Report: Slate Factory Delivery Under Consideration! Would Take Place In This Room

[AKrietzer]

We took Factory Delivery of our Rivian in Normal, Illinois in April of 2023. We did have to pay the delivery charge.

Brian.

Did or did not?

 

[Doug T]

So I think that we have established that doc fees are not really about the cost of submitting documentation and destination charges are not really about shipping the vehicle. They can pretty much be anything the seller wants. They just must be disclosed.

Since the maximum doc fee in Indiana is $200, what if Slate did the following:

MSRP: $20,000
Doc Fee: $ 200
Destination: $ 4,800
Total: $25,000

Advertise that MSRP! Sleazy I know, but consistent with industry practice.

 

[OldGoat]

Back when I was even more stupid than I am now, I was supposed to have a friend drive me 80 miles to pick up a new Volvo. Last minute he bailed. I had to hitchhike with a check made out to the dealership in my pocket. Wouldn't ya know they said "we can't take a personal check for that amount". "And by the way, where is your vehicle you came in, we would like to evaluate it for a trade-in". After convincing them I hitchhiked to their door they likely thought I was nuts, wanted me gone before I did something weird, and took my check and off I drove. No meeting the finance shark, no hammering for clear coat or rust proofing or extended warranty. Will I hitchhike to Warsaw to pickup my Slate? Naw, I now have arthritis in my thumbs!

 

[cadblu]

Good news: This story has recently been announced in the Scout Motors EVForums:

Direct sales in Colorado for Scout approved

"Scout Motors has been granted a dealer license in Colorado, a notable victory for the Volkswagen Group-backed brand as it pursues direct-to-consumer sales in the U.S. despite intense pushback by dealers nationwide."

This precedent can prove beneficial for Slate Auto, who cannot legally sell directly to end customers in Indiana. If Slate continues to pressure the county, and using Scout as a precedent, it may be possible to pickup our trucks at the factory in Warsaw.

 

[thommeigh]

Looks like I’m 884 miles from Warsaw, IN. In the Slate with the standard range battery, I’d need 9 charges (adding almost 5 hours to my trip) for the drive home to Rhode Island. I dunno, could be a fun adventure! Good crash course in life with an EV.

Looks like with the extended range battery, I could take a slightly different route - 871 miles, only 5 charges, cutting down the total charging time to under 3 hours…

 

[phidauex]

Total trip time to Colorado would be about 22 hours in the Extended Range, or 26 hours in the Standard Range. Standard Range would also mean cutting some pretty close charging legs...

I've driven to Illinois several times in my Mach E (240mi nominal range). Yes there are a good number of charge stops, but the side benefit is that walking around more often reduces a lot of the fatigue of a long drive. I've done 11 hour legs in the MachE, and between the frequent stops and the quiet and comfort of an EV, it is a lot more comfortable than similar trips in my other cars.

I have done this before - I took an Amtrak train to Dallas to buy a used '82 Mercedes with 200k miles on it. Grabbed $2400 in cash, got on the train, met the dude at the shop he worked at, and drove it home. Surprisingly, many years later when I sold that Mercedes again, it was to a guy in Tennessee - he flew into town, I met him at the airport, we inspected the car together, he handed me $3000 in cash, and drove off. I took a taxi home.

 

[LoneWolfo6]

Better option for $25k if wanting safety blind spot and infotainment included.

 

[cadblu]

Better option for $25k if wanting safety blind spot and infotainment included.

Yes. Between now and Dec 31 there will be some amazing deals on Tesla vehicles. It’s like hitting the trifecta: End of month, end of quarter, and end of year. Best time to buy if you need a set of wheels now. No need to wait until 2027.