Who’s Reserving the Slate EV: Everyday Americans, Young Professionals, New Drivers, Contemporary Seniors, Auto Enthusiasts

[bloo]

I want a small and efficient two-door pickup truck.

I don't want an extra set of doors I will never use, therefore wasting space in my garage - or anywhere I need to park.

I don't want a vehicle so tall I need to climb in our out.

I don't want a vehicle that's so big I have to think too much about parking it.

I want a useable open bed for wood and furniture and dirty stuff.

I want weatherproof storage for groceries and other items that can't handle the elements.

I want a reasonably quick and nimble vehicle so I can enjoy my daily commute.

I don't want a giant vehicle that needs a turbo to pull away from a traffic light.

I'm not in the market specifically for an electric vehicle. Yet if I'm going to join the club, this is what I want to show up in.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

If ford had built an electric maverick instead of an electric f-150, I would probably own one even though I don't need the back seat.

 

[Johnologue]

If someone wants a low-priced EV sedan like the Prius why would they buy a 2-door, 2-seat pickup truck. One buys a pickup truck for the open bed and the utility that brings to the use case.

As someone who currently drives a compact hatchback and isn't a "truck person", the 2-door design and compact footprint of the Slate makes it much more appealing to me than it would be as a larger truck.

Though yes, I would also not consider the Prius an "EV" at all. There aren't many (any?) compact "economy" EVs that aren't sad, bulky crossovers though. The new Leaf is 4000 lbs and "hides" its bulk with overstyled blacked-out plastic.

against the 319-mile Equinox EV LT1 that is priced starting $33,600 and has 4-doors, paint and an audio system, especially when the Equinox requires zero DIY effort to be had as a painted SUV.

I will note that while I understand doors/audio (even though I think doors are an overstated issue and adding equivalent/better-than-factory audio should be relatively cheap), I'm incredibly confused and frustrated by paint being treated as a "missing feature" in discussions of the Slate.

I can't imagine anyone who goes shopping for cars thinking "oh, thank god all my options have PAINT. I would hate to be forced to consider a paintless car!"

Metal body panels need coating to avoid corrosion, and maintaining that coating against scrapes, sap, etc. is something to worry about more than anything.

Color can be appealing/expressive, but many cars have neutral paint colors, which makes them roughly equivalent to Slate's gray.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

As someone who currently drives a compact hatchback and isn't a "truck person", the 2-door design and compact footprint of the Slate makes it much more appealing to me than it would be as a larger truck.
...
Metal body panels need coating to avoid corrosion, and maintaining that coating against scrapes, sap, etc. is something to worry about more than anything.

I strongly agree with all the points you make here.

I rattle canned my old ford ranger flat black and never worried about scratches again.

 

[E90400K]

I'm incredibly confused and frustrated by paint being treated as a "missing feature" in discussions of the Slate.

I can't imagine anyone who goes shopping for cars thinking "oh, thank god all my options have PAINT. I would hate to be forced to consider a paintless car!"

You can't imagine it because up until the Slate, nearly every car, plastic or metal, has come with a factory paint coat offered in numerous colors other than the few stainless steel bodied cars over the last few decades.

It's never been an approach used before. Just because its a new approach doesn't mean it will gain market acceptance.

 

[Johnologue]

You can't imagine it because up until the Slate, nearly every car, plastic or metal, has come with a factory paint coat offered in numerous colors other than the few stainless steel bodied cars over the last few decades.

It's never been an approach used before. Just because its a new approach doesn't mean it will gain market acceptance.

The point is that "paint" is not currently regarded/discussed as a feature, and the idea that people will see the Slate as "lacking" paint is something I see casually asserted by people who are looking for ways to be critical or dismissive of Slate. I don't think it's a reasonable assumption.

 

[E90400K]

The point is that "paint" is not currently regarded/discussed as a feature, and the idea that people will see the Slate as "lacking" paint is something I see casually asserted by people who are looking for ways to be critical or dismissive of Slate. I don't think it's a reasonable assumption.

I do see the lack of color choice and the need to wrap the Truck if you want a different color other than gray as an issue for most prospective buyers in the market. Further, if the wrap material lasts only a few years and needs to be replaced periodically at $500 each wrap kit, I see that as problematic.

