First Mile: Unsure

[Attesan997]

That might be the problem though. Jack of all trades, master of none.

I found myself asking. Is it good with caveats?

It was hard for me to tell given the environment. But, does it actually handle well? Does it actually ride well? Or is it well..for a truck. Is it the EV caveat?

Especially being a Ridgeline owner, I already have independent suspension. I already have better handling than most solid axle, body on frame trucks. So is my expectation that this is great period, unreasonable? Does it need a caveat? It’s good..if you compare it to another body on frame truck but not if you compare it to something else?

And I’m not knocking it, but unfortunately I couldn’t tell. I emailed them asking if there was something else I could attend/drive and I don’t plan on cancelling my order, so we’ll see but I’m happy to hear from the community because it’ll help me process it.

The Ridgeline is more similar to the R1T than not especially if you put the off road ability to the side for a moment. The Ridgeline was built to serve many "truck" needs while adding some comfort and maneuverability into the mix. I think it was Ford the study saying most of their owners tow less than a few times a year. Hopefully you get a better "Second" drive. I'm not sure how you asses the R1T sitting in traffic.

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[ironpig]

I checked them out in Venice when in SoCal for business. I can't imagine having any fun driving anywhere in anything in the entire LA area. I kept thinking there must be some roads somewhere around here all these fun cars I see get to be used. But it isn't in that area around Venice I am thinking.

All I can say is I am blown away everytime I drive mine. I can't imagine anything else comming close to the overall experience. But obviously a GT3 will be a better GT3 than a Rivian. Or a Raptor R, would be a better Raptor R than a Rivian. But when it comes to Swiss Army knives....the R1T is the ultimate....with crazy fast as a bonus.

The West side of LA is hell on cars. Unless you are on PCH during the first weeks of Covid and it's gloriously empty. But otherwise, it all sucks your soul.

But if you are ever in LA again and driving anything fun, head northeast to the Angeles National Forest and you'll find all our best driving roads. The west side has the ocean and the best weather, but the east side is where the best food and car culture live.

 

[shamoo]

I consider myself a pretty hardcore "car guy" and I can see where OP is coming from.

But as a car guy (if he is one), you have to get out of the Jack of all Trades mentality because there isn't one vehicle that will do it all. If you keep chasing it, you'll never be happy.

To remedy it, I just have several vehicles. One daily driver SUV, one daily driver sedan, one fun/weekend car, one motorcycle (which I just sold). I could combine the first two, but my company gave me a car. My one problem (if you can call it one) is I need all of them to be performance oriented so I always opt for the highest spec performance model. But most people don't need that.

The Rivian R1S (or T if you need a pickup) is pretty close to a jack of all trades. I wouldn't call it a master of none because nobody will be a master of all. You need different vehicles for that. I believe the Rivian is a vehicle that checks MOST boxes.

What else are you really missing?
- You might need more range/you tow heavy lots often
- You miss the sound of a "real" engine
- There may be issues being an early adopter
- Charging network, but that's the same challenge for every non-Tesla EV.

The closest non-EV competitors which offer everything is in the $130-250K mark (e.g.: Mercedes G63 AMG, BMW X5M Competition, Range Rover SVR, etc).

I never test drive any of my vehicles. I know what I want, and the online reviews/videos are enough for me.

I have an R1S coming eventually and I saw one up close for the first time during the Venice Hub event last weekend. Does it check EVERY box? Nope, but from what I saw, I love it. And I'm a pretty picky guy.

 

[R1Tom]

That might be the problem though. Jack of all trades, master of none.

I found myself asking. Is it good with caveats?

It was hard for me to tell given the environment. But, does it actually handle well? Does it actually ride well? Or is it well..for a truck. Is it the EV caveat?

Especially being a Ridgeline owner, I already have independent suspension. I already have better handling than most solid axle, body on frame trucks. So is my expectation that this is great period, unreasonable? Does it need a caveat? It’s good..if you compare it to another body on frame truck but not if you compare it to something else?

And I’m not knocking it, but unfortunately I couldn’t tell. I emailed them asking if there was something else I could attend/drive and I don’t plan on cancelling my order, so we’ll see but I’m happy to hear from the community because it’ll help me process it.

Master of none...except a super fun EV truck. If want master go with the GT3 for canyon runs, Raptor R or TRX for big truck stuff, And a Tesla Plaid for 0-100 runs. Or get the Rivian and be close to all of them in one machine....

 

[R1Tom]

The West side of LA is hell on cars. Unless you are on PCH during the first weeks of Covid and it's gloriously empty. But otherwise, it all sucks your soul.

But if you are ever in LA again and driving seething fun, head northeast to the Angeles National Forest and you'll find all our best driving roads. The west side has the ocean and the best weather, but the east side is where the best food and car culture live.

I can see that. Next time....North East it is!

