How to interact with curious people

[Speednet]

I learned early on that it makes the conversation much easier if you say "it's a Tesla" rather than "it's a Cybertruck".

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[wshunter]

I haven’t experienced any hostility in person. My truck is the only one in our area of Southern Illinois, so it gets a lot of attention. Wide-eyed waving kids in passing cars with windows rolled down are the most fun. I have had 3 people ask if I made it! ?. A number are just really excited to see “one in the wild”. One guy asked if it is armored. Another sped past me, drove ahead about a quarter mile to a stop sign, pulled over, got out and started taking pictures while smiling and giving thumbs up. Of course there are the usual questions. Two guys followed me into a tire place where I went to get my tractor tire fixed. They were electricians, knew all about CTs, were as excited as if they had seen Santa Claus! Helped get the heavy tractor wheel out, and even asked for a ride! ? I gave them show and tell, but no ride. There has been some hate stuff on local FB page, mostly staggering ignorance stupidly posted. Three recent ones - The owner must be a bad person and the “car” pictured must be very loud - you can’t carry anything in the bed - they are so dangerous they are uninsurable. And, of course, they are ugly.

 

[wshunter]

I learned early on that it makes the conversation much easier if you say "it's a Tesla" rather than "it's a Cybertruck".

Yep. I have started saying it’s a Tesla pickup. If they see in the vault, they see it is seriously a truck.

 

[sys700]

I am normally used to people curious around the CT everyday, poking inside (as sentry shows), comment a word or two as I exit / enter the car. That’s fine. And I feel happy to share too.

Today, we parked at a national historical site in southwest WA. One of the children was fuzzy and throwing a tantrum, siting on my wife’s legs on front passenger side crying. I wasn’t in good mood too, as we wasted a beautiful sunny Saturday morning doing nothing.
Two senior ladies walked by, knocked my driver side window. I didn’t want to, but to be polite, I lowered window.
Them: “what is this? Is it a car?
Me: “err……no, it is not a car.” (I was gonna say “it is a spaceship, we just landed on earth.” but not really in such a mood)
Them: “what is it?”
Me: “……it is a car.”
Them: “so it is a car. What name is this car?”
Me: “……Cybertruck”
Them: “what?”
Me: “Cybertruck”
Them: “can you spell it for me?”
Me: “err….”
My wife then stepped in and said we have to leave and the kid is grumpy.
They apologized and left.
We drove away soon.

I am happy to share my passion on CT with anyone who is curious. But it is also weird to me, like, if you walk by a cool house and go ahead knock the door, interrupt whatever the resident is doing and ask what the name of the house is.

How do you all take on this?

I was talking to my son on the phone in the FedEX Kinkos the other day. An Indian family pulled up next to me with their kids in the car and the father came up to my window and knocked on it. "We have one on order too. What do you like about it?" I explained I was on the phone but he persisted, oblivous to my conversation (which he could hear through the open window). So I told my son I'd call him back, and I began answering his questions. He wanted to know what was good about it, how long it could go on a charge, what the charge time was, how fast it could go, etc. etc. I responded, "I thought you had one on order?" He proceeded to tell me they already got the configuration email from Tesla and were debating whether or not to order it. I asked if they had paid the $1000 to configure. He responded that they hadn't. I asked how long ago that was and he responded, "About a month and a half ago." I explained they may not have the option if they've waited that long. They wanted to see in the back, and started touching the truck, leaving fingerprints on the finish. They wanted to know where the back screen was for the kids, when they could see it with the back door wide open. It was clear from what they were asking that they had no idea what the Cybertruck could do.

At a restaurant last week, an older lady pulled up next to our Cybertruck while we were eating, and waited patiently until we finished eating and came out. She wanted to know what it was. I learned quickly that I should say "It's a Tesla" rather than, "It's a CyberTruck" from now on, because I end up saying "It's a CyberTruck...and after blank stares...made by Tesla". She absolutely loved it, and said she thought it was beautiful. I think most older people aren't online as much, so they really aren't aware of the truck or what it is capable of.

