Connect+ is Here

[R1S88]

My Thoughts...

I do think they are shooting off their nose here.

Most other manufactures, legacy or not, offer connected services for 3 years with purchase. We just purchased for my company a 2023 Chevy 1500 Trailboss. The remaining 2.5 years of connected services are still free.

Those that managed to get their pre-purchase back in 2022 have been streaming/whatever for 2+ years now. Old adage of "For me, but not for thee".

I get they are just trying to turn profitable. This, I think, is not the way to do it.

I know I will not be doing it (at least at this pricing).
I have WiFi at work that my truck connects to as soon as I get to work.
I have WiFi at home that my truck connects to as soon as I get home.
I, and my wife, have free unlimited tethering thru my phone, and its 5G.

Wheres my incentive here?
I can still watch YouTube streaming thru my tethered device. I can still unlock/lock/vent/hood/liftgate thru the app. Maps will still work. I can still do Heat/AC thru the app. I dont use any of the apps except Alexa, which I can still do thru Tethering.
I loose nothing as far as I can tell, and save $15/150.

This argument of "you bought a 100k vehicle, and you complain about $15" is really f**king annoying. Maybe you can handle being nickel and dimed around your entire life, and your bank account doesnt care. My bank account does care.

There’s a cost to Rivian for the connectivity. It’s either in the cost of the vehicle or offered separately. At least if it’s separate you can decline it.

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[bd5400]

No argument there... Except its free for the first 3 years.

Also, OnStar is being discontinued.

Genuinely curious, where is it advertised that GM vehicles come with three years of included mobile hotspot or other premium connectivity features? Chevy’s connected services document says that only limited functionality is included temporarily with purchase.

https://www.chevrolet.com/ownercent...cles/onstar-nbm/OC_Chevrolet_ComparePlans.pdf

They aren’t super clear as to what is included with the car and for how long.

 

[SANZC02]

No argument there... Except its free for the first 3 years.

Also, OnStar is being discontinued.

Technically not free, built into the original sticker price of the vehicle.

It is like my Model S, it has “free” unlimited supercharger and premium connectivity for the life of the car. Is it really free or was it built into the 75k I paid for a rear wheel drive Model S with a 75kWh battery back in 2016.

That compared to the 79k I paid for my R1S in 2023. After inflation in 2023 dollars the Model S adjusted amount is 94k. I do still enjoy the “free supercharging” but in reality I know I just paid upfront for the service.

 

[Chewy734]

If they were going to force the trial period start date on us, the least they could’ve done is forced the software update we’re supposed to be trialing.

 

[TollKeeper]

Genuinely curious, where is it advertised that GM vehicles come with three years of included mobile hotspot or other premium connectivity features? Chevy’s connected services document says that only limited functionality is included temporarily with purchase.

https://www.chevrolet.com/ownercenter/content/dam/gmownercenter/gmna/static/pageImages/Learn About Articles/onstar-nbm/OC_Chevrolet_ComparePlans.pdf

They aren’t super clear as to what is included with the car and for how long.

I am not sure how to answer it.. Other than to say my 2023 Chevy TrailBoss, that we have owned for 4 months, has unlimited data, app, and a few other things. It was part of the price we paid for it.

 

[cevans]

This argument of "you bought a 100k vehicle, and you complain about $15" is really f**king annoying. Maybe you can handle being nickel and dimed around your entire life, and your bank account doesnt care. My bank account does care.

If I go to an expensive restaurant I get charged $10 for a beer. Yes, I can go to the VFW and get a beer for $1.50 but they only have hot dogs. I'm not going to complain to the server manager at there restaurant because they charge more than the VFW. You bought a $100k vehicle with advanced connectivity functionality which at no time was promised to be free forever. The point of the $100k argument is that expensive things are expensive - the depreciation alone dwarfs the connectivity cost, never mind the tire wear cost - so it isn't congruent to be complaining about the cost when you chose to live the expensive life.

No manufacturer offers advanced connection features for free. I paid way more for the FordPass with hotspot than the Rivian $15/mo. The cheapest crappy tablet plan is $10-15. Yes, it is 100% wasted money if you already have these things but that isn't the fault of the subscription itself but the fact it would be duplicitous for you. But the fact remains that $15/mo is an excellent deal compared to other manufacturers and a great deal for those who use the hotspot a lot.

 

[freshpow]

Some good laughs here.

If they were going to force the trial period start date on us, the least they could’ve done is forced the software update we’re supposed to be trialing.

