Depreciation concerns, especially for Foundation Series

[TeslaFANa]

If you are worried about depreciation, that’s probably a sign that you should wait. The Foundation series is for us foolish junkies that don’t care about depreciation and just want it now. Waiting will 100% be cheaper and suffer less depreciation. I am selling my Model X for less than I want right now because the same car I bought for ~120k, you can get for ~$99k brand new. Tesla also makes improvements faster than other manufacturers, which results in faster “perceived” depreciation as well.

The truck is awesome, but if you are worried, then wait. I doubt you will regret waiting, but you may regret buying.

Perfect answer IMHO

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[TickTock]

Only worry about depreciation if you plan to sell soon keeping in mind there will always be something better on the horizon. So the things I think about is what might Tesla (or other EV truck mfrs) do in the next 5 years that will make me feel compelled to upgrade. More range? HUD? Midgate? Better turning circle? Rear cross traffic alert? Tesla is not quick to refresh their vehicles so I personally don't anticipate anything soon that will make me wish I had waited.

 

[mark555055c]

All vehicles depreciate heavily in the first couple years from new. Don't buy a mass production vehicle expecting it to hold it's value.

A person should only buy a new mass production vehicle if they expect to keep it and use it for 5+ years.

 

[jf64k]

No worries here.

I was on the fence for two months (invite 01/18, configured 03/15 AWD). “Should I wait for non-FS? What about iterative improvements (like with our 2020 MYLR’s after we bought them - Amber turn signals, laminated glass, comfort suspension, Ryzen, updated interior, etc)? Early adopter issues? White vs Grey interior?”

All that went right out the window when I took delivery on 05/30, haha!! My only regret is that I waited two months to configure, and lost two months with this awesome machine.

I agree with @Derektsla though: If you’re worried about depreciation, then that may be a sign you should wait.

As I said, no worries about that here. My CT will be worth what it’s worth when I sell it sometime in the future (like my MYLR that I’m now selling, haha!!). Meanwhile, I’m loving this truck.

 

[txtravwill]

I am in a position to order an FSCT. I am concerned that the cost of NFSCT trucks (-$20,000) will absolutely crater the resale value of FSCT’s, especially if FSD continues to only be $99/month and there continues to be so many delays with the promised FS package components. Ive seen so many here who have been waiting for years for their truck have to pass on the FS trucks for those same reasons.

Some naysayers are predicting the FSCT’s wont be worth much more than $60-70k by the end of the year, which i doubt, but definitely well under $100,000 once NFS Beasts start selling for 99k, and people can claim the tax break on the dual motor…

How do you all think fs trucks will depreciate in a year or so?

This is silly, of course it will depreciate, that is normal. Those odd COVID times are behind us and even now we have economic pressure that has cars not selling, high interest rates, bad jobs reports (being made up for see that last year most jobs went to illegals, etc.).

So I'd expect the usual 15-35% depreciation. The highest rates are usually on luxury cars like the X7/X5/S Series, etc... but we are seeing that lately on TVs also so perhaps not at end of year, but at the end of your first year of ownership, expect 20%+ in value drop, more if you drive a lot of extra miles, are hard on the truck causing some additional imperfections, etc. The redeeming factor may be that the $80K new price tag expected won't include all the options of the FS, like FSD, AT wheels/tires, perhaps some even think other options like interior, likely tonneau will be, etc. They have to compete with Rivian starting at $69K now also a bit (but losing on each truck still).

I paid the $100K for a dual motor, taxes/title/fees, etc. made it $109K or so I think right? Getting that $2500 credit at least for future spend. But I'd expect my CT to be work about $80K in a year hopefully like all the other similar ones. Throwing a nice PPF wrap on it so perhaps could help out $5K or so.

 

[motleytwins]

I am in a position to order an FSCT. I am concerned that the cost of NFSCT trucks (-$20,000) will absolutely crater the resale value of FSCT’s, especially if FSD continues to only be $99/month and there continues to be so many delays with the promised FS package components. Ive seen so many here who have been waiting for years for their truck have to pass on the FS trucks for those same reasons.

Some naysayers are predicting the FSCT’s wont be worth much more than $60-70k by the end of the year, which i doubt, but definitely well under $100,000 once NFS Beasts start selling for 99k, and people can claim the tax break on the dual motor…

How do you all think fs trucks will depreciate in a year or so?

in my humble opinion, it doesn’t really matter. The value of any object is what you place on it at the time you buy it. If you’re worried about depreciation on any vehicle, then I would say don’t buy a vehicle, because every vehicle is going to depreciate significantly the minute you drive it off the lot. You should buy the truck for the sheer enjoyment and not even think about future resale value. Again, just my humble opinion.

 

[Coagulation]

No worries here.

I was on the fence for two months (invite 01/18, configured 03/15 AWD). “Should I wait for non-FS? What about iterative improvements (like with our 2020 MYLR’s after we bought them - Amber turn signals, laminated glass, comfort suspension, Ryzen, updated interior, etc)? Early adopter issues? White vs Grey interior?”

All that went right out the window when I took delivery on 05/30, haha!! My only regret is that I waited two months to configure, and lost two months with this awesome machine.

I agree with @Derektsla though: If you’re worried about depreciation, then that may be a sign you should wait.

