How does your Rivian stack up?

[skyguyscott]

The Rivian R1T is remarkable in many ways, but just for grins, I thought it would be fun to evaluate my 2026 Rivian RiT compared to all other vehicles I have owned. How does yours stack up?

1. 1971 Pontiac Ventura: This sister of the Chevy Nova was the first and cheapest car I ever owned, got me through HS, college, and first few years of work
2. 1979 Mazda RX-7: Hands down, the most fun, fun, fun car I've owned -- so many fond memories with that go-cart -- looked so cool, too!
3. 1991 Honda CRX Si: The roller skate was my first new car purchase, wasn't quite as much fun, but the front-wheel drive got me through snow the RX-7 likely wouldn't have.
4. 2003 Nissan Murano: Took a chance on a new model and was rewarded with probably the most luxurious vehicle ever owned, and surprisingly versatile and great utility -- it had heated seats, which, by definition, made it my first "old man's car."
5. 2014 Nissan Pathfiner: got a good deal on a dealership model when my Murano started to age, easily the most comfortable-riding vehicle owed to date, yet it had significantly more towing capacity than that of the Murano.
6. 2026 Rivian R1T: By far the most expensive vehicle ever purchased, even with TCO taken into account. My first pick-up truck has great utility, remarkable software, and I love the power. Easily the most handy and utilitarian vehicle owned to date -- and quickest, with handling that's way better than anyone has a right to expect, better than any pick-up I've driven.

I should mention that I have had remarkably good luck, service-wise, with all of my vehicles. Yes the old Pontiac got unsustainably expensive towards the end, and the seals on the RX-7's wankel started to age, but I dodged most bullets, except for when my then girlfriend destroyed the transmission on the CRX whilst I was attempting to teach her how to drive a stick (in the Rockies, no less!) in what was the beginning of the end of that relationship.

If I had all these vehicles lined up in the same condition as they were when I first purchased them, which would I choose? My heart belongs to the Mazda, but I know I'd choose the R1T just because needs change throughout life.

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[DuoRivians]

Most fun to least fun:
1. 2024 Mazda Miata (ND3), manual
2. 2023 Rivian R1T (mostly bc of its versatility)
3. 2004 BMW 330 (e46) manual
4. 2018 Tesla Model 3
5. 2025 Rivian R1S
6. 2015 BMW x5
7. 2021 Tesla Model Y
8. 2022 Tesla Model S

In terms of reliability, most to least:
1. Mazda Miata
2. BMW 330 e46
3-7. It’s too close to tell.
8. Rivian R1T. Unfortunately, it’s been the least reliable car. I’ve had to take it to the service center close to 20 times for repairs, malfunctions. But, I still like it and it’s paid off, so I’ll drive it until I can’t haha.

 

[skyguyscott]

Yeah, I have yet to met anyone who's driven a Mazda and didn't like it. Sorry about your luck on the truck, FWIW, I know many others here share in your pain.

 

[CharonPDX]

My standard line is "it's the best vehicle I've ever owned… But it also cost twice as much as any other vehicle I've ever owned, so it darn well better be."

My vehicles-owned list:

