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Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says $20,000 Foundation Series Premium Isn’t Worth It (Updated)

It’s sort of a good deal if you get the so-called Cyberbeast. For the more down-to-earth all-wheel drive version, not so much.

Tesla Cybertruck Foundation Series (Source: DennisCW / YouTube)

Photo by: YouTube

Iulian Dnistran Iulian Dnistran

By: Iulian Dnistran

Jan 25, 2024 at 10:00am ET

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When it arrives sometime in 2025, the rear-wheel drive Tesla Cybertruck will be the cheapest version of the angular pickup, start at $60,990, according to the American EV maker’s website. But that’s not available yet, making the dual-motor all-wheel drive version the most affordable trim currently available.

This one starts at $79,990, but reservation holders who wanted to sort of skip the line had the choice to spend an extra $20,000 for the so-called Foundation Series models, which are the first ones to be delivered, and come with several accessories.

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More money just for bragging rights?

The first production-spec units of the Tesla Cybertruck to be delivered are part of the so-called Foundation Series limited edition. Just 1,000 will be made (allegedly), each costing $20,000 more than an equivalent run-of-the-mill, wait-your-turn version. The price premium includes several accessories and services, as well as the ability to skip the line, but for the cheaper Cybertruck version, the goodies don't add up, leaving a roughly $5,000 gap.

Plus, the Foundation Series models are allegedly limited to just 1,000 units, making them a smidge more desirable than later models, at least in theory. But what did customers actually get for spending the equivalent of a brand-new entry-level Kia Soul?

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Well, it looks like those who ordered a tri-motor Cyberbeast will sort of get their money’s worth, while customers who opted for the less expensive dual-motor version seem to have shelled over $5,000 just for bragging rights, at least according to the video above and several reservation holders who got emails from Tesla and described their experience on the Cybertruck Owners Club forum.

As the video embedded at the top of this page points out (uploaded by YouTuber DennisCW), the Cyberbeast Foundation Series models come with a bunch of accessories like all-weather interior liners, a center console tray, an LED light bar, a lifetime subscription to Tesla’s premium connectivity service, the company’s so-called Full Self-Driving system, and a $4,000 installation credit for PowerShare hardware (which allows the truck to export power from its high-voltage battery), plus a bunch of other things.

Gallery: Tesla Cybertruck

Tesla Cybertruck

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The all-wheel drive Foundation Series models come with the same list of extras, except the LED light bar, which has a market value of around $600 according to this Cybertruck Owners Club forum post, and the $4,000 installation credit.

That’s $4,600 out the window. And if we consider that Cybertruck owners can’t use the so-called FSD feature yet, as it’s not activated in their vehicles, then another $7,000 goes down the drain–both for the AWD and the tri-motor version.

Update: It seems that Tesla is sending out survey emails for people who ordered a Foundation Series Cybertruck to find out if their house is eligible for the PowerShare Home Backup hardware installation. According to this Reddit thread, those who don't qualify will get one year of free Supercharging instead.

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By the looks of it, Tesla managed to convince 1,000 people (or more, we don't know) to pay extra just to get ahead of the crowd and buy a car that isn’t exactly ready for prime time. Autopilot doesn’t work, FSD doesn’t work, and the locking differentials don’t work yet.

As always, let us know in the comments section below what your thoughts are on this.

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