Why the Slate Truck Only Costs $25K

(edmunds.com)

13 points | by RickJWagner 2 hours ago

7 comments

  • dtagames 1 hour ago
    Many people will be pleased to have a vehicle with no communication, sensor, or surveillance systems.

    It's hard to estimate how important that might be now that all other cars force them on everyone.

  • WheelsAtLarge 1 hour ago
    This truck is remining me of the Yugo. When the Yugos were announced people were thrilled about the price. Unfortunately after they were in use people understood why they were so cheap, quality suffered and they were basically disposable cars. Cheap is nice in theory but eventually you wish for something a bit better.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yugo

    • bicx 45 minutes ago
      I also wonder if it will develop a negative stigma as a cheap beater truck used in company fleets and such.
  • Waterluvian 1 hour ago
    Does it fit a standard 4x8 sheet flat with the tailgate down?

    (Anyone seen detailed dimensions specs?)

    • gnabgib 1 hour ago
      • Waterluvian 1 hour ago
        None of that seems to answer my question.
        • gnabgib 59 minutes ago
          Detailed dimension specs are.. right there.

          Your other question is about.. bed vibes? That's not a real spec (for any truck builder). You can put a 100x4 sheet rock in any 4'+ wide bed.. best of luck to the person behind you. Don't forget the red flag (day) or light (at night).. in north america.

    • cherry_tree 11 minutes ago
      It seems like not quite.

      The width is 50 some inches but the wheel wells are there so you may need some 2x4 or something to keep plywood from flexing over them. And the length of the bed isn’t near 8 feet so you’d need the bed open and the boards strapped in.

      This jalopnik article had some helpful measurements: https://www.jalopnik.com/1845231/slate-pickup-bed-fit-every-...

  • gnabgib 1 hour ago
    Discussion (296 points, 2 days ago, 463 comments) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48659451
  • JSR_FDED 1 hour ago
    Easiest decision ever to skip the infotainment system - your phone is better at that anyway.

    The Slate is like the original Nintendo Wii - swapping sophistication for fun.

  • mc32 1 hour ago
    Price is nice to see. The cab design is from before the '90s though. That's to say, not much space and rather plain.

    Also, like many contemporary vehicles it still has that snubbed nose design that limits vision of low profile objects in front of the vehicle. It's a design choice, not a necessity. Wonder why given it was a blank slate design,

  • sidewndr46 1 hour ago
    is this vehicle actually available for purchase at $24,950?
    • jer0me 53 minutes ago
      Preorder shipping late 2026