OP
jyoutz
Super Member
Mine was even more basic with a 300 cubic inch inline 6 engine and three on the tree. I eventually replaced that transmission with a floor shift four speed, with granny gear.
JJT
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2001
- Messages
- 1,921
- Location
- Upstate NY, USA
- Tractor
- Kubota L3710 HST and a Kubota ZD21 60Pro
I learned how to drive on a 1973 F100, three on the tree and a straight 6, (240 cubic inch), under the hood. No options at all, no power brakes, steering, radio or AC. It was a bare bones farm truck.
ning
Elite Member
Damn, I like it.
Still, I have to point out - "You did this all in an hour"
also, I presume that the show truck's seats are just bolted to the floor, because this guy:
definitely doesn't fit
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2003
- Messages
- 26,551
- Location
- SE Michigan in the middle of nowhere
- Tractor
- Kubota M9000 HDCC3 M9000 HDC
According to their website they will 'establish service centers nationwide' That of course remains to be seen and they are not going to sell them retail and ANY 'dealership', you can only order them direct.
The way I take that is there won't be a 'Slate' brick and mortar dealership anywhere.
In a way that disturbs me in as much as if a brick and mortar dealer that sells say Toyota's, takes them on as a service center, is that dealer going to be expeditious about servicing issues or will they put the Slate service behind their Toyota's, like many tractor dealers do today. Tractor dealers most all put their 'bought here' customers first and everyone else goes to the back of the line.
Think about that. If you have an issue, does it get addressed promptly or do you wait for who knows how long?
I'm sure, being a new vehicle, especially a pure EV, there will be some 'teething issues'.
Plus, what about insurance. Will your present carrier insure it and at what rate?
Neat vehicle but one needs to weigh all the 'baked in' issues as well.
The way I take that is there won't be a 'Slate' brick and mortar dealership anywhere.
In a way that disturbs me in as much as if a brick and mortar dealer that sells say Toyota's, takes them on as a service center, is that dealer going to be expeditious about servicing issues or will they put the Slate service behind their Toyota's, like many tractor dealers do today. Tractor dealers most all put their 'bought here' customers first and everyone else goes to the back of the line.
Think about that. If you have an issue, does it get addressed promptly or do you wait for who knows how long?
I'm sure, being a new vehicle, especially a pure EV, there will be some 'teething issues'.
Plus, what about insurance. Will your present carrier insure it and at what rate?
Neat vehicle but one needs to weigh all the 'baked in' issues as well.
ning
Elite Member
They put in a minimal set of bolts, left others out since they weren't actually driving it (left arrow: empty bolt hole; right arrow: has bolt)
ning
Elite Member
yeah this is completely arse, thanks y'all for mentioning it
ponytug
Super Member
It arose as I recall from pushback from the big three about not holding the (higher profit) trucks to the higher standards, and the above loophole was the lobbyists workaround. Could it have been done? I don't know, but heavy trucks in Europe and Japan do seem to have better mileage for the same cargo capacity, but with the overseas cost of fuel in those locations, I think that one can understand the market forces there that stress fuel economy. IIRC, about the same time, there was a parallel discussion about increasing the fuel road taxes to bring the cost of gasoline and diesel closer to European pricing (currently $7+/$6+/US gallon). That went over like the proverbial lead balloon, and here we are.
I would point out that those standards have helped bring along things like more efficient automatic transmissions with more than three gears, and fuel injection. I for one do not miss the older vehicles' engines and fuel economy, nor futzing around with carbs and timing.
All the best,
Peter
ning
Elite Member
I'm all for the increasing efficiency and pollution standards, definitely - but against the effective encouragement to build larger to avoid such.
NorTracNY
Platinum Member
I'm just not seeing this. $27K is not bare bones enough for me. I'd love an inexpensive vehicle that is cheap to operate, but this isn't it. I have a truck. Yes, it's expensive to drive, but if we are talking about a lower range electric vehicle, I don't want it to be a truck. Give me a barebones two seater with airbags. I just need enough room to put in some groceries or maybe a bag or two of feed.
The idea of the government giving incentives is one things, but $7K for how long? I think it's bad enough that the government allowed me to pay $5K for my $34K solar panel system installed! I'd also be wary of a new company with new technology. It's a big risk that you'll have something worth nothing in 2-3 years. Even at $20K, how many would be ok with the vehicle being dead with no company left to service it? Oh, yes, the solar panel company is out of business....
The idea of the government giving incentives is one things, but $7K for how long? I think it's bad enough that the government allowed me to pay $5K for my $34K solar panel system installed! I'd also be wary of a new company with new technology. It's a big risk that you'll have something worth nothing in 2-3 years. Even at $20K, how many would be ok with the vehicle being dead with no company left to service it? Oh, yes, the solar panel company is out of business....
