My 3 hour test drive of the Cybertruck

[tingmo13]

What's the biggest vehicle you have driven regularly in your car ownership history?

Tesla model Y

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[RustyLopez]

I had the windshield tinted when I had the side windows done. STEK ceramic 80%, so the tint is barely noticeable, but the ceramic in the film makes a big difference in heat transmission. I had the side windows tinted down to the legal limit in my state.

 

[CYBRTGR]

I’m in San Antonio and have 27k+ miles worth of CT experience. The steer-by-wire is phenomenal and driving was easy to adapt to. It drives and turns like a sedan. Use the front camera to help you get used to pulling into a parking spot. The overhead view helps as well.

Backing up into a parking space took a little longer to adapt to given the rear wheel steering. Now backing up is effortless.

Get the front windshield tinted (like I have have done with all my Teslas). There is also a cover/shade for the top glass, but I don’t use/need it.

Regarding A pillars, use the front camera. Just press the button on the steering wheel. You can easily see where the nose is.

And the FSD is great driving aid (and is improving).

As others have said, just get it!

 

[cyberHoward]

This drive was mid day around noon with a lot of traffic.

My question is did you guys have the same experience I had when you first drove the cybertruck and did it take much getting used to. First of all I've not driven a full size pickup in 7 years and the CT sure seemed big. I think It will take some getting used too all over again.
I couldn't quite tell where I was in the process of getting into parking stalls. there are a multitude of camera views on the display screen which will take some time getting used to also.

The rear wheel steering did not seem to help as much as I thought it would, but that ghostly looking overhead view definitely helped parking.

The Texas Sun was directly overhead and man it was definitely hot in the cabin, Please tell me I can buy some kind of screen for the overhead glass.

The inability to see the corners because of the A pillars blocking the view that Sandy Munro talked about on his first drive is really a thing. I hope the cameras can take care of it and that I learn to easily switch camera views to see it. Perhaps one gets used to it and just knows where the left or right nose is with out having to look at the camera front camera view.

All things considered though I really liked the truck. It was very quiet, smooth riding, and very comfortable I need to have a 48 hour test drive. Not sure my wife would drive it because it's big like the Tundra we had seven years ago.

This truck fills the need to replace my nearly 8 year old Ridgeline which doesn't have all the driver assist features that I think a 78 year old guy needs.

You must have never driven a truck. I had several Rams before the CyberTruck and this thing turns on a dime compared to any truck and most cars. While driving, it makes cornering really comfortable for larger vehicle. The ride is nothing short of nuts given the size of the tires and it is a truck. I think it rides like a big sedan and drives like a porsche. If you drive it for a week and try to go back to anything else it will feel archaic. I had a friend drive it for an hour and he told me I ruined him. He drove home in his chevy and it felt horrible.

 

[CyberGus]

the CT sure seemed big

It is big. Drives smaller than it's size. (Parking, not so much lol)

The rear wheel steering did not seem to help as much as I thought it would

RWS effect is subtle, but you'll miss it when it's gone. I'm in a Model S loaner and I keep clipping curbs with the rear tires

Please tell me I can buy some kind of screen for the overhead glass.

The glass roof is well tinted, most of that heat is from the giant windshield. My AC has no trouble keeping up, tho.

The inability to see the corners because of the A pillars

True, the A-pillars really stick out there, but every vehicle has its blind spots. You'll acclimate.

 

[HaulingAss]

It is smaller than the F150, (which sells fairly well). Not everyone is in the market for a full-size pickup and that's okay. And the CyberTruck is nearly full size.

The Cybertruck is smaller on the outside than any F-150 I'm familiar with, but it has more cargo and people volume than our F-150 Supercab, by far. More payload and towing capacity too. And no one would say our F-150 is not a full-sized 1/2 ton pickup. Sure, the bed of my Ford is 5 inches longer, but the Cybertruck bed has more volume and comes with that wonderful automatic locking tonneau that magically disappears when you don't want it (I love the "clickity-clack" train sound it makes when it opens and closes). The BakFlip tonneau on our F-150 is in the way when opened up and a chore to open and close each time.

My point is the Cybertruck is firmly in full-size truck territory with it's 2500 lb. payload and 11,000 lbs. towing capacities even though it's much easier to maneuver and park in tight spaces. I regularly park it in narrower spots than my F-150 because it's impervious to door dings and easier to get in and out with the four wheel steering and steer-by-wire. I can't imagine ever going back!

 

[axhoaxho]

Though the wheelbase of my Cybertruck is a bit longer than my RAM 1500 Classic (crew cab with 5'7" bed,) the Cybertruck is easier to maneuver around corners...... probably thanks to the four wheel steering and shorter overall length.

With the air suspension, the ride of the Cybertruck is pretty comfortable. Driving the Cybertruck is like driving a longer and taller version of our Model S.

 

[roadrunner32]

What's the biggest vehicle you have driven regularly in your car ownership history?

