Perfect homestead vehicle

I just saw a McLaren 720S.   New, it was well over $300,000.00.   This was used for a tad less. It had a fully adjustable electric driver’s seat. But, the passenger seat was 4 way manual.  Really?  Was this an effort to save money?!!   I feel I need a homestead vehicle that will go over 200 mph,  but it really should have a passenger seat that is more adjustable than a Chevy Trax.

I’m sure they passed it off as weight savings. Heck, the passenger seat might be OPTIONAL.  The Dodge Hellcat had configurations where the back and (I think) passenger seat were optional.

Watched a review earlier today on the new Toyota HiLux EV (non-US markets) with the conclusion that it's one of the worst mistakes Toyota has ever made.  For a truck, the ground clearance is abysmal and the range and towing capacity pretty poor.  Odd but difficult decisions for car manufacturers these days!....

Just to be clear, an old coworker of mine from a neighboring town came by to show it off.   I didnt ask him how he could afford it.

Edit:  it was a rental from Nashville, TN.  He lives about 3 hours north.

The perfect homestead vehicle is the Slate EV truck. Thats my honest opinion. Its simple, its repairable, it charges off your solar array, it can be reconfigured for changing needs, its only $27000 brand new.

Honest opinion, its perfect, and i wasnt paid by them in any way to say this. I have my cars settled just about for life so i shouldn't be able to buy one.

Daniel Andy wrote:its only $27000 brand new.

That's what I'd expect to spend on the actual homestead....

Hi Daniel,

You got me curious enough to look it up.  I see why it is attractive.  I would like to see a few more options.  My main complaint is the range, but for those few times I take a longer trip, a rental would work well.  In this world, it is difficult to buy a new truck for less than $40,000.00. Most will cost more than that. In the foreseeable future, I am hanging on to my 2012 Silverado with its 35,000 miles.

John F Dean wrote:I just saw a McLaren 720S.   New, it was well over $300,000.00.   This was used for a tad less. It had a fully adjustable electric driver’s seat. But, the passenger seat was 4 way manual.  Really?  Was this an effort to save money?!!   I feel I need a homestead vehicle that will go over 200 mph,  but it really should have a passenger seat that is more adjustable than a Chevy Trax.

  Yeah that’ll come in handy  chasing chickens at 200 mph))

John F Dean wrote: ......In the foreseeable future, I am hanging on to my 2012 Silverado with its 35,000 miles.

I'm going to guess that was purchased with 4X4, yes?  That is an embarrassing kicker for me....the need minimally for AWD, but preferably 4WD.  I say embarrassingly because prior to the existence of 4X4 many rural dwellers in northern or high alpine snowy areas navigated, probably more judiciously, their terrain and calendar with 4X2 trucks.  A part of me feels I should be able to do that as well and yet I find myself only considering AWD/4WD vehicles and dismiss nearly all that either don't offer the option or offer it at an exorbitant price premium. Still on the fence about EV vs hybrid, but things like 4X4, ground clearance, efficiency and space of cargo hauling, and practicality all are priorities.  ....and I don't see the McLaren ticking many of those boxes. ;-)

Hi John,

6 cyl, 2WD….back in the early 80s I knew several old timers in northern MN … all had 2WD.  Their advice was to never buy a 4WD.  All it would accomplish would be to get me stuck where a neighbor with a 4WD couldn’t pull me out.   I am not saying that in some places and some occupations a 4WD is not a good idea, but I see, in my area, many people driving 4WD with huge engines who drive on an interstate to get to work and never leave a paved road.  

I <3 being able to shift my 4Runner into 4WD modes with lots of extra off-road features that I haven't played much with for sand and hills and stuff. But I keep it in 2WD mode the vast majority of the time.

John F Dean wrote:Hi John,

6 cyl, 2WD….back in the early 80s I knew several old timers in northern MN … all had 2WD.  Their advice was to never buy a 4WD.  ......  

Yup, that's been my experience up here as well.  I knew a guy in his early 70s, still working...had grown up on a local farm, but now working in town.  As I was in mid-career, the idea of being able to get to work during blizzards was a priority, so 4WD was important.  This older co-worker was more seasoned and just said "Don't go out if the weather is life-threatening and be thoughtful about water or mud that you wish to drive through".  He drove a mid-70s 2WD Chevy pickup til he retired.  Probably something I should take to heart more now in my own retirement....and it would save me even more on a new or used truck or car purchase and subsequent fuel costs!

With my Nissan CVT past 150000 miles, my wife and I are looking at getting a new car. The actual purchase is probably a year away.  We started with a small, loaded, suv.  We are still looking at a small suv, but we are getting down to a very basic vehicle. The fact is we will use it for maybe 3000 miles a year.  So, we are now looking at a possible cash purchase.

I got my 2008 Toyota Highlander up over 360k miles before deciding to stop fixing it. It was a pretty great vehicle.

Daniel Andy wrote:The perfect homestead vehicle is the Slate EV truck.

I want one too and I haven’t bought a new to me car since 2009.    Honestly i would gladly go work for them.

Daniel Andy wrote:The perfect homestead vehicle is the Slate EV truck.

Yeah, if you're going for an EV, this struck me as the practical choice. Jay Leno's Garage had a look at it recently. very interesting.

As one of the comments says, cutting dealerships out of the loop was a smart move.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6_9_HHLOSY

I can't see loading a McLaren 720S with a 1000 lbs of feed or hauling a prize bull.

I don't think a Slate EV truck will do that either.

Maybe a 1 ton dully is too much ... or maybe not.  Just depends on the homestead.

I have a one-ton dually, and it saves me about 30 trips to town per year, because it'll haul that much more feed at a crack (once a month instead of once a week).

My little Ranger is more economical for other stuff, but sure not for big loads.

John F Dean wrote:I just saw a McLaren 720S.   New, it was well over $300,000.00.   This was used for a tad less. It had a fully adjustable electric driver’s seat. But, the passenger seat was 4 way manual.  Really?  Was this an effort to save money?!!   I feel I need a homestead vehicle that will go over 200 mph,  but it really should have a passenger seat that is more adjustable than a Chevy Trax.

The question is, will a goat be comfortable?