Tesla Cybertruck

[repoman0]

A negligible deposit isn't really that indicative of future sales.

Negligible deposit in the middle of crypto and stock market boom, plus COVID checks going out left and right. Now that people are looking at paying 5%+ for auto loans while their investments are tanking, the environment looks a lot different.

Not to mention Tesla cars have become the defacto douche-mobiles, easily overtaking BMWs in that department

 

[Muadib]

A negligible deposit isn't really that indicative of future sales.

That's exactly what I said when I first saw it. Time will tell if the thing ever comes to be.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I still say they should have made it single cab long box, think that shape but with a single cab, and I think it would actually look at least semi presentable, and also more usable. The stainless steal is great as it won't rust. Wish more cars used stainless. At the price they are asking for cars now days they should be designed to last a life time.

 

[Kaido]

A negligible deposit isn't really that indicative of future sales.

I'm very curious to see how the Cybertruck will sell for the first couple years. Truck guys typically like gasoline, although the Ford Lightning & the Hummer EV have been selling like hotcakes, and the price of $90k - $110k on the top-end models doesn't seem to bother people too much, plus it's a fairly unique vehicle, so it might be an instant best-seller!

I'm just in it for the 500-mile battery. Definitely not going to get one for the first model year (or 6 months I guess, based on the Tesla update cycle).

 

[Brainonska511]

I'm very curious to see how the Cybertruck will sell for the first couple years. Truck guys typically like gasoline, although the Ford Lightning & the Hummer EV have been selling like hotcakes, and the price of $90k - $110k on the top-end models doesn't seem to bother people too much, plus it's a fairly unique vehicle, so it might be an instant best-seller!

I'm just in it for the 500-mile battery. Definitely not going to get one for the first model year (or 6 months I guess, based on the Tesla update cycle).

I would be perfectly happy to see these battery wasting monstrosities fail. I know my fellow Americans love their land barges, but they're just so horribly inefficient and unsafe for everyone on the outside of the vehicle.

 

[WelshBloke]

I'm just in it for the 500-mile battery. Definitely not going to get one for the first model year (or 6 months I guess, based on the Tesla update cycle).

A certain range is nice but how often do you need to drive 500 miles without being able to charge?
I get that there will be edge cases where that happens but even on a 300 mile journey I normally have a half hour pit stop for food and stuff!

 

[WelshBloke]

I would be perfectly happy to see these battery wasting monstrosities fail. I know my fellow Americans love their land barges, but they're just so horribly inefficient and unsafe for everyone on the outside of the vehicle.

I absolutely do not get the American obsession with big trucks! They look like a pain in the arse to drive around towns and they would be rubbish for storage unless you don't mind your stuff getting nicked everytime you park.

 

[Kaido]

A certain range is nice but how often do you need to drive 500 miles without being able to charge?
I get that there will be edge cases where that happens but even on a 300 mile journey I normally have a half hour pit stop for food and stuff!

I drive a lot for work, so my case is a bit unique, which is one of the big reasons I've held off getting an EV. Doing some basic math:

* 500-mile advertised range
* 250-mile range round trip under perfect conditions
* I'm going to say it would probably get 80% of estimated range, so 400 miles under real-world conditions (highway speeds, A/C or heat on, etc.)
* Meaning a 200-mile range for a round trip
* Which gives me about a 3-hour "safe" highway-speeds driving range (plus sitting in traffic for variable amounts of time) away from home base
* Most of my customers are under 2 hours away, so no range anxiety on a "500"-mile battery

Ideally, it'd be great if they offered a 620-mile battery in the Cybertruck. That would give a roughly 500-mile range with a 20% realistic round-down. My other concern is that the only Tesla repair facility is a good hour away from me, whereas right now I have like a dozen Ford shops within easy driving distance, where I can get parts fast, repairs done fast, and get a rental car same-day. So uptime & range are big drivers for me. Also, right now I can gas up from an empty tank in under 3 minutes (timed it), so I have zero range anxiety with my ICE vehicle.

I wish the F-150 Lightning EV had a better range. The existing options are decent, but they're not 500 miles! This range review for trips is a little too dicey for me haha:

* https://insideevs.com/reviews/628475/f150-lightning-winter-range-test/

 

[Kaido]

I absolutely do not get the American obsession with big trucks! They look like a pain in the arse to drive around towns and they would be rubbish for storage unless you don't mind your stuff getting nicked everytime you park.

