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Tesla Cybertruck

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Re: Tesla Cybertruck

#731

Post by organsnyder »

om3n wrote: post #640
sytelus wrote: post #484

Stupid question: what’s up with trucks in urban areas? I understand the utility of a truck in rural/farm setting but never figured why folks want to lug around that pointless empty half while living in cities. Two of the folks I know who owns trucks have used empty halfs probably twice in a year when bringing home some furniture but that too could have delivered free by the store. Again, as I said, stupid question.

I live in a northern Midwest suburb, in a region that receives a lot of snow in the winter. I have driven older trucks my whole life, in part because of of the 4x4 capability for winter driving. I also enjoy being the guy who keeps a tow strap in the toolbox and hauls people out of ditches. Hard to do that without a heavy 4x4 vehicle. When you have the bed, you realize there are a lot more uses for it than you might…

My Honda Civic does just fine in the winter in Michigan. A good set of snow tires is all I need.

Re: Tesla Cybertruck

#732

Post by organsnyder »

caleblloyd wrote: post #529
sytelus wrote: post #484

Stupid question: what’s up with trucks in urban areas? I understand the utility of a truck in rural/farm setting but never figured why folks want to lug around that pointless empty half while living in cities. Two of the folks I know who owns trucks have used empty halfs probably twice in a year when bringing home some furniture but that too could have delivered free by the store. Again, as I said, stupid question.

I found that once I owned a home, the utility for a truck doing "weekend warrior" tasks was great. Runs to the dump, transporting furniture, soil/mulch, firewood. Standard towing package for a boat or a rental trailer. Can also fit bikes, kayaks, skis, and camping equipment, no need for expensive roof rack accessories. We use my wife's crossover for all of the family trips, so it's usually just me in the truck. Befor…

I've found our minivan does most of that stuff just fine. For the times I need to haul more, we have a 4x8' utility trailer.

Re: Tesla Cybertruck

#733

Post by delecti »

JeremyNT wrote: post #612
sytelus wrote: post #484

Stupid question: what’s up with trucks in urban areas? I understand the utility of a truck in rural/farm setting but never figured why folks want to lug around that pointless empty half while living in cities. Two of the folks I know who owns trucks have used empty halfs probably twice in a year when bringing home some furniture but that too could have delivered free by the store. Again, as I said, stupid question.

In some cases it seems like pure conspicuous consumption. The sheer impracticality of it is a badge of honor. This is not atypical for American consumerism. In fact, I wonder about the Tesla truck's appeal. I feel like the oversized truck's negative ecological impact is one part of its appeal, do does an electric truck actually end up selling? Here in the South, some pickup drivers modify their exhausts to spew toxic…

I agree with you on many pickup purchases being conspicuous consumption, but I think you're underestimating how many people would happily display conspicuous green consumption. This has all the "look at my big powerful toy" but acceptable for someone wanting to display how environmentally aware they are.

Re: Tesla Cybertruck

#734

Post by organsnyder »

almost_usual wrote: post #726
sytelus wrote: post #484

Stupid question: what’s up with trucks in urban areas? I understand the utility of a truck in rural/farm setting but never figured why folks want to lug around that pointless empty half while living in cities. Two of the folks I know who owns trucks have used empty halfs probably twice in a year when bringing home some furniture but that too could have delivered free by the store. Again, as I said, stupid question.

There are a ton of contractors in cities, in the Bay Area they probably make more than tech workers. There are also construction workers _everywhere_. There are mosquito fleet trucks in SF whose whole purpose is to collect recycling and take it to the recycling center. In western cities there are off-road enthusiasts who camp at places you can’t get to without a modified vehicle and winch (no crowded campsites). Some…

> In western cities there are off-road enthusiasts who camp at places you can’t get to without a modified vehicle and winch (no crowded campsites).

Backpackers seem to manage just fine.

Re: Tesla Cybertruck

#735

Post by bluedino »

whatshisface wrote: post #678
Pxtl wrote: post #639

I'm a child of the 80s. I remember StarFox and the F-117 stealth plane being the neatest stuff ever. The old lambo countache with the faceted shape that was almost starwars-y and was the coolest thing on wheels. I'm nostalgic about those things. So this polygonal look is targeting my demo. ... That is the goddamned ugliest vehicle I've ever seen.

Tesla doesn't have the manufacturing capacity to sell a truck to everybody, and people that love something are willing to pay more than people who only mildly like something, so it makes sense that they would design a highly polarizing truck that a few people loved but everybody else hated. It's reminiscent of the economic model of fursuit manufacturers.

That's basically what Bob Lutz said about the Dodge Ram redesign in the 90's

Re: Tesla Cybertruck

#736

Post by dghughes »

That roof will not work very well in areas with snow. You're going to spend an hour cleaning off the snow and ice. In my region a hefty fine is in store for anyone who does not clear snow and ice from their vehicle roof.

Re: Tesla Cybertruck

#737

Post by pault »

okareaman wrote: post #685
Pxtl wrote: post #639

I'm a child of the 80s. I remember StarFox and the F-117 stealth plane being the neatest stuff ever. The old lambo countache with the faceted shape that was almost starwars-y and was the coolest thing on wheels. I'm nostalgic about those things. So this polygonal look is targeting my demo. ... That is the goddamned ugliest vehicle I've ever seen.

The Hummer was hideous as well, but it sold like pancakes for a time

The Hummer was also based on a US military vehicle from the gulf war, which gives it a lot of cachet with people who want a powerful (or want to project an image of power) vehicle. I don't doubt a lot of people will buy one of these things, but I don't see it coming anywhere close to the popularity of the hummer.

Re: Tesla Cybertruck

#738

Post by 34679 »

That's a truck only if you consider a Subaru Baja a truck. If you want a real crack at the F-150's market share, it has to be usable for work. If you can't put a stack of plywood or drywall in the back and still have room for tools and a ladder, it's useless as a work truck. Will this thing even accept a ladder rack? Has a single person on the design team ever spent a single day working a blue collar job that requires a truck?
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