- 2 days ago
2025 Polaris Slingshot SL MC Commute
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🐳
AnimalsTranscript
00:00That means we have two wheels in the front, one wheel in the back.
00:03This thing is made by Players Industries in the United States.
00:06It's designed for all of you folks out there who want something that splits the difference between a four-wheel automobile and a two-wheel motorcycle.
00:15Look at this thing. It has a really long and low stance.
00:18This is powered by a 1997 CC inline four-engine liquid-cooled dual-hard camshafts with a 16-valve cylinder head.
00:25It also has a five-speed manual transmission that puts power back to that 20-inch rear wheel via a belt final drive.
00:34All right, everyone. Enough talking about this vehicle.
00:36Let's swing a leg inside the cockpit and see what it's like to drive.
00:40All right, everybody. Here we are inside the 2025 Polaris Slingshot SL manual transmission vehicle.
00:46Takes some interesting contortions to get in this vehicle, but we're in.
00:49We also have an automobile-style safety belt, which we use to lock ourselves into the cockpit.
00:55This vehicle has a proximity key fob, which we have positioned in this center console thing.
01:01Here it is. Proximity key fob, which has to be in close proximity for the vehicle to start.
01:06Then let's press the start button, and away we go.
01:10Of course, we have a parking brake right here we can use to keep the vehicle from moving at a standstill if you're in neutral,
01:16but we like to leave it in gear. That's kind of how we roll.
01:20All right, everyone. Right away, getting inside this vehicle.
01:23This thing is very long and low, but once you're seated into the cockpit, it feels very much like a sports car.
01:32A lot of room. We have an adjustment of seat.
01:34There's a seat position adjustment up front, and we can also move the angle of the seat back right now.
01:39We can't move the seat any farther back, though, because we have the seat all the way slid to the rear.
01:46It's also worth mentioning that there's some storage beneath both driver and passenger seat.
01:51We also have a glove box and that center storage area where we have the proximity key fob.
01:57Now, this vehicle is really at home in these slower-than-50-mile-per-hour corners.
02:03This thing actually feels very sporty and real well-connected.
02:07It's powered by a 1997cc liquid-cooled inline-four engine dual-air camshaft, the 16-valve cylinder head.
02:13This engine is manufactured by Polaris, but it's based similarly to GM's Ecotech engine,
02:21which Polaris used to use in the old days.
02:23This engine also powers its RZR four-cylinder UTV.
02:29It's made into a five-speed ASIN transmission, and we have the manual transmission vehicle
02:34that puts power back to that 20-inch rear wheel via belt final drive.
02:38God, this thing's a hoot.
02:40It is a lot of fun meshing between the gears.
02:43The gear shifter feels nice and tight.
02:46There's a good amount of throw between the gears, but the transmission feels nice and tight
02:51and real high quality.
02:53It's really fun to go through the gears.
02:55Just like a manual transmission automobile, we have three pedals, our left foot on the clutch,
03:01middle is brake, and the right is throttle, and it drives exactly like a manual transmission automobile.
03:07The engine drinks from a nearly 10-gallon-capacity fuel tank,
03:11and we've been getting around 19.5 mpg.
03:14The way we drive this vehicle right now, we're cruising in top gear at 40 miles per hour,
03:20and we're pulling just south of 2,000 rpm.
03:25Keeping tabs on everything is this digital LCD display.
03:29This is the same type of display Polaris has been using on the Slingshot for a long time.
03:33It also shared in its RZR UTVs.
03:36It works good, looks good.
03:37We also have the 7-inch color TFT display, which is also touchscreen compatible.
03:43How cool is that?
03:44Let's see if we can play some music.
03:48We've got speaker controls right here on the steering wheel.
03:51Let's listen to the music.
03:54Oh, yeah.
03:55It's my jam.
03:59Oh, wow.
04:00This sounds awesome.
04:01These two speakers, these two Rockford Fosgate speakers sound just magnificent.
04:08This is a really nice-sounding sound system.
04:12Oh, Morgan Whalen, 21 Savage, my favorite.
04:14What do you think?
04:15How does that sound, folks?
04:17I think it sounds really good.
04:19The sound system in this 2025 Polaris Slingshot SL is much improved from the previous versions,
04:25which we've operated in years past.
04:27It sounds awesome.
04:28And it's all touchscreen compatible.
04:30You can also use the switchgear on the steering wheel.
04:33We also have GPS, so we can keep metrics of our ride.
04:39Vehicle speed is limited to 125 miles per hour in the Slingshot SL, but I would say that's
04:45probably a good thing.
04:46Driving over 85, 90 miles per hour in this thing gets a little squirrely feeling.
04:53Again, if you keep the speedometer below 65 miles per hour, the handling on this thing is actually pretty fun.
05:01It does get a little bit loose above 60, 65 miles per hour, but below these speeds, it actually feels real connected.
05:08It feels almost like you're in a go-kart.
05:10To keep the speeds lower, you're definitely going to appreciate the handling.
05:13When you do hit bumps in this vehicle, you certainly feel the bumps.
05:17Yes, there's double wishbone front suspension and a rear shock, but you definitely feel the bumps in this vehicle,
05:23and there is quite a bit of bumps here.
05:25I mean, when you hit a bump, the vehicle will go left or right.
05:28So, it's better at low speeds, but at higher speeds, you definitely, it gets a little, little move.
05:35There's quite a bit of movement.
05:37In terms of vibration, this engine is pretty smooth.
05:40You feel a little bit of vibration, but not, not too bad at all.
05:44It's actually a pretty smooth engine.
05:45It has a really nice sound and character, even when we're lugging it at low RPM in a tall gear.
05:50It's got a real nice sound, right?
05:52Real nice character.