 

[Perry24r]

I had my drive yesterday in the outskirts of Seattle just before you head into the mountains, so I had open roads. I loved it and felt like I was driving a very heavy sports car. Whipping around the roundabouts, hopped on the highway, found a bumpy gravel road, drove around town. Granted I had never been in an EV before, so nothing to compare. It was like I was driving my mom's F150 back in the day, but was driving how I drive my wife's Sonata.

 

[yizzung]

I left…I’m finding a difficult word for it, underwhelmed? I’m trying to figure out of my experience is unique to the circumstance/location or reality.

I did my first mile on a dirt track in Sonoma nine months ago and I'm still smiling from it... Cruising around LA during rush hour in anything other than a helicopter is just not fun. I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[AxelR]

I did my first mile on a dirt track in Sonoma nine months ago and I'm still smiling from it... Cruising around LA during rush hour in anything other than a helicopter is just not fun. I wouldn't sweat it.

Two people. Two opinions.
It was okay.
Maybe it depends on current ride and expectations.
I like it and I’m okay to be waiting for it.

 

[yizzung]

Two people. Two opinions.
It was okay.
Maybe it depends on current ride and expectations.
I like it and I’m okay to be waiting for it.

I was responding the the OP and hadn’t read your post. OP drove around in LA traffic and didn’t think it was fun. Nobody thinks driving around in LA traffic is fun.

As for your impressions, I don’t really have anything to say. If you like your ICE and you think the fit and finish is meh, not sure why you’d part with $90,000 but whatever floats your boat.

 

[AxelR]

I was responding the the OP and hadn’t read your post. OP drove around in LA traffic and didn’t think it was fun. Nobody thinks driving around in LA traffic is fun.

As for your impressions, I don’t really have anything to say. If you like your ICE and you think the fit and finish is meh, not sure why you’d part with $90,000 but whatever floats your boat.

Wow bro! Never said you were talking to me.
All I was saying is that we went to the same place, drove the same truck and came out feeling different about it. That’s it.

In terms of liking my Raptor, I love it and all its cup holders ?, but it might be smarter to get the Rivian and spend less on gas despite the unreliable charging infrastructure. To be honest, I think I prefer my M3P and the Tesla charging network (and if the CT was right around the corner I’d wait for that) but it won’t make it to the mountains in winter.
?

 

[yizzung]

Wow bro! Never said you were talking to me.
All I was saying is that we went to the same place, drove the same truck and came out feeling different about it. That’s it.

In terms of liking my Raptor, I love it and all its cup holders ?, but it might be smarter to get the Rivian and spend less on gas despite the unreliable charging infrastructure. To be honest, I think I prefer my M3P and the Tesla charging network (and if the CT was right around the corner I’d wait for that) but it won’t make it to the mountains in winter.
?

Sorry wasn’t trying to be harsh. Just saying that it’s a pretty expensive thing for you to be so underwhelmed by…

I’m sure it’s not as fast as your Tesla and maybe not as “mountainy” or as polished as your Raptor. But that also seems like kind of a weird grading curve. (I mean doesn’t float as good as a sailboat and the self driving also isn't as good as riding in an Uber with a human driver…)

In any event, like all things, YMMV. I’m in the market for an electric, fun, dog-hauling, thing that I can drive over a snowy mountain pass, transport a few adults, and haul a bag of mulch in the back. And this is the best one of those things out there. It’s not for everyone, especially at the price.

 

[mini2nut]

I agree with your assessment.

The factory must be batching identical trucks now since it’s probably more efficient than building custom trucks for each customer configuration.

I think we will see a significant boost in production for Q3.

 

[Yellow Buddy]

Update: I got a second drive, another hour with the car - not at Venice.

I definitely feel better about the truck, much better. That said I do think it’s been overhyped - more in some areas than others. A good example of that is it’s a capable handler, but it doesn’t drive like a Porsche as some have suggested.

I feel 100x better than I did yesterday about it.

 

[TxBeachRivian]

Update: I got a second drive, another hour with the car - not at Venice.

I definitely feel better about the truck, much better. That said I do think it’s been overhyped - more in some areas than others. A good example of that is it’s a capable handler, but it doesn’t drive like a Porsche as some have suggested.

I feel 100x better than I did yesterday about it.

LA traffic can even ruin the R1T. Glad you were able to recover the enthusiasm. I will take this as a reinforcement that the key to happiness and satisfaction is lower expectations. Thanks for keeping them in check.

 

[crashmtb]

Update: I got a second drive, another hour with the car - not at Venice.

I definitely feel better about the truck, much better. That said I do think it’s been overhyped - more in some areas than others. A good example of that is it’s a capable handler, but it doesn’t drive like a Porsche as some have suggested.

I feel 100x better than I did yesterday about it.

I only read somwone Suggesting it has steering feel like a GT3

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