What Happened With The Cybertruck Dream of The 2M Reservation Holders? This Is My Last Mental Pic of How My Cybertruck Could Look Like, If I Had One

There’s a kind of silence that falls when a dream slips quietly into the background. It doesn’t crash, it doesn’t burn, and it doesn’t alert you with a flashing red warning on your screen. It just fades a little. Today, while casually scrolling through the Cybertruck Owners Club, I stumbled upon one of the most thoughtful, honest reflections I’ve seen in a while. It wasn’t from a viral influencer or a disgruntled ex-owner, but from a member named LexusCyber, who, like many of us, is still living with a reservation and a memory instead of an actual truck in the driveway.

"Many of you here were bold enough to snag a Tesla Cybertruck when it finally launched - and it’s been a joy sharing in your excitement, hearing your first impressions, and seeing the incredible ways you’ve personalized your trucks. But I can’t help but wonder: What happened to the dream for the rest of us, especially the 2 million of us originally holding reservations?

I count myself among the passionate. I love the Cybertruck and still dream of owning an AWD version - someday - when it doesn’t cost $80K. I've ridden the full rollercoaster from the hype and delays to Tesla’s ups and downs, and now the hope of a revival.

Based on recent developments, it feels like I’m still 2-3 years out from making my Cybertruck dream a reality. I’ve waited 6 years already, and while I try to tune out the noise, I’m also starting to wonder: will the industry shift again before I get there?

What if the future brings something even better?

I’ve been tracking the idea of extended-range EVs: electric vehicles with small, efficient gas engines that silently recharge the battery without powering the wheels. You get the performance, the range, and the peace of mind. Scout seems to be exploring this, and honestly, I think it could catch on.

Still, part of me hopes Elon and Tesla double down - bring the Cybertruck to market at $55K, sell 500k+ units during its lifetime, and prove that manufacturing excellence can make that future attainable. But time is slipping, and without something radical, I fear the Cybertruck might never fully live up to its potential.

That’s my two cents.

Now I’d love to hear from you: What happened to your Cybertruck dream? Is it still alive? Has it shifted? What does your future look like with or without the Cybertruck? No right or wrong answers - just real stories from a community that’s been on this wild ride together.

And if you are wondering, here is my last mental pic of how my Cybertruck could look like, if I had one."

Now that hit. Because LexusCyber isn’t angry, or bitter, or posting to stir up drama. He’s reflecting. And I think that’s where a lot of us are right now. After six years, the dream of owning a $39,900 electric truck with 500 miles of range and enough utility to make a Ford guy flinch has changed shape. And for many, it has become a mental picture instead of a parked vehicle.

For some, that mental picture is still shimmering. For others, the shine has worn off.

What the Forum Said About The Cybertruck's 2 Million Reservations Dream 

Dig deeper and you’ll find that many forum members don’t believe the 2 million reservations ever told the full story. A member from Wyoming, Wymonig, offered this practical take:

“It was the same thing with Model 3 deposits back in the day. Many don't actually convert into sales. At the peak, influencers and Turo people had 20-plus deposits. That was never going to happen and inflated the numbers. A large number of deposits were also outside North America, where a truck this size isn't typical. It was always going to be optimistic.”

Optimistic indeed, and as we now know, Cybertruck delivery wait times have dropped dramatically, with Tesla now offering near-instant Cybertruck delivery for some configurations. That alone tells us something - this isn’t a demand problem anymore, it’s a fulfillment and relevance problem.

The price tag has swelled. The original tri-motor was going to deliver 500 miles of range, 14,000 pounds of towing, and 3,500 pounds of payload. Edphonse, another user on the forum, did the math, and it’s not pretty:

“What we got was roughly half of that at almost twice the price. Real-world towing range is about 180 to 200 miles, because supercharging beyond 90 percent is unrealistic. So Tesla advertised it as a work truck but released a lifestyle truck. And most people don’t have $80K to throw at a lifestyle vehicle.”

This is where the dissonance between promise and delivery gets uncomfortable. Tesla marketed the Cybertruck like it was going to change how we think about pickup trucks. But some deliveries have left owners wondering whether Tesla over-promised and under-delivered.

The Tipping Point Between The Cybertruck Dream and Reality 

A turning point in any product journey is when loyal buyers begin to reconsider not just their purchase, but the values of the brand itself. Txtravwill broke down several of these points:

• The shift from exoskeleton to a more traditional build with stainless steel glued to castings.
• Unexpected use of cheap plastic in high-impact areas.
• A polarizing design that never expanded the truck's market appeal.

