Unpopular opinion: I don't think your "reservation" spot matters

[newwave1331]

What is the most important feature, to you? SS? The look in general? To me, my use of a powered decently sized frunk on the R1T is one of the most "functional" options I utilize pretty regularly. Easy access, lockable, keeps things organized for small tools/cable chargers, tie-down straps, etc.
The jury is still out on just how useful/functional the frunk will be, but so far it looks like it's collateral damage due to the "form" of the CT, which would be unfortunate because the form is supposed to follow function for the CT. We will see in a month or so. I'm hoping it's close to the same size as the R1T.

All of the things you listed will fit in the cybertruck frunk. The cybertruck frunk is wider than R1T and will have a lower opening. The gear tunnel was the most innovative storage space on R1T IMO.

As for conversion rate guesses, I put it at below 30% will convert to purchases. Quite a bit of people ordered several cybertrucks to flip, try to rent out or just wanted to make a stupid youtube video. Some people are pleased with purchases they made while waiting on Cybertruck, like a R1T, Lightning, or Hummer. Some might want a Silverado/Sierra EV. Interest rates, inflation, general financial positions have changed. Someone might have had the plan to buy a vehicle in 2021 or 2022 and sell/trade for cybertruck. Many of those will be under water and prove harder to afford the cybertruck. Some reservation holder might have died (4+ years is a long time). Bonus depreciation is going down over the next couple of years so the business tax incentive is becoming less available. Then there is odd situations like mine where I sold my business and no longer need my 2nd or 3rd reservations.

I ordered 3 but I waited months between reservations. I had plans to replace my 2 ridgelines that my company was still using. I sold the company and the ridgelines so I might not follow through with the other 2 orders. I will keep them because I don't need the $200 at the moment.

I will definitely purchase my first order then I'll see when the next one come up for final configuration. If any worthy features are added/modified or if build quality improves, I take the new one and sell the old one. Same thing for my 3rd order. I'm morally against flipping (unless I'm adding value somehow) so unless I want it for myself, it will go to the next person in line.

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[cvalue13]

The frunk. Quite possibly the most unimportant feature on this entire vehicle. The fixation on this is bizarre.

have you driven a truck for a long time? Or had a truck with a sizeable Frunk?

Or is this just your armchair view absent direct experience?

Not that it has to be as important to you as anyone else; but that the opposite is also true

 

[PilotPete]

have you driven a truck for a long time? Or had a truck with a sizeable Frunk?

Or is this just your armchair view absent direct experience?

Not that it has to be as important to you as anyone else; but that the opposite is also true

I don’t know about him, but for me, I’ve had a frunk for more than 20 years. My current frunk will carry two carryon suitcases, or 10 regulation soccer balls. My trunk is small, won’t carry a suitcase, but will carry quite a bit, just not that deep. The only way to carry golf clubs is to not have a passenger. But with the top down, I can carry a 10’ board. (Or 12, or 14, or…)(Without checking any legal requirements!) And I’m not concerned about the frunk. I, too, think there is maybe just a touch too much bravado and emphasis on here about the frunk. I’ll be far more likely to toss whatever I have in the back seat/floor area than I am for the frunk. Right now, I use the passenger seat for storage when I drive alone, before I use the frunk, and before I use the trunk.

But I’m a family of 3, work use “hauling” will be mostly electronic gear that fits in a briefcase or 2, drive with my parents a bit when we go out to dinner together, don’t golf that often, have 45’ of depth in half my garage (still won’t park it in there) I’ll save the frunk for tools for the furniture installs when needed. (Small saw, drills, etc.) I rent a truck about 4 times a year, don’t care if they’re crew cabs or not, none have frunks. So I’m not a “truck guy”.

That being said, I’think we are going to be pleasantly surprised about the frunk.

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

I think OP is more saying a lot
Of people will have to bail out of purchasing the truck. And a lot of people will get moved up in doing so. OP is right. But by how many reservations right, no one knows.

