Preparation for a destructive finale
If anyone knows how to turn expensive cars into scrap metal in spectacular fashion, it’s YouTube blogger WhistlinDiesel. To conclude his three-part durability duel between the Cybertruck and the F-150, he subjected both pickups to true torture: off-roading, various technical tests, and then crashed the Tesla into the Ford at over 100 mph (160 km/h).
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This was no standardized IIHS procedure. The team modified the Cybertruck for remote control: installing mechanical actuators on the controls. But before the explosive finale, the pickup endured a failed trip to Moab. The towing module detached, disabling the Tesla almost at the start of the off-road course, while the F-150 kept conquering trails, even driving on three wheels until frayed wiring stopped it.
WhistlinDiesel (real name Cody Detwiler) claims keeping the Cybertruck operational through the series cost $53,000 in repairs, even though the Foundation Series Tesla had very few miles on it. By the time of the grand finale, nostalgia was no longer a priority.
Crash at insane speed
Both vehicles were empty inside. The remotely driven Tesla (Cody operated it via FPV goggles) accelerated down the drag strip and slammed directly into the side of the stationary F-150 at 111 mph (179 km/h).
F-150 torn in half
The result was devastating. The Ford’s cab separated from the chassis, a fireball erupted around both vehicles, and the F-150’s body was completely crumpled. The Cybertruck was also destroyed, but after the initial impact, it looked far more recognizable than its rival.
Durability test conclusion
Neither pickup got a dignified end. Both were sent to a recycling facility, where heavy machinery tore apart what remained, and then the leftovers were shredded in an industrial shredder. Nevertheless, WhistlinDiesel (who once burned a Ferrari and turned a Hellcat into a boat) declared the F-150 the overall winner in endurance. His reasoning is simple: the Ford never visited a dealership during testing, while the Cybertruck, he says, went there six or seven times — in a series of videos that supposedly cost over $300,000.
Though such tests are far from lab conditions, they vividly demonstrate that a vehicle’s toughness isn’t just about retaining shape after impact, but also reliability during prolonged use. Even under harsh conditions, the diesel Ford showed better adaptability to off-road challenges, while the tech-laden Cybertruck had electronics issues before the main crash. Its repair cost of $53,000 — nearly the price of a new F-150 — raises questions about the economic viability of such high-tech pickups in real-world operation.