My First and Likely Last Post

[ELECTRUK]

Greetings, Rivian Lovers!

I am writing this post with a bit of sadness, because I have decided to cancel my R1T order. I placed the order in April of 2022 and at the moment my estimated delivery is April - May of 2023 - so close! One side effect to having to wait so long for a vehicle is that it gives you months/years to debate your decision and whether or not it is/was a good one. Two months ago I was "all in" and envisioning my life with a shiny new blue R1T. I had watched countless videos on YouTube showing how capable they are off-road, how great the storage is, how beautiful they are, etc. I couldn't wait to buy some lumber and throw it in the back of the truck, or take it camping nearby. I am starting to see more and more R1Ts on the road in the DC/VA/MD area (including the occasional R1S). But then I watched some videos by the "Now You Know" guys who own a Rivian and have had some pretty major issues with theirs and some not-so-stellar experiences with Rivian service.

Long story short, instead of the R1T, I am going to get a Tesla Model Y instead for the following reasons:

1. I have the possibility of getting a $7,500 tax rebate. I don't have that option with a Rivian, and $7,500 is a lot of cash to leave on the table.
2. The difference in price between the two vehicles is $35K ($92,500 for the R1T and $57,500 for the Model Y the way I configured them). I can have my bathrooms remodeled with that money. That's a lot of beer money.
3. Both companies have quality/build/service issues, but in my opinion, despite what the J.D. Power Satisfaction Survey says, Rivian is just too young and working through too many kinks.
4. The Tesla charging network is vast and the super chargers "just work". I know they will be opening them up to other EVs in the near future, but I don't want to have any trouble charging or finding a charging station with a Rivian.
5. We live in a pretty remote/rural location and sometimes only have one vehicle at our house. If that one vehicle is a Rivian and it gets bricked like it did for the "Now You Know" guys, we'd have to have it towed 100 miles to Richmond (the closest service location) and then what - catch an Uber to the closest city to rent a car? I have no idea. Our internet is also not great, and I worry that if the R1T decided to pull down an OTA update, it could fail and possibly brick the truck.
6. I am getting a trailer hitch on the Model Y so I will still be able to haul lumber, tree branches, etc.

I love everything about the Rivian, and have ever since I saw them in the "Long Way Up" documentary. They are gorgeous and look like they are a blast to drive. But for me, they need a few more years under their belt to be as reliable as Tesla who have been in the game for many more years. My guess is that in 3-5 years I will be buying a Rivian (R2T?). Heck, in 3-5 years there will be a lot of other EV choices on the market. Mark my words though, I will never buy a Tesla Truck as those are hands down the ugliest thing I've ever seen!

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[COdogman]

Can’t argue with any of those points. You have to get what fits your family best right now. Plus, who doesn’t like to have a nice new bathroom?

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Yeah if the difference in money is extremely important to you I totally agree with your decision to get a much more reasonable car. 90K+ is well into the "want" category of vehicles, long past the need category. If I was putting off projects or financial security to buy an R1 I absolutely would not do so either.

I love my truck, but at the end of the day it's just a car and if I was at a point where my family's financial future was taking a big hit over it I wouldn't have bought it. Maybe someday you'll be at a point where the Rivian makes more sense to you financially. Maybe you're just going to realize that no matter where you are you just can't justify spending that amount of money on what amounts to transportation. Either way, best of luck to you guy.

 

[jebinc]

All the best! I had a Model Y Performance and it was a wonderful and problem free car. I ended up selling it last year for the Rivian, and was able to get what I paid for it a year and a half later (during the Used car market frenzy)!

Oh, and to get these likely to come comments out of the way early....

"Don't let the door..."

and its related cousin,

"This isn't an airport, so no need to announce your departure!"

All the best with the Tesla! We still have the Plaid.

 

[mini2nut]

I concur with your choice. We have had our 2021 Model Y DM for just over 2-years now and it’s been awesome.

We paid $48,990 plus $2k for the black 20” Induction wheels. Zero issues over 32k minus a loose rear view mirror.