• 1974 Audi Fox - inherited as my first car in 1992, donated in 1995, as it was in such terrible shape nobody would willingly pay money for it. (My grandmother purchased it new in 1974, and drove it into the ground. When my grandparents retired, they gave this to my parents with the proviso "the first kid to get their driver's license gets it." My older sister delayed getting hers, I got it as soon as I turned 16, so this became my car.)
• 1991 Subaru Justy - purchased used 1995, sold in 1997. Absolute blast of a vehicle, the R3X reminds me of it, hitting me right in the nostalgia. Excellent fuel economy on-road, perfectly capable off-road. Engine only exploded once, but was cheap to replace.
• 1994 Ford Escort GT - purchased used in 1997, as I was going to college in Arizona, and could not handle another summer in the Subaru with no AC. Way too much fun for a college student to owned, it drove from Phoenix to Las Vegas in under 3 hours for New Year's Eve 1997-98. (Well before I-40 went through, and before I-11 was even a twinkling in a lawmaker's eye.) Died on a freeway in Phoenix in 1998. (Tire blew out as I was changing lanes, I overcorrected, spun into a freeway retaining wall at 1 AM. Amazingly happened when I was driving super-calmly.)
• 1999 Hyundai Accent L - purchased new in 1999 upon starting my 'first real post-college job," the cheapest new car money could buy. No power steering, no AC, manual crank windows. Sold in 2007, after putting over 150,000 miles on it.
• 2004 Toyota Prius - purchased new in 2004. My first automatic transmission vehicle - simply because the Prius was only available with its planetary CVT hybrid gearbox. Upon purchasing this, I decided I would never again purchase another gasoline vehicle. A bold decision, considering at this point, there were exactly zero "mass production" EVs available. The "first generation" EV1/RAV4/Ranger/S-10 had been discontinued and mostly recalled and crushed, the Tesla Roadster wouldn't start shipping for a couple years. Handed down to my oldest kid after his car died in 2018, with over 200,000 miles on it.
• 1998 Subaru Forester - inherited from my mother-in-law on her passing in 2006. Ended up selling the Accent and my wife's mid-90s Ford Explorer, replacing both with this. It was the "efficient enough to be a daily driver, useful enough to replace the Explorer for camping road trips." Handed down to my oldest kid in 2021 after the Prius had its catalytic converter stolen and was declared a total loss by his insurance. (Inherited, not purchased, so met my Prius-time pledge.)
• 1996 Ford F-250 Powerstroke - Purchased used in 2015 because we were going to spend a month in Vancouver, BC for the Womens World Cup, and it was cheaper to purchase a used pickup and a used cabover-camper and use our campground chain membership to stay in the campground 20 miles from Vancouver than it was to stay in a Vancouver hotel for a month. Was probably driven less than 10,000 miles in seven years of ownership. Truly a "weekend warrior". Sold to my uncle in 2022 a month before our R1T arrived, as his F-250 was stolen as he was driving up to our city. Sold for double what I paid for it in 2015 - and my uncle said he was getting too much of a discount off what it was worth. This would be the last manual-transmission vehicle I'd own.
• 2015 BMW i3 - Purchased used in 2018. First EV, finally met the Prius-time-purchase pledge. Replaced the Prius as primary commuter. Traded in in 2022. Only second automatic transmission vehicle I'd owned - after the Prius.
• 2019 Arcimoto FUV - the "midlife crisis fun purchase" vehicle. Although in no way spur-of-the-moment. I'd put down my deposit in 2012. (Thus starting my history of "deposits for EVs years before they ship.") Still have it.
• 2014 Tesla Model S 85 - Purchased used in 2021. Wasn't really planning on this purchase, but the Prius had died, and our son was unemployed thanks to the pandemic, so we gave him the Forester. Bought this as a temporary until the Rivian arrived, and to test out "can we live with a longer-range EV as a primary longer-distance vehicle" test. Sold in early 2023, shortly after its warranty expired.
• 2021 Ford Mach-E - Purchased new early 2022 as a "leftover 2021 model year" vehicle. Replaced the BMW i3 that had outlasted its warranty and no longer had 3G service. The *plan* was for this to become my primary vehicle, and the due-later-in-the-year Rivian to become my wife's primary vehicle. We'll see how that pans out. Sold in 2025.
• 2022 Rivian R1T - Yes, cost double the Mach-E. Which was the most expensive vehicle purchase prior to the Rivian, made only months earlier. (Prius was most expensive before Mach-E.) Replaced both the Tesla and the F-250. In theory. Took my wife multiple months to be willing to part with the Tesla in favor of this and the Ford. Will own this until it is no longer fiscally responsible to repair/keep on the road.
• 2016 Tesla Model S 90D - Purchased used in 2025. As it turned out, my wife very much enjoys riding in the Rivian, not so much driving it, as even "midsize pickup" Rivian is too big for her to feel comfortable driving/parking in the city. So she mostly drove the Mach-E. And the Mach-E was just too harsh a ride for her. So last year she decided she really wanted back in a Model S with an opening sun roof. After a couple months searching nationwide to find "a unicorn" (opening sun roof, 90D not P90D, so it has the two small/reliable motors, free Supercharging and free Premium data so we never have to pay Tesla a penny) found one half the continent away. Will probably own this until it becomes fiscally irresponsible to keep on the road. (Unless we win a CCAN or something and can pick another "higher end" EV with an opening sunroof, like a Macan or something. Although before getting this Model S, I did try to convince her to get a Fisker Ocean, yes, after the bankruptcy/liquidation.)

