u/indie_web

I'm no car design expert but it has been suggested or implied that the reason Slate only went with 2-doors instead of four is because 4-doors would have increased the price (and possibly complexity) of the Slate and they wanted to keep costs down.

At the same time, some (not all) of those passing on the current first version of the Slate have stated they are doing so because of the lack of 4-doors (or, in essence, lack of easier access to and from the back seats of the SUV version).

Now if, in the future, Slate wanted to address the feedback of these potential buyers in the next design version of the Slate they would presumably create a version with 4-doors and, as a consequence, raise the price to accommodate the added two extra doors.

But I want to know is if it would be structurally sound and cost effective to instead not add two extra doors but simply elongate the existing two doors to accommodate the rear seats? So that when the doors were opened, full access to both the front and rear seats would be made available while keeping the Slate a 2-door. Obviously, that would require a bit more material for the doors to extend their length but two less latches and locking systems than would be necessary for a 4-door.

Is this a good idea or not recommended from a structural or cost effective standpoint?

Slate features not generally found in other vehicles:

- Only has 800 major parts, not thousands of major parts with thousands of chances to break and go wrong.

- Can shape shift from a pickup to an SUV with over 70 body styles in between.

- Can change color any time you want and be personalized in a multitude of ways down to the most minor detail.

- DIY body panel replacement

- Comes free of privacy-violating electronics.

- Is low in general on complicated and anti right-to-repair tech.

- It allows consumers not necessarily gifted in funds to pay for their own new and latest SUV in steps rather than all at once in one big chunk.

- Has a big frunk.

- Lowest new pickup truck price in the U.S.

- Lowest new EV vehicle price in the U.S.

The above is not a lack of features. Those are features. And features we do not generally see in other vehicles.

Maybe a $15k or even $10k stripped down two-door coup or hatchback?

I see two sides to the market problem:

A. One side is looking for a cheap EV truck with features that enable them to use the truck in ways they need it to work for things such as their business, family and recreation. Their complaints are valid for what they need and are looking for. This side can afford a $25k or more priced EV.

B. The other side literally just wants the cheapest new EV possible that can get them from Point A to Point B. It could be a pickup, it could be a coup, it doesn't matter. Even the features don't matter that much. This side can barely afford a $25k new EV and, ideally, would like to see a $15k or, hopefully someday, $10k new EV.

The market can satisfy the millions in category A. But it struggles to satisfy the millions in category B.

For those in category B, $25k is close to looking like category A. Not quite, but it's really pushing it for some in category B, especially if they want to pay full price upfront. But there are possibly millions more who could somewhat realistically save for and do $15k or $10k if a stripped down vehicle could be offered for those prices.

I don't know if Slate would want to go even smaller and offer even less features than in their pickup, however. It's a tough tradeoff. You go smaller and you lose those in market A and those in B closer to market A.

...or are they not taking any at this time?

I don't have any issues with only two doors, personally, but I know for some that might be a deal breaker.

But maybe there could be a small and possibly inexpensive compromise Slate could make for people who really feel they need a separate way to get into the back seats of the SUV?

I don't know if this is a good idea or what but here it is:

What if Slate added a mini ladder (or foldout steps) to one side of the Slate just behind the passenger side door and made the cap window on that side slidable back or liftable up? That way people could step up the ladder and enter the rear seats without having to go through the passenger front door?

It's nowhere near a true third door but it's perhaps a small and less expensive compromise for now to maybe win a few more converts? You know, just to be able to say Slate is at least trying to consider these other buyers? Obviously, it's still not as family-friendly as a true door but perhaps a ladder would still give parents quick access to a child in the back without moving the entire passenger seat out of the way.

What does everyone think? A better if incomplete addition or a pointless cosmetic fix?

If U.S. consumers don't force this truck to succeed we will be stuck complaining about new vehicle prices and labor costs in the U.S. market forever.

It's amazing how some people go blind for their unnecessarily included extras and revert back to wanting what they've always complained about and hated about car manufacturers the minute they have a solution staring them in the face.

If we, as consumers, allow this truck to under perform saleswise so much that it fails I won't know what to say but that we can't see a good thing if it hit us in the face.

You think you'll get *more* with other truck brands out there? No, you'll get the same middle finger to your chance at freedom you've always gotten. You'll be trapped in their payment ecosystem. Trapped in their labor and maintenance ecosystem. Stuck with the colors and extras you didn't want or need...forever. Forever.

Do not sleep on this vehicle. Sure, you might get more bells & whistles at once for the same or less price with other pickups but think about all you would be losing. Do you think you might like the ability to change the look, color and type of vehicle you drive on a whim anytime you feel like it? Well, if this vehicle fails you can probably kiss the American consumer ever being offered that ability again goodbye forever. Can we, as consumers, be that easily blinded by shiny objects that we throw away our chance at being free of the limited and overpriced trim packages car manufacturers have forced upon us since forever?

Those of you planning on passing on the Slate for some other pickup...what are you doing? Pause for a minute and rethink this choice. Do you want Windows or do you want Linux? Do you want to be told what colors and trim packages you want or do you want the ability to decide for yourself? Do you want to continue being told how much you will pay at once and what you will get or do you want far more flexibility when it comes to price and features and when you wish to add those features? Do you want to add those features all at once because you're forced to or do you want to add them when your wallet or pocketbook is ready?

This is not just a decision of which pickup gives you more bang for the buck at once. This is a battle we as consumers have been waging with every car dealership and manufacturer for decades: Build more affordable (electric) cars, allow more customization of choices, enhance our right-to-repair, do not spy on us with connectivity features, etc.

There are *principles* and *ethics* involved in this decision. One side is giving you freedoms you've NEVER had before and the other sides are offering you a little bit more of the same shiny objects.

Don't sleep on this decision. Don't fall for the shiny objects. Do you want *control* over your own vehicle or more shiny objects?

One of the reasons it seems difficult to create and maintain professional-level software on Linux is because those with the ability to create such programs have day jobs and can't afford to put their time and energy toward building and maintaining such programs for free. Granted, there are fine DAWs available on Linux but, as of this post, nothing that could really compete with DAWs like Logic Pro.

But what if the same Linux programmers employed AI to create a Logic Pro-level competitor DAW for Linux, used the AI to partially or fully maintain it and made the AI portion private so user data privacy was respected?

I know Linux programmers are working on developing privacy-based, enclosed LLMs. Could these models be used to really level-up the software offerings available from Linux to compete with big tech companies like Apple?

Thanks.