The full size 2009 Tundra, it bucked up and down on the freeway (exaggerated). sold it and got the ridgeline which drove like SUV and was great until experienced a Tesla..

 

[roadrunner32]

Did the test truck have self driving? When I took one for an extra long test, it did, and it could park itself with ease. With that you could go right to the front of a Costco and slip into a tight spot looking like a pro.

For me, I'm coming from a Challenger, which has a big front and awful blind spots on the A and C pillar. Even without cameras the visibility in the CT is much better. And it turns tighter. It felt "big", but generally more nimble and easier than my old car in almost every way, except that it rides higher even in low settings, which makes judging where you are in lanes, etc, a bit more challenging. The height as obvious perks, of course, too, like seeing over other cars at intersections and getting your coffee at a drive through.

Overall a really, really great driving large car, I'd say easily the best ever for something with size.

It had self driving and I used it as much as much as possible. Not aware it could self park.

 

[Cactusrick]

This drive was mid day around noon with a lot of traffic.

My question is did you guys have the same experience I had when you first drove the cybertruck and did it take much getting used to. First of all I've not driven a full size pickup in 7 years and the CT sure seemed big. I think It will take some getting used too all over again.
I couldn't quite tell where I was in the process of getting into parking stalls. there are a multitude of camera views on the display screen which will take some time getting used to also.

The rear wheel steering did not seem to help as much as I thought it would, but that ghostly looking overhead view definitely helped parking.

The Texas Sun was directly overhead and man it was definitely hot in the cabin, Please tell me I can buy some kind of screen for the overhead glass.

The inability to see the corners because of the A pillars blocking the view that Sandy Munro talked about on his first drive is really a thing. I hope the cameras can take care of it and that I learn to easily switch camera views to see it. Perhaps one gets used to it and just knows where the left or right nose is with out having to look at the camera front camera view.

All things considered though I really liked the truck. It was very quiet, smooth riding, and very comfortable I need to have a 48 hour test drive. Not sure my wife would drive it because it's big like the Tundra we had seven years ago.

This truck fills the need to replace my nearly 8 year old Ridgeline which doesn't have all the driver assist features that I think a 78 year old guy needs.

I'm your age less a half dozen years - Yes the truck seems big and overwhelming -at first- but once you learn the cameras and the button on the steering wheel that turns on the front camera you'll get more comfortable. After a year I just took off the mirrors to see out the sides better. (yes- its not legal but safer) My cameras show the sides and rear views and with FSD - it's the greatest! I'm chauffeured around FSD!. It's fast, it's fun, it's safe. It's my last truck I'll ever own after 55 years of driving pickups 4x4 suburbans EXT etc.... I'm in AZ - it's HOT my Foundation Series CT came with a removable shade cover for the roof.... they sell them aftermarket too. The more you sit in the truck and play with all the options or watch the short videos the more fun you will have because it does so darn much - most of it automatically - or by voice commands - and now it has Grok - Buy it.

 

[roadrunner32]

I went back two days later to get a longer test drive to see how it was driving onto the ferry and in our driveway and would it fit under the house between the pilings. It did but a little more difficult to maneuver because of the curved approach.

I was very surprised they gave me the stripped down version and surprisingly too it was pretty good. However all my personal reasons to get the CT were missing. It would make a good work truck but at $70,000 it is still too expensive for that.

Biggest concern now is how does the stainless body hold up in the saltwater environment. It would be great to get info on that as we live 2 miles form the gulf and Galveston Bay is virtually in our front yard. It will be garaged but not for 3 months when I can enclose between the pilings.

 

[TheLastStarfighter]

It had self driving and I used it as much as much as possible. Not aware it could self park.

Yeah it's really, really easy to use. The screen shows all the available spots around you, you just tap the spot on the screen and the truck does the rest. Parks like a pro, too.

 

[CyberGus]

Biggest concern now is how does the stainless body hold up in the saltwater environment.

Salt is "not great" for stainless steel, but it won't ever rust out, just maybe some spots or discoloration that can be easily remedied with BKF/Citrisurf/etc.

Or, ceramic coat it. I'm planning on a DIY application if I can find a nice indoor place to do it.

 

[roadrunner32]

I saw three cybertrucks today on my drive into the city, where I usually see none.

 

[roadrunner32]

Salt is "not great" for stainless steel, but it won't ever rust out, just maybe some spots or discoloration that can be easily remedied with BKF/Citrisurf/etc.

Or, ceramic coat it. I'm planning on a DIY application if I can find a nice indoor place to do it.

I think you are right, I do know 304 SS does rust but it does not rust out like carbon steel. 316 doesn't. rust but is "brittle" I suppose 30X SS is somewhere in between I'll ask grok about 30x SS. Nevertheless I think like you say use BKF and Citrisurf.
I've decided not to wrap so ceramic coat is the thing to do.. That takes care of seagull poop too. we have ceramic coated the 4 year old Y twice now and it works great. Do you have a brand of ceramic coat to get. Good luck with it and be sure too post about it.

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