Preordered and now having second thoughts...anyone else?

[fxrdr31]

I was disappointed when the government ended the EV tax credit but that's life. gas cars don't have tax credits so life goes on. My pain point is I don't want a car payment that is $450-500 a month cause Interest rates are 5% or higher at places. I am think of base slate with wrap and maybe center console with aux switches is the most I'll get to keep the price down. If will be a shock though driving compared to my F-150

 

[Frozen North]

Suggest you check out this thread;
SUV conversion to Pickup

Ok, I read it all and I stand by what I said. At maybe more like 90%.
If not included as standard, then for a small fee. The parts to convert it back to a truck will absolutely be offered with the SUV.
Slate is understandably holding their cards close to give them wiggle room and keep us talking, but they would be making a very poor decision to deny including all the parts you paid for by purchasing the 1 sku truck they have been touting all this time.
You bought the truck and added the SUV kit. Factory installation of those specific outwardly visable accessory parts is just a courtesy, a marketing gimmick to increase exposure and broaden their market.

 

[D’Roc]

I was disappointed when the government ended the EV tax credit but that's life. gas cars don't have tax credits so life goes on. My pain point is I don't want a car payment that is $450-500 a month cause Interest rates are 5% or higher at places. I am think of base slate with wrap and maybe center console with aux switches is the most I'll get to keep the price down. If will be a shock though driving compared to my F-150

But the petroleum industry does receive $40 Billion in government subsidies annually.

https://e360.yale.edu/digest/republican-spending-bill-fossil-fuel-subsidies

 

[atebit]

Why I’m waiting till the last minute on the 24th to decide. Waiting till the last minute doesn’t impact your delivery window.

Power windows have been a thing since before I was born. If they can’t figure out power windows, what else can’t they figure out? They should’ve led with the tired, but beyond-their-control “supply chain issues” excuse.

 

[fxrdr31]

But the petroleum does reveive $40 Billion in government subsidies.

https://e360.yale.edu/digest/republican-spending-bill-fossil-fuel-subsidies

That's true and we still can't see stable gas prices.

 

[Supernintendo Chalmers]

Why I’m waiting till the last minute on the 24th to decide. Waiting till the last minute doesn’t impact your delivery window.

Power windows have been a thing since before I was born. If they can’t figure out power windows, what else can’t they figure out? They should’ve led with the tired, but beyond-their-control “supply chain issues” excuse.

I wonder if it was more about window sensor and wiring cost priorities. The only time I really roll down the window is at the drive through or for yessir-nosirs. My arm needs the exercise anyway.

 

[atebit]

A previous post said that “they couldn’t figure out” power windows.

Maybe that really means, “can’t figure out a good diy kit to go from manual to power windows”. In that case, skip the time/effort/money of being kitsch and just go with the practical power windows.

Some ME co-ops can keep working on the diy in the background.

 

[KevinRS]

Ok, I read it all and I stand by what I said. At maybe more like 90%.
If not included as standard, then for a small fee. The parts to convert it back to a truck will absolutely be offered with the SUV.
Slate is understandably holding their cards close to give them wiggle room and keep us talking, but they would be making a very poor decision to deny including all the parts you paid for by purchasing the 1 sku truck they have been touting all this time.
You bought the truck and added the SUV kit. Factory installation of those specific outwardly visable accessory parts is just a courtesy, a marketing gimmick to increase exposure and broaden their market.

That would be why they have now structured the builder so the SUVs are not add ons.
The Truck is one price, the squareback another, and the fastback a third price. In the AMA an answer said buying prebuilt was going to be the most economical. At the least there is the shipping savings, and possibly those prices are discounted, because you aren't getting those truck parts. I fully expect the DIY kits shipped will be at least a little more expensive, plus significant shipping cost.

When reps said you'd get the truck parts, that was when the only plan was ship the truck, ship the kit, and either someone near you, or you, make the conversion.

 

[AZFox]

We have little choice other than following the Two-Step Demystification Procedure.

Step 1) Get tuned.
Step 2) Stay that way until Slate provides answer.

Drip, drip, drip...

On the bright side, every day we're one day closer to production!

 

[SlaterTot]

I have preordered and my second thoughts are tied to Slates success, and whether I won't to buy a vehicle that isn't successful.

What I'm thinking about is that Slate is limiting themselves by the 2 door, full EV vehicle, that prevents a lot of people even considering it. For those remaining, I don't think slate is really going to be finding interest from people looking for a budget car- those people will just buy used.

Of whose remaining, I think people are going to have to weigh the cool-factor of slates with the fact that they could buy more for less. For myself, I'm interested in the Slate because of the customization, particularly the wraps. However, I live in Texas, were the sun resigns me to either a fairly dull wrap job, or having to dish out $$ every few year to replace a faded wrap. I wouldn't even have to consider that hassle if I was buying something with a flashy, long lasting paint job from the factory

I think Slate is going to have some early adoptors and then a second wave that see slates on the road and think they are cool. But I don't know if that will get to 150K annual sales.

 

[Moe]

In H1 2026, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 was the best selling non-Tesla BEV In the US with 20,730 sales or ~41K/year. The once top selling Chevrolet Equinox EV was down from 27,749 to 16,249 or ~32K/year. These are mainstream CUVs the niche Slate BEV sales won’t begin to approach. The Chevy Bolt reincarnation sold 4,224 or ~8K/year and the new Nissan Leaf is still ramping but sold 1,664 or 3,300/year. The Slate is a niche vehicle in a niche market segment (BEVs) that comprises less than 6% of US light vehicle sales..

 

[Doctors Do Little]

In H1 2026, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 was the best selling non-Tesla BEV In the US with 20,730 sales or ~41K/year. The once top selling Chevrolet Equinox EV was down from 27,749 to 16,249 or ~32K/year. These are mainstream CUVs the niche Slate BEV sales won’t begin to approach. The Chevy Bolt reincarnation sold 4,224 or ~8K/year and the new Nissan Leaf is still ramping but sold 1,664 or 3,300/year. The Slate is a niche vehicle in a niche market segment (BEVs) that comprises less than 6% of US light vehicle sales..

Sobering stats for the small SUV BEV segment. Thank goodness Slate is pushing the truck BEV first, else it would be a complete fool’s errand.

 

[Kopsis]

For those remaining, I don't think slate is really going to be finding interest from people looking for a budget car- those people will just buy used.

In the Motoman interview with Rod Copes (Slate Chairman of the Board), Rod said that Slate doesn't actually see their target market "buying" Slates. He sees leasing as the key to unlocking an untapped market. Slate's low initial cost combined with simple reliable design could result in high residuals that would allow lease rates competitive with total cost of ownership of a cheap used car.

There's tons of speculation on residuals in this thread so no need to rehash it all here. But it does suggest that if you're thinking about Slate's viability only in terms of the traditional automotive sales strategies, you may not be seeing all the opportunities.

 

[SlaterTot]

In the Motoman interview with Rod Copes (Slate Chairman of the Board), Rod said that Slate doesn't actually see their target market "buying" Slates. He sees leasing as the key to unlocking an untapped market.

I had not considered leasing, and this makes me more hopeful. Though this seems to be at odds with the idea of buying what you can afford and then upgrading when you have the money. I don’t think I would ever add an SUV conversion kit to my leased car. But I get that a combination of fleet + standard consumer sales + leases might total up to 150k

 

[Moe]

Let me put 150,000 sales in perspective for you. In calendar year 2025, when there were three quarters of $7,500 tax credits, GM sold ~170,000 Cadillac, Chevrolet, and ĞMC battery electric vehicles. Those sales have tanked in 2026.