If I follow through with a Slate purchase, I will rattle can mine black.

 

[Johnologue]

I do see the lack of color choice and the need to wrap the Truck if you want a different color other than gray as an issue for most prospective buyers in the market. Further, if the wrap material lasts only a few years and needs to be replaced periodically at $500 each wrap kit, I see that as problematic.

And I again point to the endless examples of grayscale/neutral cars sold in endless numbers. At worst, the Slate is neutrally-colored.

The impulsive/emotional consumer who "wants color variety" will see the Slate in grayscale and in the most diverse range of colors/appearances on any car. They also wouldn't be limited by the combination of colors/options/trims in dealership stock.
It's not a sure thing that people will accept that (true for any detail of a product that isn't yet for-sale), but Slate isn't particularly weak in terms of "offering colors".

I see the wraps having poor longevity as a potential issue, but that is very new information from the recent Q&A ("it doesn't even have paint!" has been an issue from the start) and, again, not getting at the issue of "paint is not regarded as a feature".

 

[sodamo]

I read the comments of how bad faded vinyl will be and have to wonder, these people not see the abundance of faded painted vehicles? I also suspect that those most concerned are same one applying 3rd party solutions to their paint and won’t blink an eye changing out their vinyl.

 

[SichuanHot]

I read the comments of how bad faded vinyl will be and have to wonder, these people not see the abundance of faded painted vehicles? I also suspect that those most concerned are same one applying 3rd party solutions to their paint and won’t blink an eye changing out their vinyl.

Vinyl wraps definitely don't have the same durability as a nice coat of paint and clearcoat. Many of the faded cars you see are usually from owner neglect. Squirrel scratches, chips, clearcoat fade, are all mostly avoidable if owners take care of the car.

I thought the panels on the Slate are a plastic material, no? In that case worrying about fade and stuff shouldn't be too much of an issue though it'd be nice if they still came painted.

 

[Luxrage]

I thought the panels on the Slate are a plastic material, no? In that case worrying about fade and stuff shouldn't be too much of an issue though it'd be nice if they still came painted.

Only time will tell with those plastic panels. It doesn't take much looking at the formerly trendy black plastic trim of the mid-00s to see what they look like now:
Mind you, it will probably take years for the Slate to start fading, but I'm still all about painting mine. Modern auto paint is near indestructible.

 

[GaRailroader]

If ford had built an electric maverick instead of an electric f-150, I would probably own one even though I don't need the back seat.

Me too!

 

[cadblu]

Only time will tell with those plastic panels. It doesn't take much looking at the formerly trendy black plastic trim of the mid-00s to see what they look like now:
Mind you, it will probably take years for the Slate to start fading, but I'm still all about painting mine. Modern auto paint is near indestructible.

Well said. Slate keeps reminding us that their trucks are designed to be easily wrapped. Is that so we can easily disguise the aged, faded discoloration of the standard factory gray color?

Slate has not disclosed if any environmental testing was conducted on panel “coupons.” Back in the day I was involved with Mil Std 810 tests on military equipment. Modern test labs can conduct ‘accelerated aging’ in environmental chambers using full spectrum solar lamps to simulate direct, solar radiation combined with heat, humidity, temperature cycling and other real world conditions. So we don’t have to wait 20 years to see what happens…

 

[E90400K]

Well said. Slate keeps reminding us that their trucks are designed to be easily wrapped. Is that so we can easily disguise the aged, faded discoloration of the standard factory gray color?

Slate has not disclosed if any environmental testing was conducted on panel “coupons.” Back in the day I was involved with Mil Std 810 tests on military equipment. Modern test labs can conduct ‘accelerated aging’ in environmental chambers using full spectrum solar lamps to simulate direct, solar radiation combined with heat, humidity, temperature cycling and other real world conditions. So we don’t have to wait 20 years to see what happens…

And salt chambers.

 

[bloo]

One would hope the paint is at least UV stabilized.

I was thinking of painting 70s-style sripes in tri-shade blue over the base gray. Removing each panel and painting them individually might make it easier for a novice like myself.