The Cybertruck is NOT a "Pickup Truck". So what is it?

[MRTENNANT]

Multipurpose Electric All-Terrain Truck (M.E.A.T)

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[ejay]

The best description (IMO) is that its an APV. (All Purpose Vehicle). I am buying it for its off road capabilities ( Recreational 4WDriving), Its pay load capacity (Utility/ work vehicle for carting around stuff). Its Power source ( I live off grid ) and its Ruggedness.

 

[ejay]

It would be interesting to know how many people who have placed an order are moving from an existing Pick up or weighing it up against other picks ups vs people (Like me) going from an SUV to the CT. I am guessing more like me.

 

[ecotrials]

It would be interesting to know how many people who have placed an order are moving from an existing Pick up or weighing it up against other picks ups vs people (Like me) going from an SUV to the CT. I am guessing more like me.

I'm pretty fed up with some of the crap from GM & Ford.
I bought a used GMC Sierra (lemon law due to recall, then fixed & resold) for about 2/3 of the going price of around $12K for a 8 yr old truck with around 100k on the odometer. What mostly infuriated my with the Sierra is the '98 was the first year they had speed controlled steering, where steering input slacked off the faster you went, but was very responsive at slow speeds. The problem was the circuit board would fail intermittently (whether it was a bad connection or bad something else, who knew)., resulting in the truck thinking it was either going much slower or stopped, and would suddenly turn the vehicle sharply with no increased input at the steering wheel. But before I learned about this, after a ton of research on the internet, I assumed I had a front end problem.

This intermittent failure was exhibited when turning at speed. In my first instance, going over a two lane freeway overpass that joined the freeway below. I was about halfway through the turn when the truck suddenly lurched to the left, crossing almost halfway into the adjacent lane. Thankfully that space was unoccupied, but it scared the crap out of me. So I had the front end checked, realigned etc. They could find nothing wrong and had no idea what could cause the problem. It didn't recur for quite some time, so I got complacent. Then it happened again, but my reflexes were quicker and I at least managed to stay in my lane, but only just. So I started looking earnestly on line. Apparently this was not too uncommon. Lots of folks took their GMCs and I think their Silverados in to fix the problem. I remember one post that the guy completely replaced the front end of his truck for around $4K, only to have the problem occur shortly after.

That's when I heard about the speed adaptive steering. Some would replace the circuit board for around $250, only to have the problem reappear a year later. So no good permanent fix seemed available. Then one day a found a fix that made sense. It was a small piece of tubing and a couple of nuts. Installing this removed the speed adaptive steering entirely. Probably $3 in parts, but well worth the $69 plus $50 to install, piece of mind at last. And never happened since.

How this was never a recall is totally beyond me, talk about a safety hazard. Plus all the dealerships making a ton of money off bogus repairs. If they weren't told what the fix was, they certainly should have figured it out instead of raking their customers over the coals.

A couple of years ago the transmission started to slip a bit, and the recommended fix was a rebuilt replacement. Around $2300. I originally asked for a transmission flush, but my mechanic, who is not GM affiliated, told me that they had found transmission flushes usually made the slippage worse. By this time Tesla had announced their intention to build a pickup, so I was trying to hold on to this thing for a few more years. So for $20, I added some Lucas Transmission fix (I forget what they call it) and so far, knock on wood, it hasn't been worse. At the time though, I thought well, I'd sunk enough money into this thing, perhaps better to just buy a newer used truck that would surely last until I could finally get a Tesla.

So I started looking at 2005 -2009 trucks. I didn't want another GM of any kind after my experience, never did like Dodge (although I understand they have made major strides lately, just not interested in ICE or a new truck), so looked at a few Fords. Some pretty nice looking trucks, for not a huge cost. So then I started looking at reviews. Spark plugs falling into the cylinder, totally trashing the engine.... WHAT? Are you kidding me??? How is this even possible to be on the market?

So I want an AMERICAN pickup from an American company that makes it customers delighted with innovative, fun products. During the reveal (I was waiting for a class to begin) my first impression was "Ha ha Elon, very funny. Now bring out the real truck". But at that point I had to go to class. As soon as I got out, I restarted the video again. But watching that presentation, and understanding why it looked like it did, and the price point (WHOA) and the specs (WHAT?), especially the range (HOLY COW)! I placed my reservation as soon as I got home.

Can't wait. Well, obviously I have to, but with much anticipation.

One final note. The EV rebates for up to 200,000 vehicles was a way to get car companies to invest in EVs. Tesla stepped up in an almost unbelievable way, and has now burned through their allocation. But other car companies still haven't done much, except talk, postpone, repeat. I think they should remove the 200,000 vehicle limitation. Then, if traditional car companies don't get onboard, they will cede the market to Tesla and other new manufacturer's, and hasten their own demise. We need all manufacturers to move away from fossil fueled vehicles. Perhaps the whip instead of the carrot??

 

[ejay]

RE; ""Ha ha Elon, very funny. " I thought the same thing + WTF? but it soon grew on me. I t started to take in the design thinking of it at its Scale and I love it.

 

[ericpdb2]

The CT may or not be a pickup truck depending upon your definition. The most popular pickup in the US (for good reasons) is the Ford F-150. Tesla beats it on every metric I have seen.

But to me, the CT is a Retro Geek Cyber Fantasy. I am a Retro Geek. How can I resist a faster Delorean without the cocaine costs?

 

[Glen]

Sandy Who?

 

[khg]

Sandy Who?

You are probably looking for Sandy Munro.

 

[VI Tesla]

XTC, pronounced Ecstasy... fits the whole S3XY motif...
(eXtra Truck Capabilities)

someone tweet that one to musk

 

[VI Tesla]

AT-CT
All terrain-CyberTruck

Might run afoul of Lucas/Disney films with that moniker
The force would be with you in the CT though.

 

[Glen]

You are probably looking for Sandy Munro.

Yes are we all suppose to know who this is? What are his credentials?

 

[TyPope]

Yes are we all suppose to know who this is? What are his credentials?

Yes. Yes you should. Not because he's some famous guy but rather, he does a great series on disassembling vehicles to see how they are manufactured and where the manufacturing shortfalls are. He did a great set on the Model Y which highlighted several improvements over the Model 3. He owns the company that does the tear downs.

 

[Cybergirl]

The best description (IMO) is that its an APV. (All Purpose Vehicle). I am buying it for its off road capabilities ( Recreational 4WDriving), Its pay load capacity (Utility/ work vehicle for carting around stuff). Its Power source ( I live off grid ) and its Ruggedness.

I was leaning toward MPEV (Multi Purpose Electric Vehicle), but I like APV, as well. Eventually, all vehicles will be electric, and there isn't an ICEV made that I would call "All Purpose." Cybertruck comes very close to earning that description. Although it's a large vehicle, its low cost of ownership, responsive maneuverability, large seating and storage capacity, and autonomous driving features makes it practical as a daily driver along with the other uses you mentioned.