$24,950 SLATE Truck News & Info

[Chops]

I have that exact set. If the Slate is a hit, I'll be selling replacement body panels on eBay about 6 months after that. maybe...

Start small with the pricey grille upgrades before moving on to the removable body panels?

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[DS_Ohio]

If that's the upgraded grille, I do not want to see the base. And I have the XL trim

 

[MaverickDragon]

Ad agencies do what ad agencies do. Are you a 1976 Ford Granada fan?

Obviously a "remarkable achievement".
It's amazing Mercedes Benz were able to sell anything once the Granada came out.
My father owned one, we called it the Babe Mobile" for it's obvious attractive influence.

The better named mechanically identical vehicle was the Mercury Monarch.
A friend named it the Mercury Moch as when the plastic tabs on rear name plate covering the fuel filler inevitably broke off, i.e. MO NAR CH what was left was MO CH.

 

[MaverickDragon]

Start small with the pricey grille upgrades before moving on to the removable body panels?

That's an upgrade???
Zowie.
Those look like genuine non-functional air vents up front.
Probably extend the driving range considerably. (SARCASM)

Hopefully the aftermarket parts will be better than OEM.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

It may have been a Granada underneath but it sure did have comfortable seats.
The Lincoln Versailles

 

[Surly Old Bill]

The motors can definitely handle the loads, and are actually better suited for it from a power delivery and reliability standpoint (diesel electric locomotives that are 40, 50 years old and still going).

Really just an energy problem that will only be solved with modular battery packs that can be swapped out faster than you can put fuel in a car at automated stations. I guess the problem there though is that one auto manufacturer doesn't have the pull to change everything. It would take open standards and government subsidies / heavy regulation to re-invent the fuel station.

or like locomotives, adding a range extender that runs on gas/diesel.

 

[zen_]

On the topic of marketing, I just realized that the last time I was even remotely interested in the ads and buzz around a new vehicle was the Maverick, which I couldn't even buy (because I wasn't overpaying) by the time I was in position to buy one. Slate seems to be generating a lot of buzz for something that is really pretty basic.

Don't think I will be buying one unless I were to start a business that needed a very light truck to pickup small loads and misc items using the Slate for the business and my Maverick as a backup + personal vehicle, but I still hope they sell them as fast as they can make them. If nothing else I am so tired of MASSIVE vehicles that have grills larger than the front end of this thing, and paying out the ****ing wazoo for insurance in case I hit someones spotless $130,000 Raptor R Ultra Never Been Off Road Edition.

 

[Surly Old Bill]

Something that has me wondering.

In the videos on the slate they talked about how if you got any damage to an outside panel (example was front driver side panel above the front wheel) it could be removed with just four outside accessible screws.

So what would prevent someone from just taking all the panels off the truck as a prank or worse just to steal them?

The ability to use a screwdriver.

Seriously, that WOULD be an issue if there was any kind of market for the panels. Some company will offer an aftermarket screw replacement that would make it difficult to steal them.

I haven't read the full description and specs, but I imaging if the visible body panels are just reinforced plastic bolted to a steel unibody frame, replacement would be very cheap and there would be MANY options for different looking panels by aftermarket companies. Repairs for a dent would be nickels and dimes to buy a new plastic panel; if it even retained the dent.

 

[Blue_Max]

That's an upgrade???
Zowie.
Those look like genuine non-functional air vents up front.
Probably extend the driving range considerably. (SARCASM)

Hopefully the aftermarket parts will be better than OEM.

Probably for the A/C.

 

[Surly Old Bill]

Hold my beer.....

hold my single malt...

 

[Surly Old Bill]

Lively thread. I'll toss this out there:

If the Bronco Sport was available for 30k - 35k starting price as a hybrid with an AWD 4k tow package I'd probably have one of those instead of my hybrid Maverick right now, and if it was available in the same configuration as an EV it would be on the short list to replace our Golf.

I like the form factor. With 4k (or even just 2k) towing I could get away without an open bed (because I have room to store a trailer) but no hybrid option made me cross the BS off the list when considering a new vehicle.

C'mon Ford, do something cool for the proles and whack this barebones startup thing across the noggin with it.

yeah, the Mav hybrid drivetrain in a little SUV would be a big hit. I'm actually surprised it ISN'T in the Bronco sport. Having just a few drivetrains shared by many models is an excellent way to cut production and repair costs.

 

[dochawk]

It may have been a Granada underneath but it sure did have comfortable seats.
The Lincoln Versailles

ahh, but it have rich, Corinthian leather?

 

[Chops]

ahh, but it have rich, Corinthian leather?

Credit the Bozell advertising agency for inventing the term “fine Corinthian leather”.

Sounds luxurious but no such cow

 

[babytruk]

Credit the Bozell advertising agency for inventing the term “fine Corinthian leather”.

Sounds luxurious but no such cow

… and thank Ricardo Montalbán for saying it so nicely.

 

[Chops]

… and thank Ricardo Montalbán for saying it so nicely.

Exactly! Ricardo’s voice was synonymous with elegance & authority back then. Boss, boss.

I’m too old to suggest an appropriate voice for the Slate adverts!

Edit…maybe Christoper Loyd or Walken? Jeff Goldblum?

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