Cody Detwiler Responds to Criticism of Initial Video
EV trucks are still relatively new, so most buyers want a clear idea of what to expect before they decide between buying a Tesla Cybertruck and checking Ford F-150 Lightning lease deals. Cody Detwiler put the two trucks through their paces to make the decision easier.
Electric pickups are expensive, which is unsurprising given how recently they hit the market. The 2024 Tesla Cybertruck’s starting MSRP is nearly $82,000. Pricing for Ford’s EV pickup starts at just over $57,000, though Ford F-150 lease deals are available for those who don’t want to buy one outright.
The problem, as Cody Detwiler showed in his video for Whistlin’ Diesel, is that while the Cybertruck outperforms the F-150 Lightning in some ways, it has a severe and potentially dangerous flaw.
The Original Problem Uncovered by Detwiler
In his original video for Whistlin’ Diesel, Detwiler shows both EV pickups being put through their paces in a series of brutal challenges. Both fall short at points, with the F-150 Lightning failing to make it over a series of giant cement pipes.
The F-150 Lightning’s failure to pass this test sets Detwiler up to show a much more serious flaw in the Cybertruck. The Cybertruck makes it over nearly all the pipes but sustains damage to its rear end while being towed off the last one by the Ford F-150 Lightning.
The situation worsens when the tables are turned, and the stunt drivers use the Cybertruck to tow off the stuck F-150 Lightning. The Cybertruck’s rear bumper and what appears to be part of its frame fall off entirely.
Detwiler Responds to Public Criticism
The problem Detwiler uncovers in his video is extreme, and so are some of the responses to it. He addresses several of them in a second video.
Detwiler starts by describing a real-world scenario where the Cybertruck’s hitch sustained damage and the trailer rear-ended the truck on a highway, showing that the issue he uncovered has potential consequences.
From there, he explains that the original damage sustained by the Cybertruck during his testing should not have happened. In doing so, he drops the Ford F-150 Lightning on a concrete wall using an excavator.
The frame and hitch are steel, so they don’t break. Eventually, the frame bends, but it doesn’t jeopardize the truck’s ability to tow a trailer if it hits a pothole on the highway.
The Final Verdict: Go for Ford F-150 Lease Deals
Detwiler doesn’t want to be biased in his videos. He points out that, in some ways, the Cybertruck outperforms the F-150 Lightning. However, the flaw he has uncovered is too substantial to ignore.
For anyone who wants to see what EV trucks have to offer, the Tesla Cybertruck is not the safest option. It’s also far from affordable, with a starting MSRP far higher than the F-150 Lightning’s and no available leases.
We’ll say what Detwiler can’t. The obvious solution is to look into Ford F-150 lease deals for the F-150 Lightning.
