Earlier tonight – well, last night because you’re reading this in the morning – I took my neighbor to pick up his Tesla Model Y that I wrote about earlier, the one where the emergency door release shattered a window. While I was there, I noticed a few Cybertrucks in the lot, which happens to be the first production Cybertrucks I’ve seen in the wild. I’ve seen the prototype one in person, but seeing the actual, production models was interesting. For a size comparison, I parked my Nissan Pao next to one and took some pictures. The thing is big. And kind of clunky. And while I get the appeal, I think, I also get the eye-rolling. But, whatever, this is still a vehicle that everyone likes to talk about so who am I to ruin anyone’s fun?
I think the most remarkable part of the Cybertruck is that windshield wiper. It’s massive. It’s probably 75% of my height, and probably 125% of my net worth. If I installed it on my Pao, it would probably flip the car over if I turned it on.
Is it bigger than most conventional trucks? Modern trucks are generally pretty huge, after all. But most lack such large expanses of unadorned, unbroken, flat metal, and I think that gives an illusion of mass that is unique to the Cybertruck.
The size differences between Pao and Cybertruck are pretty evident from this rear view. The Cybertruck feels long enough that, were I to start at the tailgate in my Pao and attempt to drive to the front, I’d probably have to shift to second gear somewhere around the A-pillar.
And yet, I’d like to point out, the Pao, with its drop-down tailgate like the Cybertruck, is also capable of truck-like acts, even beyond, say, eight bags of mulch. Look:
I’m glad the Cybertruck exists; I think cars that are radically different from the norm are a good thing, regardless of whether I like them or not. And, like it or not, the Cybertruck does represent a pretty radical departure from the norm, so I salute it.
A bit of forced perspective makes my Pao look a lot less small, but I assure you, compared to the Cybertruck, it is. I mean, compared to the average old Buick it is small, as it is to most things on the road, and that includes some horses.
It’s such a polarizing vehicle, the Cybertruck. That’s part of what makes it so interesting. My Pao is sort of a polarizing machine, too, in the sense that there’s people who love it and people who wouldn’t be caught dead in it. But the general reaction when people see it is one of friendliness, where it’s seen as an amusing novelty or even almost how people might react to an otter trotting by.
The Cybertruck isn’t like that; it has its incredibly devoted fans, as well as knee-jerk foes, but it’s sort of inherently confrontational. That’s not really an image I want to just project out into the world at random, firehosing confrontational energy out william-nilliam, but, as is our policy here, I refuse to yuck anyone’s yum.
So, Cybertruck fans, enjoy. Enjoy your huge, sharp-edged, faintly absurd truck. Lots of great cars are absurd, after all.
Well, now we need to see pics of the Pao parked next to a horse (or horses).
Well, now we need to see pics of the Pao parked next to a horse (or horses).
Three days ago the first Cybertruck in my neighborhood arrived, and it’s been parked in front of my house — it belongs to my neighbor across the street, who is currently trimming their bushes back so that they can back it down their narrow driveway to charge it up.
My first impression, quality-wise and not getting into design other than from a materials standpoint, is that the dead flat steel panels are a bad idea. Two things immediately made themselves evident. First, that the joint at the base of the A-pillar on the driver’s side is poorly aligned, while on the passenger side it’s fine. Second, the flat reflective panels betray the fact that at least one of them has ripples across the surface. They might have been better off with slightly convex surfaces such as are found on the y-shaped surface feature on the flank of many current Hyundais. The concavity might have straightened some ripples and/or made them less apparent.
Three days ago the first Cybertruck in my neighborhood arrived, and it’s been parked in front of my house — it belongs to my neighbor across the street, who is currently trimming their bushes back so that they can back it down their narrow driveway to charge it up.
My first impression, quality-wise and not getting into design other than from a materials standpoint, is that the dead flat steel panels are a bad idea. Two things immediately made themselves evident. First, that the joint at the base of the A-pillar on the driver’s side is poorly aligned, while on the passenger side it’s fine. Second, the flat reflective panels betray the fact that at least one of them has ripples across the surface. They might have been better off with slightly convex surfaces such as are found on the y-shaped surface feature on the flank of many current Hyundais. The concavity might have straightened some ripples and/or made them less apparent.
I see one car that’s ideal for self-confident and practical people who appreciate thoughtful design and whimsy.
The other is best used for hauling damaged and outsized egos to a Pitbull concert.
I see one car that’s ideal for self-confident and practical people who appreciate thoughtful design and whimsy.
The other is best used for hauling damaged and outsized egos to a Pitbull concert.
