Would you still buy your Rivian today?

[CoachTy6]

After ~5 months with my R1S...I'm not sure. And it almost all comes down to the suspension, and how it's not smooth/quiet at around-town speeds no matter what I do, regardless of whether I have 20" or 22" wheels, etc. I love almost everything else about it (some minor build quality issues aside, like the crappy-sounding doors), but I cannot stop being annoyed by a suspension that Rivian says is operating normally.

The problem is, I don't know what else I would get. I want a good looking design and good range, but I also want the ability to haul stuff, strap things to the roof, etc. Need three rows. Probably the closest other EV option is the new Cadillac Vistiq but it's too soft-roader for me, too luxury focused and not enough utility focused. And it doesn't have a frunk!! I love my frunk. Also I'm only "meh" on the Vistiq's looks, especially the back end.

If something else comes along in the three-row EV segment that strikes the right balance of utility and comfort (and style), I'll probably sell the R1S. My ideal vehicle would be an R1S with a more traditional (but still mildly off-road capable) suspension.

So much of what you said is how we ended up here. We were actually negotiating with a dealer for an Escalade IQ, but then got hit with having to replace a roof. The only other option for everything we needed (Particularly Towing) was the Rivian. However, still love it, would buy again.

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[Jayhawks]

Yes. Bought R1T dual max used. Needed vehicle for towing small travel trailer, but didn’t want typical inefficient pickup. Disappointed in towing range, but for the other 99% of the time I drive it I love it. Told my husband we’ll just have to get a Pebble.

 

[Rade]

I keep revisiting this question. In all honesty, I was never in the "Rah! Rah! Rah! Rivian all the way!" fan club, but I kept an open mind. I really like my R1T, but... my feelings are aging much like the trucks owner. I am finding that the R1T is just... not meeting my needs. We don't camp. We don't off-road. We own a home, and as such, do home stuff that requires a truck. Recent series of home projects drove that point home when I realized I really could not haul the materials in the too-short bed. Much more than an low stack of 8' pieces of lumber and I had issues with load security and stability. Granted, this is not a normal, weekly event, but numerous times the past two months where I ended up having to have the goods shipped to the house. The truck bed is just proving to not be practical, and with no pass-through window, there is no other real option.

I am intrigued by the Telo truck with the capability to lay a full 4x8 piece of plywood down in the bed. I am not ready to be a Guinea pig, though, on a new, untried manufacturer launch edition. Bringing my to me second qualm...

The Rivian OS is quite buggy. Even in the Gen2. On recent trips, things would just cease to function - UHF, Apple Music, various sensors, etc. Things that would just stop working while in transit. Sure, it's raining, it's cloudy, we're not in a cellular network.. it's... it's. Things that, once the vehicle was parked and restarted, all came back fine (no soft or hard reboot needed). It just...makes me sad.

So... would I buy a Rivian R1T again? Today... probably not, but I will keep my mind open if an R2T ever comes to market. Would be nice to get a shorter cab and a longer bed.

Don't get me wrong; I don't hate my R1T - as a matter of fact, I still consider it one of the most exquisite vehicles I have ever owned. After 18 months, still as refined and regal as the day I took delivery (albeit with a few dents and scratches). Fit and finish are stellar. Nothing is wearing out or breaking down in material quality.

 

[Mike Hunt]

We have two EV’s a Rivian and a Tesla. We bought another Tesla . The Tesla software is much better and more refined and the vehicle is a lot better and much more reliable. Plus there is a nearby service center. So no we would not buy another Rivian. The R1T 2022 ownership experience is OK lots of service trips.

 

[2kwik4u]

@Rade I'm in the same boat. Every time I try to use the truck as a tool, it's a passable but largely frustrating experience. It works, but you have to want it to, it doesn't just naturally work well.

Combined with the revolving door that my service center has been, I won't buy another Rivian.

Lots of really great features that I'll miss. Things like the frunk and gear tunnel are amazing. The off road prowess, and the driveline adaptability are exceptional. But honestly, a big chunk of the trucks existence is a lot of sizzle, and in daily use there's not enough steak......leading to a poor value overall IMO.

 

[Rade]

And not to put too fine a point on the matter, but on wrapping up a project this morning, I was short a piece of electric-grade PVC. The local hardware store only had 10' lengths in stock...

Thankfully, I had less than a two miles to drive home.

I felt like an idiot.

For how normally infrequently I haul long crap, an over-the-cab "back rack" would be overkill.

I >hope< this mornings project is my last for a while.

 

[2kwik4u]

And not to put too fine a point on the matter, but on wrapping up a project this morning, I was short a piece of electric-grade PVC. The local hardware store only had 10' lengths in stock...

Thankfully, I had less than a two miles to drive home.

I felt like an idiot.

For how normally infrequently I haul long crap, an over-the-cab "back rack" would be overkill.

I >hope< this mornings project is my last for a while.