05:53It feels pretty sporty.
05:55Of course, in the state of California, this vehicle is defined as an auto cycle.
06:00What that means is you have to have a California driver's license,
06:04but you do not need a motorcycle endorsement to operate this vehicle, just a driver's license.
06:08Both rider and passenger do, however, have to be donning a DOT legal helmet.
06:15You don't need to wear a full-face helmet like we're wearing, but we're safety first,
06:18so that's why we're wearing a full-face helmet.
06:20This vehicle drives very low to the ground, and it's not subject to any automobile safety standards,
06:26so it's probably a good idea to be wearing a full-face helmet.
06:31But, yeah, this thing gets up and goes.
06:34What a fun little vehicle.
06:37Pass that car like it's nothing.
06:40Just pass this guy.
06:41Get out in front where we belong.
06:42There we go, folks.
06:43Out in front where we belong.
06:45I like this oversized fly screen.
06:48It does a good job blocking the elements, really good clear view of what's going on in front of you.
06:53The hood line's nice.
06:54It's easy.
06:54It's good visibility, easy to see what's going on.
06:57Out back is another thing, but we do like these rearview mirrors,
07:00which do a good job of showing you what's out back.
07:02When you put the vehicle in reverse,
07:04there's a backup camera that automatically illuminates and displays on this display
07:09that gives you a good field of view of what's going on behind you.
07:11The turning radius on this three-wheel autocycle,
07:15it definitely requires a little bit of room,
07:18but you'd be surprised how agile this vehicle is for a 1,700-pound vehicle.
07:25Yes, it's very long and low and wide,
07:27but you can get in and out of spots fairly well with this vehicle.
07:31It's not nearly as cumbersome as it appears when you're looking at it.
07:35Speaking of looks, this thing was designed to be inspired by a predatory bird,
07:42so that's kind of why it has this aggressive styling,
07:45and this vehicle certainly is a head-turner,
07:47especially in this lime green paint job.
07:51This thing stands out on the road,
07:53and if you're someone who's really looking for attention,
07:56you're going to get it with this $29,000 Polaris Slingshot SL manual transmission vehicle.
08:02So, it's fun just cruising around.
08:04Of course, we have cruise control.
08:05Let's turn that on.
08:08Cruise control is on set.
08:11Now we can cruise right at 55 miles per hour.
08:14This vehicle is cool because it splits the difference between a four-wheel vehicle and a motorcycle.
08:18It gives you that wind-in-the-air feeling without having the need to balance,
08:23but that kind of begs the question,
08:25at $29,000, why wouldn't you just buy a Mazda Miata?
08:28Well, that's certainly an option.
08:29Again, this vehicle is not subject to any U.S. automobile safety standards.
08:34There's no airbags.
08:35There's no crumple zones,
08:36but if you're someone who wants a motorcycle-ish feel,
08:42then I could understand maybe why you would like this vehicle.
08:45Pretty much the biggest thing why these things are so cool is just they look crazy.
08:50They look crazy, and they really stand out.
08:52They're really flashy vehicles.
08:54All right.
08:55I'm going to disengager cruise control by actuating that center brake.
08:59Oh, yeah.
09:04Yeah, let's give her the berries.
09:07Yeah, she goes.
09:10Again, this engine, this powertrain configuration has a really pleasing sound to it.
09:14It makes driving fun.
09:16There is some sort of crash protection in these crash bars above in case you roll over,
09:24which gives the occupant some level of safety.
09:27But again, this vehicle is so low to the ground,
09:30you do not want to be getting an accident in this thing.
09:34Triple disc hydraulic brakes keep speed in check.
09:36Brakes are a little bit mushy feeling,
09:40but they still do a good job of getting the vehicle slowed down.
09:44Of course, we have always-on ABS,
09:46which completely mitigates any instability when using the brakes.
09:50We have that parking brake, which is connected to the rear brake.
09:54I'm not going to lie.
09:55Below 60, 65 miles per hour, this thing is just a hoot to drive.
09:59It has a lot of lateral grip and a real sporty character.
10:03Feels kind of like you're riding a go-kart, but kind of not, too.
10:07And it is actually pretty fun.
10:09Higher speeds, freeway speeds, it gets a little darty.
10:12I certainly wouldn't want to ride this thing to...
10:15I wouldn't want to do a fuel tank on it and drive it cross-country,
10:18but just around town having fun on back roads, I think it's pretty fun.
10:22Well, everyone, that was a really fun drive in Polaris 2025 Slingshot SL manual,
10:27three-wheel autocycle.
10:29This thing's certainly a hoot to drive at speeds underneath 65 miles per hour,
10:33and it looks awesome.
10:34Let's show you some of that storage space we were talking about.
10:37Again, there's the lever for the seat, so you move it forward,
10:41and then we have some storage here.
10:42If we can put a cooler for drinks or a helmet, slide this back.
10:47Then we have the center console where we can put the keys and other things.
10:51Then if we go to the other side, there's the fuel cap
10:53where you fill up the 10-gallon capacity fuel tank.
10:57There's that lever for the lever kind of fell off right there, but that's okay.
11:02And then we can move this forward here, which exposes more storage right here,
11:08if you can see it, more storage right there.
11:11A little bit plasticky feeling, but still pretty cool.
11:14And that is a rundown in the cockpit of this 2025 Polaris Slingshot SL.
11:21Overall, a very, very neat machine.
11:23Is it worth $29,000?
11:25You're going to have to be the judge,
11:26but if you want a machine that's going to stand out on the road like no other,
11:30you should check out this 2025 Polaris Slingshot SL.
11:34Well, everyone, that wraps up today's MC Commute.
11:37We'll see you in the next episode.
11:38We'll see you in the next episode.
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