New basic EV truck

[5030]

Your post is exactly why I won't have an attached garage.

I didn't build them in the first place, I purchased them with garages attached. Our dwelling don't have an attached garage as I have no desire to have it that way. In fact the shop and the 4 bay garage is not adjacent to the house.

 

[5030]

Didn't read past about post 40; but does the SUV config remind anyone of a Lada Niva, circa 2020? Honestly, given the choice, I wouldn't be against a new production Lada Niva, at like $18.5k.

What is that? Sounds like an Italian dish guaranteed to give heartburn to me.

 

[paulsharvey]

What is that? Sounds like an Italian dish guaranteed to give heartburn to me.

An extremely basic, 4x4, Russian SUV. Know for being pretty under powered, like 90hp, cheap, basic, but rugged.

It did a remodel in like 2011, when Chevy and Lada had a rebadge, but they continued the old body style as the Niva Legend (think Ram 1500 classic).

It could

 

[paulsharvey]

Now; don't get me wrong, i don't think I would want my Only vehicle to be a Niva, but at $10,650, for a new basic production, street legal vehicle, 4x4, 5 speed stick, that gets 30+ mpg, ICE, with a top speed of 82 mph, I would 100% buy one over a Polaris Ranger

 

[paulsharvey]

It does look like today's exchange rate, the most basic model is almost $12000 USD, and the more premium (think 1980 with some nicer seats, and probably a couple digital displays) at $18,000 usd

 

[5030]

Looks like a Yugo to me. Mileage isn't all that great either. My Ford Focus RS Turbo gets 39.5 combined if I keep my foot out of the hairdryer and it makes over 325 ponies at full boost, which isn't something I do very often as I'm frugal (cheap) and gas is expensive today. Too bad Fords quit making them. I'd be anxious about getting parts for a Ruskie car anyway.

 

[5030]

FYI, I paid 13K for my RS off lease with 22K miles on it and the remainder of the factory warranty that I extended out an additional 4 years, not that I needed to as I've had zero issues with it. I see today, the RS turbo's are commanding a stupid high price. Saw one on Car Fax, same year as mine (2014) for 25 grand. Guess when Fords quit making them, they went way up in price.

Only issue with mine is, it's a GDI engine with a dry intake tract so I have to clean the intake tract regularly with GDI intake cleaner, like every oil change regular. Automakers figured out that adding a small pilot jet to inject fuel in the intake tract would eliminate the carbon buildup with a GDI engine and mine don't have that. Other than keeping the intake clean, everything else is normal maintenance.

 

[paulsharvey]

Looks like a Yugo to me. Mileage isn't all that great either. My Ford Focus RS Turbo gets 39.5 combined if I keep my foot out of the hairdryer and it makes over 325 ponies at full boost, which isn't something I do very often as I'm frugal (cheap) and gas is expensive today. Too bad Fords quit making them. I'd be anxious about getting parts for a Ruskie car anyway.

Yeah, but you're not taking your Focus off road, or hauling anything with it.

 

[5030]

Yeah, but you're not taking your Focus off road, or hauling anything with it.

Fair statement but I have a Ford F350 4x4 truck for that and a side by side as well as a couple 4wd farm tractors.

The car is for asphalt only. Very comfortable with it's Recaro bucket seats and climate control but the best thing is, it goes like a raped ape if I so desire, which I don't but it's always there if I do.

When I see any Ruskie vehicle I think about a Yugo and the gal that drove one of the Mackinaw bridge, decades ago....

 

[5030]

Actually, the Focus can hold a load of groceries (it's a hatch back), a couple bags of grass seed or a couple 5 gallon gas cans and it insures as a 'sedan economy car' here so the insurance is dirt cheap.

 

[paulsharvey]

Honestly, what I've never understood, SxS, illegal in Most states on road, cause of safety. Motorcycle, legal in all states. In FLa, no helmet needed. Now, I could see, the SxS maybe being limited to roadways that it can reach the speed limit on, but our Honda 700-4, top speed of 49 mph, has seat belts, roll cage, head lights. Sure, doesn't have turn signals, but there are aftermarket kits.

Now, never ran MPH on the buggy, but I'd guess it's pretty poor, as at top speed, it's turning some RPMs.

So, our place, we are maybe 6 miles to a good sized town, with 2 red lights. The SxS wouldn't be a Bad way to commute for a teenager, working a BS kids job in town. Nope; ours doesn't have AC, windshield, or hard roof (after market Bimini top type), but its safer than a Honda Grom, or a scooter

 

[paulsharvey]

Some of the cheaper SxS are going for around $10k for 500cc models, and they mostly can get upto 35-40 mph; all now have doors, seat belts, and roll cages. They really wouldn't be a Bad way for low income, short range commutes. Throw a cheap soft top, and a plexiglass windshield, and it wouldn't be bad in the winter or during summer storms.

