Would you still buy your Rivian today?

[runwithscissors]

I was a VERY early adopter. Placed a pre-order for an R1T in December 2018. 4 years later in June of 2022 I took delivery of an R1T large pack. I wanted a Max Pack, but when it got pushed I decided to get the large pack.

I put 12k miles on the R1T in a year, then traded it on an R1S (pre order) that I hoped my wife would take as her primary. She didn't like it and I'm a truck guy, so it was sold.

I did have a few issues with the R1T, but it was a brand new company and product, so I expected some issues. Rivian took care of me and I was a happy customer.

After being away from Rivian for 3+ years I picked up a new R1T a few weeks ago and it feels like home. So, would I buy it again. Yes.

Wish I knew enough to put downpayments on the R1T and R1S. Didn't realize they would do the R1T first and could've driven that for a year and sold it with little to no loss for the R1S. Kudos!

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[ESHRivian]

No bud- I didnt- thank you for pointing that out. I'm getting old and any tricks are helpful for sure. And just to clarify- I love my Rivian. A few minor tweeks here and there and I think its perfect electric car. I like it SOO much more than the Tesla I had previously

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

We're still in the excited stage of ownership as we've only had our R1S tri for two weeks. Conclusion so are, we want another one.
I loved the online buying experience. Screw the dealers. Online buying was so much easier.

Absolutely. The dealership model is such an archaic way to do business. The same thing with real estate/home buying. It’s full of subterfuge and backdoor dealing. There are way too many middlemen ripping the customer off. Online buying is definitely the only way to go.

 

[2kwik4u]

No bud- I didnt- thank you for pointing that out. I'm getting old and any tricks are helpful for sure. And just to clarify- I love my Rivian. A few minor tweeks here and there and I think its perfect electric car. I like it SOO much more than the Tesla I had previously

No worries.

Manual is hard to sit and read, so you gotta find stuff like this either by accident or sharing with others.

Found out last week while watching a YouTube video......you can turn off the HVAC with a long press on the temp setting on the main screen. Something new every day it seems.

 

[ESHRivian]

Thanks for another good tip! I appreciate it bud

 

[Hereforthesnacks]

Absolutely. The dealership model is such an archaic way to do business. The same thing with real estate/home buying. It’s full of subterfuge and backdoor dealing. There are way too many middlemen ripping the customer off. Online buying is definitely the only way to go.

Unless you know how to play their game. Find out when they need sales. Buy when you don’t need the car. Etc…. You can squeeze some ridiculous deals that way!

But for most, it’s not a good game.

 

[mkhuffman]

To answer the OP question, yes. 100%.

I am already planning to buy a Gen3 R1T, assuming the improvements are as great as I think they will be.

 

[2kwik4u]

But for most, it’s not a good game.

Honestly, I found the "no dealership" game to be equally as frustrating during the buying process. Different, but not necessarily better. Communication was poor, timing was always "rush when they need something, but slow to respond when I need something" cadence. Lots of hidden/undisclosed costs up front (Had to produce a check for over $8k in less than 24hrs, without warning, to "keep my current lease deal") that wouldn't have been an issue. Then I had to sign papers to lease before I could even see or test drive my truck, after driving 3hrs to the nearest delivery capable service center. Signing first was likely a good thing for Rivian because I wouldn't have signed and would have walked away due to the PDI being so awfully poor. Truck has been a mess ever since, I should have refused delivery, but had already signed the papers and they had driven away with my trade. Leaving me stuck 3hrs from home thinking I couldn't "undue" the deal without being a colossal asshole (which I should have been).

Just because it's different, doesn't mean it's better. I think that theme permeates both Rivian and Tesla on a whole myriad of decisions ranging from no dealerships to touchscreen controlled HVAC vents. Lots of stuff is different just for the sake of being so.

 

[Rade]

Then I had to sign papers to lease before I could even see or test drive my truck, after driving 3hrs to the nearest delivery capable service center.

