Glad to have a Gen 1

[akc5247]

Captain's chairs, 5-600 mile range, longer wheel base. I guess I'm holding out for Gen XXX.

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[narmstrong79]

PHEVs are basically training wheels for EVs and people mostly don't realize it until they get one and see they basically use no gas over the life of ownership. It's why Chevy only put around 40 miles of EV range in the Volt back in the day. I just don't want to see people pushed into EREVs because they think they need the ICE when they really don't. I'll admit that for long-distance towing an EREV makes sense, but unless you're doing that once a month or more, it's probably not a big deal to most.

As for sports cars...there's totally a market. The tech just isn't quite there yet. I'm still waiting to see what Porsche has cooked up for the BEV 718 that we all know is coming. If they can keep it under 3500 lbs they'll have something worthwhile. Probably wouldn't replace my 2450 lbs sports car with one, but I could see adding to the fleet. I had the MINI Cooper SE which was 180 hp and 3150 lbs...easily one of the best cars I've owned and very fun. They kept the weight down by keeping the battery around 30 kWh, but also meant a range around 110 miles...perfect for 95% of my driving. If not for moving to the Rivian, I'd have easily kept it. But I merged a 4x4 and the MINI into the Rivian and have no complaints.

I agree there’s a market, but it’s definitely not mass-market. It’s mostly enthusiasts—young folks who want something fun and older guys who finally have the cash for a toy (HA HA).

Meanwhile, everyone else is driving SUVs and pickups they don’t actually need. Most of those trucks never see a dirt road or tow anything heavy, but people buy into the image of capability. I fall in that group HAHA my R1S isn't doing nearly the stuff its positioned to do.

 

[CrazyOne]

Technology is moving fast. Gen 2 will need to be upgraded in a year or 2. I am holding out for gen 7 in 2030. Ps..thanks to comma

If I can sleep in the car while being driven, I will think about it. Till than, basic adaptive cruise and lane keep assist is sufficient.

It's less stressful to drive than to let my toddler hold the steering wheel, while staying alert to correct mistakes.

 

[Fmc]

If I can sleep in the car while being driven, I will think about it. Till than, basic adaptive cruise and lane keep assist is sufficient.

It's less stressful to drive than to let my toddler hold the steering wheel, while staying alert to correct mistakes.

When i picked up my R1S in 2023, i did not realize that lane stay on ANY road was such a novelty.

 

[mkg3]

PHEVs are basically training wheels for EVs and people mostly don't realize it until they get one and see they basically use no gas over the life of ownership....

As for sports cars...there's totally a market. The tech just isn't quite there yet. I'm still waiting to see what Porsche has cooked up for the BEV 718 that we all know is coming...

Was waiting for the EV Cayman/718 for several years. Porsche kept kicking the can down the road so gave up. Everything I'd read indicated that EV 718 replacement will have about 220 mile range and come in less than 4,000 lbs. I would be super surprised if they can hit 220 miles range and come in around 3,500 lbs (maybe with SSB).

I moved on by keeping the light weight as a priority over BEV. Got tired of waiting and got something else.

 

[mkg3]

I agree there’s a market, but it’s definitely not mass-market. It’s mostly enthusiasts—young folks who want something fun and older guys who finally have the cash for a toy (HA HA)...

I'm retired so I guess I fall int he "older guys" category. I waited for the toy until kids were done with their colleges before getting my toy.

 

[Jonger1150]

Maybe when there are reliable charging stations that can handle that, sure. But, these 800V architecture vehicles with native NACS make little sense today.

+maybe I'm in the majority, but public charge speed as they are today are fine for my needs, would faster be better, yes... but I maybe fast charge 3 times a year saving 15 minutes each charge doesn't change my life at all. People who buy EVs and need public charging, bought the wrong tech IMHO.

Being able to recoup back 250 miles of towing range in 30 minutes or less. That will open the door to a much larger pool of buyers and make this a viable replacement for owners who actually tow as much as they say they do.

With my current use-case none of this really applies to me.

 

[Jonger1150]

I purposely picked the Gen 1 Standard+ ( 131kwh capacity, software locked at 121 kwh for 300 EPA range) I'm fine with lugging around that extra weight as it doesn't really impact efficiency , plus I could charge to 100% daily if i wanted (which i don't). They brought down the capacity on Gen 2 but theoretically increased the efficiency, which makes sense to me.

If Scout actually makes it to market, i think you'll be surprised how many people choose the range extender option ..even though full battery would likely be the better option. A little 3-4 cylinder engine running at a low and constant RPM wont add weight as the battery is smaller and will require minimal service. Again. not for me not for my use case but i see that being logical step forward, get rid of PHEV and replace that who market with RE/EV.

I think the buyers may make that their first EV and last EREV. If they get one spin in the full BEV version they won't enjoy the EREV as much afterward. The performance is significantly nerfed compared to the BEV. Also, most people find they play a game of trying to stay in EV mode as much as possible -- eventually they realize the ER was not needed.