I have seen the Cybertruck in person more times than I have seen a Pao in person (4 vs. 0)
Keep in mind when reading my comment on the Cybertruck below- I have not been inside one, I have not driven one, and I have only seen them moving on the road.
The Cybertruck looks like a manatee driving down the road. It looks floaty and bloated. It appears to ride like a 1990 Buick LeSabre. Like a center linebacker running the 1600m- out of breath and wobbly.
Now, I understand that it is actually fast. And according to reviews, handles well. And I don’t hate it or have animosity towards it or Tesla. But that doesn’t change what it looks like to me, and I simply can’t get over it yet.
I have seen the Cybertruck in person more times than I have seen a Pao in person (4 vs. 0)
Keep in mind when reading my comment on the Cybertruck below- I have not been inside one, I have not driven one, and I have only seen them moving on the road.
The Cybertruck looks like a manatee driving down the road. It looks floaty and bloated. It appears to ride like a 1990 Buick LeSabre. Like a center linebacker running the 1600m- out of breath and wobbly.
Now, I understand that it is actually fast. And according to reviews, handles well. And I don’t hate it or have animosity towards it or Tesla. But that doesn’t change what it looks like to me, and I simply can’t get over it yet.
Too bad we can’t post pics in the comments, my buddy and I went to the Tesla dealership – they had a lot full of their trucks and we parked his Mini Cooper pickup right in the middle of them – epic shot!
Oh, and the comments about the sharp edges – all true!
Too bad we can’t post pics in the comments, my buddy and I went to the Tesla dealership – they had a lot full of their trucks and we parked his Mini Cooper pickup right in the middle of them – epic shot!
Oh, and the comments about the sharp edges – all true!
“william-nilliam” killed me
“william-nilliam” killed me
Sure the design is radical and there are strong opinions (some more valid than others…) on it, but ultimately? This this is a bloated mess. Polarizing thoughts aside on the man behind it, this is a vehicle that continues the trend exponentially upward of vehicles being unsafe to everyone. Not just in the ‘slash your wrists open by touching it’ but in the very real danger it presents to everyone on the road including its occupants.
Battery fire? Doors lock, glass is bulletproof, you and everyone you have inside are dead. Touches water and submerges? Yep, we know what happens. Hit a truck? No crumple zones, you’d better hope the impact doesn’t liquefy your insides. You hit someone else? You’re four tons of steel and battery, they’re toast.
This vehicle belongs nowhere near any US road.
Sure the design is radical and there are strong opinions (some more valid than others…) on it, but ultimately? This this is a bloated mess. Polarizing thoughts aside on the man behind it, this is a vehicle that continues the trend exponentially upward of vehicles being unsafe to everyone. Not just in the ‘slash your wrists open by touching it’ but in the very real danger it presents to everyone on the road including its occupants.
Battery fire? Doors lock, glass is bulletproof, you and everyone you have inside are dead. Touches water and submerges? Yep, we know what happens. Hit a truck? No crumple zones, you’d better hope the impact doesn’t liquefy your insides. You hit someone else? You’re four tons of steel and battery, they’re toast.
This vehicle belongs nowhere near any US road.
One of the eternal discussions on The Autopian and elsewhere, is just what constitutes a truck. My opinion on that subject is fairly flexible and inclusive and I do clearly include the Cybertruck as a truck. But, what kind of truck is the more important question
I don’t think many Cybertruck’s will be sold to customers who will use these as work/fleet vehicles They are cost prohibitive. So, as with most trucks on the road, they fall into the realm of people transporter, weekend gear hauler, occasional garden center/home improvement store errand runner, and lastly, as a curiosity. Fine: but how does it stack up against the competition in the roles of daily car/weekend truck?
I’m going to compare it to the Ford Maverick. What you say? The F 150 is a more apt comparison given its size, you might think, but is it really?Remember, the Cybertruck is not going to fulfill the classic work truck role, at which the F 150 excels. It will be a weekender at best and mostly just a big car. The littlest Ford is a great example of a weekend truck and especially an urban-based one.
The Cybertruck, as a car, seats five in relative comfort. So does the Maverick. No real advantage. Outside visibility, the Maverick is superior to the sides and rear, even if the Cybertruck is running with its bed cover open. Fit and finish: surprisingly, the Maverick, and especially its upscale models, equals the somewhat spartan Cybertruck, though the latter does have many amenities that the Ford lacks as would befit a price tag that’s $60 -70,000 higher when comparing AWD models.
The Maverick’ s shorter length and wheelbase and narrower width are far more urban driving and parking friendly. Advantage Ford. The Cybertruck’s four wheel steering helps with its size somewhat, but that’s mainly to overcome its own dimensional handicaps. No advantage. Handling-wise, the Maverick is nimbler, though, the Cybertruck is pretty maneuverable, especially for its size.
