For Those Waiting for Non-FS Cybertrucks -- Here's the Flip Side to Consider

[GatorCyber]

Tesla has advertised and publicly stated the AWD is $79990 and will 100% qualify for the full $7500 tax credit.

So… let’s do some basic math

Current AWD FS: $99990
Non-FS AWD $79990- $7500= $72499
Savings: $27500 so far

Now for the assumptions:

1. 20" Cyber Wheels w/35" AT Tires: $4,000 Rebuttal: We can buy later and have 2 sets of wheels/tires. One for highway driving and one for when we wanna do some trails. Or, I can go aftermarket and spend the same money and get a better wheel/tire combo, maybe even go to 37’s for an even better trail experience.
Savings: down to $23500 if I spend $4000 on an “off-road” option.

2. White Decor: $1,000
Rebuttal: I personally prefer the stealth grey after seeing the white in person and having driven one around for awhile. So I’ll save the $1000.
Savings $23500- no change

3. FSD: $7,000 - $8,000 (can be dismissed since it can be bought later)
Rebuttal: FSD is currently $8000 and software does not count against the tax credit MSRP pricing model, so it can be added penalty free. Also have the option to add it for $99/mo once it Becomes available for Cybertruck.
Savings $15500 assuming FSD is added during purchase .

4. Premium Connectivity will Require Subscription ($100 $10/mo)
Rebuttal: I’d have to keep the truck for 129 years to spend the savings so far on premium connectivity. I’ll spend the $10/mo.

5. Premium Audio: $1,000
Rebuttal: standard on AWD and Cyberbest

7. Heated/Cooled Ventilated Front Seats: $1,000
Rebuttal: standard on AWD and Cyberbest

8. “Premium Accessories”
Rebuttal: PASS- not worth the hype

so in closing…yeah I think the $20k premium for FS was a scam. That’s just my opinion

Where did you confirm the $7,500 credit? It doesn't show on the EPA page that just updated today to include Model 3 LR

Sponsored

 

[SCTesla]

Where did you confirm the $7,500 credit? It doesn't show on the EPA page that just updated today to include Model 3 LR

Hope.

 

[Jclark87]

Tesla website lists it as eligible for credit. Since it’s current form (FS) is over the $80k it doesn’t shop up on the EPA site, but when the price is reduced for non-FA it will become eligible.

 

[mongo]

Tesla website lists it as eligible for credit. Since it’s current form (FS) is over the $80k it doesn’t shop up on the EPA site, but when the price is reduced for non-FA it will become eligible.

That is for businesses via the Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit (45W), not the general consumer Clean Vehicle Credit (30D). Commercial lacks the anti-China provisions, MSRP and income limits.

 

[Stuck4ger]

That is for businesses via the Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit (45W), not the general consumer Clean Vehicle Credit (30D). Commercial lacks the anti-China provisions, MSRP and income limits.

Do you have to track biz vs personal usage if you take such a deduction and register it under your LLC?

 

[Vagis9780]

There's been a broad perception that the Foundation Series gives us a single substantial feature - Full Self-Driving - and a handful of minor things. The balance of the $20K upcharge being a "tax" for being able to get a Cybertruck early.

The flip side of that perception is that when non-FS trucks arrive, they'll simply be like the FS vehicles, lacking only FSD and badging. And with the $7.5K Federal Incentive on top of the $20K reduction in price, the value proposition of that non-FS truck is going to be vastly better.

It's gonna be a little more complicated.

When you peer more closely at all those "minor" things included with the FS, it starts to become clear that that non-FS-truck-that-qualifies-for-the-$7.5K-Federal-Incentive is going to be quite a bit different from the FS trucks. And not having FSD is the least of it, since FSD can always be purchased after-the-fact, or by subscription.

Optional upgrades I think we can reasonably expect on non-FS trucks:

• 20" Cyber Wheels w/35" AT Tires: $4,000
• White Decor: $1,000
• FSD: $7,000 - $8,000 (can be dismissed since it can be bought later)
• Premium Connectivity will Require Subscription ($100 $10/mo)
• Premium Audio: $1,000
• Heated/Cooled Ventilated Front Seats: $1,000

Some of these will probably be combined. But the bottom line is that none of them, save FSD, can be had without bumping the base price of an AWD non-FS model above the $80K threshold for the Federal Incentive. If you want that incentive you'll have to forego any upgrades.