 

[Jonger1150]

Likewise, your view is not necessarily the majority held one. I have zero desire for a range-extended EV. 95% of the time I don't need or want an ICE that requires more maintenance and adds weight and complexity. The beauty of an EV is efficiency, simplicity, and less maintenance. I'm willing to deal with charging on the road, just give me a big-ass battery to make it easier. The R1 is an amazing swiss-army-knife of a vehicle and it's why I own one instead of a GM truck with over 200 kWh. I do go off-road, and those trucks can't do it. Hell, the GM trucks make even more sense since you can use ADAS while towing, which Rivian refuses to allow/develop. Among other things, trucks should be able to tow and that means you need battery capacity. It still amazes me they dropped the Large pack to 108 kWh for Gen2 and an absurd 92 kWh for Standard. Unladen the 131 kWh (usable) in my Gen1 Large is fine...towing it's marginal and I can't imagine having less without more efficiency. Weight is only a small part of that on the highway...wind resistance is far bigger and unless you make the vehicle overall smaller (less frontal area) you aren't going to pick up much efficiency, which also goes out the window if you attach a trailer.

The Gen 1 large pack is really the best deal going. That's 135 kWh of energy to power your home versus 108 kWh.

If I totaled the Gen 1 large pack R1T that I have now -- I'd feel compelled to get the max pack or else my new vehicle would be downgraded.

 

[superfluid]

Love my Gen 1. Pre-price hike quad with EV tax credit and FG interior? C’mon!

Until FSD lets me go to sleep and wake up somewhere else, I’m going to keep driving myself.

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

They can have my Gen 1 with forest edge interior when they pry it out of my cold, dead hands.

Or when they bring back more better interior color options.

I’d love to see a warm tan interior. I think that would go really well with many colors.

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

Love my Gen 1. Pre-price hike quad with EV tax credit and FG interior? C’mon!

Until FSD lets me go to sleep and wake up somewhere else, I’m going to keep driving myself.

I agree with you. Using FSD is both frustrating and stressful. Two things I don’t need more of when driving.

 

[BrayBay]

Love my Gen 1. Pre-price hike quad with EV tax credit and FG interior? C’mon!

Until FSD lets me go to sleep and wake up somewhere else, I’m going to keep driving myself.

This is me. I also like the Gen 1 front trunk better, and the storage well in the rear of the R1S better too.

The people I think would be upset the most are the people who missed the full tax credit, paid the increase in price relative to the configuration, and delivered right before Gen 2. My best guess is who ever decided to purchase one between August 2022 and June 2024.

There's even probably a subset of those people who ordered in mid-2023 when some configurations all wood dash was replaced with vinyl, colors were dropped, and some other options were discontinued.

 

[jrivr1s]

Honestly, when my lease is up, I'm strongly considering finding another G1 to buy. I think I got a lemon, but really like the brand and product. Those two features are at the top of the list for why.

It sounds like you've probably never spent much time with a Gen 2 then. I had a Launch Edition R1S with Meridian sound (with lemon issues also) and upgraded to a 2025 Gen 2 Tri Dune and it's better in nearly every way. Software updates over the last couple of months have brought the Gen 2 stereo to on par with the Meridian (still not great by automotive standards) and the electric door handles are nice when you get used to them. Leaving aside the obvious tech improvements, Gen 2 is an overall quieter, tighter, better driving, and faster vehicle as well. An EV from a startup manufacturer is going to change closer to the rate of a cell phone than a typical legacy auto so I think more Gen 1 owners just need to be prepared that 3-4 years in their vehicle is going to be falling pretty far behind what's currently being built and sold. They are still great vehicles but price should be the only reason IMO someone would chose a Gen 1 over a Gen 2.

 

[2kwik4u]

It sounds like you've probably never spent much time with a Gen 2 then. I had a Launch Edition R1S with Meridian sound (with lemon issues also) and upgraded to a 2025 Gen 2 Tri Dune and it's better in nearly every way. Software updates over the last couple of months have brought the Gen 2 stereo to on par with the Meridian (still not great by automotive standards) and the electric door handles are nice when you get used to them. Leaving aside the obvious tech improvements, Gen 2 is an overall quieter, tighter, better driving, and faster vehicle as well. An EV from a startup manufacturer is going to change closer to the rate of a cell phone than a typical legacy auto so I think more Gen 1 owners just need to be prepared that 3-4 years in their vehicle is going to be falling pretty far behind what's currently being built and sold. They are still great vehicles but price should be the only reason IMO someone would chose a Gen 1 over a Gen 2.

The door handle thing is a safety concern, I couldn't care less about the convenience (or lack thereof with them). There is no amount of discussion that will lead me to a conclusion where electronic door releases from the interior are a good idea. I never used child locks for the same reason. This is, IMO, like, safety 101 stuff.

I'll concede with the stereo possibly getting better. I'm pretty happy with my Gen 1 "premium" sound system, the R1S loaner I've been in a couple times has the Meridian, and it's similarly good. Haven't been in a second gen at all with the stereo on.

I also do agree that the second gen trucks are likely tighter, better built, and of better quality components. I just won't own a vehicle that requires electricity to egress.

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