F-150 Lightning Review - Throttle House

[cvalue13]

I expect Cybertrucks to evoke the same response until they become ubiquitous.

for better, and for worse

what I mean is this: I recently did a ~560mi round trip in my Lightning, as one of the first few in the state, and in those hours of driving I often imagined how different that trip would be in a CT.

In the Lightning, over the ~8hrs of hwy driving, I noticed maybe 3-6 folks who obviously recognized the truck as “other” and did anything more than glancing over fleetingly. (When parked at charging stations, I got a bit more attention and conversation.)

But I often imagined being in a CT on the hwy for 8hrs, one of the first few in the state, and the wild discrepancy in attention it would receive.

From there, it comes down one’s personal preferences and tolerances for seeking out being the center of attention (vehicle-wise).

No doubt far more people will stare and take note: that’s not to say it will be 100% positive attention, or welcome.

I’m not sure where I’ll fall on that spectrum. I sometimes felt insecure in my Gen 1 raptor with the attention it received at first.

 

[rr6013]

though I came away with a vague sense that you’re butthurt about Ford

That’s my bad writing.
I hold EM’s pricing at reveal more important than anything FORD. Credibility is “goodwill”. I tried to honor the goodwill FORD built over four decades with its loyalty that is its insurmountable moat.
Elon erodes Tesla credibility tweet at a time and snipes at measly $99 USD reservation holders — it destroys a confidence that was a $100,000,000 advantage.

Philosophically, was the intended lane I tried to keep in the post. Brilliant reduction was yours, the philosophies are problematic for FORD. Tesla hasn’t even produce serial nos. 000000001 yet. But its aim is farther and looks demographically on-target for future.
Historically FORD is everyman. Cybertruck reveal pricing upended FORD which was important. Because everyman should be able to afford a work truck at Tesla’s Cybertruck price.

With Tesla’s last shareholder meeting Elon Musk sniped at $99USD reservation holders emphasizing that the Cybertruck is going to increase. This is burn barrel trashing RN orders while focusing Tesla on 1% buyers who want to buy a Quad CT.

Ultimately, cyber is going to differentiate Tesla’s pickup. How well Tesla’s cyber program fits the truck design for future will be key. The key to production, economy of scale and longevity in the market. Millennials love all things electronic, internet and programmable. The leading wave of that cohort is peaking earnings power exactly as BEV goes mainstream.
Tesla misses that wave it’ll be niches. FORD hits their sweet spot it gets a third lease on life.

 

[RMK!]

Rivian will make under 25K vehicles this year at zero profit. Ford will make more but with very skinny margins and the new planned factories (2023-2024) will not be Giga factories but will be mostly traditional auto plants cranking out inefficient ICE based designs that fail to capture anyone's imagination.

Tesla has the technology and manufacturing bonafides to make 25K Cybertrucks in a single month in 2023. Due to their well thought out vertical integration and lean design methodology, they would make much higher than industry standard profit margins even if they sold all of the 2023 CT's at the 2019 estimated prices. The Model 3 and Y price strategies worked well for Tesla and they have continued to lower their cost to build for those vehicles despite production delays and supply chain issues.

They clearly have the market cornered and I believe they will play a long game strategy that maintains strong demand while being very price competitive. I'm getting a CT and with a Model Y in the garage, I'm glad that Tesla is taking a measure twice, cut once approach to the CT design and build details. Make the best damn truck in the world Tesla, I know you've got it in you ... and I know I'll love it from day 1.

 

[cvalue13]

Giga factories but will be mostly traditional auto plants cranking out inefficient ICE based designs that fail to capture anyone's imagination.

Tesla has certainly captured your imagination!

There’s an entire world of opinions out there.

Or as an old boss used to say when an ugly (to him) motorcycle was uncrated at the shop: “well, there’s an ass for every seat”

 

[CyberGus]

for better, and for worse

what I mean is this: I recently did a ~560mi round trip in my Lightning, as one of the first few in the state, and in those hours of driving I often imagined how different that trip would be in a CT.

In the Lightning, over the ~8hrs of hwy driving, I noticed maybe 3-6 folks who obviously recognized the truck as “other” and did anything more than glancing over fleetingly. (When parked at charging stations, I got a bit more attention and conversation.)

But I often imagined being in a CT on the hwy for 8hrs, one of the first few in the state, and the wild discrepancy in attention it would receive.

From there, it comes down one’s personal preferences and tolerances for seeking out being the center of attention (vehicle-wise).

No doubt far more people will stare and take note: that’s not to say it will be 100% positive attention, or welcome.

I’m not sure where I’ll fall on that spectrum. I sometimes felt insecure in my Gen 1 raptor with the attention it received at first.

Basically, if you're visiting your mistress or robbing a liquor store...take the Corolla.

 

[electricAK]

Entertaining thread with a lot of good points made. I too am I really curious to witness how the design/styling/technology of the cybertruck ages over time. Is it going to be the next Delorean? That would probably mean it shot too close to the sun and was rejected by the masses (or perhaps too expensive to produce).

OR, will it change the auto industry's style into a new paradigm? Will it bring a new era where most vehicles have 4-wheel steering, yokes, futuristic looks, and ultra-durable components? Honestly, I hope not. If every vehicle was comparable to the CT in technology and styling, then none of them would be interesting. It is interesting because it's different.

The CT is also unprecedented, being interesting, capable, reliable, and a great value. If Tesla pulls off all of those things with the CT, I doubt there will ever be another vehicle like it.

