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1. throw1+(OP)[view] [source] 2025-07-17 15:06:55
I've seen this pattern before, with laptops ("I want a laptop with" specific spec+feature combo not in the market) and cars ("I just want an electric car with physical controls and no subscription services or extra electronics") immediately coming to mind.

Which is a shame, because I can sympathize with most of these requests.

I want something like Kick-starter which operates the same way but isn't meant for funding the creator to get the upfront capital investment - just avoiding existing companies getting burned out of the "let's listen to a niche slice of our customers instead of appealing to the masses" mindset. Companies put up a weird product proposal and see if enough people will commit to buying it to at least break even.

Then, if there's enough of a commitment, those people get something they actually want. If there's not enough, then there's a specific reason that you can point to to explain why.

This is almost equivalent to the normal market model (people buy things they want, and niche products don't get made much), except with a more explicit feedback step, to help people realize that if they don't actually put their money where their mouth is, then things won't get made.

There's probably a better way to do this, but I'm not sure how. Ultimately I just want my non-electronic electric car.

replies(3): >>fkyour+R4 >>singpo+sl >>sehans+wo2
2. fkyour+R4[view] [source] 2025-07-17 15:36:22
>>throw1+(OP)
Soon to be added to that list, the army of Redditors that insist the Slate truck is the ideal vehicle for them.
replies(2): >>PaulHo+Lj >>dehrma+Mk
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3. PaulHo+Lj[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-07-17 16:55:54
>>fkyour+R4
People report struggling to buy a Ford Maverick. Shadowy organizations can't stand it that Americans demand Kei Trucks and get legislation so they can't get them. Increasingly I see rural people driving compact cars... Maybe they'd like a big-ass truck but they can't afford one at $90k.
replies(1): >>fkyour+2p
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4. dehrma+Mk[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-07-17 17:01:33
>>fkyour+R4
Not having power windows or a radio with Android Auto/Apple Carplay was a mistake. It would have added $1,500 to the price, but those features are big quality-of-life improvements.
5. singpo+sl[view] [source] 2025-07-17 17:05:24
>>throw1+(OP)
I don't see how this would be different from Kickstarter. This is what Kickstarter is for.
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6. fkyour+2p[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-07-17 17:24:56
>>PaulHo+Lj
The Ford Maverick starts at like $2k more than the Slate truck.
replies(1): >>PaulHo+Pp
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7. PaulHo+Pp[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-07-17 17:28:07
>>fkyour+2p
... and that's very little compared to most alternatives on the market.
replies(1): >>fkyour+hE
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8. fkyour+hE[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-07-17 18:48:57
>>PaulHo+Pp
Yeah, mainly I mean I don't get the hype over it. At $28k with no EV tax credit it makes no sense to me. Just get a Maverick, it's actually got features.

My original point was that I expect a big difference in people's stated vs observed preference on this one.

Maybe if it was priced like a Nissan Versa.

9. sehans+wo2[view] [source] 2025-07-18 11:17:55
>>throw1+(OP)
Depending on how stringently you define "no extra electronics" you can get there with a 1st generation Hyundai Ioniq. The only things I need to use the touch screen for in daily life is navigation and choosing media.

Be aware that you'd need to live in a place with very good public charging infrastructure due to the ~220 km range. The infrastructure is there here in Denmark where I live and daily-drive a 2017 Ioniq.

All-in-all the Ioniq sold well enough that Hyundai release a facelift in 2020. And the most recent facelifts of the successor-Ioniqs (5 and 6) have moved back to a more button-based interface (AFAIK).

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