Don’t have cash to buy it completely out right no hassle . Someone moves up in front of you. Didn’t figure insurance and can’t afford it tacked onto the monthly auto payment. Someone moves up. Intrest rates puts on too much a month so you bail. Someone moves in front. Every bank just declines to give you loan. Someone else moves in front. Already bought a Rivian and dont want the cybertruck someone moves in front. Lightning. Someone moves in front. For some reason you don’t like the end result of the truck and don’t get it. Someone else moves in front. You ordered first but you’re in Canada. someone moves in front. ETC.
I could be wrong on what OP is thinking lol

None of these arguments change the fact that there is a reservation queue and that Tesla will honor it. @HaulingAss said that there are ways (several) in which people can move up (or down) in the queue, and it has always worked this way with Tesla. But the OP suggested that the reservation numbers are BS altogether and that we will know the real order after 'real' deposits are required/made. Does that make sense?

We have about 6 weeks before the supposed delivery event. In that time, Tesla will have to make the configurator available to those who will be getting their trucks, and those people will have to complete their paperwork. I suspect they need about 2 weeks for that part. If Tesla were to suddenly required a deposit to be paid on top of everything else, and to give people a certain amount of time to respond, then things are getting very tight timewise. It may happen someday but I find it hard to believe that it will happen for those receiving trucks at the delivery event, and if not them, then why do it at all?

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

The frunk. Quite possibly the most unimportant feature on this entire vehicle. The fixation on this is bizarre.

People are stressed out and have to talk about 'something'. Those shots of the open frunk showed something we have never seen and I think that the amount of chatter is reasonable and expected. Is the frunk unimportant? Certainly compared to other features but once you filter them out the frunk becomes a differentiator and that is how people make purchase decisions (on differences).

 

[cvalue13]

We have about 6 weeks before the supposed delivery event. In that time, Tesla will have to make the configurator available to those who will be getting their trucks, and those people will have to complete their paperwork. I suspect they need about 2 weeks for that part.

this is not that type of “delivery event“

when it happens, it will be employees and insiders taking RC units

their “paperwork” or “configuration” likely won’t be anything like that of retail sales

 

[Outdoors]

Didn't take time to read more than the first page.

Line jumping happens all the time. As with the Model 3. Bought an S, and said hey I would like a 3 as well. Put in a reservation. At the time people on forums were complaining about lack of interior color choice.

If many recall the choices on the early 3 was black or black on inside. Some voiced displeasure. I got an online service person to give my chat to the model 3 project manager. They laughed, and I had a 2000# vin with Alcantara 2 days later.

I said something like I will take a car if it has 3 wheels and it's a model 3, don't care about the interior. I am sure I would have been like way back of the line. Flew to CA, and picked it up as a 2017 Christmas present.

Strange stuff happens. Depends on location and reservation outside of the "event". None of us know, but if you look at the other OEM's. They also have moved to this system. To kind of bolt everyone that stood in line is kind of a bad look. Hey I have all the other OEM's reserved as well. Except the Ford. I have no problem getting the Silverado if I get passed over. Ready to pull both triggers.

 

[CyberGus]

I don’t know about him, but for me, I’ve had a frunk for more than 20 years. My current frunk will carry two carryon suitcases, or 10 regulation soccer balls.

The DeLorean frunk can hold at least 15 sheets of paper

 

[firsttruck]

The DeLorean frunk can hold at least 15 sheets of paper

post-it note or A4 or legal or poster ?

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

Didn't take time to read more than the first page.

Line jumping happens all the time. As with the Model 3. Bought an S, and said hey I would like a 3 as well. Put in a reservation. At the time people on forums were complaining about lack of interior color choice.

If many recall the choices on the early 3 was black or black on inside. Some voiced displeasure. I got an online service person to give my chat to the model 3 project manager. They laughed, and I had a 2000# vin with Alcantara 2 days later.

I said something like I will take a car if it has 3 wheels and it's a model 3, don't care about the interior. I am sure I would have been like way back of the line. Flew to CA, and picked it up as a 2017 Christmas present.

Strange stuff happens. Depends on location and reservation outside of the "event". None of us know, but if you look at the other OEM's. They also have moved to this system. To kind of bolt everyone that stood in line is kind of a bad look. Hey I have all the other OEM's reserved as well. Except the Ford. I have no problem getting the Silverado if I get passed over. Ready to pull both triggers.