The Cybertruck has a 6-foot bed, the Maverick 4.5-foot. Advantage Tesla, but considering the typical loads weekend trucks usually haul, it’s an occasional advantage at best. Also, the Maverick can load 1500 lbs in the bed, the Cybertruck only a shade over 1300 lbs. The Cybertruck has an overall load capacity of 2500 lbs, but only half can go in the bed. Practical advantage Ford. The bed height in the Cybertruck is more than 8 inches higher than the Maverick. Load in advantage, Maverick.
The Cybertruck has a maximum tow rating of 11,000 lbs. The Maverick in AWD form can haul 4500 lbs. Advantage Tesla, but again with caveats. The Cybertruck can only tow its maximum load about 100 miles. Also, the typical weekender truck trailer load is under 3000 lbs. All of this mitigates against the Cybertruck advantage, but doesn’t eliminate it, especially in short distance hauling situations.
The Cybertruck is by far the more powerful truck. This translates to much faster acceleration and greater off-road capability, though, again, the Tesla’s size works against it. In terms of real world practicality, the Cybertruck’s acceleration advantage is basically meaningless. The Maverick is more than capable of matching it in normal daily driving conditions. The Cybertruck’s economy rating is roughly 60 percent better than the thriftiest Ford (hybrid) and twice the AWD Maverick’s rating. Advantage Cybertruck. However, the AWD Maverick will travel over 400 miles on a tank of fuel, the AWD Cybertruck will barely achieve 300 miles on a full charge.
The Cybertruck does claim to be bullet resistant to subsonic rounds, though this has been refuted in a couple of tests and does not include the windows or windshield, the two most likely places to be targeted in a vehicle. Somewhat dubious advantage. Also, most ammunition sold in the US is not subsonic, though it is becoming more popular. The Maverick is not bulletproof, speaking non-metaphorically.
The Maverick offers many color options; the Cybertruck, literally none.
The. Cybertruck, like all EVs, currently, is going to be subject to massive depreciation, especially as it gets deeper into its age cycle (and probably due to Musk price manipulations, also). The Maverick, not so much, though dealer mark-ups undercut some of its advantage here.
As a car, both are more than adequate to the task, though the Maverick is probably easier to navigate. As a weekend truck, the Maverick is superior in average real world application. The Cybertruck is more capable off-road, but again, given the likely real world off-road usage of either truck, the Maverick holds its own. All of this leads me to choose the Maverick as the better car/weekend truck.
As a curiosity/status symbol though, it’s hard to beat the Cybertruck. In the final analysis, is this worth price differential? I’ll leave that up to others. Just remember, you can get three AWD drive Mavericks for the price of one AWD Cybertruck.
Thoughtful analysis which supports my long held belief that the Cybertruck could have been much better if they skipped all the notions that it was a truck and just went for an El Camino, car-with-a-bed style vibe. Think of the 10s of people who would buy a 4 door street truck!
Yeah, and there’s the fact that people have taken to referring to the CT as the Incel Camino…
However, some people have posited that it’s more accurate to call it the Incel Dorado because it’s so much more of a luxury car than a truck.
Funny enough, one of the few Cybertrucks in my area has been wrapped by a local business. I can’t vouch for said truck doing any actual work, but if it is only a rolling billboard, I have to believe there are cheaper ways of advertising.
And having seen a few in the real world, pictures don’t tell the whole story. It really does look like a refrigerator on off-road tires, with design cues taken from Starfox 64.
True, but wrapping your truck to advertise your business becomes a tax write-off.
> the Maverick can load 1500 lbs in the bed, the Cybertruck only a shade over 1300 lbs
Seriously? That’s hilariously embarrassing.
One of the eternal discussions on The Autopian and elsewhere, is just what constitutes a truck. My opinion on that subject is fairly flexible and inclusive and I do clearly include the Cybertruck as a truck. But, what kind of truck is the more important question
I don’t think many Cybertruck’s will be sold to customers who will use these as work/fleet vehicles They are cost prohibitive. So, as with most trucks on the road, they fall into the realm of people transporter, weekend gear hauler, occasional garden center/home improvement store errand runner, and lastly, as a curiosity. Fine: but how does it stack up against the competition in the roles of daily car/weekend truck?
I’m going to compare it to the Ford Maverick. What you say? The F 150 is a more apt comparison given its size, you might think, but is it really?Remember, the Cybertruck is not going to fulfill the classic work truck role, at which the F 150 excels. It will be a weekender at best and mostly just a big car. The littlest Ford is a great example of a weekend truck and especially an urban-based one.
