261–270 of 1001 posts
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why do steer by wire at all? Is it cheaper somehow?
Hmmm.. I would guess decoupling would allow variable ratio steering based on speed or preferences.
Funny that the cheaper model's 0-60 time is listed as "4.1 SEC. 0-60 MPH", but the more expensive model is listed as "2.6 SEC. 0-60 MPH With rollout subtracted." The whole rollout for 0-60 thing is a big fuss in the car magazine subculture - instead of counting zero to 60 from a standstill, they now count zero to 60 in a drag race style, where you have to trip the starting light by going forward a foot or two. What t…
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> Everyone I know doing construction/trade work tends to drive much smaller pickups. Smaller than an F150? Maybe it's because I live in the Bay Area where there's more money being thrown around but trucks of that size and larger seem to be common for trade workers.
Trucks last longer in the bay area. The cost is amortized over basically... forever. Take a 10-year old california pickup to anywhere with winter and people will be amazed.
Steer by wire sounds like a disastrous idea to me, especially in a car made with attention to detail of Tesla. I'm not even sure where to start. It's less reliable, surely it must be (at least without significant investment into QA and redundancy). A physical wheel physically connected to bits turning the wheels, well, the power steering can do, but you can still turn the thing. Then, it's all software driven. And it…
I lost pneumatic steering during a turn, and it nearly tore my arm off. Not sure most people would be able to drive over a few mph without powered steering. Hopefully the steer by wire systems are backed by another steer by wire system, so it would be terrible luck if you lost both at the same time.
Seems like there's been relatively less attention on the 48V/800V architecture and the Ethernet comms/steer by wire setup, but I think those are what make this particular vehicle quite interesting. Up until recently I think 48V power electronics have been fairly rare outside of telecom/other high cost situations, but I suppose one major difference is that at 48V, transformer-based DC-DC conversion is usually a better…
why do steer by wire at all? Is it cheaper somehow?
By contrast, with steer-by-wire your system is essentially a black box you bolt on somewhere and then a more compact set of motors which can be coupled to the wheels at whatever is mechanically optimal.
The main reason not to do it is because your control systems need to be perfect. Conversely, above a certain vehicle mass, it's also not realistic to think that a human would be able to control the car anyway if the power steering failed, or that control system failures would still be devastating (i.e. if the power steering starts fighting you, you're going to lose).
The cheapest F150 Lightning (available today not in 2025) is $50k (vs $60k for Cybertruck), same 250 mile range but AWD standard , and is a regular pickup truck compatible with standard accessories and parts for doing actual pickup truck work. Of course, most of the buyers of either the Cybertruck or the F150 Lightning probably aren't getting much dirt under their fingernails. Everyone I know doing construction/trade…
From what I’ve heard, trucks are huge now due to various fuel efficiency regulations. A big truck is easier to make with fewer regulations. It seems like all the electric trucks want to prove they are bigger and tougher than the ICE trucks, but it seems like the perfect platform for small trucks, as the the efficiency standards would become a moot point. I’m looking for trucks like the old Ford Ranger from the late 9…
> Prices assume ... est. gas savings of $3,600 over 3 years. Seems shady
I'm saving $40k in 3 years if I don't buy one of these and I put gas in my car!
The cheapest F150 Lightning (available today not in 2025) is $50k (vs $60k for Cybertruck), same 250 mile range but AWD standard , and is a regular pickup truck compatible with standard accessories and parts for doing actual pickup truck work. Of course, most of the buyers of either the Cybertruck or the F150 Lightning probably aren't getting much dirt under their fingernails. Everyone I know doing construction/trade…
From what I’ve heard, trucks are huge now due to various fuel efficiency regulations. A big truck is easier to make with fewer regulations. It seems like all the electric trucks want to prove they are bigger and tougher than the ICE trucks, but it seems like the perfect platform for small trucks, as the the efficiency standards would become a moot point. I’m looking for trucks like the old Ford Ranger from the late 9…
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yes but it's not "saving" anything. You are still spending the money on the price tag.
Except that, if you own the Tesla long enough, the savings per month will eat up the difference in cost between the Tesla and significantly cheaper cars.
FWIW: I've owned a Tesla for 6 years now and I'm pretty sure I still spent more than I would have buying like a Prius or Volt or one of the other hybrid vehicles I was looking at at the time.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Everyone I know doing construction/trade work tends to drive much smaller pickups. Smaller than an F150? Maybe it's because I live in the Bay Area where there's more money being thrown around but trucks of that size and larger seem to be common for trade workers.
Yeah what a weird comment from GP. The refrain that no one needs a full-size truck, that they're mall crawlers or compensation for undersized you-know-what is common on this site but I've never seen it taken to the level that "trades workers largely don't drive full sized trucks, actually".
Most trades workers don't need full-sized pickup trucks. They do need an 8 foot bed. An amazing number of full-sized pickups come with 6.5 foot beds by default, and cost extra for the 8 foot. They won't put 2 tons of gravel in there; they will put plywood sheets and lumber and power tools; boxes of nails and air compressors; the toolbox that they always want, the toolbox for this job, and the toolbox with backup tools that you lend to the guy who 'forgot' stuff. (Not the guy who 'loses' stuff.) None of that needs the big V8.
If you've got a 4 seat cab, you'll be asked to take a couple people out to the other site, but if you've got a 2 seater, maybe you don't get asked.
Four wheel drive and big wheels mean bad fuel economy. If you need them, there's something wrong because the mud is supposed to go on your boots, not your wheels. Your pickup is not an earthmover or a wrecker. One exception: if you've got a really big truck, you might get wintertime snow-plow jobs. They really aren't fun.
Source: neighbor is a contractor.