Surprised no one is discussing the Cybertruck today.

[calicamper]

It’s lighter than other battery EV pickups. That “hill” where it was photographed at Hollister Hills is actually quite challenging. I’ve only been there once, but even in my triple locked 80 Series LC it required some care in line choice and throttle application. Who knows, the Tesla engineers who were driving may have intentionally picked poor lines, or turned off traction control with test SW, or did other things to TEST the vehicle, and weren’t just trying to make it easy.

I agree it’s got looks that will take a while, maybe forever, to get used to, but as @rruff noted above, the CT’s function could be pretty darn good based on the little we’ve seen so far. Sure Tesla’s are trendy, but the Model Y is on track to be the best-selling car in the world by next year. The first American car to do that since the Model T. They’re no longer novelty toys and feature some amazing engineering.

Model y got a huge boost when Tesla dropped the price $12,000 when they had over stock issues last Spring. Sales of any vehicle is driven by price more than anything. I know 8 families that bought a Y last spring when the price was dropped $12,000 basically it was the best 4dr option for the $ at that time.

None of them were specifically looking for a Tesla. But great example of why dealer price gouging hurts a brand. They were all Honda and Toyota families and the 4dr options were all marked up over msrp. People who are savy with finances don’t play that game.

 

[38snubby]

Like anyone who is a car enthusiast, cares that is faster than a Porsche. Those of us who love gas sports cars do not drive them because they are the "fastest" thing on the road. Please electric crowd, take all of those losers who do because we have been trying to shed them for years. I will take a '72 911 over any modern car, and yes it is "slow". All about smiles per mile.

 

[NevadaLover]

So... in what way is the Cybertruck ridiculous by comparison?

It doesn't fit the narrow vision some buyers have of what a truck should look like.

Then there is a huge problem for some people in the fact that tesla doesn't offer special branded "packages" for the cyber truck and models a thru z, some people absolutely need a "diamond" or "platinum" or "titanium" name tag on the vehicle they buy so that their fragile little egos are bolstered, it's a sad fact that small people need to be able to brag constantly about which appearance package they paid too much for so that they can feel better about themselves.

 

[DaveInDenver]

and for some ungodly reason the hood and codpiece grill have to be even taller!

The tall hoods are really irritating but it's not completely cosmetic. To achieve the ridiculous specs, particularly towing that has been subject to an actual test to prove they can do what they say under SAE J2807, the cooling systems of trucks had to grow. Look at an over-the-road truck, which have forever also had huge grills. Of course it's a marketing race, an F150 with a 14k towing capacity. Or a Tacoma with 6k. Two decades ago an F150 might have done 8k and a Toyota Pickup 3k. But nothing ever sold better by getting smaller or having less capability. So it's inevitable.

You have to plot a course through the rocks and obstacles 50ft in advance because you can't see in front of the truck. Forget about reaching over the side of the bed for anything. If this was done for some function like ground clearance, that would be something, but it isn't. The engine, transmission, frame, exhausts, and axles hang down as low as ever, but the cab and bed are higher off the ground. That's how you can get the flat floor in the rear seat! There is a ridiculous waste of space under my truck, and I'm sure it isn't the worst offender. There is about a foot of vertical space under the whole left side of the cab. The right side is taken up by a single exhaust pipe hanging down. With a little better packaging there would room for a 100 gal of gas or tons of storage or whatever... but the more sensible approach would be to make it lower.

All truth. I dunno if you're in tune with Internet Tacoma wisdom. But seems most complaints are the seating position, which isn't nearly as straight ahead leg as it used to be. The old Toyota trucks had a very low seating position so that the cab didn't need to be super tall and there would be clearance under the truck. People want the burly clearance numbers and to have a dining room chair high seat off the floor. That means the cab roof has to be a foot and half taller than it used to be. Can't put 10 lbs of poo in a 5 lbs can.

More people buy pickups in the US than anything else, and there are fewer and fewer people who have professions where a pickup is needed or makes sense. They are used for cummuting and driving to the store primarily. Luxury double cabs with all the bells and whistles, tiny little beds, gratuitously high off the ground. They are really big manly-macho status symbols.