The Cybertruck, as a car, seats five in relative comfort. So does the Maverick. No real advantage. Outside visibility, the Maverick is superior to the sides and rear, even if the Cybertruck is running with its bed cover open. Fit and finish: surprisingly, the Maverick, and especially its upscale models, equals the somewhat spartan Cybertruck, though the latter does have many amenities that the Ford lacks as would befit a price tag that’s $60 -70,000 higher when comparing AWD models.
The Maverick’ s shorter length and wheelbase and narrower width are far more urban driving and parking friendly. Advantage Ford. The Cybertruck’s four wheel steering helps with its size somewhat, but that’s mainly to overcome its own dimensional handicaps. No advantage. Handling-wise, the Maverick is nimbler, though, the Cybertruck is pretty maneuverable, especially for its size.
The Cybertruck has a 6-foot bed, the Maverick 4.5-foot. Advantage Tesla, but considering the typical loads weekend trucks usually haul, it’s an occasional advantage at best. Also, the Maverick can load 1500 lbs in the bed, the Cybertruck only a shade over 1300 lbs. The Cybertruck has an overall load capacity of 2500 lbs, but only half can go in the bed. Practical advantage Ford. The bed height in the Cybertruck is more than 8 inches higher than the Maverick. Load in advantage, Maverick.
The Cybertruck has a maximum tow rating of 11,000 lbs. The Maverick in AWD form can haul 4500 lbs. Advantage Tesla, but again with caveats. The Cybertruck can only tow its maximum load about 100 miles. Also, the typical weekender truck trailer load is under 3000 lbs. All of this mitigates against the Cybertruck advantage, but doesn’t eliminate it, especially in short distance hauling situations.
The Cybertruck is by far the more powerful truck. This translates to much faster acceleration and greater off-road capability, though, again, the Tesla’s size works against it. In terms of real world practicality, the Cybertruck’s acceleration advantage is basically meaningless. The Maverick is more than capable of matching it in normal daily driving conditions. The Cybertruck’s economy rating is roughly 60 percent better than the thriftiest Ford (hybrid) and twice the AWD Maverick’s rating. Advantage Cybertruck. However, the AWD Maverick will travel over 400 miles on a tank of fuel, the AWD Cybertruck will barely achieve 300 miles on a full charge.
The Cybertruck does claim to be bullet resistant to subsonic rounds, though this has been refuted in a couple of tests and does not include the windows or windshield, the two most likely places to be targeted in a vehicle. Somewhat dubious advantage. Also, most ammunition sold in the US is not subsonic, though it is becoming more popular. The Maverick is not bulletproof, speaking non-metaphorically.
The Maverick offers many color options; the Cybertruck, literally none.
The. Cybertruck, like all EVs, currently, is going to be subject to massive depreciation, especially as it gets deeper into its age cycle (and probably due to Musk price manipulations, also). The Maverick, not so much, though dealer mark-ups undercut some of its advantage here.
As a car, both are more than adequate to the task, though the Maverick is probably easier to navigate. As a weekend truck, the Maverick is superior in average real world application. The Cybertruck is more capable off-road, but again, given the likely real world off-road usage of either truck, the Maverick holds its own. All of this leads me to choose the Maverick as the better car/weekend truck.
As a curiosity/status symbol though, it’s hard to beat the Cybertruck. In the final analysis, is this worth price differential? I’ll leave that up to others. Just remember, you can get three AWD drive Mavericks for the price of one AWD Cybertruck.
Thoughtful analysis which supports my long held belief that the Cybertruck could have been much better if they skipped all the notions that it was a truck and just went for an El Camino, car-with-a-bed style vibe. Think of the 10s of people who would buy a 4 door street truck!
Yeah, and there’s the fact that people have taken to referring to the CT as the Incel Camino…
However, some people have posited that it’s more accurate to call it the Incel Dorado because it’s so much more of a luxury car than a truck.
Funny enough, one of the few Cybertrucks in my area has been wrapped by a local business. I can’t vouch for said truck doing any actual work, but if it is only a rolling billboard, I have to believe there are cheaper ways of advertising.
And having seen a few in the real world, pictures don’t tell the whole story. It really does look like a refrigerator on off-road tires, with design cues taken from Starfox 64.
True, but wrapping your truck to advertise your business becomes a tax write-off.
> the Maverick can load 1500 lbs in the bed, the Cybertruck only a shade over 1300 lbs
Seriously? That’s hilariously embarrassing.
Wait, this isn’t the shitbox showdown? Well, I vote Pao anyway.