Is the Cyber Truck a Flop?

[WinterDeere]

What I don't get is for the matte-finish wraps: how do you keep it clean, plus how many years do you get before intense heat and UV from the sun destroys it?

I've always wondered about the paint underneath. I mean, who cares about the wrap? It's cheap to replace, and some even claim it's there to protect the paint from chips. But you're baking the paint beneath it, and potentially trapping moisture there that could cloud the finish.

I remember the car bra fad of the 1980's, and how some would remove the bra only to find the paint underneath had gone cloudy from being perpetually wet. Always felt like anyone who would put a bra on a car sort of deserved that.

 

[tacticalturnip]

People driving a kitchen sink isnt new.

Yeah, but now you don't need snow and a hill to make it go!

 

[dfkrug]

I've always wondered about the paint underneath. I mean, who cares about the wrap? It's cheap to replace, and some even claim it's there to protect the paint from chips. But you're baking the paint beneath it, and potentially trapping moisture there that could cloud the finish.

I remember the car bra fad of the 1980's, and how some would remove the bra only to find the paint underneath had gone cloudy from being perpetually wet. Always felt like anyone who would put a bra on a car sort of deserved that.

Sometimes, it is to cover up the lousy paint, or the stainless steel in this case. If it is $5K for a paint job, and $1200 for a wrap that lasts for a few years, some have made the trade-off.

Dunno what ever happened to those $99 Maaco paint jobs. I got one of those in the 70s, and it was their best "presidential" paint job. It still sucked.

BTW, I would love a stainless steel-bodied car. I know how to make them shine (a bit).

Some car makers now offer matte finish paint jobs. Go figure.

 

[Oaktree]

I remember the car bra fad of the 1980's, and how some would remove the bra only to find the paint underneath had gone cloudy from being perpetually wet.

Not to mention the paint being worn off around the edges because it would flap in the wind.

 

[EddieWalker]

 

[tradosaurus]

Speaking of Tesla:

Best selling cars worldwide

 

[ultrarunner]

About what I would expect but not that many RAV4 out and about here… tons of Tesla and Honda CRV.

It seems the SF Bay Area which once loved Musk has had a change of heart and protests starting with anything related…

 

[ruffdog]

Tesla sales tanking in EU:

https://www.carscoops.com/2025/02/tesla-sales-crumble-45-in-europe-while-ev-market-explodes-37/

 

[JasperFrank]

MSN

Was driving into town yesterday, and got behind a vehicle that I couldn't make out.
My brain was trying to identify it. This was my internal dialog.
"What heck is that? Its really tall and wide. Where are the tail lights? Is this some sort of DIY canopy? Looks like they did an okay job slapping it together, but this just looks out of proportion. Those side mirrors, don't seem to give much of a rear view.
Wait..... those mirrors look familiar, being triangular. Is this a Cyber Truck?"

I'd never seen one from this angle on the road before. And I confirmed it was a Cyber Truck when they slowed for their exit. My first impression was, man this thing is ugly, viewed from the rear. I really did think for a moment, someone had chopped out the back end of a sedan and built this in their back yard as a canopy.

 

[sd455dan]

Engineering Explained, hitches can easily have 3 G's applied in several different or combined driving conditions, also steel used below a certain stress level has an Indefinite lifespan, Not so with Aluminum.
Steel is about five times more ductile, it will deform but not fracture as easily.

I will stick with what I said previously, when these Cybertruck's tow long term near their ratings in real world road conditions after a decade or so, these Aluminum castings will fatigue and could fail catastrophically while towing heavy.

This video also makes clear what is required to sell a truck with hitch in Europe and very likely why Cybertrucks are not / cannot be sold there until some changes are made to the tow hitch ie. steel.