cvollers
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Was the Space Needle picture part of the wrap or a decal applied over the wrap?
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Seattle Space Needle event - Slate truck photos, impressions, answers
cvollers
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Chip
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2025
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- 9
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- 688
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- 747
- Location
- Bellevue WA
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- FJ Cruiser
So bottom used for updating.
Imhotep
Well-Known Member
The yellow Space Needle logo on the doors was a decal on top of the wrap but I’m pretty sure everything else was printed directly onto the wrap, including the photos of the Needle.
Imhotep
Well-Known Member
I did not. I wanted to pull seats forward and take some photos but the Slate rep said the seat on this particular truck didn’t move forward (prototype). Of course he also said the steering wheel didn’t move and it did. He did say for the seats that actually do move, they go WAY forward, with the bottom cushion going under the wheel/dash so lots of room for back seat entry in SUV mode.
Imhotep
Well-Known Member
I don’t think so. I looked for the wire going to the door locks when I was discussing adding speakers to the door. The Slate rep McKay said the electric locks were not activated (not wired) because it’s a prototype. I think we’re seeing an early beta and everything should be taken with a grain of salt. For instance, Slate has been pretty vague about the dash power and although I saw two USB-A ports, I suspect other prototypes may have different configurations.
Imhotep
Well-Known Member
Closer to 4.25” when you account for the flip up door. That’s just the opening. The bottom panel inside the compartment dropped down a few more inches and the rep showed me it pulled out and he was able to reach his hole hand down behind the lower dash. Could probably fit an amp AND a sub in there.
Driven5
Well-Known Member
Rather than starting a new thread, I'll just consolidate my thoughts from the event here too. Sorry for any basically repeated pics or info, but I wrote this up to share elsewhere too.
I just spent a little time getting hands on with a Slate. Unfortunately no engineer's were present.
On first impression it's smallish, but not what I'd call petite. Compared to the old RWD mini trucks, it's definitely taller and more visually heavy/bulky. Aside from the custom wrap, the only obvious option to me on this one beyond the 'Blank Slate' was the center console.
One of the first things they pointed out under the hood were the easy access to fuses and fluid filler caps for coolant, washer fluid... And power steering fluid. Yes, you read that right. While ICE's are all going EPS to gain every last bit of fuel efficiency, EV's can sacrifice that tiny bit of efficiency. Apparently a motor driven hydraulic power steering system is still noticeably cheaper than an electric rack. So there is some hope that the steering may actually be quite good by modern (not just EV) standards.
I had noticed that there were options for rubber or carpet floor liners in the configurator, in addition to floor mats of each type too. So what are the floor panels made from? Much like the body and bed, plastic. The pre production and public abused panels actually looked ok, although could feel the driver side was getting a little deformed and slightly soft under foot. While I don't mind the lack of craptastic carpet that most people cover with rubber floor mats anyway, I'll wait to see how production units hold up before passing judgment.
I like the minimalist dash and interior, and the display looks positively tiny. The door armrests have a gap to the door panel seem like a debris trap though. Yes the materials are cheap, but more nicely done than the cheap plastics in plenty of other cars and nothing I noticed that would bother me. I can't remember the last time I didn't have a leather wrapped steering wheel, but there was nothing offensive about this one.
The seats are not only flat, they're hard too. This is probably one of my biggest points of reservation. That and the lack of power windows (not standard) and mirrors (not even optional, 'yet'). And by manual mirrors, we're not even talking the little joystick inside, but reach out the window. Push to adjust mirrors may be fine for convex mirrors, or if there is only one driver so they'll almost never be moved, but a notable pain point for multiple drivers. They did note that despite the proliferation of power windows systems claimed to be cheaper than manual for mass production, they were able to find a cheaper crank window supplier. Apparently the novelty of it has generally been well received. I still think foresee them eventually going to standard power windows, and at least optional power mirrors.
The pedal position seemed ok, but there was something that just felt a little 'off' about the dead pedal placement. It felt too close and/or too far left. A more natural position put my foot on the awkwardly angled portion of the wheel well.
One thing I've been wondering with the single cab being the primary config, but the ability to change to the much greater interior volume and surface area SUV configuration, is the A/C sizing. Supposedly the A/C is sized to the SUV configuration. Also the aforementioned center console even includes HVAC vents to the rear, that I guess just adds to the circulation in the single cab.
I've still got concerns about water intrusion as the seals age in of all these removable panels, especially in the reconfigurable zones, but the rear partition of the single cab seems to integrate a bit into the bed, such that it might drain around and under the cab. They talked about their Jeep engineers having experience with removable surfaces. So as with much else on this, consider me cautiously optimistic.
On the sales and service front, they claim to have a strategic nationwide partnership being put in place that they cannot disclose yet, but won't lock you into that either. Online ordering, other delivery, and thanks to making the repairs as open source as possible, multiple other (indie ship and diy) service options.
They also claim that while it might have been even cheaper to source more abroad, and unrelated to any real or threatened tariffs, this is going to be one of (if not the) most domestically produced vehicles available.