 

[Count Orlok]

67 Ford
24 INEOS
22 Rivian
71 Ford
69 Ford
88 FJ62
Huffy Thunder Trail
etc

 

[McLovin]

Too many cars to list, but I’ll just say that my ‘24 R1T is my favorite vehicle to date, followed closely by my ‘92 Acura Integra, then our ‘01 XC70. The latter two had 150k+ miles, and practically no issues. 26k on the truck, and no major issues so far.

 

[Yamazaki]

How does my Rivian stack up against all other vehicles that I've owned...?
Well, unfortunately at this point my Rivian is still imaginary... so not as good at transportation as anything else I've had.

 

[gvtucker]

Fun exercise. I'll stick with cars that were my primary car.

1. '76 Jeep CJ-7
2. '80 Toyota Celica Supra (second best)
3. '84 Jeep Cherokee (worst car by far)
4. '86 Isuzu Trooper
5. '94 Ford Expedition (second worst)
6. '00 Toyota Land Cruiser
7. '11 Lexus LX-570 (tied for second best, second most reliable)
8. '19 Jeep Wrangler
9. '22 Rivian R1T (best by far, and most reliable)

I just sold the Lexus a month ago, great car, 240,000 miles on it and still going strong. But I don't need a second car with the Rivian.

 

[madgrey]

Best to Worst

1. '16 Mazda Miata (ND1, Manual, highly modified, BBR Turbo)
2. '22 and '26 R1T Quads
3. '96 Mazda Miata
4. '15 SRT Viper
5. '19 RAM 1500 Limited
6. '91 Honda CRX Si (period correct teal)
7+. Assortment of Porsche, Dodge, Chrysler, Ford, Isuzu, Nissan, Chevy, etc.
...
27. '80 Ford Fairmont (Granddad spec, Brown w/ gutless inline-4)

Fun to drive, cool factor, reliability, practicality are my ranking criteria. Efficiency and simplicity play a role also.

Edit: had to add practicality. R1Ts excel in doing everything while still being cool and fun.

 

[mkg3]

Thanks for this thread. Had a chance to actually list all the vehicles I've owned to think about how they were/are compared to each other.

Since I've had lot of vehicles since getting my license, I'll just list the best of:

Daily driver: 2018 Tesla Model 3, 2000 Jaguar S-Type 4.0, 1984 Dodge Colt (Mitsubishi Mirage)

Family hauler/road tripper: 2023 Rivian R1S, 2011 Honda Odyssey, 2004 Volvo XC90

Fun to drive: 2026 McLaren Artura, 1993 Toyota MR2 Turbo, 2005 Mini Cooper, 1990 Acura Integra

Honorable mention: 2008 Saab 9-3 2.0t, 1978 VW Scirocco

So it made me appreciate the R1S as it is my best family hauler/road tripper ever.

 

[rivianMP]

Here’s mine from most fun to most boring:
- 2022 R1T quad
- 1969 Jaguar XKE (rebuilt from scratch)
- 2013 Cadillac CTS-V (took on track at Laguna Seca)
- 1969 Opel GT
- 1969 Ford Galaxy 500
- 1985 Chevy pickup
- 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee
- 1981 Honda Civic GT (bought new for $5000; sold 1 year later for $200 less)
- 2012 Chevy Silverado pickup
- several 198x Ford LTD station wagons
- 1969 Toyota Corona

 

[Timbuk2000]

At the time I purchased my first R1S Gen 1 Quad in 2023 I had a 2018 Tesla Model 3 LR and a 2001 Chevy Suburban K2500 8.1 Liter Big Block. The R1S replaced both. It was the best vehicle I owned until I replaced it in 2025 with an R1S Gen 2 Quad.
My sentimental favorite will always be my first, a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air!
PS: I sold the K2500 to a relative in Phoenix so I can visit it any time I want to. Nothing sounds like a Big Block “Rat” Motor under full throttle!

