Any one regretted the R1S based on size?

[NTinkle]

The size is terrific. I don't find it difficult to park at all, and I came from a Model Y, and also have a Bolt. It has an amazingly tight turning radius that really helps to line it up from a row of cars.

The only downside has been some quirkiness due to a young company - mostly software, but spent 3 weeks in the shop replacing sensors.

And, I went from 3.3 miles/kWH, to 1.9 - I'm almost all highway - average just over 100 miles per day. That's tough to take, but no different than driving something like a Camry compared to a Yukon in efficiency, so should be expected. Still.... And it's as much about the charging time as more electricity. 60% more electricity is 60% more charging time.

With that said, the form factor is perfect for what you want it for. With the back row down, it has an amazing amount of space, so for camping or adventuring, it would be tough to beat.

I sometimes think if I want something else, or something more efficient or less prone to quirks or trouble (the service center is a 7 hour round trip for me), like a Model S or X. Everytime I think about it, it's the same. There is nothing I would like more. At least, until the R2.

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[Bippie]

Yes - I often tell friends that I really like my R1S but it really is too big for my needs. I rarely have a 3rd or 4th passenger and no one has ever sat in the third row. However, the positives outweighed the negatives and I purchased the R1S. No regrets, at least not after I installed running boards to assist with entry and exit. That said, I ordered an R2 when orders opened and look forward to downsizing when the R2 becomes available.

In addition to size, the R1S is not a great fit for my lifestyle. I don't go camping and only went off road once to experience the vehicle in this environment. The R1S is extremely comfortable for long road trips but I feel there are a lot of features that I may never use. I am almost always in all-purpose mode but did have a chance to use snow mode for a few hours during a snow storm. Worked great.

By the way, there have been times I was very happy to have all of the cargo room in the R1S with the 2nd and 3rd rows folded down. Not often, but it has come in handy.

I replaced a Tesla Model S and was surprised to learn that the R1S was barely longer than the S. It is wider so I have to be more precise when parking in the garage.

 

[JackRussellRacing]

The R1T is fantastic for cyclists. I drive to our Club’s ride start 3 days per week and put my bike in the truck bed using a Saris Traps Triple Rack (https://saris.com/products/traps-triple-track) and the gear tunnel for all my cycling gear like helmet, shoes, nutrition, and extra clothing. I don’t like putting my bike on a receiver mounted rack. This is perfect for road trips. I have car pooled to a ride start from our AirBnB with 4 people and the bikes in the bed using two Traps in the bed with the tailgate down, and no gear inside the cabin (Yosemite Tioga Pass Car Free Day)

My vehicle before was a 2012 Impreza and I put the bike inside lying derailleur side up on foam. The R1T felt very big at first, but after a few weeks it just feels normal.

So while I do think the R1T is too big for most of my normal daily driving, @Cycliste makes a good point.

If you enjoy human-powered transportation, the #1 feature of the R1T is being able to sit on the gear tunnel doors and get shoes on/off for riding. I cannot possibly count the number of folks on my club rides that praise the utility of the gear tunnel. It's also nice to cram a bunch of gross sweaty kit into the tunnel and not stink up the car while driving home.

p.s. I use a 1UP single hitch rack. I'm have the upper body strength of a baby minnow. Lifting a bike onto a rack in the bed -- even if it only weighs 7kg -- is beyond my abilities generally.

 

[Capri]

I had a Honda Element years ago. It was a terrible vehicle (for me). The 4 cylinder was way under powered (would have to floor it to go up small hills). The awd system was awful (got stuck in 6” of snow on a flat driveway). and the thing shifted constantly (especially going up those small hills). I owned it for about 18 months and couldn’t wait to get rid of it. The rear doors are awful too. Prob the only good thing on it was the rubber interior that I could hose out after my muddy Great Dane was in it. But then again that rubber always had a cheap smell to it that my wife (girlfriend at that time) hated.
You will be much happier in either the T or S.

It always interesting how folks like different things - I love mine! It’s my second one and I’ve driven one since 2003. I am in Canada on a large hill and it handles awesome in winter - both were AWD.

 

[Capri]

We just purchased our R1S Quad this year and the only thing that's been tough about the size is the height off the floor for my wife (She's 5.3). Even in the lowest setting it's tough for her to get in or out of the car. So I will take care of that by purchasing running boards soon. Otherwise the size has been great. We took the R1S on a beach camping trip and slept in the car using an air mattress and it felt like a hotel suite in there. If you like camping, hiking, biking trips or anything else outdoorsy then I think you won't go wrong with the R1S.