 

[ultrarunner]

Friends that owned Ladas all had the same problem… they rust easily in snow country.

My info is dated and the problem may no longer be a problem…

 

[paulsharvey]

Guess I'm looking at the Slate 100% from an affordability side; not EV, or modularity.

I'm also looking at this a guy who has a 19 y/o son, living at home and commuting to school, 2-3 days per week, about 110 miles round trip.

So, I'm applying my own bias. You get a new vehicle, that payments can be down around $250/month, you open a door of, he'll, that's internet and cell phone bill... I think the average car payment in US is upto like $580/month; trucks i think is like $790/month

 

[ponytug]

Yeah, but you're not taking your Focus off road, or hauling anything with it.

Not my Focus, but I can tell you it isn't a horrible car off road as it has good flotation and a great HP/Torque to weight ratio, but it isn't going to rock crawl that's for sure.

Ford Focus RS WRC - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

All the best,

Peter

 

[paulsharvey]

The old Internation scout 2, even in 2wd, 4 cylinder was pretty good off road.

Bottom line, getting some cheap vehicles into circulation is a good thing for the people; probably not for auto makers.

If Slate has a hint of doing good, I would expect them to get bought out quickly.

 

[ponytug]

I'm not sure I understand what off-road is supposed to cover. Rock crawling up stream beds? Across a flooded bog? Up an unimproved logging road in a national forest? Getting to the back of the back 40? Getting to a remote cell tower?

Based on my experience and observation, I think that decent driving skills can get some pretty standard two wheel vehicles pretty far into the back country.

It will be fun to see how the Scout truck pans out.

All the best,

Peter

 

[paulsharvey]

I'm not sure I understand what off-road is supposed to cover. Rock crawling up stream beds? Across a flooded bog? Up an unimproved logging road in a national forest? Getting to the back of the back 40? Getting to a remote cell tower?

Based on my experience and observation, I think that decent driving skills can get some pretty standard two wheel vehicles pretty far into the back country.

It will be fun to see how the Scout truck pans out.

All the best,

Peter

For me, it means the ability to go where you want without a 2nd thought. Not necessarily mudding or rock climbing. More, you have a 2 track rut trail to a pond, no 2nd thoughts; sand road with large wash outs, you still get home during a tropical storm. I stay the Heck away from the white power rain some of you guys have, but some of those driveways in Blueridge, 25% slope; they are sketchy when damp, let alone icy.

Honestly, my work vehicle is a 4wd 2021 Explorer, and it's only real lacking is ground clearance. You will bottom out pretty easily on some pretty minor ruts, but it handles sugar sand pretty well. Thats fine, just keep the limitations in mind.

Now, on this Slate, PU version, I've only watched 1 or 2 videos; and that seat looks like it's pretty much 90 degrees verticle, kinda like older reg cab Chevy PU. Those aren't much fun for more than an hour or two; not something I'd want to drive 8 hours per day

 

[EddieWalker]

Would anybody buy the Slate and expect to drive it 8 hours a day?

The buyer of the Slate is going to be somebody that can drive to town, do what they need to do, and drive home, and never exceed the amount of charge on the battery. I think it's 150 miles, so to be safe, not drive over 100 miles in a day.

I live 11 miles from the closest Walmart and Lowes, and 20 miles will get me to another Lowes, Home Depot, and three other Walmart's, plus everything else I could possibly need.

If I bought one, I will be in it for half an hour or less going to town and then coming back. For me, the seat is going to have to be really, really bad for that to be an issue.

 

[paulsharvey]

Would anybody buy the Slate and expect to drive it 8 hours a day?

The buyer of the Slate is going to be somebody that can drive to town, do what they need to do, and drive home, and never exceed the amount of charge on the battery. I think it's 150 miles, so to be safe, not drive over 100 miles in a day.

I live 11 miles from the closest Walmart and Lowes, and 20 miles will get me to another Lowes, Home Depot, and three other Walmart's, plus everything else I could possibly need.

If I bought one, I will be in it for half an hour or less going to town and then coming back. For me, the seat is going to have to be really, really bad for that to be an issue.

I kinda was under the impression with its modularity that it was marketed both as affordable, but also as a work vehicle? I'm not rooting against it, but I won't be betting in it either.

Kinda thinking it's a western version of a K-truck