For many, losing the bigger wheels and AT tires is a squinty-eyed moment. Because for a lot of "truck things," they're strongly encouraged.

The premium connectivity is easy to dismiss because, hey, what's a hundred bucks a month? But that alone, over ten years, would be worth $10,000 $1,000.

Subscribe to FSD over that same ten year ownership and it's over ten grand.

That wonderful audio system that everyone talks about? You'll lose some of that.

And after enjoying heated seats on my Model 3, that Heated/Cooled Ventilated Seat option no longer strikes me as an affectation. I'd really hate to not have that.

The bottom line is that the Foundation Series Cybertruck really is a better value than a lot of people have given it credit for. Doesn't mean it's any more approachable. A hundred grand is a whole lot more than most of us have ever spent on a vehicle. But compared to the option-upgrade pricing that's coming on the non-FS vehicles, the FS trucks come off looking pretty good.

Left off Bi-Directional Charging. I live in New Orleans and having Whole House battery backup is a big benefit (to me) and was deciding factor to order FS-Cyber Truck. I was considering having a PowerWall 3 installed, the quoted price to install one PW was $18k. With FS-CT, I receive the battery backup equivalent of 4 PW, Plus I get to drive my battery backup instead of hanging on the house in case of the next power outage!

 

[Paul Scott]

I would bet Powershare for Home Backup will be an optional upgrade charge. It isn’t for everyone but some will use it.

 

[CKLenYLA]

I would bet Powershare for Home Backup will be an optional upgrade charge. It isn’t for everyone but some will use it.

Exactly. A lot of the document that Tesla has says PowerShare is specifically for FS truck (at least for now)

 

[dahuman]

Please show me people who are having issues with their "composites"? The only issues I've seen regarding the Stainless Steel is alignment. The environmental "rust" that occurred during shipping just comes off. NO ONE IS SUFFERING DUE TO BAD MIXING OF COMPOSITES!

okay, it's an alloy, I'm not here to debate lord the names of compositions anyways, I'll most likely end up wrapping it at the end of the day if i get it since if you don't clean it often then dust build up can still mess with the material and make it rust in the long run either way and I plan to travel with my future purchase a lot like I do all my vehicles. It's not some godly material that's going to never rust under any condition lol. I'm not wrong about the impurity part either, if there are impurities in the steel then you will see more problems faster, if you are lucky and don't have that problem yet then awesome and I don't see that being an issue when my reservation is up anyways, manufacturing defects happen, that's across the board and not just Tesla.

 

[Dusty]

Do you have to track biz vs personal usage if you take such a deduction and register it under your LLC?

It's not required. Your accountant will ask for it to file away, and if you don't have it they'll wag their finger. However, be aware, if you get audited and you have no paperwork. . .

Also, having a vehicle registered under your business and never filing paperwork is a red flag.

 

[Stuck4ger]

It's not required. Your accountant will ask for it to file away, and if you don't have it they'll wag their finger. However, be aware, if you get audited and you have no paperwork. . .

Also, having a vehicle registered under your business and never filing paperwork is a red flag.

That’s my point, although I have an LLC that normally makes me money, it pales in comparison to my primary job and it’s not worth my time to figure out home office and biz expenses, it’s simpler and less headache to just pay the taxes.

 

[GatorCyber]

I would bet Powershare for Home Backup will be an optional upgrade charge. It isn’t for everyone but some will use it.

All you need to do is order the equipment for your house. no extra options needed for it to work with CT

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

I don't really understand how there could be so many people who can afford to pay $80K for a truck but not $100K. If $20K breaks you you really can't afford it. So I am doubting that offering the non-FS is really going to unlock a lot of new buyers. Price will have to drop a lot more for that and Tesla will have to strip out a lot more than trim to make that happen (like four wheel steer and drive by wire).