At another restaurant, as soon as we exited the truck a guy ran up with his phone taking a video of it. He was grinning ear-to-ear, obviously excited to see one in person. He ignored us completely, and treated the truck as though it had a life of its own, walking around it, taking photos and video. We just kept walking. We happened to have parked next to the drive-thru, so it was kind of comical watching people driving up and not paying attention to the person handing them their food.

At a stop light yesterday, a couple young guys in a large Ford pickup truck made a motion to me that they wanted to race. I smiled, and lowered into launch mode as the light turned green. Not a chance. I looked back and they were still there with the rest of the cars, dark grey smoke billowing out of the back as they tried to go faster. They didn't have a chance in hell. I can only imagine the looks on their faces - I was too far away to see them.

Another guy in a Trader Joe's parking lot pulled up next to me on his motorbike and stopped me and started asking a lot of questions after I had just put some groceries in the frunk. My wife was impatiently waiting in the truck but she is getting used to all of this attention. He spent about 10-15 minutes just talking and asking questions about it, as if I had all the time in the world. He wanted to know what I'd change on it. I couldn't think of a thing! I'm a bit leery of responding to questions now because it takes so much time when they can just look it up on Google in 2 minutes using their phone. But I end up getting sucked into the conversation anyway...because I want everyone to know how great a vehicle it is.

 

[Friday]

I guess there's a bit of self introspection on my part realizing the "Cybertruck bubble" I have existed in for 5 years is totally unknown to 99.999% of the population. A very small amount of those 99.999% act on the curiosity to actually ask questions.

A smaller amount of them regurgitate FUD they think they heard.
Never gonna win them over. I just Peace Out on those.

I went to a Tesla event at a Tesla Service Ctr in late Nov 2023 (a small class on how to maintain simple stuff in the Y, like change the filter) and there were Tesla owners attending that claimed to have never heard of the Cybertruck. At first I thought they were shining me on, but they really didn't pay attention to all things Tesla. That shocked me.

 

[CyberGus]

Anyone driving such a uniquely-styled vehicle should expect it to attract attention.

 

[Cybertruck2024]

I've had my truck for about four months, the first month or two I had it, I needed to budget 10 minutes extra to deal with questions anywhere I went. Over the last month, I was stopped only two times. I also notice the people driving next to me are no longer swerving and recording me while I drive.

The truck will still be the most unique thing on the road, but by the end of the year most people will be familiar with it.

 

[jf64k]

First World Problem
noun, Slang

1) A fairly minor problem, frustrating situation, or complaint associated with a relatively high standard of living

Ex: When someone who’s genuinely curious asks you a question about your $100,000 Cybertruck

You just have to roll with it, OP!!

It’s dying down now, but the initial attention (delivery 05/30) was intense, and I’m the opposite of a socially interactive person, haha!!

I see it as a great opportunity for people to meet actual Tesla owners, so I swallow my initial “get TF away from me!” feeling and just go into, “Sure you can see it. Want to sit in it? Let me show you the bed!”

They always leave in a great mood. One guy turned me on to this awesome cafe in the foothills that I would’ve never discovered otherwise. Another couple visiting from Italy took pics with the truck, gave me their contact info, and said I’ve got friends in their hometown now.

I know all about a cranky kid. Next time, if the kid isn’t in full meltdown-mode, show some patience with the inquiring people. Great lesson for the kid in showing grace to our fellow humans, even when we’re under duress.

Or just put 5% film on all the windows and rig up the Boom Box with the screaming goat sound, haha!!

 

[Outdoors]

Maybe but after having our truck spit on I give zero fucks about peoples feelings on the truck.

Maybe it might be the driver. Not the truck.

I give much care. Yet I don't walk around with a card to hand out. Or a punchline. Just being genuine is good enough for me. Pompous rings a bell on many of these posts here.



