The $25,000 Slate truck is proudly bare-bones. I think these add-ons are worth the extra money.

The base model Slate has a lot of driving verve — but here's what I couldn't live without. Ben Shimkus/Business Insider Slate's main pitch is affordability. Its no-frills base model is just under $25,000 before charges. It's second core tenet: personalization. You can add hundreds of configurable options. I drove the truck on Tuesday. Here's what I'd add to mine. The Slate truck doesn't have a typical key. Unlike today's cars — which pack proximity sensors inside a little plastic box that runs tech that allows drivers to start the engine via a push-start button — the Slate has a simple solution. Drivers put a square key into a square slot. The instrument display flicks on. A single bell chimes. That's it. There is no theatrical lighting sequence, symphony-like entrance music, or enormous touchscreen springing to life. Even the windows are simpler. They're controlled by manual hand cranks.