Friend bought ModelY after keeping R1S for a day, and after learning about R2

[Hereforthesnacks]

It's a completely valid feeling. I have friends who will not buy another brand because of how much they rely on FSD. Rivian will need to offer an FSD alternative to sway those drivers.

Ugh, but the ride is sooooo mediocre. I can’t deal with how the M3 and MY feel on the road.

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[Great Gatsby]

Ugh, but the ride is sooooo mediocre. I can’t deal with how the M3 and MY feel on the road.

What year? Both of my experience with the refreshed 3 and Y have been pleasant. Above average. Can't speak to the OG models though.

 

[mellowthecat]

The never-ending "R1 is HUGE" complaints always crack me up. I assume these folks generally drive in old cities with terrible parking as Rivians aren't even "full-size". Honda Pilot/Toyota Highland/et al are similarly sized as R1S and the latest Tacoma/Frontier are basically R1T size. The actual full size stuff dwarfs R1.

to me, the Pilot and highlander are too big. Wife wanted a Highlander. I told her if she wanted one, it would have to be her car. I don't want to drive a car that big. I will say, to me, the R1, feels larger than a Highlander when driving it. I don't know if that is the weight or air suspension. It drives nicer than a highlander. To each their own on what size of vehicle is huge

 

[MaskedRacerX]

Ugh, but the ride is sooooo mediocre. I can’t deal with how the M3 and MY feel on the road.

They feel /sound like cardboard

So many shortcuts, I remember the driver's seat in mine developed a lot of play, holy f-in heck, you should see the seat hinge implemenation, it's a little soft pin that just squeezed at one end, not properly fitted fastener, so it could grind out the receiver hole.

I hadn't been in one in a while, got an Uber a few months ago, facelift Model Y, yikes, a bit better, but the baseline was so low.

FWIW, I was going to do this:

https://unpluggedperformance.com/product/tesla-model-3-luxury-suspension-kit/

If we kept it, but no thanks, was easier, less hassle to just bail on the lease early.

Just talking since I've been married, so about 24 years, and that's been about 20 or so vehicles, about the only time I've been happy about getting rid of a car

 

[DuoRivian]

Funny enough, me and wife had this same conversation. We choose a Model Y because it has FSD now that is point to point. Rivian promised point to point by end of year, but even then, how good will it be?

R2 with Lidar is the one that will be L3 or L4, not the launch edition coming out now. And even then, it is heavily hinted at that this will be in several years, regulation permitting. So buying an R2 with Lidar is several months from now and then enjoy the benefit of L3/L4 when available will be the years down the line. For all that, we just bough the Model Y and will update to the R2 once those promises are delivered.

I'd say buy the vehicle for what it can do today and not the promise of tomorrow.

All in all though, I will say ADAS are not really that important to new car buyers as they are for Tesla people. I get the point that the OP was trying to make but I don't foresee anyone cross shopping the R2 and MY based off their self-driving capabilities.

Launch edition and current tech stack can do L3. RAP1 and LiDAR is for L4.

 

[Ralph]

The never-ending "R1 is HUGE" complaints always crack me up. I assume these folks generally drive in old cities with terrible parking as Rivians aren't even "full-size". Honda Pilot/Toyota Highland/et al are similarly sized as R1S and the latest Tacoma/Frontier are basically R1T size. The actual full size stuff dwarfs R1.

I don't think your wrong about the size when comparing "up" in size. The R1S and R1T are certainly smaller than full size. Highlander?

I've not driven an R1S, but the R1T is indeed "huge" compared to a Model 3. For those not used to a "truck" the decrease in maneuverability can definitely be a thing. My wife who has never driven larger vehicles would rather drive her 2016 Subaru than take the R1T.

 

[rodhx]

I don't think your wrong about the size when comparing "up" in size. The R1S and R1T are certainly smaller than full size. Highlander?

I've not driven an R1S, but the R1T is indeed "huge" compared to a Model 3. For those not used to a "truck" the decrease in maneuverability can definitely be a thing. My wife who has never driven larger vehicles would rather drive her 2016 Subaru than take the R1T.

Yep, R1S length & height are effectively the same as Pilot/Highlander, with the Rivian a bit wider. carsized.com is a fun site to play with size comparisons.