It’s no secret now that Tesla’s been sitting on Cybertrucks for months, trying to offload them even with incentives. That paints a picture not of scarcity, but stagnation.

Still, this isn’t just a Tesla problem. This is a consumer expectations problem. We built the Cybertruck into something mythic before it ever rolled down a street. And when it finally did, it rolled into a different economic climate, with different buyer priorities.

Dreams, Incentives, and Real-World Math 

One of the more enlightening posts came from Beetlebug62, a retired buyer who did pull the trigger, but only because the incentives added up to a surprisingly pleasant price:

“I bought an AWD in March. I got $25,500 in incentives. The fed tax credit, a state rebate, the referral credit, the interest rate promo. I even got 13 months of free FSD. People are still getting up to $21K in discounts, and that puts the actual cost in the mid-$50s. That’s not bad.”

But not everyone qualifies for those incentives. The majority of reservation holders didn’t take delivery. Why? The answer lies in what Tesla promised and what buyers actually received. In some cases, Tesla isn’t even allowing Cybertruck trade-ins, raising questions about whether the company is even confident in the resale value.

What Could Come Next, and What It Might Mean for Tesla 

What LexusCyber said toward the end of his post is what really stuck with me. He’s watching something else: the rise of extended-range EVs, vehicles that recharge on the go using small gas engines without ever needing to plug in. It’s a concept as old as the Chevy Volt, and as modern as what Scout Motors may be exploring now.

That idea matters, because it solves a core anxiety without requiring the full leap into all-electric. It offers peace of mind. It brings us to a middle path between technology and practicality. Just like how some Tesla owners are learning that the side panels of their trucks are not quite as bulletproof as Elon once claimed, the real-world experience is starting to reshape expectations.

Perhaps the Cybertruck will be remembered not just for what it was or wasn’t, but for what it told us about belief. Because there’s a lesson here, and it's not about stainless steel. It’s about keeping our expectations in check, and knowing when a dream needs to evolve, not be abandoned.

What Current Cybertruck Owners Can Do to Maximize Real-World Usability 

If you already own a Cybertruck, the most useful topic right now might be figuring out how to get the most practical value from it, especially if you bought it expecting it to be a do-it-all workhorse. The reality, as several owners have pointed out, is that the truck as delivered behaves more like a high-tech lifestyle vehicle than a true utility work truck. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be incredibly useful, if approached with the right mindset and setup.

First, consider tailoring your usage around its current strengths. The Cybertruck excels at light towing, weekend overlanding, and urban driving thanks to features like rear-wheel steering and auto-leveling. But if you’re consistently pushing its limits with heavy trailers or max payloads, you’ll be frustrated by its range and charging downtime. For those users, pairing the truck with a small inverter generator or portable power station could actually extend its usability. As one owner pointed out in the forum, a gallon of gas and a compact generator might buy you another 15 miles if you're truly stuck — not ideal, but enough in a pinch. While Tesla works on updates and potential range improvements with future battery tech, maximizing efficiency with payload, planning charging stops carefully, and adjusting expectations will go a long way in turning the Cybertruck into a more reliable companion.

Additionally, be mindful of build quality wear points. As highlighted in a recent Torque News report, early Cybertruck units have experienced body panel issues and rattles. Keeping up with service bulletins, proactively checking for trim looseness or water ingress, and even using aftermarket liners or wraps on vulnerable plastic areas can extend the lifespan of the truck and preserve resale value. As the platform evolves, owners who adapt early and learn where the limits really are will be better positioned to enjoy the experience — and to decide whether the dream is still worth it down the road.

A Moral to Keep 

There’s something valuable in the way LexusCyber ended his post. No rage, no finger-pointing. Just reflection and curiosity. That’s the kind of thinking that helps us make better decisions. Whether you're a buyer, a builder, or just someone still holding onto a $100 reservation that now feels like a donation, maybe the lesson is this: dreams are only as good as the paths we build to them.

Sometimes, the smarter move isn’t chasing the exact version of the dream we started with. It’s asking, “What else could this become?” and leaving space for that to be even better.

So, I’ll leave you with these two questions: 

1. What’s the last mental picture you had of your Cybertruck dream, and how has it changed?
2. Do you still believe Tesla can deliver something that brings that original spark back, or have you found a new path worth following instead?

Let me know in the comments below. I want to hear what your journey has looked like. Let's talk.

Armen Hareyan is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. He has more than a decade of expertise in the automotive industry with a special interest in Tesla and electric vehicles.

Images by Joe Tegtmeyer (X) screenshot, and LexusCyber referenced above.