The F150L is great. And it's important. But I don't think it's interesting to most people, and it's currently not a good value.

 

[charliemagpie]

If you’re referencing the tow-battle again (which it seems like), I’d want to point out one small item of potential embarrassment:

The ironic thing about that tow-battle was, the only people it impressed were people who understood nothing about towing.

To people who understood towing (or physics), that display merely showed the natural consequence of a ~6,000 pound “thing” pulling at a ~2,300 pound “thing” (because the Ford SXT 2WD has an ~5,000 weight but a ~60/40 weight distribution over the rear wheel).

Interestingly, now that a similarly-constructed F150L exists, also with dual motors, AWD, a 50/50 weight distribution, etc., an on-paper comparison suggests a tow-off would be slightly more relevant.

But un-interestingly, that 2022 tow-off would very likely now reduce down to a question of only which vehicles tires had the better friction coefficient (because the other relevant trim-for-trim stats, mainly weight and AWD, are a near wash).

Which would mean that a 2022 rematch would, quite boringly, conclude that it’s not about which truck you choose but instead which tires you choose to put on the truck.

The main difference between 2019 and now: more EV owners understand this.

Bullshiiite

A when Tesla kicks ass, you will say :


Ohhhh Golly Jee, It was only Telsla's superior AI which managed the traction , otherwise it was equal.

Yea right.... Embarrassment This !

 

[rr6013]

well, there’s an ass for every seat

That’s an olde used car idiom, used to help sales people over selling a dud to a perfectly unsuspecting public

 

[cvalue13]

That’s an olde used car idiom, used to help sales people over selling a dud to a perfectly unsuspecting public

yes, it was a motorcycle sales environment

the saying was sometimes equally useful for $80K douche-cycles

 

[cvalue13]

Bullshiiite

A when Tesla kicks ass, you will say :


Ohhhh Golly Jee, It was only Telsla's superior AI which managed the traction , otherwise it was equal.

Yea right.... Embarrassment This !

oh I see now

carry on!

 

[charliemagpie]

oh I see now

carry on!

No , you got back what you insinuated. Don't be smug.

You carry on.

 

[rr6013]

Is it going to be the next Delorean?

Not a Delorean…

It could be a Tucker, L-29 Chord, Chrysler AirFlow, FORD Mustang, Corvette or just a 57’ Chev Hardtop. Take your pick. There’s a little bit of each in Cybertruck and a bunch more that it contributes to the pantheon of automotive history to join its ranks someday.

Tucker introduced by a maverick car designer was an ill-fated challenge to the auto industry with a revolutionary car concept.

L-29 Chord noted for innovative technology and streamlined design first introduced front wheel drive

AirFlow introduced by Chrysler used streamlining as a basis for building sleeker automobiles, less susceptible to air resistance.

Mustang introduced by FORD as a highly styled line of sporty coupes, became the most successful vehicle launch since the 1927 Model A in continuous production since.

Corvette introduced lightweight composite body construction combined with performance by Chevrolet in continuous production since 1953 ½ year it was launched.

57’ Chev Hardtop introduced fuel-injected internal combustion engine in a passenger car that reached one horsepower per cubic inch displacement with unique stylistic body and trim treatments lasted only one year of production.

 

[cvalue13]

No , you got back what you insinuated. Don't be smug.

You carry on.

didnt mean to offend; instead, after you’d come in with your “mic drop”/“model T” stuff it seemed you were up for some return “insinuation”

I suppose I didn’t appreciate you were … serious?

but if you’re being serious, and you believe towing is about relative torque and “superior AI which manage the traction,” then I’ve got a new tow-battle for you!

Whenever the Ct comes out, you choose any configuration you’d like, and I’ll use an old 2019 production model Ford pickup with zero “AI” and a measly ~500ftlbs of torque

which would be as silly as the video EM tweeted

 

[Sirfun]

Both of these strategies are equally fruitful, in terms of bringing people around to the adoption of an EV truck. With the Ford, there are many people who (as mentioned in the OP video) want to pull up to a job site and not be noticed; conversely with the CT, being noticed is sort of the point. The Lightning design philosophy says “everything you’re comfortable with is still there.” The CT says, “everything you’re uncomfortable with is fixed.”

I think the Ford Lightning is designed to sell trucks. Ford and Legacy auto find something that sells, and they go with it. People tend to resist change, so they are trying to come out with an Electric Truck that people will be comfortable with. Kinda like most vehicles are white, gray, or black. Most people want to blend in with the norm. I reserved a CT the night of the reveal, but being noticed is something I wish I could avoid, even though I love the minimalistic art design.
Mostly what I like is the functionality and utility of it. A huge number of reservation holders have never owned a truck. With the CT and it's covered storage, and seating for 6, it has the potential to cross lots of boundaries. Minivan, SUV, truck, to name a few. I really look forward to when there are CT's everywhere and people won't notice it.

 

[RMK!]

Tesla has certainly captured your imagination!

There’s an entire world of opinions out there.

Or as an old boss used to say when an ugly (to him) motorcycle was uncrated at the shop: “well, there’s an ass for every seat”

Tesla has captured more than just my imagination. They also represent a considerable investment for me. I believe in their clearly stated mission and support their products.

Of course looks are subjective. The cybertruck's "looks" will take some getting used to for someone with my boring esthetic sense. The mechanical simplicity and durability of the exterior are the main draw. Paint and chrome are pretty when new ...

While I like your old boss's sentiments, I prefer the "horses for courses" metaphor.