the same as you, but at 68 I'll get it as soon as I can and put up with the inevitable year one issues. I want as much time with a slate as possible.

Absolutely! My EV6 is a 1st year model, I’ve had some interesting teething issues, but I’ve already put 78K+ miles on it in less than 4 years, so I can handle a 1st year Slate!

 

[NMNeil]

My understanding of the process.
you will pay Slate to transport to some location near you along with a number of other vehicles, Truckload? From there you have the option, either pick up yourself or pay for further delivery to your location ( or perhaps another location of your choosing). Where those locations are will likely be known later, closer to actual delivery.

As we speak they are building an Amazon distribution hub here, and as Bezos has put money into the venture I'm hoping I can pick it up from there.
We shall see.

 

[NMNeil]

It's hard to overcome confirmation bias with expensive purchases. I fully expect this forum will be swamped with gushing, overwhelmingly positive reviews when (if?) the trucks finally deliver.

I'm sure if you don't like it there will be plenty from the forum willing to take it off your hands.

 

[sodamo]

A funny aside re test drives. I’ve posted elsewhere about buying car or truck with and without a test drive, but as I sip my morning coffee, I realized that is not my only case. Last fall I bought a new tractor, roughly 2 Slates worth. No test drive, in fact mine was the 1st one of that model in the state. So why may be pertinent? Vast majority of time my butt in the seat is measured in hours, not just minutes and overtime, total hours in each aren’t far apart. Basically, our Slate has 1 primary purpose, get me from A to B and return. Additionally, my tractor has to also perform numerous other actions using a variety of accessories. Over the years this will be 5th tractor bought without a test drive, not counting other butt hugging machines like mowers or Z Turns. My conclusion: importance of a test drive, more a personal thing than required and mostly over rated. Can’t get my Slate soon enough.