I get it. They are bigger than cars a full class smaller. I just find the reactions amusing when they are simply midsize in overall automotive market. The way some people rant about the "HUGE Rivians" would make the uninitiated think they are Tahoe/Suburban/Silverado size. Come to think of it those models, and the like, give me the same reaction as someone coming for a compact to a mid-size.

 

[MaskedRacerX]

The way some people rant about the "HUGE Rivians" would make the uninitiated think they are Tahoe/Suburban/Silverado size.

I think it (the R1S specifically) LOOKS much bigger, due to the design, the very high, squared off roofline, the ride height, it looks much bigger than our iX, yet, the R1S is only 5" longer and 4" wider.

 

[Hereforthesnacks]

What year? Both of my experience with the refreshed 3 and Y have been pleasant. Above average. Can't speak to the OG models though.

OG are particularly bad. The refreshed models have improved, but you can still feel every bump. I happen to uber a ton for work and it’s always a M3 or MY. So I’ve probably ridden in several dozen. For some reason, the ride grates on me.

 

[CrazyOne]

People still buy MY and every other car that sells. Price and size are probably #1 and #2 factors. Nothing new here. If I didn't want R1S today, I would look at a Cadillac Lyric / Honda Prologue. They aren't blobs and looks alright. Never drove them though.

 

[phaduman]

And this is coming from someone who’s experienced the ox cart suspension of our ‘23 Model Y.

I am with you on that - our 22 MY came home from factory without suspension I think.

the only thought I have on your ‘26 R1S test ride is whether the suspension setting was not “standard” but in high, or driving mode was all-terrain (sets suspension highest) when you test drove…the “sport” mode puts it in lowest height setting, and power curve much more responsive and has a very different (planted) road manners for a big vehicle like The R1.

 

[phaduman]

OG are particularly bad. The refreshed models have improved, but you can still feel every bump. I happen to uber a ton for work and it’s always a M3 or MY. So I’ve probably ridden in several dozen. For some reason, the ride grates on me.

exact same experience for me on our ‘16 MS, ‘18M3 and ‘22MY. On all of them, I switched to their base wheel set (smaller wheels with larger sidewall tires) and returned to much quieter, supple rides…will never go to their “sport” wheels - the car is already sprung as a track car in my opinion.

 

[SactownD]

You won't . Someone with both brands:
- range - is much more trustworthy on the Rivian. Tesla range drops dramatically as you drive. first year overall range drop is ~ 3%-5% on Teslas (we have had 3) and then it settles down. R1T - 0 % drop after1yr/20K miles. Rivian has more headroom with the cells they put on their vehicles than Tesla. It is natural for some cells in any battery pack to underperform within the first year and Rivian has more reserve cells there than Tesla - to save costs. Tesla decided to put more money on more supechargers vs more cells per car. Diff philosophies.

- ride quality - much more luxurious. Quiet, supple and taller stance is reassuring. Tesla focused on performance but not on comfort/ride quality. Parts are reliable, but not German quality ride. Rivian comes close to European ride quality.

- adventure/offroad possibility - you will be encouraged by many Rivian owners to venture out and enjoy the outdoors more - be it camping, off-roading, cooking outside. It's just amazing!

- S/W is improving. The s/w, the app..there is hope. The monthly updates are good and reassuring that the focus is there.

- The Teslas are super reliable - but the interiors rattle. Man it drives me crazy. lol. I have come to hold the front camera housing on my ModelY while on specific road areas. They just have decided NOT TO spend money on fit & finish (which is OK by me - their focus is tech, reliability, sustainability etc. and as a young company, they have to pick their battle and I understand it. So I just hold on to those parts at some sections of the road. hehe!)

- if you buy Rivian stocks now, you will likely be happier (we all hope so ).

Funny, the rattles in my R1S and noisy suspension are the things I dislike most. Guess it’s a roll of the dice as to how good any individual vehicle will be.​

 

[Frost]

People buy Teslas because they just want an electric driving appliance, and all of these stories just prove that to me.

The desire to base a decision on buying a 50-100k object to only solely be " self diven " makes me wonder at times how many Lyft rides they could take for $60k....

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