You say something that I am sure is true; a bunch of reservation holders complained and refused delivery, and that allowed you to take delivery on a car that was slated for someone else. That doesn't tell me that Tesla ignores the reservation number/order, only that there are ways and times when a person's reservation number isn't strictly adhered to, and probably by their own choice. If you were to tell me that Tesla intentionally skips reservation holders I would consider that very poor form.

Line 'jumping' (cutting) does happen all the time, and I am tired of challenging cutters, but that is an uncouth/uncivilized jerk that thinks only of themselves and what they want; and not a multinational corporation.

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

this is not that type of “delivery event“

when it happens, it will be employees and insiders taking RC units

their “paperwork” or “configuration” likely won’t be anything like that of retail sales

If they are given no choice in the trim, no choice in what or how to pay, and are not on the reservation list, then I guess you are right. The cars still have to have EPA placards and VIN numbers. Do RCs have all that? If not, how are they street legal?

Are you saying that you agree with the notion that monetary deposits will be required over a one-week period and that the reservation numbers will be ignored because that is what we were talking about.

 

[Outdoors]

You say something that I am sure is true; a bunch of reservation holders complained and refused delivery, and that allowed you to take delivery on a car that was slated for someone else. That doesn't tell me that Tesla ignores the reservation number/order, only that there are ways and times when a person's reservation number isn't strictly adhered to, and probably by their own choice. If you were to tell me that Tesla intentionally skips reservation holders I would consider that very poor form.

Line 'jumping' (cutting) does happen all the time, and I am tired of challenging cutters, but that is an uncouth/uncivilized jerk that thinks only of themselves and what they want; and not a multinational corporation.

Not sure when you got your 3, but there were hundreds of thousands in line ahead back in Dec 2017. I made an off comment, and it got that. This wasn't like a couple cars were headed to Omaha and I got one that someone canceled. They weren't even shipping cars anywhere yet outside of CA.

 

[Outdoors]

If they are given no choice in the trim, no choice in what or how to pay, and are not on the reservation list, then I guess you are right. The cars still have to have EPA placards and VIN numbers. Do RCs have all that? If not, how are they street legal?

Are you saying that you agree with the notion that monetary deposits will be required over a one-week period and that the reservation numbers will be ignored because that is what we were talking about.

My thoughts

There may be a token reservation holder with meaning from a location (Texas, etc) with a story. Most will be important people. Like Bonnie, and other long time Tesla owners, maybe a few locals, and a governor. Maybe 50 handovers. Would think more than the 3 launch. Just for comparison.

Would one really want an RC?

 

[cvalue13]

The cars still have to have EPA placards and VIN numbers. Do RCs have all that? If not, how are they street legal?

RCs have VIN numbers. The Betas have VIN numbers, too.

I’m not certain of the other details, though I suspect these aren’t typical “purchases” insofar as they’re basically getting late stage prototypes.

Are you saying that you agree with the notion that monetary deposits will be required over a one-week period and that the reservation numbers will be ignored because that is what we were talking about.

No no, I don’t really take any position on configuration reservation numbers other than that I would be cautious that the reservation numbers are concrete, especially in the long run.

On one hand, I would be shocked if Tesla didn’t mostly follow the configuration reservation numbers over at least the first few months.

On the other hand and at the same time, I would be maybe equally shocked if they were still following the configuration reservation numbers 18-24 months afterwards. And I wouldn’t be necessarily surprised if they abandoned the configuration reservation order sooner.

All separate from requiring a meaningful deposit upon configuration, which I’d assume will be the case. (I assume at least initially Tesla will send waves to batches of early reservation holders, allowing them to configure and solidify an order via material deposit).

That said: it’s also possible that how Tesla handles the configuration reservations will depend on how battery/production ramp is going; if they’re not building a lot for a while, then not a lot of harm in the time lag of configuration reservation batches; if/when instead they’re pumping CTs out, then they may be more likely to open up configuration to anyone willing to put down real deposits.

 

[CLAIRE]

I'm hoping I'll get a phone call one day in about a month's time or so and it will be Elon on the other side of the phone saying he would like to deliver the first cyber truck to me in person.

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