We’ve officially hit the one-year mark with this beast of a machine. Last week, we celebrated by taking a road trip to Las Vegas for CES 2026, and it was the perfect opportunity to reflect on 20,000 miles of ownership.
This wasn’t an easy transition. If you’ve been following the channel, you know we had a rocky history with two different Model X’s (a 2022 Long Range and a 2023 Plaid) that were constantly in the shop. After a second buyback, I had to put my foot down—no more Model X. We needed utility, reliability, and space. Enter the Cybertruck.
The Purchase: A Strategic Gamble
We picked up this Cybertruck on New Year’s Eve 2024. It was a demo unit with about 2,000 miles on the odometer, sold as new. This was crucial because it allowed us to claim the $7,500 federal tax credit through our business filing.
After all the demo discounts and credits, we walked away with a price tag of just under $72,000. To put that in perspective, we paid $73,000 for our 2022 Model Y Performance at the height of the market. Getting a Cybertruck for less than a Model Y felt like a massive win. We paid cash using the buyback funds from the Model X Plaid, keeping the driveway debt-free.
Reliability: 7 Appointments, 4 Issues
Is the Cybertruck perfect? No. But compared to our Model X experience, it’s a tank. We had seven service appointments in the first year, but that sounds worse than it is.
- Post-Delivery Fixes: Minor cosmetic and alignment issues found on day one.
- Suspension Alert: A firmware bug that was fixed remotely and never returned.
- The Big One (Front Inverter): Our front inverter failed early on. This was a known issue with lower-VIN trucks, but since the replacement, it’s been flawless.
- Tonneau Cover Leak: We’ve had ongoing issues with water ingress in the bed. Tesla says it’s “within spec,” so I just use bins and tarps. It’s a truck, after all.
Driving Dynamics & FSD Performance
Abby is the primary driver of this truck, and despite her initial skepticism about its size, she’s become a total convert.
- Maneuverability: Thanks to the steer-by-wire system, this truck has a turning radius that shames most mid-size SUVs.
- FSD V14.2: On our Vegas trip, FSD was a mixed bag. The lane-changing hesitation is still there, and it has a weird tendency to “hug” the right side of the lane in residential areas, getting uncomfortably close to parked cars.
- Comfort: It drives more like a high-end SUV than a traditional truck. The air suspension is incredible, though it lacks the “soul” of my old Rivian R1T.
Charging Performance: The 325kW Club
The Cybertruck is the first Tesla to really push the boundaries of the Supercharging network. At the new V3.5 325kW stalls in Baker and East Main Street, I’ve seen peak speeds of 324-325 kW. Even better, the charging curve is robust. It can hold 180-210 kW deep into the charging session, making 20-minute stops for a 123 kWh battery a reality.
| Metric | Year One Value |
| Total Miles Driven | 18,658 |
| Energy Consumption | 417.9 Wh/mi (2.39 mi/kWh) |
| Total Energy Used | 7,796 kWh |
| Registration Cost | $1,180 (Commercial Vehicle Rate) |
| Maintenance Cost | $1,700 (New set of Falken Wild Peak AT4s) |
The Truth About Utility: A Woman’s Perspective
I managed to get Abby on camera to share her genuine thoughts. Her biggest takeaway? Space. In the Model X, we were constantly measuring bags and lowering seats just to fit a Costco run. In the Cybertruck, we just throw everything in the bed and close the vault. For a family that “brings half the house” on road trips, the utility of a truck is immeasurable. She even admitted that while she misses the “prestige” of the Model X, she wouldn’t trade the reliability and space of the Cybertruck to go back.
Likes and Dislikes
- LIKES: The stainless steel durability (no shopping cart dings!), the unmatched Tesla software ecosystem, and the sheer presence it has on the road.
- DISLIKES: The A-pillar blind spot is massive, the fingerprints on the stainless steel are constant, and the frunk is smaller than it looks (shaped more for aesthetics than deep storage).
One Year Verdict
We are officially a “truck family.” Whether it’s the Cybertruck or a Rivian, we can’t imagine a driveway without a bed. The Cybertruck has proven to be a rugged, reliable, and surprisingly cost-effective daily driver for us. It attracts attention (and the occasional middle finger in San Diego), but it delivers where it counts: utility and tech.