As I said, no worries about that here. My CT will be worth what it’s worth when I sell it sometime in the future (like my MYLR that I’m now selling, haha!!). Meanwhile, I’m loving this truck.

Same boat. This forum is great but I think it got to my head a little so I sat on the invite, waiting to beat the system with non-fs.

Then i realized that in mid-late 2025 I’d be thinking about the same thing with the 2026-2027 models with xyz improvements, better incentives etc.

Got my truck yesterday and this thing is absolutely ridiculous.

 

[CyberTW]

There you GO !!!! Go ahead and get it ... my family was like its weird shape ... its 100K ... I said I have been waiting for 4.5 years for this F thing ... I cant wait more, someone is knocking my door ... agree its extra but that's it ... no more ... now after I got it ... my whole family is like we want to go in CT .. its a life changer ... hahahaha ...

This is what I am doing with my CT ...

Awesome!! Right on. Ya I will probably DIY down the road . My little girls always talk about seeing “daddy’s truck” out and about haha…though I don’t have one yet

 

[panthar]

Same boat. This forum is great but I think it got to my head a little so I sat on the invite, waiting to beat the system with non-fs.

Then i realized that in mid-late 2025 I’d be thinking about the same thing with the 2026-2027 models with xyz improvements, better incentives etc.

Got my truck yesterday and this thing is absolutely ridiculous.

ridiculous .... seriously .... it messes you up

 

[cgladue]

I am in a position to order an FSCT. I am concerned that the cost of NFSCT trucks (-$20,000) will absolutely crater the resale value of FSCT’s, especially if FSD continues to only be $99/month and there continues to be so many delays with the promised FS package components. Ive seen so many here who have been waiting for years for their truck have to pass on the FS trucks for those same reasons.

Some naysayers are predicting the FSCT’s wont be worth much more than $60-70k by the end of the year, which i doubt, but definitely well under $100,000 once NFS Beasts start selling for 99k, and people can claim the tax break on the dual motor…

How do you all think fs trucks will depreciate in a year or so?

Who cares, its a truck, drive it till its worthless.

 

[Pablito3]

Depreciation concern should not really be an issue. If you are worried about depreciation then you shouldn’t be buying a vehicle at all. Because that is what most vehicles do, they depreciate. If you want to minimize depreciation for a truck get a base version Tacoma.

Also the Foundation vs non foundation is not really as big a difference as most people seem to think. Everyone is focused on the $20k difference, except if you get the non foundation with the same options the foundation ends up being about $5k more. It should be apparent if $5k is a determining factor for you, then you should really think long and hard why you are buying such an expensive depreciating asset.

Yes non foundation could be better for some who don’t want FSD, don’t want the OEM upgraded wheels and don’t want the other accessories that come with foundation. Yes there is the potential tax credit for a bare bones AWD coming at some point, that is a valid reason to wait assuming you don’t have a business entity with taxable income you can purchase the foundation series under.

The reality is that the foundation series CT is an expensive vehicle and a lot of people probably shouldn’t be buying it unless: #1 they can afford it or it fills a need that some other cheaper vehicle can’t fill for some reason.

End of the day the CT is just a vehicle, its gets you from point A to point B and has the ability to haul cargo and tow. It is a luxury to buy something that costs more but has the same utility as a less expensive alternative.

Not trying to offend anyone just trying to say what needs to be said.

 

[GFleck]

The Foundation series is for us foolish junkies that don’t care about depreciation

Yea... ok, you're not wrong ?? Pretty smart on Teslas part, and it's not like they put a gun to our heads right.

 

[GFleck]

Worth doing some homework on the tax credit. Heard someone say they didn’t qualify for it because of income.

This is likley true for a lot of FS buyers.

 

[GFleck]

Of course it's going to depreciate. It's more akin to a computer on wheels than a conventional ICE vehicle. And everyone knows how rapidly computing devices lose value.

Much sooner than most people imagine, EV's in general - and the Cybertruck in particular - are going to be lots better than those being sold today. (Among other things, I'll point out that the 4680 has been a very large disappointment for Tesla and that may very well prompt a move towards a different battery chemistry/architecture... sooner than you think).

So what. We've lived in that should-I-buy-now-or-should-I-wait world for a long time with computing stuff. This is no different. You can dither forever waiting for the next new, better thing. Or you can buy the thing, enjoy it, and get on with life.

The Foundation Series will depreciate a bit more than the soon-to-be non-Foundation Cybertrucks. But here's the thing... the longer you hang onto a vehicle, the less that matters.

For either.

What he said ? ?%

 

[Zorro]

If you are worried about depreciation, that’s probably a sign that you should wait. The Foundation series is for us foolish junkies that don’t care about depreciation and just want it now. Waiting will 100% be cheaper and suffer less depreciation. I am selling my Model X for less than I want right now because the same car I bought for ~120k, you can get for ~$99k brand new. Tesla also makes improvements faster than other manufacturers, which results in faster “perceived” depreciation as well.

The truck is awesome, but if you are worried, then wait. I doubt you will regret waiting, but you may regret buying.

This is where I’m at with this. Not for one minute did I think about it the trick depreciating as I’m fully aware that it will and not worried about as I’m not flipping it. I wanted my truck no and that’s what I paid for. Not so much everything else if that makes sense.

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