Similar, but different here. I was moving houses and trying to fit boxes in the bed. It was SOOO close to fitting I thought I could just "jam" the boxes in there and it would be OK. NOPE, ended up breaking the tailgate flap, the soft open mechanism, and misaligning the latches. And, because there isn't a physical handle I had to "kick" it open while my 14yr old held the button down to release.

It was like this, but with cardboard. Less than a 1/2in of "too long-ness" to close the tailgate.

These are things my old Sierra, or hell, my old S10 would have shrugged off and been a non-issue. Instead it's lead me to think of the Rivian as a fragile, and unusable toy instead of a workload reducing tool.

 

[Rade]

FWIW - Had the discussion with my husband last night; he asked to cancel our R2 reservation. He cited the overall stability of his Tesla Model Y, and that he really did not want the uncertainty of a "1st Gen" vehicle. I could not argue with his logic.

Reservation cancelled as of this morning.

 

[2kwik4u]

FWIW - Had the discussion with my husband last night; he asked to cancel our R2 reservation. He cited the overall stability of his Tesla Model Y, and that he really did not want the uncertainty of a "1st Gen" vehicle. I could not argue with his logic.

Reservation cancelled as of this morning.

Rivian has the 1-2 punch with the R1's of not just being a new model, but being a new manufacturer as well. They also had the added challenge of launching directly after a global pandemic had hamstrung supply chains in an unprecedented way. I'm not saying it should have been a slam dunk, and even working in Manufacturing I'm not sure I could have done any better. I certainly hope they have improved significantly between R1 launch and R1 launch. 4yrs of lessons learned in medium volume machine manufacturing, you would certainly think so. There is also significantly less complication in R2 as compared to R1.

With all that said, after owning a "1st generation" vehicle from this manufacturer, I can't disagree with your husbands view either. I really want Rivian to succeed, but I'm no longer enthused enough to use my money to help the cause.

 

[Great Gatsby]

FWIW - Had the discussion with my husband last night; he asked to cancel our R2 reservation. He cited the overall stability of his Tesla Model Y, and that he really did not want the uncertainty of a "1st Gen" vehicle. I could not argue with his logic.

Reservation cancelled as of this morning.

Rivian has the 1-2 punch with the R1's of not just being a new model, but being a new manufacturer as well. They also had the added challenge of launching directly after a global pandemic had hamstrung supply chains in an unprecedented way. I'm not saying it should have been a slam dunk, and even working in Manufacturing I'm not sure I could have done any better. I certainly hope they have improved significantly between R1 launch and R1 launch. 4yrs of lessons learned in medium volume machine manufacturing, you would certainly think so. There is also significantly less complication in R2 as compared to R1.

With all that said, after owning a "1st generation" vehicle from this manufacturer, I can't disagree with your husbands view either. I really want Rivian to succeed, but I'm no longer enthused enough to use my money to help the cause.

Here is to hoping R2 is a lesson learned for Rivian and the simplicity and new architecture pays off in the reliability department.

For me, I really hope it is. We bought a new Model Y and it is the vehicle we drive 95% of the time for just that - it works, reliably, every time. PaaK works, infotainment boots up and is snappy and you put your feet on the brakes and you already on your way. Music is already playing and you can just worry about getting to your destination. FSD is also a nice to have.

The kicker to that though is that as I'm considering my next purchase, everything else out there is a gamble or missing in a lot of features that matter (to me). I want PaaK (hate carrying around a keyfob), dog mode (we bring our pup wherever we can), OPD (not standard in all EVs, go figure), frunk (I reverse into spots, I use my frunk WAY more than my trunk) and a solid infotainment + app (eliminates a lot of the options out there). I do not want another Tesla, as quiet frankly, one is enough for a household. I like the idea of Lucid but following their forums reveal how unreliable and half baked their software is and Polestars are cool but IMO overpriced for what they are. So that leaves Rivian. I do miss my R1 and loved it, but sold it for potential reliability concerns down the line and the infotainment was getting really slow. Cannot foresee that holding on any better as Gen 1 ages.

So my gamble will be to hold onto my R2 reservation. It ticks all the boxes. All it has to do is be reliable. If it can pull that off, I'll be a very happy camper, but we'll see. I have faith in Rivian and it seems like they are really trying to get the R2 right and I'm really hoping they do.

 

[Patrick87]

I would absolutely buy my R1T again. 23k miles in a little over 2 years. No issues, no service center visits. (knock on wood!)

It's hauled my daughter to/from college (with all her furniture and stuff) a couple times, it's taken me on a handful of great off road excursions, down twisty mountain roads in "Sport Mode" with the tires screeching, and tows my 7k lb camper several times a year.

Plus, I get to charge it for free at Tennessee State Parks (Level 2) whenever I visit (which is often a couple times a month). I also charge up for free whenever I'm staying at a campground on 50amp shore power.

It's the only vehicle I've ever had that even 2 years into ownership, I'm still excited to get in and drive every single time.

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