Edit: You sound angry. Enough to project it on every single other person in the world. Sounds like you think everybody goes around. Just hating on your cyber truck. Maybe look at selling it cuz it's going to happen for quite a while.

 

[Zeadvogado]

I am normally used to people curious around the CT everyday, poking inside (as sentry shows), comment a word or two as I exit / enter the car. That’s fine. And I feel happy to share too.

Today, we parked at a national historical site in southwest WA. One of the children was fuzzy and throwing a tantrum, siting on my wife’s legs on front passenger side crying. I wasn’t in good mood too, as we wasted a beautiful sunny Saturday morning doing nothing.
Two senior ladies walked by, knocked my driver side window. I didn’t want to, but to be polite, I lowered window.
Them: “what is this? Is it a car?
Me: “err……no, it is not a car.” (I was gonna say “it is a spaceship, we just landed on earth.” but not really in such a mood)
Them: “what is it?”
Me: “……it is a car.”
Them: “so it is a car. What name is this car?”
Me: “……Cybertruck”
Them: “what?”
Me: “Cybertruck”
Them: “can you spell it for me?”
Me: “err….”
My wife then stepped in and said we have to leave and the kid is grumpy.
They apologized and left.
We drove away soon.

I am happy to share my passion on CT with anyone who is curious. But it is also weird to me, like, if you walk by a cool house and go ahead knock the door, interrupt whatever the resident is doing and ask what the name of the house is.

How do you all take on this?

One time at parking lot of Walgreens 80 year old woman was waiting in front of the CT to ask the same questions when I show up to leave I give her the attention and I was so friendly.

Then She had the nervous to say!
“What an ugly car” and leave!
What kind of people is that?

 

[Outdoors]

One time at parking lot of Walgreens 80 year old woman was waiting in front of the CT to ask the same questions when I show up to leave I give her the attention and I was so friendly.

Then She had the nervous to say!
“What an ugly car” and leave!
What kind of people is that?

Well I am glad she didn't spit at you.

Edit:

@Killlbox

I can't have conversations with people. Can't interact. Need to leave a card to explain my views. So when people read it they can be informed, and I can feel good.

I would be the guy to pee on your cars handle if it had one. Just seems super lame. Like I wear shorts and long socks with my birkenstocks and I have three degrees I want to tell you about.

 

[Derektsla]

It took me a while, but I have almost perfected my saying. This has worked every single time.

“I’m really sorry, I would love to stay and chat, but…
- I’m really late for a meeting….
- I need to go pick up my kids…
- People are waiting on me….

followed by “I will be here again, if you see me, come up and chat with me next time!”

The only time this may not work is senior day at the grocery store, I had to repeat this twice and be more persistent on one occasion.

 

[Balthezor]

Personally, I love it. Being from Detroit talking cars is something that we do. I got the first four-door raptor back in 2011 and it was the same thing. I was very proud of the car and so happy to share stories with the people and they would tell me stories that they had seen online about it too. This is like having the raptor times 10. I’ve got the cyber beast. And I’m not shy. I’ve even had a couple haters jump in the car and launched it for them. They become believers as soon as I do that. I look forward to it every day.

You let random people in your truck and launch it?

 

[Balthezor]

I agree. Been a gearhead since the 90s and have owned so many “different” cars that this is very familiar territory.

I also park in “Very High” to minimize some of the shorter folks putting hands on window to look in.

On the road, I won’t roll my windows down for anyone except for excited looking kids. Easier for me as my side windows are 5% and windshield is 20%. If someone approaches me while parked, I tend to step outside of vehicle so they engage me more than talking “at” my truck. That said, I’ll gladly talk their ear off when they have questions.

20% tint on windshield? How do you see at night?

 

[rovert43]

Kind of douchey if ya ask me.

Checks out though, people rely on fake YouTube videos and always try to inform us owners how terrible our Cybertrucks are as if they have some profound insight having never driven one.

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