Good to know. I’m 6 feet and husband 6’3 so I find the lower vehicles to be more the issues. Tried a Prius the other day and hated getting in and out

 

[Capri]

So while I do think the R1T is too big for most of my normal daily driving, @Cycliste makes a good point.

If you enjoy human-powered transportation, the #1 feature of the R1T is being able to sit on the gear tunnel doors and get shoes on/off for riding. I cannot possibly count the number of folks on my club rides that praise the utility of the gear tunnel. It's also nice to cram a bunch of gross sweaty kit into the tunnel and not stink up the car while driving home.

p.s. I use a 1UP single hitch rack. I'm have the upper body strength of a baby minnow. Lifting a bike onto a rack in the bed -- even if it only weighs 7kg -- is beyond my abilities generally.

We also have a 1Up and love it. I also don’t want to lift mine that high hahaha.

 

[Southern R1S]

I've always found the only time I regret a vehicle's size is when it isn't big enough. Then again, I have two large dogs, which influenced my decision. You get used to driving a bigger vehicle sooner than you'd think, but you can't make a small car bigger.

Agree with this completely.

We're a large vehicle household to begin with, but I've never found the R1S to be too large in any situation. The only time I've had any complaints about the size of the R1S is when it feel too small rather than too large (2nd row captains chairs would go a long way towards fixing that complaint though).

The R1S is 9" longer, 8" wider, and 2" taller than our Lexus GX, but the R1 feels / drives like its about 75% of the size of the Lexus.

 

[beaker]

I came from a mid sized crossover to the R1T and it was definitely an adjustment. Driving around is fine but parking is definitely more of a challenge. It wasn't a dealbreaker for me but if you do a lot of parking in tight parking garages it will be annoying.

 

[SadHill]

It always interesting how folks like different things - I love mine! It’s my second one and I’ve driven one since 2003. I am in Canada on a large hill and it handles awesome in winter - both were AWD.

Agreed. Sorry if it sounded mean the way I said it. Obviously lots of people liked them as they kept them around for many years.
just didn’t work for me is all.
But you cannot compare the element to a rivian. Like comparing an iPhone to a Motorola razor

 

[Capri]

Agreed. Sorry if it sounded mean the way I said it. Obviously lots of people liked them as they kept them around for many years.
just didn’t work for me is all.
But you cannot compare the element to a rivian. Like comparing an iPhone to a Motorola razor

Totally agree on that. The rivian is much nicer and more advanced

 

[meshugy]

I was a little worried about parking the R1S in tight spots around Seattle, but the 360 cam makes what would otherwise be difficult/impossible parking a breeze. I’m easily able to get R1S into spots I wouldn’t even attempt with my much smaller sonar equipped Volvo wagon.

 

[dradam]

I came from an LX 470 to the Rivian, which is 3 inches wider and 6 inches longer. Both are big but it is surprising how much those extra inches do make a difference.
That said though, after a few weeks of driving, it is totally comfortable. I do think more about parking spots, but I love the extra space. I love the frunk . I love the size for my needs.

 

[DB-EV]

We are considering the R1S but it’s much larger than our current small suv. (We also have a reservation on a R2 but I imagine it will be two years before it’s in Canada). Anyone find their R1s is too large? There is just two of us but we bike, hike, camp etc

Came from crv and love it.

wife likes car but if she doesn’t drive it for a bit she feels the change in size.

test drive but I felt the sight lines are good for size.

 

[Gratedwasabi]

I came from a mid sized crossover to the R1T and it was definitely an adjustment. Driving around is fine but parking is definitely more of a challenge. It wasn't a dealbreaker for me but if you do a lot of parking in tight parking garages it will be annoying.

This. Keep in mind some of the people posting in here LOVE their Rivians and would tell you it's amazing if it was literally on fire. And hey, I wish I loved my purchases that much so not a dig but take the "easy as a small suv!" with a big scoop of salt. I had a compact SUV rental while my R1S was in the shop for 3 weeks and it was MUCH easier having the smaller car.

It is a big car. It's a big adjustment. Tight spots are annoying. It's a lot easier in the Gen2 that has quite excellent cameras, harder in the Gen1 with the mediocre cameras.

On the highway you feel like you're taking up most of the lane. The autopilot makes you feel like you're very close to adjacent cars due to the size, so I avoid using it if cars are next to me.

It's certainly something you can adjust to, but it is also something you constantly have to be mindful of. It does drive and park nimbly for the size, so it is less of an issue than I anticipated but still an issue.

 

[kozak79]

Get an R1T. It's cheaper than an R1S and the bed allows for more versatility for your outdoor adventures. Mine fits in my small garage, but measure first if that's an issue.

I'd look for a gently used 2022 R1T with Meridian sound

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