Trucks basically replaced minivans (SUV's mostly replaced sedans). You can get a crew cab or an extended cab to fit your family, especially if you have teenagers or multiple adults, and the ride is pretty comfortable for going on trips, plus you get a bed in the back to throw stuff in. Parking is really only a hassle if you're in a tight city.

 

[Brainonska511]

I absolutely do not get the American obsession with big trucks! They look like a pain in the arse to drive around towns and they would be rubbish for storage unless you don't mind your stuff getting nicked everytime you park.

Part of it is people don't feel penalized for driving obnoxiously large vehicles: parking is ample, excessive, and large in the US.

People also just love to buy for aesthetics and some rare use case. Just money to light on fire with excessive car payments and ongoing costs to drive.

Trucks basically replaced minivans (SUV's mostly replaced sedans). You can get a crew cab or an extended cab to fit your family, especially if you have teenagers or multiple adults, and the ride is pretty comfortable for going on trips, plus you get a bed in the back to throw stuff in. Parking is really only a hassle if you're in a tight city.

Pickups are still bad for those scenarios because the storage compartment isn't secure. It also further drives a horrible trend of needing bigger and bigger spaces for parking in the US. Having been in sedans all my life, sedans can be just fine for adults/teens to travel together.

Companies have also turned to pushing these vehicles because it's a huge loophole in CAFE standards, and they have higher profit margins. Just look at the cost differences for Ford, when they were selling crossovers built on Fiesta and Focus platforms compared to the sedan versions.

 

[WelshBloke]

Trucks basically replaced minivans (SUV's mostly replaced sedans). You can get a crew cab or an extended cab to fit your family, especially if you have teenagers or multiple adults, and the ride is pretty comfortable for going on trips, plus you get a bed in the back to throw stuff in. Parking is really only a hassle if you're in a tight city.

I guess throwing things in the back is ok if A) it doesn't rain B) no one steals an unsecured load C) your unsecured load doesn't end up falling out D) doesn't get ruined by spray, wind, bird crap ...

If you need to carry large stuff on a regular basis then isn't what we call a van in the UK a better option (I know that you guys use van to mean a different thing)

 

[WelshBloke]

People also just love to buy for aesthetics and some rare use case. Just money to light on fire with excessive car payments and ongoing costs to drive.

I guess that's just because you are used to them. Personally I hate the look of big trucks, they look like kids toys.

 

[Brainonska511]

I guess that's just because you are used to them. Personally I hate the look of big trucks, they look like kids toys.

I hate them* because they just look ridiculous, they are dangerous to anyone outside of them, and because they are a signal that says "I don't give a shit about fuel economy, but I'm going to scream when gas gets expensive."

*For those buying trucks that don't actually need them. I don't have as much an issue with someone buying a pickup for actual work or for routine towing.

 

[RPD]

Everyone knows the bigger the truck the bigger the penis, duh. Follow the science.

 

[WelshBloke]

I guess throwing things in the back is ok if A) it doesn't rain B) no one steals an unsecured load C) your unsecured load doesn't end up falling out D) doesn't get ruined by spray, wind, bird crap ...

If you need to carry large stuff on a regular basis then isn't what we call a van in the UK a better option (I know that you guys use van to mean a different thing)

This sort of van.



I suspect that the utility thing is self delusional bollocks and it's purely a desire to look a bit Mad Max because a large van has more utility and those aren't popular in the US!

 

[Kaido]

This sort of van.

I suspect that the utility thing is self delusional bollocks and it's purely a desire to look a bit Mad Max because a large van has more utility and those aren't popular in the US!

If I had a need for an ICE truck or van, I'd definitely go with a Ford Transit AWD. You can get it in both a hi-top flavor & an extended size flavor (or both), which would be pretty handy! As it stands, I just rent a van or a truck from Home Depot whenever I need one, pretty easy!

 

[rstrohkirch]

This sort of van.

I suspect that the utility thing is self delusional bollocks and it's purely a desire to look a bit Mad Max because a large van has more utility and those aren't popular in the US!

