Elon Musk has lost his mind

[genxlib]

With the release of the CyberTruck, he has truly gone around the bend.

There have been several threads about the design today including this one https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212718091 and this one https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212718254

Of the many capabilities it has, the only one that matters is that it can jump the shark. That thing is awful. It looks like an entry into battlebots https://battlebots.com/robots

If I owned Tesla stock I would be unloading it. It caused an immediate reaction to Tesla value already. It is currently down 6.36% on a marginally positive day.

I think it is only going to get worse. This was already going to be a tricky release for them. After all, they are trying to find the venn diagram on environmentally minded buyers who want a truck, who have plenty of money and aren't concerned about the limitations of electric vehicles. I think that was already a pretty narrow needle to thread.

But now, with this "bold" choice of design , they have further narrowed their target market to people who are looking for a post-apocalyptic design aesthetic. Yikes!

I think it is quite appropriate that the only way to get it in any color other than Stainless Steel is with a vinyl wrap. Because I think the only market for this thing will be for attention getting promotional vehicles with advertising plastered all over them.

I find that truck drivers are usually pretty conservative in their choices. When they want to show off, they mostly go for the testicular (ie Hummers, jacked up 4 wheel) or the obnoxiously anti-environmental (rolling smoke, etc.)

If a new Tesla vehicle can't get a positive reaction at DU, then it is likely doomed.


On edit...if you are expressing positive vibes for the design, elaborate by telling us whether you would like it better or worse if it had a more traditional Tesla look. Like this artist rendering guess that was made. https://pressfrom.info/ca/autos/news/-179429-tesla-cybertruck-will-be-unveiled-on-november-21.html

[BootinUp]

1. A billionaire and his toys. Nt

[redwitch]

2. It is really an unattractive vehicle.

It certainly won’t attract pick up truck fans.

[TheBlackAdder]

11. The same take when the Lamborghini Countach, Lotus Esprit came out. A year later everyone in 😍

[FM123]

53. Oh my!

I still remember the first time I "saw" a Countach - I was just a kid when I wandered into my friend's big brother's room and there on the wall was this poster of a beautiful red Countach. Boom went my heart! Never got to drive one....

[malaise]

63. I'm betting it sets a new trend

That's all

[moniss]

64. I have officially named it

the Tedsel. Feel free to spread that across the intertubes everyone.

[brush]

86. Hahahahahahaha! Bingo.

[Beringia]

3. It is bizarre looking

Rich people like to stand out, but by doing it in a popular way, like jeans torn at the knees, or copying royalty.

[Initech]

4. He's definitely smoking some bad weed for sure.

Must be the same strand that Bill Maher is smoking. I can't believe anyone would look at the car from The Spy Who Loved Me and think "Wow, I want to drive what James Bond drives!". James Bond cars are so over the top ridiculous that there's no way they could ever practically function in real life.

Don't get me wrong - I am totally 100% for anything that can help us loosen our dependency on big oil. There are some evil people profiting off big oil like Saudi Arabia (fuck Saudi Arabia), and I would sleep easier at night knowing that my money isn't going to them. I actually applaud Ford's new electric vehicle and I would absolutely buy a Model 3 if I could afford one. Hell I even applaud this monstrosity, sure it's completely insane, but if people choose this over a gas-guzzling RAM or F150, I am all for it.

[BannonsLiver]

5. the "truck" looks like something from a low budget 80's science fiction TV movie of the week.

Brutally so, in fact.

[Squinch]

6. People say this every time Musk comes out with a new vehicle. It's always the beginning of the

end for him, it is always the thing that's going to bring him down.

Like all the other things that were supposed to be evidence of him losing his mind, I bet this sells just fine.

[genxlib]

16. As an environmentalist, I certainly hope it does

As a person with functioning vision , I just can't imagine it.

I will be here to take my lumps if I am wrong. I hope I am.