What's your Venmo? I'll send you the $2.50 to cover the 5 day gap I can't believe anyone ever thought the trial start date wouldn't be forced...why would Rivian want a bunch of their vehicles out in the wild running on outdated software?

 

[Gyrosntzatziki]

For a CEO who claimed Carplay can't come to rivian because "we just believe that it is such an important piece of real estate, the digital ecosystem, that it was something we want to retain"... this sure does look like a lot of real estate they are not retaining...

 

[Davethadog]

Out of curiosity, what functions are free in your other cars that are now tied to the Connect+ subscription?

I download any app from the android store and use it on my polestar for free without a paid connectivity subscription. Same in my wife’s Volvo.

 

[TollKeeper]

Technically not free, built into the original sticker price of the vehicle.

It is like my Model S, it has “free” unlimited supercharger and premium connectivity for the life of the car. Is it really free or was it built into the 75k I paid for a rear wheel drive Model S with a 75kWh battery back in 2016.

That compared to the 79k I paid for my R1S in 2023. After inflation in 2023 dollars the Model S adjusted amount is 94k. I do still enjoy the “free supercharging” but in reality I know I just paid upfront for the service.

Agreed.. But thats kinda the point. It was technically built into the price for all those owners that have owned their R1 since 2022.. Thats why I made the adage comment about "For me, but not for thee"

If I go to an expensive restaurant I get charged $10 for a beer. Yes, I can go to the VFW and get a beer for $1.50 but they only have hot dogs. I'm not going to complain to the server manager at there restaurant because they charge more than the VFW. You bought a $100k vehicle with advanced connectivity functionality which at no time was promised to be free forever. The point of the $100k argument is that expensive things are expensive - the depreciation alone dwarfs the connectivity cost - so it isn't congruent to be complaining about the cost when you chose to live the expensive life.

No manufacturer offers advanced connection features for free. I paid way more for the FordPass with hotspot than the Rivian $15/mo. The cheapest crappy tablet plan is $10-15. Yes, it is 100% wasted money if you already have these things but that isn't the fault of the subscription itself but the fact it would be duplicitous for you. But the fact remains that $15/mo is an excellent deal compared to other manufacturers and a great deal for those who use the hotspot a lot.

While I dont drink... I get the point you are trying to make, and I have to disagree. I "can" buy a lot of things. But if I am looking for my future, and my kids future, this means I shouldnt buy the things I "can" buy.

I think the difference here is "why" I bought the Rivian. I didnt buy it because of all those features, and definitely not to be "Green". I could have bought a GMC Yukon/Genesis GV80, and been just in the same place I am (Although quite a bit slower, but with AA/CP). I specifically bought the Rivian because its a vehicle -I- cant work on. Being a retired ASE Certified Master Technician, with 5 blown discs, and not being eligible for surgery. My brain doesnt think about my back, until its to late. Being an old school mechanic, I am just not wired like that. So I bought something that I physically know nothing about, and frankly scares me... This prevents me from doing things my back physically cant do anymore.

Everyone is not the same, and some, like me, dont have the disposable income to squander like that.

 

[godfodder0901]

For a CEO who claimed Carplay can't come to rivian because "we just believe that it is such an important piece of real estate, the digital ecosystem, that it was something we want to retain"... this sure does look like a lot of real estate they are not retaining...

Looks like they retained 100% of it... They have the ability to design and present any part of the interface in any way they see fit...

 

[pmd5700]

I wonder if I can get the free trial extended since I just dropped my R1T off for service yesterday...probably going to lose 25% of the free trial

 

[strykerwsu]

For a CEO who claimed Carplay can't come to rivian because "we just believe that it is such an important piece of real estate, the digital ecosystem, that it was something we want to retain"... this sure does look like a lot of real estate they are not retaining...

What? Just as today whichever app your on takes the screen. Radio, Spotify, Maps, climate, etc.

 

[strykerwsu]

I download any app from the android store and use it on my polestar for free without a paid connectivity subscription. Same in my wife’s Volvo.

Yes, but does Volvo provide great monthly updates? My Ford sure the hell doesn't. Lots of promises and then never an update. My R1T is way improved from 20 months ago.

Do I wish it was free forever, sure. However the amount isn't bad and we can do Wifi to avoid charge for most features.

 

[Rizzian]

So If I'm paying monthly for connectivity I can have my Apple Car Play and any other apps I choose, right?

Feels like me trying to convince my immigrant parents to get Cable TV in 1990 and they're like -
"We'd be happy to pay for cable TV, as long as they don't show any commercials." - because that would be "double dipping."

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