Those are work vans and they are used all the time in the US, by the commercial sector. I can explain why a family wouldn't want a work van as a primary vehicle but I feel like it should be pretty obvious.

 

[WelshBloke]

Those are work vans and they are used all the time in the US, by the commercial sector. I can explain why a family wouldn't want a work van as a primary vehicle but I feel like it should be pretty obvious.

I can explain why a family wouldn't want a big truck as a primary vehicle but I feel like it should be pretty obvious.

 

[WelshBloke]

As it stands, I just rent a van or a truck from Home Depot whenever I need one, pretty easy!

I mean I get most stuff that's really big delivered, it's usually free or pretty cheap anyway.
But wouldn't your rental argument also stand for a big truck?

 

[Red Squirrel]

A truck isn't really a family vehicle, it's more for getting work done, going to get construction supplies, going in the bush, etc. But it seems the industry is trying to push it as a replacement for a mini van. Ironically those cargo style vans are probably better for work than modern trucks now. Just need a lift and bigger tires as those are more meant for smooth pavement in a city.

I have a single cab 8ft box truck but these are getting rare now. And I actually use it as a truck.

Don't worry they were strapped really well and I even flicked the straps and said it's not going anywhere.

 

[Kaido]

I mean I get most stuff that's really big delivered, it's usually free or pretty cheap anyway.
But wouldn't your rental argument also stand for a big truck?

For me, I'm primarily interested in the Cybertruck for the battery range. I don't want to buy an EV that limits me in my daily driving routing, especially where I have to plan out weird refueling stops around. The ability to have a truck bed is a bonus, as I've gotten into woodworking at home & I can't put big or long pieces into my current vehicle, so I can't just run down to Home Depot or the local lumberyard whenever I want because I have to rent a vehicle when I need to get larger supplies, so it really depends on individual need. Most people just need a little commuter car; the average American only drives about 37 miles a day:

Average Miles Driven per Year in the USA | Policy Advice

Did you know that the average miles driven per year by drivers in the US are at an all-time high? Buckle up, we prepared more interesting stats!

policyadvice.net

Right now, EV's are pretty expensive & a lot of people have charging limitations (no charging options at their rental, slow charging if charging away from home, etc.). If they could solve the charging speed issue, that would be huge, or make 500+ mile batteries, or get the price a lot cheaper, I think it would take off more. As it is, I do see EV's on a daily basis, plus tons of hybrids, so they ARE making some headway!

 

[Kaido]

A truck isn't really a family vehicle

In my area, I see almost as many crew-cab & extended-cab trucks used as family vehicles as I do SUV's! Super common sight around here!

My buddy got a loaded F-250 as a family vehicle/work truck & it's nicer than a Cadillac inside lol. Random picture off google:

 

[Red Squirrel]

In my area, I see almost as many crew-cab & extended-cab trucks used as family vehicles as I do SUV's! Super common sight around here!

My buddy got a loaded F-250 as a family vehicle/work truck & it's nicer than a Cadillac inside lol. Random picture off google:

View attachment 75239

Oh yeah I see it all the time here too but to me it really is a silly use of a truck as it's not their original intended purpose. But seems the industry is pushing to normalize that.

Those fancy trucks are definitly not going in the bush or even Home Depot lol.

 

[Brainonska511]

a lot of people have charging limitations (no charging options at their rental, slow charging if charging away from home, etc.).

This kind of contradicts your early point about average driving being about 37 mi/day. Slow level 1 charging at home would easily provide anyone with an electric outlet at their parking spot more than enough range for their daily driving.

I feel like this is more a limitation for single-car households or those without any electric outlet near their parking spot. If you're a multicar households, buy an electric and keep the gas car for the rare times you need that more extreme distance.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Charging is not a huge issue, it's just the thing of running a 240v 40a circuit or similar. At least I think 40a is ok. 8 gauge wire and a dryer plug. I think some chargers can be hard wired too but I kinda prefer having a plugin one because if you get a new car that requires a different type of charger at least it's easy enough to swap out.

I don't think I'll ever be able to afford an EV but I do want to run a weatherproof plug to the side of the garage so that in the event I do I'll be ready. I am insulating my garage so it's easier to do it now than later. My garage is too small to park a car in unless it was literally 100% empty, so I would be charging outside. Garage is going to be more of a shop instead. I feel it's a better use.