This started 30 years ago. You used to be able to buy a regular cab small truck with a 7 foot bed. That got dropped in 1992 by Toyota. That last regular cab truck was 2015 from them. It's all about "lifestyle" and not utility. Tilting at windmills.

 

[Todd780]

This started 30 years ago. You used to be able to buy a regular cab small truck with a 7 foot bed. That got dropped in 1992 by Toyota. That last regular cab truck was 2015 from them. It's all about "lifestyle" and not utility. Tilting at windmills.

To play devils advocate, my half ton crew cab with 6.5" bed carries our family comfortably on trips while hauling a bedfull of firewood, and towing our 27' camper meanwhile getting pretty decent fuel mileage.
Seems to offer plenty of utility to me...

 

[JaSAn]

No, they were... but now they are shaped by fashion and ego (macho mostly). . . . You have to plot a course through the rocks and obstacles 50ft in advance because you can't see in front of the truck. Forget about reaching over the side of the bed for anything

Who do you think Tesla is marketing this truck to? This is a truck for the impress the neighbors crowd.

I haven't wanted to go 0 - 60 in 4 seconds since my testosterone fueled youth (and never needed to). We already have enough trouble with rice burners and motor cycles seeing how fast they can go on residential streets.

As for access, I can grab a 60 lb bag of dog food from the front of my stock height 2500 4X4 box. Cybertruck: I don't think so.

The Tesla appears to have better performance specs than any BEV or ICE truck made... efficiency, acceleration, maneuvering . . . Hauling shouldn't be an issue . . .

I can haul a round bale in the back of my pickup, 3 if I put a flatbed on it. (You can put a flatbed on a cybertruck can't you?)

More people buy pickups in the US than anything else, and there are fewer and fewer people who have professions where a pickup is needed or makes sense . . .
So... in what way is the Cybertruck ridiculous by comparison?

But it is those 'fewer people' who are the important ones (i.e. those that work to supply you with food, clothing, shelter, medical care). Pickups are the workhorse for this group and E-pickups are less useful and more expensive.

Basically, the cybertruck is marketed to people who want to impress their friends and neighbors.

 

[rruff]

Who do you think Tesla is marketing this truck to? This is a truck for the impress the neighbors crowd.

Which are the same people who buy most of the pickups and big SUVs today.

I haven't wanted to go 0 - 60 in 4 seconds since my testosterone fueled youth (and never needed to).

The Cybertruck does it in 2.6s. No, I don't particularly care to do that either... but...

But it is those 'fewer people' who are the important ones (i.e. those that work to supply you with food, clothing, shelter, medical care). Pickups are the workhorse for this group and E-pickups are less useful and more expensive.

Those few people can buy something else. Is this a problem?

 

[Todd780]

1)Which are the same people who buy most of the pickups and big SUVs today.



2)The Cybertruck does it in 2.6s. No, I don't particularly care to do that either... but...



3)Those few people can buy something else. Is this a problem?

Have to say, you're not wrong on any of those points....

1)Yep, Lightning, Rivian, Hummer EV, Grenadier, Defender etc....

2) 2.6 is impressive for any vehicle nevermind a truck. I'd say I don't care but either. I mean it's a truck, not a Lambo... But I'm sure after I tried it once....

3) That's why Rangers, F150 Limited's and F550 cab and chassis' all exist....

 

[rruff]

It's all about "lifestyle" and not utility. Tilting at windmills.

If our transportation system wasn't designed to maximize the profits of the people selling us vehicles and fuel, it would look a hell of a lot different!

It's always been lifestyle. The pickup became something else because people kept gravitating to bigger and taller vehicles. So now it's the defacto do-everything luxury muscle car... which has incredible capabilities, but 90% of the time is hauling around a payload of one human at modest speeds.

The tall hoods are really irritating but it's not completely cosmetic.

If they can figure out how to cool a Corvette with a big V8 that looks like this, then I don't believe they need those tall hoods for cooling. Sure, they'll use the space since they were going to do it anyway, but...