I suspect that there are more buyers balking at the huge increase in price than those who cannot afford the price. It doesn't really matter if they buy or not; that is their choice. I have to say that I am more than pleased with my CT and that pleasure was worth $20K.

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

Tesla has advertised and publicly stated the AWD is $79990 and will 100% qualify for the full $7500 tax credit.

So… let’s do some basic math

Current AWD FS: $99990
Non-FS AWD $79990- $7500= $72499
Savings: $27500 so far

Now for the assumptions:

1. 20" Cyber Wheels w/35" AT Tires: $4,000 Rebuttal: We can buy later and have 2 sets of wheels/tires. One for highway driving and one for when we wanna do some trails. Or, I can go aftermarket and spend the same money and get a better wheel/tire combo, maybe even go to 37’s for an even better trail experience.
Savings: down to $23500 if I spend $4000 on an “off-road” option.

2. White Decor: $1,000
Rebuttal: I personally prefer the stealth grey after seeing the white in person and having driven one around for awhile. So I’ll save the $1000.
Savings $23500- no change

3. FSD: $7,000 - $8,000 (can be dismissed since it can be bought later)
Rebuttal: FSD is currently $8000 and software does not count against the tax credit MSRP pricing model, so it can be added penalty free. Also have the option to add it for $99/mo once it Becomes available for Cybertruck.
Savings $15500 assuming FSD is added during purchase .

4. Premium Connectivity will Require Subscription ($100 $10/mo)
Rebuttal: I’d have to keep the truck for 129 years to spend the savings so far on premium connectivity. I’ll spend the $10/mo.

5. Premium Audio: $1,000
Rebuttal: standard on AWD and Cyberbest

7. Heated/Cooled Ventilated Front Seats: $1,000
Rebuttal: standard on AWD and Cyberbest

8. “Premium Accessories”
Rebuttal: PASS- not worth the hype

so in closing…yeah I think the $20k premium for FS was a scam. That’s just my opinion

I am more than a bit surprised that everyone downplays lifetime premium connectivity. Yes, its $10/month right now but there is nothing on God's earth that suggests it will stay that way. As they increase the resolution of the screens and the amount of data being uploaded/downloaded Tesla costs will go up and they have to pass that on to the owners. It may only be $120/year now but I could easily see it go way up in the next year or so.

I suspect that a lot of potential buyers will see real value in the power sharing option. You did not mention it at all, but the way I am looking at it. Tesla just saved me $20K on battery backup for my house but gave me more than 2 days of operating time from the truck. So I pay $4K for the installation but I get the gateway and the peace of mind of having quiet backup power. That eats up your savings.

That said, scam is in the eye of the beholder. I have never thought of Tesla is the kind of company that would scam its customers. I do think that they charge a lot for accessories but so do other OEMs.

 

[CyberTW]

I am more than a bit surprised that everyone downplays lifetime premium connectivity. Yes, its $10/month right now but there is nothing on God's earth that suggests it will stay that way. As they increase the resolution of the screens and the amount of data being uploaded/downloaded Tesla costs will go up and they have to pass that on to the owners. It may only be $120/year now but I could easily see it go way up in the next year or so.

I suspect that a lot of potential buyers will see real value in the power sharing option. You did not mention it at all, but the way I am looking at it. Tesla just saved me $20K on battery backup for my house but gave me more than 2 days of operating time from the truck. So I pay $4K for the installation but I get the gateway and the peace of mind of having quiet backup power. That eats up your savings.

That said, scam is in the eye of the beholder. I have never thought of Tesla is the kind of company that would scam its customers. I do think that they charge a lot for accessories but so do other OEMs.

I think the lifetime FSD is the biggest sleeper.. sure it isn’t even on the truck right now, but once FSD is unsupervised (it will get there and sooner than many people think), then 8k is a BARGAIN..
my two cents
[add edit]. Like Elon said, FSD will be like AirBnB eventually, so you could conceivably make $500-1k a month with it unsupervised.. all of a sudden, 8k is pittance what it is worth

Sponsored