[Squinch]

24. In this thread alone, 8 of 22 posts so far are positive, including a couple of "I want one"s

[genxlib]

27. Well...

We support Democrats so I sometimes question our sanity.

[DanieRains]

7. I Want One

To replace my Volt.

[WheelWalker]

8. Certainly unlikely to inadvertently try to open someone else's vehicle in the parking lot.

[genxlib]

21. That is certainly a positive take

Lord knows, I have gone to the wrong vehicle with my grey toyota many times.

[WheelWalker]

50. That... and I've been sitting in the passenger seat waiting for my daughter when

a strange woman opened the unlocked driver's door, saw me sitting there and commenced screaming bloody murder.

[genxlib]

73. I can imagine that must have been distressing for both of you

But it made me laugh.

I guess I am evil that way.

[Mike 03]

9. Is it really that bad? It's kind of Bladerunnerish, Road Warriorish IMO.

But I loved the AMC Pacer too (first car).

[Initech]

10. It looks more "Mad Max: Fury Road" than James Bond.

[Mike 03]

12. Exactly. You get it!

[Initech]

35. Yes, because that movie rules!

[genxlib]

18. That was my first reaction as well

The mad max reboot specifically

[farmbo]

13. I'd buy one... its tough, powerful, tows good w 400 mi range

And I guarantee... the design will grow on us.

[Vogon_Glory]

33. A redesign might raise my interest

But I think it’s ugly.

[Rstrstx]

61. I believe Elon has stated he was open to a redesign if it didn't sell well

But apparently pre-orders are around the 130,000 mark less than 24 hours in, so....

[Mike 03]

14. Blade Runner meets Mad Max in a bankruptcy court. nt

[stonecutter357]

15. I love it and it's way better than my F150 !

[Buckeyeblue]

17. I sort of like it

I like the idea of an electric truck that can tow 14,000 pounds.

[4now]

19. I want one

[Cartoonist]

20. Here's a positive reaction

I kinda like it.

[Autumn]

22. I like the way it looks. Four door trucks are awesome and a nice vinyl wrap would make it

really look good.

[Mike 03]

23. It costs a lot less than I would have guessed.

Was thinking it would be around 100K. The souped up version seems to be around 50K but the low end is 39K.

[phleshdef]

25. Elon Musk has always been nuts. Having said that, its just a prototype.

You do know what "prototype" implies right?

[genxlib]

29. It isn't a concept car

Which never will see the showroom floor.

I was under the impression that they are ready to produce it.

Am i missing something? Have their previous unveilings been different than production release?

[phleshdef]

32. I imagine if they get negative feedback on the way it looks, they'll make the body prettier.

[A HERETIC I AM]

26. "If a new Tesla vehicle can't get a positive reaction at DU, then it is likely doomed"

Seriously?

You think THIS group is some sort of acid test for marketability?



Yeah, the pickup is ugly, but then again, so are a lot of consumer items over the years that are now considered iconic

[genxlib]

28. No, we certainly aren't that

But we do have a soft spot for electric vehicles that would make us more prone to like it despite the warts.

[PSPS]

30. Musk is a total fraud

[Zorro]

72. Yes a total fraud

[sandensea]

31. No wonder he's always trying to high-tail it to Mars

These sociopaths always daydream with the thought of leaving us all behind, and exiling themselves to a pleasure planet of some kind.

But of course, being insane as they are they'd be miserable there too.

[Loki Liesmith]

42. Musk is no sociopath

Not by any meaningful definition of the term.

[sandensea]

47. I hope you're right

He can just forget about Mars though - though, like all good obsessions, he probably never will.

[NightWatcher]

34. People said DeLorean was going to revolutionize the auto market.

Aside from Back to the Future getting a prop, it was a flop.

Maybe it's what happens to geniuses.

[genxlib]

37. Yes

There is definitely a retro Delorean look to it. And not in a good way.

[7wo7rees]

46. Meme generated.

[drray23]

36. I need to replace my car in two years.

By then, his truck will have had bugs worked out. I would definitely buy it. 400 miles range is comparable to any gas guzzler. At my workplace already have charging stations as well.

[PubliusEnigma]

38. He'll be selling a lot of electric trucks. Because Tesla's are actually better than other vehicles.

They just are.

[flotsam]

39. I'm 65 so of course my first reaction was "Get off my lawn!"

But then I remember an old series of VW Beetle ads-"So ugly it's cute!". I think the styling cues come straight from the F 117 Stealth Fighter.It has a brutal utilitarian look and after consideration I find I like it...only a 5 foot bed but nearly 5 foot wide and completely without wheel well intrusion. It can kneel the back with air suspension and has a built in full width loading ramp. That's a killer feature for folks with ATVs, snowblowers or lawn and power equipment to move. Ever try to load a lawn tractor on a lifted Dodge Ram??? My takeaway is only time will tell but we may be looking at a game changer. I wish them Good Luck.

Edited to add-Stainless steel bulletproof body-I'm not likely to be shot at but with what road salt does to vehicle bodies in New England that's another big plus.

[robbob]

40. I immediately thought of The Homer:

[Loki Liesmith]

41. Where's the gun turret?

[whistler162]

43. At least the glass stands up to stones

Three words Corning Gorilla Glass

[rockfordfile]

44. I have a Tesla and it's one of the best cars that I have owned.

I like the idea of the truck and where he's trying to go with it.

[moniss]

65. I had a

1963 Ford Galaxie 500 that was one of the finest cars ever. They should have kept on making them since they go for almost $50,000 on auction in pristine shape. Slightly less with a few flaws. Your mileage may vary. Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear. May cause indigestion, joint pain and suicidal thoughts. Not responsible for items left overnight.

[USALiberal]

45. LOL, everyone here is smarter than him. nt

[BootinUp]

48. This is similar looking to the Logan's Run solar

Vehicle, or it reminds me of it, the tv series vehicle.

[WA-03 Democrat]

55. Me too!

And I want one

[SonofDonald]

49. I like it and if I needed a new truck I'd take a good look

At it, the suggested price isn't really high and although it is kinda fugly I don't buy trucks based on what they look like, I buy them for what they can do for me.

Remember those Dodge "Daytona" pickups with the huge wing from about 2005?

I looked at some and the sticker was above $70,000, for a truck, that obviously wasn't built to use as a truck, the average selling price used for that truck was at $25,000 only ten years later

There are people who buy a truck to be seen, not to actually use as a truck, I'm not one of those, I like the Honda Ridgline from a few years back, the only problem I saw was that just like the Tesla you can't haul a sheet of plywood and put up the tailgate, the tesla has a 6.5 foot bed length

I won't be buying a truck anytime soon, my 1991 Dodge diesel has 108,000 miles at almost 29 years old, they have a service life of 400-500,000 miles, I think it'll last for a bit longer

Out in the Garage is my 1928 Model "AR" one ton flatbed, it can still haul plywood or a garbage can easily, just at 35 mph though

I like the tesla though and if we can get away from fossil fuels someday it'd be in my driveway, fugly or not.

[Blues Heron]

51. Elon is scum for what he did to that cave rescuer

Of course this is the ugly product of an ugly mind. I think we're seeing some shark jumping here.

[Clash City Rocker]

52. Bold move, hiring Devo to design a pickup

Are we not trucks? We are Tesla!

[BootinUp]

57. That was funny as heck.

[docgee]

54. Your links are shit. That's not what it looks like.

Have a look here:. https://electrek.co/2019/06/02/tesla-pickup-truck-price-f150-elon-musk/

[BootinUp]

58. Hmmmm, now Those look nicer. So I'm confused. Nt

[Rstrstx]

62. Those are concept guesses from back in June

It really does look like a wedge


https://www.tesla.com/cybertruck

[docgee]

68. They should have kept the concept guess!

[Rstrstx]

70. I tend to agree

Elon had TOLD everyone that this truck would look absolutely nothing like any truck ever and boy was he right. I mean on paper it's a good value: for the price of the lowest Model 3 you're getting a lot of truck with a fraction of the running cost. The retractable bed cover is also cool. But oy, it's just so.....so......I'm speechless.

