Will you need a test drive before you purchase a Slate?

[RevMS]

If you haven't already, you should send a message to Slate about that, maybe include that shop's contact info, and they might pass along to the right person and set it up. I know they are welcoming of suggestions.

Just sent the message ... we'll see what they say.

 

[mini702]

I'm a tad concerned about the 90mph governor. I'd like to know the reasoning behind it. I don't want/need to go over 90, but I do want authority at 75 to quickly accelerate if needed on the highway. Being that close to "limit" of the truck isn't confidence inspiring.

There was one reviewer that claimed it still had punch at high speeds, but that's one person and I don't know what they consider "punch" (not sure that's even the word they used, but my point still stands).

If there is still strong acceleration from 75-85mph, why do the motors stop at 90mph? I understand it would be wildly inefficient, and illegal on public roads. However, both of those issues are between me and god. I don't need a sports car, but I want confidence while driving at AZ highway speeds.

Electric motor and 1 speed trans have physical limits like everything else, or have you never played with rc cars?

A buddies Silverado was limited to 95 mph or there abouts. I'm sure the rear end gets lite at those speeds making it dangerous if you needed to swerve.

 

[revnelson]

Yes, I understand that motors have physical limitations and do not expect the Slate truck to have an infinite upper threshold where it will continue to accelerate as long as I'm on the gas pedal and there's power in the battery.

My point is simply that 90 is uncomfortably close to the normal highway speeds of 80-85 here in AZ and I would want a test drive before purchasing to feel how authoritative it is at those speeds.

I wouldn't want an ICE car that is red-lining the engine just cruising down the highway, for a comparison.

 

[lovzzzs]

90 is 20 over every speed limit around me lmao

 

[RevMS]

Just sent the message ... we'll see what they say.

Here's the response:

Hi Mark,

Thanks so much for reaching out, we appreciate the enthusiasm!

We're making our way across the country with our Roadshow Tour, and we're always looking to expand where we go next. We haven't confirmed any dates or locations for Austin yet, but once an event is locked in, it'll be posted on our events page at slate.auto/en/events, so keep an eye out.

Thanks for being part of the Slate community, we'd love to meet you in person!
Cheers

Katie || Slate Agent Team

 

[Mark McMinn]

My delivery is ~ a year out. There will be a lot of honest, meaningful reviews here and that’s good enough for me.

Same. And by then... test drives.

 

[KevinRS]

Here's the response:

Hi Mark,

Thanks so much for reaching out, we appreciate the enthusiasm!

We're making our way across the country with our Roadshow Tour, and we're always looking to expand where we go next. We haven't confirmed any dates or locations for Austin yet, but once an event is locked in, it'll be posted on our events page at slate.auto/en/events, so keep an eye out.

Thanks for being part of the Slate community, we'd love to meet you in person!
Cheers

Katie || Slate Agent Team

That's the thing, they haven't confirmed anything but one event at a time, maybe 2 weeks in advance. If they could at least give some limited info on what's in planning, even with disclaimers, Like August these states, September these states, October these states, and possibly test drives starting X month, a lot of people might feel better about it.

 

[danielt1263]

That's the thing, they haven't confirmed anything but one event at a time, maybe 2 weeks in advance. If they could at least give some limited info on what's in planning, even with disclaimers, Like August these states, September these states, October these states, and possibly test drives starting X month, a lot of people might feel better about it.

They said test drives in the fall. Sept, Oct, Nov...

 

[KevinRS]

They said test drives in the fall. Sept, Oct, Nov...

Fall is very vague could start in September, Could start in November. Some kind preliminary schedule of states/months was more what I was thinking. I'm sure they have that internally, some people would be sure not to make plans that would block out their chance.

 

[danielt1263]

Fall is very vague could start in September, Could start in November. Some kind preliminary schedule of states/months was more what I was thinking. I'm sure they have that internally, some people would be sure not to make plans that would block out their chance.

Sorry, you had said "they could at least give some limited info..." and I took you literally. "In the fall" is limited info. (Obviously, too limited in your opinion.)

I think it's smart of them to keep quiet until they can make a promise that they know they can keep. I don't think they can do that yet.

 

[KevinRS]

Sorry, you had said "they could at least give some limited info..." and I took you literally. "In the fall" is limited info. (Obviously, too limited in your opinion.)

I think it's smart of them to keep quiet until they can make a promise that they know they can keep. I don't think they can do that yet.

I was thinking just a bit more than "fall" on test drives, and basically nothing until 2 weeks or less out on a "See the Slate" event. Maybe they will continue north from Alameda and get to those PNW spots being asked about next month. We won't know until 2 weeks or less before each event as it's going.

 

[whasupjohn]

I think they would want to offer test drives with the most production ready examples. It may be a bit longer until they have the first units off the production line before they do the drives.

 

[KevinRS]

I think they would want to offer test drives with the most production ready examples. It may be a bit longer until they have the first units off the production line before they do the drives.

Yeah, but they should be really close to that, unless there are production parts they are waiting on. The demo in HB was off of the production line, still called a design validation unit, but how long ago did it come off the line? could have been months.

 

[danielt1263]

Yeah, but they should be really close to that, unless there are production parts they are waiting on. The demo in HB was off of the production line, still called a design validation unit, but how long ago did it come off the line? could have been months.

Or it could have been days. AFAICT, they had four pre-production vehicles at the price reveal event that were built in Warsaw. They had two vehicles in Rhode Island, likely not the same ones that were in CA, and these were also pre-production. They don't have production units for us to drive yet.

The real question to me is... Are they going to build five units and start transporting them all over the country, or are they going to build a hundred units and hit most/all the states at once? A trickle or a splash. I personally think it will be the latter. I think they will announce half-a-dozen different events in three or four different states, all on the same weekend in late September.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Or it could have been days. AFAICT, they had four pre-production vehicles at the price reveal event that were built in Warsaw. They had two vehicles in Rhode Island, likely not the same ones that were in CA, and these were also pre-production. They don't have production units for us to drive yet.

The real question to me is... Are they going to build five units and start transporting them all over the country, or are they going to build a hundred units and hit most/all the states at once? A trickle or a splash. I personally think it will be the latter. I think they will announce half-a-dozen different events in three or four different states, all on the same weekend in late September.

As long as they can staff them, sure!