Swapping a Ford F-150 for a Tesla Cybertruck: Like Going From the Victorian Era to the Future

Imagine trading in an old-fashioned carriage from a hundred years ago for a shiny spaceship on wheels. That’s how one Colorado man felt when he replaced his gasoline-powered Ford F-150 truck with a Tesla Cybertruck (an electric truck made by Tesla).

Many people lately have been switching from cars that burn gas to EVs (which stands for electric vehicles – cars that run on batteries instead of fuel). But few have described the change as colorfully as this man did!

The Ford F-150 and the Tesla Cybertruck almost feel like natural enemies at this point

Even though these two trucks look very different, they are both meant to do the same job: haul things and drive people around. Because they are so similar in purpose, folks love to compare them and even make them compete.

Here are some key points:

• Different but similar: On paper, each truck is unique. But their shared job leads to endless comparisons.
• Sales competition: In 2025 sales numbers, the Ford F-150 Lightning (the electric version of the F-150) sold more units than the Tesla Cybertruck. So they are definitely rivals in the market.
• Fun battles: Beyond numbers, they face off in drag races (short speed contests) and tug-of-wars (pulling contests). That’s where the competition gets really fierce!
• The big question: What do people who actually switched from one to the other say? Let’s find out.

This Colorado Man didn’t mince his words

A man from Colorado shared his story on the Cybertruck Owners Club website (a place where Cybertruck owners chat). He didn’t hold back!

He wrote:

“I’ve had a 2025 AWD truck for 3 weeks now. I’ve regretted purchasing FSD, but only because this truck is so much fun to drive.”

Let’s break that down for a 5-year-old:

• 2025 AWD truck: He has a Cybertruck from the 2025 model year that has All-Wheel Drive (meaning power goes to all wheels to help it grip the road).
• FSD: Stands for Full Self Driving. It’s a special (and pricey) feature that lets the car help drive itself, though a human still needs to watch.
• He says he regrets buying FSD only because driving the truck himself is so enjoyable!

He also talked about the cool tech inside:

• The truck uses steer-by-wire (steering controlled by electronics, like a video game controller) combined with rear wheel steering (the back wheels can turn a little). He said this is “mind-blowing” and “seriously feels like driving the future.”
• He admitted that a regular Ford F-150 or Toyota Tundra (another gas truck) can do the “same basic things,” but “nowhere near with this capability and ease of use.”

His wife made a funny comparison:

• She said the Cybertruck is like a laptop (modern, smart computer).
• The Ford F-150 is more like a typewriter (old, clunky writing machine).

He felt the $85,000 price tag was money well spent.

Important Callout: The man ended his post with a powerful message: “Tesla would move a whole lot more of these if people could experience driving them. Don’t judge it til you drive it!” In other words, you shouldn’t make up your mind about the truck until you’ve actually tried driving it.

Why Trying an EV Changes Minds (Expert View)

This idea isn’t just his opinion. John Higham, Vice President of Communications at the Electric Vehicles Association (EVA), told Supercar Blondie that many people switch to EVs after they feel the driving experience.

He said:

“We hear this all the freaking time. We call it the butts in seats conversion.”

That funny phrase means: once a person sits down (puts their butt in the seat) and drives an EV, they often become a fan. To help with this, the EVA holds “Arrive and Drive” events at over 100 local groups across the US, twice every year, so people can test EVs.

Timeline of the Tesla Cybertruck

Curious about how the Cybertruck came to be? Here’s a simple step-by-step of its journey:

1. November 2019: Tesla first shows a prototype (a sample model) of the Cybertruck to the public.
2. Late 2021: Tesla originally planned to start building them around this time.
3. 2022: The plan to build it got pushed back (postponed).
4. January 2023: Tesla says, “Okay, we will really start production later this year.”
5. July 2023: The very first Cybertruck is put together at Gigafactory Texas (Tesla’s big building factory in Texas).
6. November 2023: The truck begins being made in larger numbers (serial production).
7. November 2023: The first customers get their trucks at a special delivery event.

Summary

To sum up:

• A Colorado man swapped his gas Ford F-150 for a Tesla Cybertruck and felt like he jumped from the Victorian era to the future.
• The F-150 and Cybertruck are rival trucks, with the F-150 Lightning selling more in 2025, but they also compete in races and tug-of-wars.
• The man loves his Cybertruck’s fun driving feel, cool steering tech, and thinks $85k was worth it. His wife compares it to a laptop vs typewriter.
• Experts like John Higham agree that actually driving an EV (the “butts in seats conversion”) is what wins people over.
• The Cybertruck went from a 2019 idea to customer deliveries by late 2023.

FAQ

Q1: What is an EV (Electric Vehicle)?
A: It’s a car or truck that runs on electricity stored in batteries instead of gasoline. The Tesla Cybertruck is an EV.

Q2: What does “Full Self Driving” (FSD) mean?
A: It’s a Tesla feature that helps the car steer, speed up, and stop on its own, but the driver must still pay attention. The Colorado man bought it but found driving himself too fun!

Q3: Why did the man compare the Cybertruck to a laptop and the F-150 to a typewriter?
A: His wife made that comparison to show the Cybertruck feels super modern and smart, while the older gas truck feels outdated like an old typing machine.

Q4: What is the “butts in seats conversion”?
A: A funny term from EV expert John Higham. It means when someone sits in and drives an electric vehicle, they often change their mind and become excited about EVs.

Q5: When did regular people first get their Cybertrucks?
A: In November 2023, Tesla held its first customer delivery event and handed over the first Cybertrucks.