[docgee]

67. I take it back!

That ugly thing is actually what they are selling on the website! LMAO!

[underpants]

56. I watched a 5 minute demo video and I thought it was, as usual, smart

For lack of a better term.

[cwydro]

59. Well, I'm a woman who's owned two trucks, so not so sure about the testicular angle there.

But as a truck owner, that’s one damn ugly truck. It looks completely unusable as a truck.

Most of us truck owners want them for hauling straw bales, hay bales, critters, gravel, dirt, manure...and so on. So again, no idea about your “testicular” theory.

Apparently, you’ve never needed a truck, or you’d know what they’re for.

That being said - the Tesla “truck” is a joke.

[genxlib]

74. Please don't misunderstand

I come from a long line of truck owners and I spent a lot of time in the back of a truck on my Grandfather's farm.

You are right that the vast majority of truck users (men and women) are all about the practicality.

I was talking about the minority that try to use a truck as a statement. The group of people who use trucks to show off. Those people (almost always guys) who go for the obnoxiously over compensating penis replacement machines.

I am all for women in trucks. No offense was intended so forgive me if I came across wrong.

[Cicada]

60. There is time to introduce a different design

[TexasBushwhacker]

66. It's the DeLoreon of trucks n/t

[MineralMan]

69. It's a statement vehicle. The statement it makes is:

Ceci n'est pas un pickup.

[Zorro]

71. It certainly has a unique look

and some unique features, too.

It may not be attractive to many, but the $39k base price is very appealing.

[backscatter712]

75. Stainless steel construction - do the batteries generate 1.21 gigawatts?

Last edited Sat Nov 23, 2019, 06:06 PM - Edit history (1)

Sadly, you still can't get plutonium at the corner drugstore.

[mr_lebowski]

78. Fortunately, I have a hookup with some Libyans ... (nt)

[CentralMass]

84. No problem. Just use Mr Fusion.

[byronius]

76. I've been waiting for this vehicle. And I dig the style.

He may be crazy. But I like what I read.

[Ilsa]

77. I like it. nt

[budkin]

79. Elon Musk is overrated AF

Seriously.

[Liberal In Texas]

80. Hey old man! I'll get off your lawn!

I'm an old man too.

What a bold idea and what a "put your ass out there" thing.

Maybe it's an Edsel. (They're worth a ton these days.) Or maybe it's a Generation One Corvette, Mustang or Firebird, 21st Century style.

There are some pretty impressive reviews so far on like, Day 2.

It doesn't fit into your old idea of what it should look like. The future isn't going to. Sorry about that.

I'm crushed that cruise ships look like some Las Vegas hotel out of place. That airliners only have 2 engines. That I'm not allowed to eat high fat, salt, sugery food. That my VHS tapes look like crap why I try to watch them. Things change.

[Betty88]

81. Check out this girl builds herself a "tesla pickup"

[Liberal In Texas]

82. Saw that awhile back....pretty cool.

And she has done stuff I would never attempt!

WOW.

[uriel1972]

83. my first thought too...

he's not that bright for a genius, is he?

[Nature Man]

85. Looks like it worked . . .

you're all talking about it and him.

MARKETING MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

[Mersky]

87. I've grown to like it, somewhat

Last edited Sun Nov 24, 2019, 05:09 PM - Edit history (1)

I could have a good bit of fun in that thing, considering the places I have to go (whether I want to or not). Gotta replace the fifteen year old Chevy at some point.

Plus, it’s weirdly tough-looking - no nuts required.

(Fyi, we have a fuel efficient car for daily driving.)