 

[calicamper]

If our transportation system wasn't designed to maximize the profits of the people selling us vehicles and fuel, it would look a hell of a lot different!

It's always been lifestyle. The pickup became something else because people kept gravitating to bigger and taller vehicles. So now it's the defacto do-everything luxury muscle car... which has incredible capabilities, but 90% of the time is hauling around a payload of one human at modest speeds.


If they can figure out how to cool a Corvette with a big V8 that looks like this, then I don't believe they need those tall hoods for cooling. Sure, they'll use the space since they were going to do it anyway, but...

The drag on a vet is a fraction of that on a truck. Let alone a truck with stuff stacked on the bed or being dragged behind it. Heat becomes a pretty challenging issue the slower you go and the draggier you get. That really shouldn’t be a debate in an expedition portal forum😆.

Cooling and temperature management is one of the largest differences between a Tesla and a Kia EV.

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

Marketing 101.
To sell anything, it needs to be better, cheaper or different. Pick any one.
If you can be 2 of those, you will do well. All 3 and you clean up.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[NoDak]

If our transportation system wasn't designed to maximize the profits of the people selling us vehicles and fuel, it would look a hell of a lot different!

It's always been lifestyle. The pickup became something else because people kept gravitating to bigger and taller vehicles. So now it's the defacto do-everything luxury muscle car... which has incredible capabilities, but 90% of the time is hauling around a payload of one human at modest speeds.


If they can figure out how to cool a Corvette with a big V8 that looks like this, then I don't believe they need those tall hoods for cooling. Sure, they'll use the space since they were going to do it anyway, but...

There is a difference between a cooling system designed for a V8 pushing a 3000lb sports car vs a truck with a 12,000lb GVWR and 20,000lb GCVWR.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The tall hoods are really irritating but it's not completely cosmetic. To achieve the ridiculous specs, particularly towing that has been subject to an actual test to prove they can do what they say under SAE J2807, the cooling systems of trucks had to grow. Look at an over-the-road truck, which have forever also had huge grills. Of course it's a marketing race, an F150 with a 14k towing capacity. Or a Tacoma with 6k. Two decades ago an F150 might have done 8k and a Toyota Pickup 3k. But nothing ever sold better by getting smaller or having less capability. So it's inevitable.

All truth. I dunno if you're in tune with Internet Tacoma wisdom. But seems most complaints are the seating position, which isn't nearly as straight ahead leg as it used to be. The old Toyota trucks had a very low seating position so that the cab didn't need to be super tall and there would be clearance under the truck. People want the burly clearance numbers and to have a dining room chair high seat off the floor. That means the cab roof has to be a foot and half taller than it used to be. Can't put 10 lbs of poo in a 5 lbs can.

This started 30 years ago. You used to be able to buy a regular cab small truck with a 7 foot bed. That got dropped in 1992 by Toyota. That last regular cab truck was 2015 from them. It's all about "lifestyle" and not utility. Tilting at windmills.

Never sat in a new one, can't stand anything about the cab on the current gen. Floor is too high, seat and roof is too low, hard pass. Too hard to fold my 6'-3" self into one, not like I am exactly a stranger to std cab compact trucks either. If the older ones are worse... yikes.

As far as the bigger than they used to be stuff, with a 3" lift and 31's my '85 looks a '19 on 32's in the eye. Not a huge difference.

Dang, 1992?!

Those few people can buy something else. Is this a problem?

Few?

 

[rruff]

There is a difference between a cooling system designed for a V8 pushing a 3000lb sports car vs a truck with a 12,000lb GVWR and 20,000lb GCVWR.

You're right, the sports car makes more power....

True, the truck is likely to be at higher power for longer, and at slower speeds. It will have greater cooling needs. But that isn't why pickups look the way they do. It certainly isn't an excuse for the new Tacoma and Frontier.

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

I thought that a "pick-up" was designed primarily to carry goods, in which case forward control dramatically increases the proportion of the vehicle that is performing the primary function.
This is especially important for expedition vehicles.
Note those chosen in the rest of the world for this purpose (outside the USA).
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome