Thoughts From First Test Drive

[Engi_Nerd]

Our Rochester, NY area service center finally got a bunch of Cybertrucks for test drives so headed over to check one out in my new M3P. I have a day 1 reservation but at the moment can't personally swing AWD pricing, at least with current rates. Thoughts below:

Things I Liked:
+ The air suspension comfort was shockingly luxe. Way better than Model S and X IMO. Absolutely floated over our pothole-torn roads in a way I have never experienced.
+ The speed of the air suspension adjustments was impressive. Quite fun to be up so high in traffic but not need to give up the Tesla convenience and ease of use
+ Sound system was an impressive step up, even from Highland 3
+ I can see how the steer by wire becomes second nature and be more convenient than a traditional system. Nearly crashed my M3 into a building when leaving the test drive.
+ The design of the cabin quickly grew on me. Initially didn't like the overhead cross beam and thought it was a bit cheap looking but it's a really nice passenger space. Imagine it's awesome for road trips.
+ Dynamically it felt far superior to the R1S I've driven, which handled like a tank. The CT definitely feels large, but still surprisingly agile.
+ The tonneau opening and closing was very quiet from the cabin
+ No rattles or wind noise noticed on the drive

Not my Fave:
- The seats underwhelmed me a bit and struck me as something you'd get at the $40K price tier. I was pretty comfortable, though felt like I couldn't get the seat to tilt enough upwards to fully support my legs.
- I mostly got the swing of SBW by the end of my test drive but I could really feel the car changing rates between low and high speed driving and didn't find it confidence inspiring. Probably just takes time to adjust.
- Rear visibility was appalling with the camera in the rain. Also losing rear camera with turn signal on is noticeable and feels unsafe.
- I get what they're going for with the yoke, but it feels a bit too small to me. Turn signals worked less reliably than in my Highland 3, with one side requiring way more travel than the other, but this is likely just common Tesla build jank.
- Grabbing over the driver door to get in and out, the stainless was noticeably sharp.
- Mega wiper did just okay, not great.
- Noticed pronounced motor oscillating warble noise at around town speeds. A bit annoying but again, very common to how Tesla seems to build their modern drive units (noisy and variable)
- The vehicle drives quite small but becomes massive again in parking lots. She a big girl.

I really enjoyed my test drive and am jealous of anyone dailying one. No real major disappointment, it seems like a solid value at $80K. I am not sure I'd want to deal with parking this thing every day, though the utility of the bed and onboard inverter as well as the sublime ride comfort certainly makes a strong case.

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[CyberGus]

+ I can see how the steer by wire becomes second nature and be more convenient than a traditional system. Nearly crashed my M3 into a building when leaving the test drive.

Every time I jump into an ICE vehicle, I feel like I'm steering a sailboat

 

[igs]

Every time I jump into an ICE vehicle, I feel like I'm steering a sailboat

Or any other Tesla too.

 

[koolio]

Our Rochester, NY area service center finally got a bunch of Cybertrucks for test drives so headed over to check one out in my new M3P. I have a day 1 reservation but at the moment can't personally swing AWD pricing, at least with current rates. Thoughts below:

Things I Liked:
+ The air suspension comfort was shockingly luxe. Way better than Model S and X IMO. Absolutely floated over our pothole-torn roads in a way I have never experienced.
+ The speed of the air suspension adjustments was impressive. Quite fun to be up so high in traffic but not need to give up the Tesla convenience and ease of use
+ Sound system was an impressive step up, even from Highland 3
+ I can see how the steer by wire becomes second nature and be more convenient than a traditional system. Nearly crashed my M3 into a building when leaving the test drive.
+ The design of the cabin quickly grew on me. Initially didn't like the overhead cross beam and thought it was a bit cheap looking but it's a really nice passenger space. Imagine it's awesome for road trips.
+ Dynamically it felt far superior to the R1S I've driven, which handled like a tank. The CT definitely feels large, but still surprisingly agile.
+ The tonneau opening and closing was very quiet from the cabin
+ No rattles or wind noise noticed on the drive

Not my Fave:
- The seats underwhelmed me a bit and struck me as something you'd get at the $40K price tier. I was pretty comfortable, though felt like I couldn't get the seat to tilt enough upwards to fully support my legs.
- I mostly got the swing of SBW by the end of my test drive but I could really feel the car changing rates between low and high speed driving and didn't find it confidence inspiring. Probably just takes time to adjust.
- Rear visibility was appalling with the camera in the rain. Also losing rear camera with turn signal on is noticeable and feels unsafe.
- I get what they're going for with the yoke, but it feels a bit too small to me. Turn signals worked less reliably than in my Highland 3, with one side requiring way more travel than the other, but this is likely just common Tesla build jank.
- Grabbing over the driver door to get in and out, the stainless was noticeably sharp.
- Mega wiper did just okay, not great.
- Noticed pronounced motor oscillating warble noise at around town speeds. A bit annoying but again, very common to how Tesla seems to build their modern drive units (noisy and variable)
- The vehicle drives quite small but becomes massive again in parking lots. She a big girl.