I fully understand your decision. Spending $80k on a vehicle is a want, not a need. Being a first adopter has its frustrations as well.

I assume you are getting an Austin, TX Model Y. I would opt for the 4680 battery version with the structural battery pack. I think it also comes with the Giga cast aluminum front and rear end. This version is unavailable to west coast buyers but you should have access in VA.

The Model Y is rumored to be refreshed (Project Juniper) by late fall of 2024. We will most likely be trading in when the 2025‘s go into production in a couple of years.

 

[ELECTRUK]

All the best! I had a Model Y Performance and it was a wonderful and problem free car. I ended up selling it last year for the Rivian, and was able to get what I paid for it a year and a half later (during the Used car market frenzy)!

Oh, and to get these likely to come comments out of the way early....

"Don't let the door..."

and its related cousin,

"This isn't an airport, so no need to announce your departure!"

All the best with the Tesla! We still have the Plaid.

Hah! I know some people might have harsh words, but as I said, I think Rivians are awesome, but now is not the time for me to buy one personally (even though I can afford one).

 

[Riviot]

Soooo evidence that people Do cross-shop the Rivian with the Model Y?

 

[fbitz777]

When I pulled the trigger on my R1T in early November I had the old pricing and the unrestricted tax rebate....so I'd say I was around 70k

At that time MY was actually close to that with no rebate available.

 

[mikehmb]

People cross-shop all sorts of stuff. I once cross-shopped a Tundra TRD Pro and an BMW i8. People are weird. LOL

 

[R1Sky Business]

Remember this is Rivian, so in your return in 3-5 yrs, some of us will still be waiting for our vehicles. ? cheers ?

 

[WSea]

Soooo evidence that people Do cross-shop the Rivian with the Model Y?

We did before it became evident that the rivian was much more vehicle and practical for us for not much more with no EV credit on the Y. And after driving a YP and realizing the suspension was about as good as a go-kart. My friend put it in FSD while I was test driving and it drove us across opposing traffic and would have hit a guardrail if not for me taking over.

 

[CGM55082]

I've had my Rivian since June and I've had my share of issues with it, but nothing that Rivian hasn't been quick to fix for me -- and I live 200 miles from the nearest service center. I came to the Rivian from Tesla and unlike a lot of Rivian owners, I remain a massive Tesla fan. Before the R1T, I had a 2018 Model 3 that was 100 percent trouble free and I sold it four years later for more than I paid. I loved that car and while my R1T hasn't been perfect, I wouldn't trade the Rivian for anything because there's literally nothing else like it. The overall offering just can't be matched.

The Model Y is a great car, but no matter what, it will never be a truck or provide what the R1T can. In addition, the R1T is just levels above in terms of overall build quality, materials and ride quality (and I say that as a Tesla stockholder). The R1T just feels more substantial and better built overall than my Model 3. It's quieter, smoother, more solid feeling and just more luxurious, even though it's a truck.

I'm not trying to convince you or anyone else not to buy a Y, because that is a great car and everyone's situation is different. But I've given this a lot of thought myself as I evaluate my experience with the R1T and wanted to pass along my two cents for others in this scenario.

 

[jjswan33]

Soooo evidence that people Do cross-shop the Rivian with the Model Y?

I mean anyone cross shopping a MY and an R1T is clearly not the target market for the R1T.

I’d even argue that an R1S is not in the same market as a MY. At least from my impression Rivian is trying to build the R1S as a competitor to MX and other ’full size’ EV SUVs that are coming out (Polestar 3, Volvo EX 90, Kia EV9, etc).

Now when the R2 is on the market then lets have this convo again.

To me it sounds like OP decided he didn’t need an R1T so why spend the extra cash. Fair enough. Good luck and congrats on your MY purchase.

 

[IPTV65]

“I’d even argue that an R1S is not in the same market as a MY”

They are not. One looks like an off road capable SUV with lots of space…..and the other looks like an egg with wheels! Ha ha

 

[swhme]

One recommendation… rent a Model Y on Turo for a day, and, if you can, rent a Rivian for a day.

The build quality and material quality is night and day. (We own both)

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