Tesla Cybertruck Foundation Series Owner Says, “Buyers Got Cooked, Prices Have Dropped Like Crazy, and With All The Incentives Now, I Feel Played”

With the price drops and incentives now, do early Tesla Cybertruck Foundation Series buyers feel like they got played? 

Tesla Cybertruck prices have dropped, and there are now incentives for buyers. Buyers like Frank Jimenez say the first Cybertruck buyers were played and were cooked. On his Tesla Cybertruck Facebook post, he says he's not happy with what he's seeing now. Do all early truck buyers feel the same way?  

He says,

"Let's be honest. Foundation Buyers got cooked. Prices have decreased like crazy, with an insane amount of incentives now. I feel played."

A report from Autoweek reports that Cybertruck lease prices have fallen, and the most affordable version of the truck has yet to arrive. 

Cybertruck Leases Have Dropped and Incentives Are Up

Autoweek says, "We are still far from seeing the least expensive version of the Cybertruck arrive on sale, but the latest indications are that most of the demand for pricier variants has been fulfilled some time ago."

The report says that Tesla has slashed lease prices for Cybertruck to help move the remaining inventory, lowering the monthly lease price from $899 to $749 per month for 36 months. However, the lease still requires a hefty $7,500 down payment before various other fees due at signing.

By the way, before we move forward you need to know that Tesla recently made something seemingly impossible, by making the Cybertruck looking cheap, using the Model X. How? Look at this fresh video from the Youtube Channel of Torque News.

Things Changed in a Few Months

Cybertruck AWD buyers paid $1,068 monthly for the same lease in November. The Cyberbeast lease was even more at $1,284 a month, with more generous mileage options stretching up to $1,338 a month for 15,000 miles a year, in place of the standard 10,000 miles.

Have Cybertruck Prices Reached the Bottom?

Newsweek says no. "We haven't seen the bottom of this lease pricing well, and waiting a few more months could yield even greater savings for prospective Cybertruck lessees. In fact, just waiting in general could result in greater deals down the line, including purchase prices", the report says.

Wait, There's More

Tesla now offers free wraps for Foundation Series Cybertruck buyers—a $6,000 value—to keep the controversial trucks selling. The recent offer for the free XPEL-installed wraps ends March 31, 2025, and the voucher for the free installation must be redeemed by June 30 of this year.

There's Still More

A few weeks ago, Tesla sweetened the deal for Cybertruck buyers even more, throwing in free charging and Full Self-Driving (FSD).

Newsweek says, "In effect, Tesla is pressing quite a few, if not all, of the demand-generation buttons it has in front of it."

What Are Other Early Tesla Cybertruck Foundation Series Buyers Saying?

Do they all feel like Frank, like they got played? Surprisingly, almost all of the comments on the Facebook post were positive. 

Jason Beckham - "I fully expected it. And that's the price we pay. I also got hosed on my 2015 Model S 85D. And I'm completely fine with it. The cost of being an early adopter."

Todd Lefor says, "I'm good with my decision. It was clear that I was paying a 20k premium for the "foundation package" and knew the price would drop. It's all good to me, and I'm super excited about the price drop to make this incredibly fun pickup more widely available. I don't need to be the only one who gets flipped off for driving one."

James Hubbard, "I paid what I paid. Back when it was announced, I put 20k into Tesla stock. That has increased to close to 3 cybertrucks. So, in theory, I paid zero for my truck, as my initial investment is still making more money. Zero regrets."

Jason Carlisle - "You pay to be first. Many of us are surprised by how fast it has happened, but it's the standard business operating procedure."

John Evans - "I wanted to be first. My foundation was not an investment. It was the opportunity to be first. I've had my truck since April. It's been all over the country. 28,000 miles. I love it. I would not change a thing."

Only a Few Buyers Feel Like Frank

Ians Opinions says, "I'm a little miffed by them. Being in Alaska, our deliveries for the beast were really delayed. I got mine in November. They started the incentives a little over a month and a half."

"I also never got the 4k install incentive; they tried to screw me on my PowerShare by saying my place doesn't qualify. They gave me $1100 credit and supercharging for one year in a state with two supercharging locations. One is 30 miles out of town, and the other is over 100 miles. This is how Tesla does business."

Darnell White - "I'm a foundation series owner and feel like I was played. People are now getting free lifetime charging; Leasing is an option, and some configurations are tax-credit eligible. It's crazy. It's not about rich and poor; it's about those of us who were supported with money and loyalty and then got shafted. I still haven't received my light bar, credits, or power share."

Final Thoughts and a Question For Cybertruck Foundation Owners

Despite the changes in pricing and incentives, the majority of the first Cybertruck buyers are overwhelmingly satisfied with their purchase. They are proud to have been among the first to own a Cybertruck and have no regrets about their decision. 

What About a More Affordable Version of the Cybertruck?

Newsweek says, "But one button Tesla hasn't pressed so far is the one that will produce single-motor Cybertrucks—at one point they were promised to start at $39,900." 

"We aren't holding our breath ever to see them actually sell for that price, as that promise was made well before the arrival of our current inflationary dystopia, but it is worth noting that the least expensive Cybertrucks are still sitting at about double that price. So there is still plenty of room for prices and equipment levels to drop."

It's Your Turn

If you're a Cybertruck owner who made your purchase before the recent price drop and incentives, we want to hear from you. Click the red Add New Comment link below and share your thoughts. 

Check out my Cybertruck report titled; Chief Tesla Cybertruck Engineer Interview Is Revealing, “I Never Wanted To Be the Next Elon Musk or Whatever”

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl