The "Panel Theft" Panic

[ElectricShitbox]

I keep hearing people worrying that because the fasteners are exposed, people will steal parts off your Slate. I have to say, have those people never stood next to a car before? Lots of shit is easily removable. Right off the bat, license plate theft has a way higher potential for chaos than someone stealing your plastic fender, and basically every car has exposed flat head screws holding them on. Even wheel theft is basically non-existent nowadays, but dealers still talk suckers into paying $200 for locking lug nuts they're going to lose the key for. And if you think someone would remove parts from your truck "just to be a dick", well yeah, someone could slash your tires or throw a brick through your windshield too. Keep your insurance up to date.

 

[fitsea]

Wheel theft is still really common--look at the Accord. It's all about what the resale market will bear. Look at the Prius cat theft problem. You can't resell a license plate, but you can pawn off wheels, light covers, or anything else there's a market for. I don't think it'll be a huge issue, but that's not up to me to decide.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

I hadn't heard about the accord wheel thing, haha. But the fact that locking lug nuts didn't prevent them sort of proves my point, and catalytic converter theft absolutely proves my point. People are jacking up cars and cutting out part of the exhaust. If someone wants something from a vehicle parked in public, they'll take it, exposed fasteners or not. The prevention is being smart about where you park and having insurance.

 

[GaRailroader]

I keep hearing people worrying that because the fasteners are exposed, people will steal parts off your Slate. I have to say, have those people never stood next to a car before? Lots of shit is easily removable. Right off the bat, license plate theft has a way higher potential for chaos than someone stealing your plastic fender, and basically every car has exposed flat head screws holding them on. Even wheel theft is basically non-existent nowadays, but dealers still talk suckers into paying $200 for locking lug nuts they're going to lose the key for. And if you think someone would remove parts from your truck "just to be a dick", well yeah, someone could slash your tires or throw a brick through your windshield too. Keep your insurance up to date.

Been saying the same thing. All 3 pick-ups I’ve owned in my lifetime have had tailgates that could be removed in about 15 seconds without tools and I’ve had ZERO tailgates stolen. When I bought my Colorado WT 6 speed manual with steelies, the dealer included locking lug nuts, really?

 

[ScooterAsheville]

Before we panic about panel theft, Slate needs to not go bankrupt and actually deliver trucks in 2026, which is 50-50 at best according to most industry analysts. So it's kind of the cart before the horse for the next calendar year. We can all panic is 2027, when disaffected American youth make stealing Slate body panels the new "6-7". Because they're unemployed. Because AI.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6-7_meme

 

[jferg_89]

Mcmaster Carr...... just get alternate fasteners that will be specific to your vehicle. Im a machinist so if i have to i can make one. This is more and more my dream vehicle. So many ideas are flowing in my head. With the exposed fasteners you can make it your own with different finishes and styles of heads as well as make wraps or paint jobs that accent the fasteners like wwii airplanes. This will be a cool truck.

 

[jmcarter]

The reservation owner Q&A event tomorrow should address this and their long term health, they go bust then I’ll have a second Maverick Hybrid to buy.

 

[cadblu]

Wheel theft is still really common--look at the Accord. It's all about what the resale market will bear. Look at the Prius cat theft problem. You can't resell a license plate, but you can pawn off wheels, light covers, or anything else there's a market for. I don't think it'll be a huge issue, but that's not up to me to decide.

Add me to the group that agrees wheel theft is still common. My neighbor awoke one morning to find his fancy wheels stolen off his RAM truck. Funny thing, I have locking wheel lug nuts on my Toyota truck but forgot to bring the key with me when the dealer supposedly rotated the tires. I inquired how they did it, to which they responded the shop has a universal key. Yea, I bet anyone can get that key on eBay or other source. Locking lugs are such a waste of time, when you need to use them, they will probably strip since the dealer over-torqued the lug nut. But just try to buy a Toyota truck without locking lugs, you can't because it's an option forced upon you. Another reason why the Slate is a breath of fresh air.

 

[cadblu]

The reservation owner Q&A event tomorrow should address this and their long term health, they go bust then I’ll have a second Maverick Hybrid to buy.

Can't wait to see Chris Barman "all smiles" tomorrow on the livestream event. Will pay particular attention to how she reacts to some of the more uncomfortable questions raised.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

Wheel theft must be a regional thing or something, because I know a lot of car guys across several generations, and I don't know anyone that's had wheels stolen since the 80s, haha. Either way, no one is stealing steelies.

As for the comment about Slate going under, a scenario where they go out of business shortly after starting production COULD make part theft a problem because the value of replacement parts would skyrocket. I hear a good replacement hood for a Fiskar Ocean is $30k.

 

[clofan]

People are worried about that? Lol. No one is going to steal your plastic panels. If you are that worried get some red locktite and go hog wild

 

[Letas]

Can't wait to see Chris Barman "all smiles" tomorrow on the livestream event. Will pay particular attention to how she reacts to some of the more uncomfortable questions raised.

I doubt if there will be any truly uncomfortable questions... They were all pre-submitted, and presumably vetted, I'm sure she has the answers already drafted.