I really enjoyed my test drive and am jealous of anyone dailying one. No real major disappointment, it seems like a solid value at $80K. I am not sure I'd want to deal with parking this thing every day, though the utility of the bed and onboard inverter as well as the sublime ride comfort certainly makes a strong case.

Good write up.

As someone who just switched from a Y to the CT 1.5 months ago, the one thing I’ll say is you get used to parking it pretty quickly. The main thing I had to get used to was just the length, it’s 3 feet longer than the Y.

SBW: I’ve never noticed the steering ratio changing while I’m actually turning. It’s one of the great things about the truck.

I also like the steering wheel. Whenever I drive my wife’s Highland 3, the wheel feels huge! And the crazy amount I need to turn the wheel lol.

 

[CyberGus]

the one thing I’ll say is you get used to parking it pretty quickly

Not me, I still think I’m going to crunch something when parking.

Part of the problem is the varying camera perspective: one looks like I’m completely clear of an object, the other looks like I’ve already hit it.

Even the auto-park often needs to reposition several times lol

 

[Sigma4Life]

Good write up.

As someone who just switched from a Y to the CT 1.5 months ago, the one thing I’ll say is you get used to parking it pretty quickly. The main thing I had to get used to was just the length, it’s 3 feet longer than the Y.

SBW: I’ve never noticed the steering ratio changing while I’m actually turning. It’s one of the great things about the truck.

I also like the steering wheel. Whenever I drive my wife’s Highland 3, the wheel feels huge! And the crazy amount I need to turn the wheel lol.

THIS! My wife has an X and when I drive her car it takes way more effort to make a turn.. I love the CT steering and refuse to buy another car unless it has SBW.

 

[Black306]

I am not sure I'd want to deal with parking this thing every day,

You get use to it. Turning radius is close to a Model 3, but the rear steering really helps tuck the rear end into spots when backing up.

 

[L3it3R]

I’ve had my Cybertruck for 9 months now.
Getting into literally any other vehicle with a steering wheel feels like that moment in your dream where you’re trying to avoid driving your 1997 Dodge Viper GTS through the glass window of your local diner where the girl from HS *AND* the one from college are watching from the sidewalk.
Nothing works as expected and it all happens far too slowly and you can’t wait for it to be over.

 

[koolio]

I’ve had my Cybertruck for 9 months now.
Getting into literally any other vehicle with a steering wheel feels like that moment in your dream where you’re trying to avoid driving your 1997 Dodge Viper GTS through the glass window of your local diner where the girl from HS *AND* the one from college are watching from the sidewalk.
Nothing works as expected and it all happens far too slowly and you can’t wait for it to be over.

Totally agree. The CT really spoils you and makes you realize how antiquated other cars are. Heck, even the steering wheel feels sloppy on other Teslas. Steer by wire is a legit game changer.

 

[ABILISK]

I drive my CT to work and then have to get in a company car everyday. Even being very used to both of them, I still undershoot turns from time to time in the company car. I’m thinking “I already spun this stupid thing all the way around twice, CT would have made a sharper turn 540 degrees ago.” So stupid more vehicles don’t have it yet.

 

[Cyber Man]

To really appreciate CT, sometimes we have to hop into age old cars. I was traveling last week and had to take uber multiple times. When I sat in my Beast today, boy it was heavenly.

 

[REM]

I’ve had my Cybertruck for 9 months now.
Getting into literally any other vehicle with a steering wheel feels like that moment in your dream where you’re trying to avoid driving your 1997 Dodge Viper GTS through the glass window of your local diner where the girl from HS *AND* the one from college are watching from the sidewalk.
Nothing works as expected and it all happens far too slowly and you can’t wait for it to be over.

? "Like punching underwater, you never can hit who you're trying for"

 

[koolio]

As a former Model Y owner, I got to drive the Y again after owning the CT for about 2 months, and wow it was shocking. The Y felt so small and the windsheild felt like a one of those London cabs: super vertical and short / small! lol

 

[ChiTownCT]

Totally agree. The CT really spoils you and makes you realize how antiquated other cars are. Heck, even the steering wheel feels sloppy on other Teslas. Steer by wire is a legit game changer.

Just drove the X as I had my CT in for repairs, absolutely horrible to drive, and that steering wheel is humongous and can literally feel every crevice on the road.

 

[koolio]

Just drove the X as I had my CT in for repairs, absolutely horrible to drive, and that steering wheel is humongous and can literally feel every crevice on the road.

That's what I said to my wife when I drove her 2024 Model 3 last week: "the steering wheel is huge!"

And, the Y and 3's steering wheels are small compared to other vehicles. I remember going from my Audi SQ5 to the Y and thought, wow, this steering wheel is small!

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