It's hard to say goodbye. My Cybertruck, nicknamed "Rusty", is off to its new owner. Even though it's an amazing vehicle, I decided it was time to move on. I made a video recently where I talked about possibly selling it, and now I've gone through with it. It wasn't an easy decision.
This thing is awesome, truly amazing! But it had problems that became daily annoyances. Picking up the replacement, a new Model Y, was great, but it's no Cybertruck. So, why sell? And how did the whole process go down?
Why the Cybertruck Had to Go
Tesla Buyback Attempt & Service Record Lessons
I saw videos from Kyle Connor and others getting Tesla to buy back their Cybertrucks. I figured I'd give it a shot because of the warranty work needed on my early VIN Cybertruck.
The Cybertruck never left me stranded, which is a huge plus. However, I did have issues with both motors.
Rear Motor Inverter Failure
First, the rear motor inverter went out. It was a known recall issue that I hadn't taken care of yet. The rear motor stopped working, limiting my top speed to 65 mph. That's not safe on Michigan highways! I got it fixed, but it was still an issue.
Front Motor Oil Issue
On the way home from a road trip to Florida, I got an error message about reduced power. It turned out there was an issue with the oil in the front motor. Yes, Tesla motors have oil, but you usually don't need to change it.
I made an appointment with Tesla service, even though some employees online said it was just a software issue. They ended up changing the oil. It was weird, but at least the truck kept running, even with slightly reduced power at higher speeds.
Other Warranty Issues
Besides the motor problems, there were trim issues. A piece came off once, and a nut came off a bolt, causing it to flap in the wind. The window shattered too. I documented a lot of these problems on my channel. If you want to see them, search my channel for specific videos.
The Buyback Attempt
With all these issues and the pending warranty work, I decided to request a buyback. Tesla charges for mileage, and I had over 20,000 miles. My local service center said there was no harm in asking.
I was worried about Tesla getting angry and banning me from buying future vehicles. They assured me that it wasn't a problem, but also said I hadn't had enough time in service for an automatic approval.
The Importance of Documenting Problems
Here's what I learned: When I had problems, I waited to get them fixed, thinking I'd take care of everything at once. This was convenient for me, but it didn't accurately reflect the issues in Tesla's service records.
Tesla saw a shorter service time than the actual problems I experienced. My advice? Take your vehicle in every time there's an issue, even if it's inconvenient. Documenting these problems over time could be important.
Buyback Denied
Tesla denied the buyback request, which was disappointing but not surprising. At least I tried.
The Deciding Factors: Why Selling Made Sense
So, why did I ultimately sell the Cybertruck?
Financial Considerations
The main reason was financial. Even with the depreciation, selling now made sense because of sponsorships. This is unique to me and won't apply to most owners.
People often ask me about the Foundation Series. If you have a million bucks to throw away, go for it. But if you're on a budget, wait for the price to drop on the non-Foundation Series. You might even get a better-built Cybertruck, which seems to be true. Newer Cybertrucks have fewer issues.
With Tesla, you never know if things will get more expensive or if prices will drop. For me, buying it, making videos, and seeing what happened a year later was the best decision.
Full Self-Driving Disappointment
This might sound crazy to some, but a big reason was Full Self-Driving (FSD). The Cybertruck's FSD was missing features and worse than other Tesla vehicles, especially the Model Y.
As my daily driver, I drive almost 100 miles a day. It got to the point where I couldn't stand it anymore. Driving the Cybertruck manually is amazing, but I like using FSD.
The Cybertruck didn't have Summon or Smart Summon. For the first six months, it didn't have basic Autopilot or FSD at all, only traffic cruise control. Even eight months after releasing FSD for the Cybertruck, it was still missing features and performed poorly. The braking was especially bad at first.
Efficiency and Cost of Ownership
I drive a lot, and the Cybertruck's lack of efficiency became noticeable. Compared to a gas truck, it's efficient, but compared to a Model Y, it uses almost double the energy. This affected my electric bill and how often I had to charge.
Tires and other maintenance items are also more expensive for a Cybertruck.
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Selling the Cybertruck: A Different Kind of Tesla Tale
Now, let's talk about selling the Cybertruck.
Tesla's Initial Rejection
Interestingly, Tesla initially didn't accept Cybertruck trade-ins. It was strange that Tesla didn't want to buy back its own vehicle. However, this policy later changed to include Foundation Series trade-ins.
Dealership Inquiry
I contacted a local dealership. They were excited at first, but then said their network had no room for a Cybertruck. I thought they'd want one on the lot to attract attention.
Carvana's Offer
I got an offer from Carvana for around $50,000, which I thought was low. I scheduled an appointment to keep the option open.
The Subscriber Purchase
Then, a subscriber named Chris messaged me wanting to buy the Cybertruck. He had watched my video about why I wanted to sell it!
I was surprised he still wanted it after hearing all my complaints. I told him everything that had ever happened to the Cybertruck. It's probably the most well-documented car he'll ever own.
It made me feel good that the Cybertruck was going to someone who really wanted it. He had been considering other Cybertrucks, but decided mine was the best deal.
The Handover
Chris is picking up the Cybertruck soon. It's staying in the Tesla community, which is cool. You can follow him on X (Twitter) at his handle to see how his journey with Rusty goes. I'll also include all the Joah accessories I can't use anymore. You can save 5% off premium accessories from Jowua with code DirtyTesla!
The Foundation Series full self-driving will transfer to him, but the lifetime premium connectivity won't. That will be $100 a year if he wants it.
As another perk, I'm letting Chris keep the Cybertruck on my Tesla account for free supercharging on his trip from Michigan to North Carolina, and then down to Florida!
Life After Cybertruck: Adjusting to the Model Y
Driving to work in the Model Y for the first time was a little sad. All those Cybertruck issues I complained about suddenly seemed less significant.
The Cybertruck is an amazing car. I wouldn't complain about being able to drive something like that. But when you compare it to the Model Y, the interior is smaller, and the features aren't as rich. I miss the bigger screen and steer-by-wire.
The FSD in the Model Y is better. It does 99.9% of my driving, compared to 96% in the Cybertruck. I can just press one button and it'll drive me to my destination and even park itself.
It's funny how that happens. As soon as I start driving something new, the Cybertruck seems even more amazing.
I hope to drive a Cybertruck again someday. I'm also excited to see what Tesla does with the refreshed Model X. I do have a full video (this is an example link) talking about this new Model Y and the features I picked, so make sure you check that out.
Conclusion
Overall, I'm really going to miss the Cybertruck. It is an amazing vehicle. It is by far the best vehicle I've ever owned, and I think it is the best vehicle for me that I could ever own that exists as of today anyway. With that said, this is the right decision for now for me.
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