Wow! That really sounds like a bad SC. When I took delivery of my R1T at the Chelsea MA SC, we got to climb all over it before accepting the vehicle. Prior, we had watched every YouTube video about all the things to look for (missing caps, loose this or that, etc.) and had a checklist ready. The delivery person was incredibly sweet and accommodating. I do recall that another couple were going to take delivery of an R1S at the same time, and the vehicle came with manufacturing defects (something about the center console door servos were not working). They were not happy.

I do agree that the communications through the acquisition process were not exactly... pukka. It was disconcerting how little feedback I got until the process needed something from me. My issue was the 12 week wait between the time they gave me the "fair market value" for my trade and when they finally asked me to upload the photos of the vehicle. The anxiety was terrible. That trade equity was the make or break for me on getting the R1T within budget, and I went into the Rivian process after years of dealers f-ing around with me, undercutting my trade when I would use like equity for prior purchases. "Well, there is one small scratch on the back fender; this vehicle is NOT in Excellent shape! Our offer is only x now". All things considered though, I'd go the online route again.

Sadly, from what folks have said on this forum, not every delivery / service center is equally or kindly staffed. For those of you scanning these forums for insight before purchasing, I'd suggest pose the question here about whatever SC you would be using.

The Chelsea, and now Canton MA centers have been superb. Your mileage may vary.

 

[2kwik4u]

Wow! That really sounds like a bad SC. When I took delivery of my R1T at the Chelsea MA SC, we got to climb all over it before accepting the vehicle. Prior, we had watched every YouTube video about all the things to look for (missing caps, loose this or that, etc.) and had a checklist ready. The delivery person was incredibly sweet and accommodating. I do recall that another couple were going to take delivery of an R1S at the same time, and the vehicle came with manufacturing defects (something about the center console door servos were not working). They were not happy.

I do agree that the communications through the acquisition process were not exactly... pukka. It was disconcerting how little feedback I got until the process needed something from me. My issue was the 12 week wait between the time they gave me the "fair market value" for my trade and when they finally asked me to upload the photos of the vehicle. The anxiety was terrible. That trade equity was the make or break for me on getting the R1T within budget, and I went into the Rivian process after years of dealers f-ing around with me, undercutting my trade when I would use like equity for prior purchases. "Well, there is one small scratch on the back fender; this vehicle is NOT in Excellent shape! Our offer is only x now". All things considered though, I'd go the online route again.

Sadly, from what folks have said on this forum, not every delivery / service center is equally or kindly staffed. For those of you scanning these forums for insight before purchasing, I'd suggest pose the question here about whatever SC you would be using.

The Chelsea, and now Canton MA centers have been superb. Your mileage may vary.

This, honestly, is the biggest issue with Rivian as a whole. A lack of consistency. Some have great delivery experiences, others terrible. Some have endless QC problems, others nothing. Some PaaK works, others never.

For me.....QC sucks, Build quality is poor, half the truck doesn't work right, and delivery experience was bad. Service center (Both Niagara Falls and Rochester, took delivery in Cleveland) is the shining diamond amongst a field of coal here. For others, it's starkly different. None of us are "right" or "wrong", we're just all experiencing a wildly inconsistent company.

 

[mkhuffman]

I just finished a weekend trip that included 6 hours of non-stop driving one way, and 6 hours back home. I really enjoyed the drive.

The truck is so comfortable. It is probably the most comfortable travel vehicle I have ever owned. The seating position is high (providing great visibility), and leg comfort is unmatched. The seats are supportive and very comfortable. I literally had no driving fatigue after 6 hours of driving (with a charging break in the middle). One leg was 4 hours, the other two. In other vehicles, drives that long would wear me out. Not in this truck.

And the charging experience was perfect. Of course I charged at a RAN charger.

Range + comfort + utility? There really is nothing better. And for me, the quality of my truck has been outstanding. Not perfect, but no vehicle is.

I love my R1T.

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