R2 Standard Interior loses: ventilated seats, rear heated seats, torch flashlight

[Epzey]

I used to work for a top German OEM. When visiting the R&D facility one time I noticed these painted side panels/skins on the wall and I asked what they were? “New material?”, “New colors, maybe just as rich but less coats?” And thus weight and cost.. nope, it was a surface layer that went on top o the clear coat, that virtually eliminated any SWIRLS LEFT AFTER WASHING!

I told the engineer. “This is great, I can’t wait to get this on a new car!” To which he repried.

”We can’t get the product development bean counters to accept it and put in on vehicles”

Why? because it would add FIFTY CENTS TO EACH CAR!..

I told the guy, we could sell this EASY as a 400-500$ upgrade.. it would sell in hot climates like hotcakes where cars are washed often. (My translation of hotcakes as Pfannkuchen landed flat!)

so yeah, penny pinchers pinch pennies (it’s probably in their job title) and all the pennies add up - I guess.

We never did see that new super special coating that would eliminate swirls. As I look back it was probably some nanoparticle based ceramic (although that sounds like it would have been more than FIFTY CENTS!)

You should have said “Obermegahammergeil”.

Truly sad though.

Sponsored

 

[Windblade]

We've an R1S. Visited the showroom in Nashville yesterday and spent time with the R2s. It's not a "mini" R1s. It has it's own personality and capabilities and complements the R1S very well. For the cost/performance, it's a solid vehicle choice for that segment.

 

[SwampNut]

The drop window is worthless, but I used the cooled seats for half the year.

 

[SDH]

How else do you get the costs down without removing stuff like that? If you want it, you gotta pay for it. Seems reasonable to me.

 

[Zathras]

Saw this pointed out by @Hilbe --

Rivian has updated the included features on the $48,490 Standard R2.

This lower cost version previously said it had a "Standard interior" as an included feature. Now it says "Standard interior with heated front seats and heated steering wheel". This means all seats are not ventilated and the rear seats are not heated. In addition, if you look at the R2 Premium it mentions the Torch flashlight on the same line. Therefore R2 Standard does not include a Torch flashlight.

To be fair, these facts have been known for some time.

 

[SwampNut]

I carry a flashlight in my pocket along with a knife at all times, so I've never found a use for the onboard light.

 

[R2D2TOO]

The drop window is worthless, but I used the cooled seats for half the year.

The drop window is the one feature that would push me away from the R2 if it was not available.
I have a 4Runner which has the drop window standard, which is very hard to find in today's market. I use it weekly, at least. Very functional and extremely useful.
There may be many people who see it as useless, so Rivian is offering a version without it.
I would never have it, though. If they dropped the feature completely I would cancel my reservation and look elsewhere.

 

[R2D2TOO]

I am at a point in life where I don't ever want to drive a 'basic' car.
Ok, confession - I have never wanted to drive a basic car.
I want the nice version, with bells and whistles, good performance, comfortable and quality materials.
Life is too short to drive a boring vehicle, in my view.

 

[R2D2TOO]

I carry a flashlight in my pocket along with a knife at all times, so I've never found a use for the onboard light.

I have a mantra - you can never have too many flashlights. Having one within arms reach, always charged and ready, seems like a very good idea. BUt I don't like to carry much in my pockets.

 

[KBabione]

Every manufacturer offers multiple trim levels - It's just that they usually release them at the same time, even if they're all not available. Many of the comments in this thread would be very different if the title was: "R2 Premium & Performance Includes ventilated seats, rear heated seats, rear drop window, and torch", pointing out what the higher trims include. I don't think the Standard "loses" anything. If the rear window is important to you then you'll pony up for a higher-level trim.

When I bought my Saturn SL1 in 1991 I wanted the base model - no power anything. It turned out that I would have had to wait months for a "special" order OR I could take delivery of one that day if I paid $250 for the power locks (still had cranks for the windows).

Since my income rose to meet my desires, I, like @R2D2TOO, no longer buy cars without the conveniences I really want.

 

[Zathras]

I have a mantra - you can never have too many flashlights. Having one within arms reach, always charged and ready, seems like a very good idea. BUt I don't like to carry much in my pockets.

One might as well argue they have one in their phone. Making the presence, or the lack thereof, of a flashlight the determining factor on whether to buy a vehicle is a bit silly in the end. If only Monty Python was still doing skits.

 

[Tucker74]

I am at a point in life where I don't ever want to drive a 'basic' car.
Ok, confession - I have never wanted to drive a basic car.
I want the nice version, with bells and whistles, good performance, comfortable and quality materials.
Life is too short to drive a boring vehicle, in my view.

This^ I always get a kick out of people lamenting there are no base model vehicles anymore. The reality is they weren’t great, they were cheap. I owned a mid-80s Toyota pickup in high school for my first vehicle, vinyl floors & cloth seats with manual everything including transmission. I had to go to the dealer to buy a digital clock to pop in where they had blanked it off with a plastic plug. It was cool since it was 4WD, but man it would only go 60mph and it was loud and uncomfortable and the AC barely worked. I can’t believe what those sell for now days, people are out of their minds with nostalgia for something that was never great

 

[narmstrong79]

Performance launch edition is the one to get while you can.
Premium is the everyday spec.
Performances mostly unnecessary
Standard is the rental car Uber driver spec.

 

[MClayton]

And tiny startup Rivian should match the margins of one of the largest auto manufacturers in the world…

The fanboy is strong with you Luke.

 

[Great Gatsby]

I am at a point in life where I don't ever want to drive a 'basic' car.
Ok, confession - I have never wanted to drive a basic car.
I want the nice version, with bells and whistles, good performance, comfortable and quality materials.
Life is too short to drive a boring vehicle, in my view.

Preach. I get having a budget, but even when I was making less money, I would just save up more to just get the vehicle I want. I get not possible for everyone, but they also offer different vehicles at different price points for a reason. The used market also offers amazing values, specially for EVs (that is changing with current gas prices, however).

I have never lamented getting the highest trim. I have never looked at a cheaper car and thought "Man, I wish I would have saved money and just not have cooled seats." I would certainly lament missing out on creature comforts for a vehicle I plan to own for several years.

My one tempt at saving money and getting a lower trim resulted in me owning a vehicle for the least amount I ever had one (three months). While I get why entry level trims exist, when you are spending so much money anyway, just save the extra to get the one you truly want unless those extra things truly don't matter to you. My opinion anyway, I'm sure others will strongly disagree but I'm very much in your mindset.

Sponsored