What's unique or special about the Foundation Series?

[micromano]

Like many others, I got the "Your Limited-Edition Foundation Series Cybertruck is Ready to Order" email, but I don't want to pay $20,000 for what sounds like special badging.

Two questions:

1. For $20,000 extra, is there anything actually unique or special about the "Foundation Series" other than badging and earlier delivery?
2. Do I need to do anything affirmative in order to decline the "Foundation Series" reservation and get back in line for the "Regular Series?"

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[Celiboy]

That is what’s unique about it….its the Foundation Series. So for $20K you’re getting a delivery some time in 2024 (depending on ordered trim) and the other bells and whistles they added. No one has any idea when the non FS trucks will be available to order or when they will be delivered. They could start sending invites out for them next week or this time next year. The question isn’t what’s special or unique about it because if you’re not willing to pay extra does it really matter? The question is do you want to pay extra for one now or wait who knows how long for the opportunity to come again? Some are choosing to pay extra and buy now, some are waiting. The choice is yours.

 

[cvalue13]

Aside from badging, the interior trim work is different, esp in the AWD

the other items included are either optional at configuration, or can be purchased through Tesla.com

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

That is what’s unique about it….its the Foundation Series. So for $20K you’re getting a delivery some time in 2024 (depending on ordered trim) and the other bells and whistles they added. No one has any idea when the non FS trucks will be available to order or when they will be delivered. They could start sending invites out for them next week or this time next year. The question isn’t what’s special or unique about it because if you’re not willing to pay extra does it really matter? The question is do you want to pay extra for one now or wait who knows how long for the opportunity to come again? Some are choosing to pay extra and buy now, some are waiting. The choice is yours.

That is exactly it; we do not know when they will offer non-FS, what the ramp rate will be, etc. The FS at least lets us get into a real queue.

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

Aside from badging, the interior trim work is different, esp in the AWD

the other items included are either optional at configuration, or can be purchased through Tesla.com

Do you know what the interior trim differences are? There have been some vague statements but nothing definitive.

 

[cvalue13]

Do you know what the interior trim differences are? There have been some vague statements but nothing definitive.

these being things that Tesla can decide on a lark to change, nobody should go all in on it - but

the white trim panels in the AWD is special to the Foundation series (other than the 20 AWD showroom models)

as for the Foundation beast, it may either end up identical to a non-Foundation beast, or they may have gone a bit extra with the alcantara in the Foundation

but given that the Foundation AWD definitely has series-exclusive trim, I’ll be surprised to find the Foundation beast doesn’t have a few extra materials flourishes as well

 

[Gigahorse]

$27.5k extra with the tax incentive loss

You get some grab bag goodies from Tesla, and get to skip ahead of the reservation list line a bit from the people ahead of you that passed don the option

 

[JBee]

Don't forget you get the Tesla Powershare gear and FSD included in the AWD as well as the Beast. In the Beast you get an extra $4k install allowance. Plus most of the accessories except the light bar.

Adds up to around $15k so it's not just "badging" and early delivery time that you get.

 

[scottf200]

These were in another thread.
They are not mine.
Apologize to the author as I forgot to capture that. [Update: @Bkb13 post here]


AWD Dual

AWD Tri-Beast

 

[Celiboy]

How white trim panels is a "bonus" is beyond me. Black seats with white door panels looks ugly.

Not a fan either.

 

[Nidavellir]

Not to mention you are actually paying the extra 20k for a Beta Series (AKA: Founders Series) to be a problems tester

 

[cvalue13]

These were in another thread.
They are not mine.
Apologize to the author as I forgot to capture that.


AWD Dual

AWD Tri-Beast

im dubious if including the $4K install credit in the Beast Config

I mean, I get it but some won’t utilize that while others will have to come out of pocket a LOT more than $4K for those installs

Many will find they can’t or won’t want to use that associated PowerShare equipment at all.




meanwhile, the chart fails to capture value loss of people who had FSD locked in at $7K (assuming Tesla ever honors that)


in all, these charts don’t really tell us any more or less than if someone built one for eg the deltas between Lightning trim ranges

 

[JGTESLA]

im dubious if including the $4K install credit in the Beast Config

I mean, I get it but some won’t utilize that while others will have to come out of pocket a LOT more than $4K for those installs

Many will find they can’t or won’t want to use that associated PowerShare equipment at all.




meanwhile, the chart fails to capture value loss of people who had FSD locked in at $7K (assuming Tesla ever honors that)


in all, these charts don’t really tell us any more or less than if someone built one for eg the deltas between Lightning trim ranges

What do you think the install cost will typically be? Having never installed any equipment like this, I don’t have a good benchmark.

 

[scottf200]

im dubious if including the $4K install credit in the Beast Config

I mean, I get it but some won’t utilize that while others will have to come out of pocket a LOT more than $4K for those installs

Many will find they can’t or won’t want to use that associated PowerShare equipment at all.

meanwhile, the chart fails to capture value loss of people who had FSD locked in at $7K (assuming Tesla ever honors that)

in all, these charts don’t really tell us any more or less than if someone built one for eg the deltas between Lightning trim ranges

I think the point many are making is that the Tesla Foundation pricing is a large contrast to a normal dealership "market adjustment" situation. The Foundation actually gives you additional things and if you were going to get most of them then the deal could be rationalized as reasonable much easier than just being early/first in a tight supply market.

The $4K credit usage could vary widely. I bet there are cases where it is much more (older home, or detached garage, or main panel in opposite corner of the house in the basement, etc) and others where it is a few feet of appropriate heavy AWG wire.

 

[cvalue13]

I think the point many are making is that the Tesla Foundation pricing is a large contrast to a normal dealership "market adjustment" situation. The Foundation actually gives you additional things and if you were going to get most of them then the deal could be rationalized as reasonable much easier than just being early/first in a tight supply market.

oh no doubt

the Foundation is a different trim. that's all. it's reflected that way in the Tesla website (and code), and it will be reflected that way with the relevant regulatory bodies.

just like a Lightning XLT is a different trim from a Lightning Platinum.


if *that* much is lost of folks, there's little helping them.


assuming that obvious point, I was making only the further observation that if one wants to go "add up" the value of e.g. a Lightning Lariat ER vs a Lightning Platinum trim, they'll also wonder if $13K is rationally related to larger wheels/tires, better leather seats, and an upgraded sound system, plus some 'Platinum' badging.

but it would be strange to wonder aloud whether there are folks who want to pay for the Platinum trim.



Only difference here, is Tesla is at first only offering the Platinum trim, and people who want a Lariat ER will have to wait.

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