All in all, I'm still excited l excited about the potential if this product, and am looking forward to the possibility of them making it to market.
Edit: I've also received confirmation from the company that the traction and stability control systems are expected to be driver defeatable through settings in the appp.
I just spent a little time getting hands on with a Slate. Unfortunately no engineer's were present.
On first impression it's smallish, but not what I'd call petite. Compared to the old RWD mini trucks, it's definitely taller and more visually heavy/bulky. Aside from the custom wrap, the only obvious option to me on this one beyond the 'Blank Slate' was the center console.
One of the first things they pointed out under the hood were the easy access to fuses and fluid filler caps for coolant, washer fluid... And power steering fluid. Yes, you read that right. While ICE's are all going EPS to gain every last bit of fuel efficiency, EV's can sacrifice that tiny bit of efficiency. Apparently a motor driven hydraulic power steering system is still noticeably cheaper than an electric rack. So there is some hope that the steering may actually be quite good by modern (not just EV) standards.
I had noticed that there were options for rubber or carpet floor liners in the configurator, in addition to floor mats of each type too. So what are the floor panels made from? Much like the body and bed, plastic. The pre production and public abused panels actually looked ok, although could feel the driver side was getting a little deformed and slightly soft under foot. While I don't mind the lack of craptastic carpet that most people cover with rubber floor mats anyway, I'll wait to see how production units hold up before passing judgment.
I like the minimalist dash and interior, and the display looks positively tiny. The door armrests have a gap to the door panel seem like a debris trap though. Yes the materials are cheap, but more nicely done than the cheap plastics in plenty of other cars and nothing I noticed that would bother me. I can't remember the last time I didn't have a leather wrapped steering wheel, but there was nothing offensive about this one.
The seats are not only flat, they're hard too. This is probably one of my biggest points of reservation. That and the lack of power windows (not standard) and mirrors (not even optional, 'yet'). And by manual mirrors, we're not even talking the little joystick inside, but reach out the window. Push to adjust mirrors may be fine for convex mirrors, or if there is only one driver so they'll almost never be moved, but a notable pain point for multiple drivers. They did note that despite the proliferation of power windows systems claimed to be cheaper than manual for mass production, they were able to find a cheaper crank window supplier. Apparently the novelty of it has generally been well received. I still think foresee them eventually going to standard power windows, and at least optional power mirrors.
The pedal position seemed ok, but there was something that just felt a little 'off' about the dead pedal placement. It felt too close and/or too far left. A more natural position put my foot on the awkwardly angled portion of the wheel well.
One thing I've been wondering with the single cab being the primary config, but the ability to change to the much greater interior volume and surface area SUV configuration, is the A/C sizing. Supposedly the A/C is sized to the SUV configuration. Also the aforementioned center console even includes HVAC vents to the rear, that I guess just adds to the circulation in the single cab.
I've still got concerns about water intrusion as the seals age in of all these removable panels, especially in the reconfigurable zones, but the rear partition of the single cab seems to integrate a bit into the bed, such that it might drain around and under the cab. They talked about their Jeep engineers having experience with removable surfaces. So as with much else on this, consider me cautiously optimistic.
On the sales and service front, they claim to have a strategic nationwide partnership being put in place that they cannot disclose yet, but won't lock you into that either. Online ordering, other delivery, and thanks to making the repairs as open source as possible, multiple other (indie ship and diy) service options.
They also claim that while it might have been even cheaper to source more abroad, and unrelated to any real or threatened tariffs, this is going to be one of (if not the) most domestically produced vehicles available.
All in all, I'm still excited l excited about the potential if this product, and am looking forward to the possibility of them making it to market.
Edit: I've also received confirmation from the company that the traction and stability control systems are expected to be driver defeatable through settings in the appp.
Dorbiman
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the additional writeup and perspective!
Power mirrors would be an option I'd spring for. It's not a deal breaker, but there are definitely times when I want to aim the mirror down to see how close I am when parallel parking, etc. 95% of the time it's a "set it and forget it" thing, but there are definitely times when it would be helpful.
I expect there to be minimal sound deadening material, so my plan is probably to (eventually) strip the interior and add some Dynamat wherever possible (floor pans, door panels, rear cab, etc), and then maybe put in my own rubber or carpet flooring.
Power mirrors would be an option I'd spring for. It's not a deal breaker, but there are definitely times when I want to aim the mirror down to see how close I am when parallel parking, etc. 95% of the time it's a "set it and forget it" thing, but there are definitely times when it would be helpful.
I expect there to be minimal sound deadening material, so my plan is probably to (eventually) strip the interior and add some Dynamat wherever possible (floor pans, door panels, rear cab, etc), and then maybe put in my own rubber or carpet flooring.
Imhotep
Well-Known Member
I’d take it with a grain of salt. This was a prototype and we don’t even know if these were hooked up to anything. Maybe by 2027 there will be some updates.
Lanthian
Active Member
Thanks for the follow up Driven, and for the additional pictures. You mentioning the seats and floorboards do have me a little concerned, but hopefully they will improve on that when it comes time to actual production.