 

[Ilovejunebugs]

In order of when I owned (year of car is not necessarily year i bought as many were used):
1994 Plymouth Sundance coupe (sentimental favorite as it was my first car and I bought it myself)
1998 grand am gt coupe (first "fast" car, also was a great shade of purple)
1994 dodge shadow (four door- at this time i had my first baby and getting a carseat in/out the back of the grand am was not fun)
2000 Saturn sl. My first brand new car, this Car was bulletproof- had no issues up until I sold it with 110k miles, and I only sold it as baby #3 was on the way
1998 mercury villager- given to me by my mom as she downsized and I had two more kids so needed the room.
2008 Honda odyssey- second new car, great family hauler for ten years then became my kids drivers lesson car and their daily driver
2018 kia niro hybrid- amazing mpg with no effort
2021 subaru outback gt- fine car, liked the rich brown interior
2022 r1t - my dream car (truck)
2026 r1t quad - current daily driver

 

[TXSchnee]

Hmm, lots to list so I will break them out a bit.
Best EV: ‘23 Taycan CT 4S, ‘26 R1S, ‘25 MB G580, and a very distant 4th ‘23 BMW iX M60 (was a lemon, so many electrical problems and uncomfortable seats)

Best Driving: tie between the Taycan and my ‘26 Panamera GTS

Best SUV: This goes to the R1S as it can do everything I need an SUV to do. Best driving SUV goes to my ‘24 Cayenne S E Hybrid, very close second my ‘18 BMW X3 M40i.
I tend to get in and out of cars pretty quickly, still have a lot of fondness for my prior Mazda’s, they are the best driving “mainstream” brand in my opinion. Leaving out a lot but this is already long.

 

[postcromag]

1955 Willys Jeep. 3 on the floor. I started driving this around our farm when I was 12.
1964 Chevy Van. 3 on the column. (Working for my great uncles home painting business) I learned how to drive on official roads in this once permitted.
1977 Mitsubishi/Dodge Ram small pick up truck. 4 on the floor. (1st vehicle I owned. good for HS and into college until the engine seized in 1982)
1978 Chevy Custom 20 pick up truck. 3 on the floor.(got me thru college and delivered lots of pizzas with this, my college job)
1983 Porsche 944. 5 on the floor. (had this for two weeks right before I moved to NYC, then realized it was not a good car to park on the streets. And I had bitten off more than I could chew payment wise at that time.)
1991 Honda CR-Xsi. 5 on the floor. (traded the Porsche in on this and loved this car. Had it until 2003. $50 in unscheduled maintenance over its life with me and started my romance with the Honda Company). Super fun vehicle.
2004 Honda Civic Coupe, Si. (really got this for my wife)
1966 Chevy Impala Station Wagon. 2 speed powerglide auto. Got this as a tool hauler but it turned into a year's long gear head project. Ended up with a 550 HP sleeper. Got it out of my system and sold it after 5 years of fun. Second on my list of fun.
1998 Ford Econoline Van. Automatic, which became my real work vehicle the Impala was suppose to be. Constant problems. Finally I just put a piece of tape over the "Service Engine" light.
2006 Honda Ridgeline RTL. Automatic. I had always said if Honda made a truck I'd be first in line and I was. My first unused vehicle purchase. Great vehicle which I had until 2022 when SparkE entered the picture.
2014 Toyota Corolla. Traded in the Civic for my wife's commuter.
2014 Honda Accord Hybrid. Automatic. The Honda love continued, then traded for...
2018 Honda Clarity Plug In Hybrid EV. To slowly make the transition to EV. (Still have this and it has been great).
2008 Smart Car. Got it for my son. (Only cost one dollar. It was his grandpa's) Interesting vehicle.
2022 R1T Adventure package Quad. Most fun vehicle. Only a few niggly problems and the service has been great.

Interesting exercise. I had no idea there have been so many vehicles in my life thus far.

Fun scale: 1) R1T. 2) Impala. 3) CR-X

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