Possibly Pulling Trigger On Used R1T. What Would You Do?

[JaeTheDev]

Having never owned a truck prior to the R1T, both my wife and I have been surprised by how often we have used the bed. It hasn't been daily or even weekly, but when we need it (sandy beach items, hauling home improvement supplies, helping my niece move, hanging out in it on a pleasant day while charging on the road) it's been lovely to have.

Traditionally, the trade off in fuel economy would have still made owning a truck a bit silly for us but the Rivian makes a ton of sense as a great all around vehicle.

I didn’t think of the beach! I live in a tourist beach town in Rhode Island. Good call! Could be super convenient there.

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A lot of early Rivian customers sold their early R1Ts purely for profit, and I don’t blame them. Others sold their early R1Ts because they were having issues with the vehicle, multiple service visits, and decided to sell to be done with it, with a nice profit. Just something to keep in mind if you are buying an early R1T.

 

[Madsen203]

Having never owned a truck prior to the R1T, both my wife and I have been surprised by how often we have used the bed. It hasn't been daily or even weekly, but when we need it (sandy beach items, hauling home improvement supplies, helping my niece move, hanging out in it on a pleasant day while charging on the road) it's been lovely to have.

Traditionally, the trade off in fuel economy would have still made owning a truck a bit silly for us but the Rivian makes a ton of sense as a great all around vehicle.

The be clear, owning BEV never makes financial sense compared to a ICE. The $20-40k difference, invested, would take many, many, many miles to break even in with a similarly optioned truck.

I’d pass on an early model R1 given the high likelihood of issues and service. It took Tesla 2 years to iron out Model Y issues and now they are nearly perfect off the line. And that is with a production rate 10-100x what Rivian can push out.

I believe the creation of this thread is to validate making a financial decision that you have already made up in your head. With that, go forth.

I, on the other hand, would never sell my Tesla and only add to the stable with another non-Tesla. I’ll need something reliable/serviceable.

 

[SASSquatch]

If it were me, I would pass on the used R1T. If you were to configure a new R1T at the Post-March 1 pricing, you just might have a truck sooner than those of us waiting for years since Rivian is prioritizing those builds since they are more cost effective for them.

You are likely at the height of value for your Tesla, so if you don't need a car, and you are set on a Rivian - I would sell the Tesla, sit on the cash (or maybe invest it so it is doing something for you) until your configured R1T comes in. That R1T will be less expensive than the used one, and likely have improvements to stuff that isn't working perfectly right now for some (looking at you tonneau cover).

Do you and your wife make less than 300K per year? You will also qualify for a $7,500 credit by purchasing new through Rivian if the answer is yes.

 

[calsailor]

Lots of good comments here

I have my R1T and I am trading up from an early era Model S

The Rivian is awesome. But the KEY question is if you want a truck. The R1T drives amazing for a truck but it’s still a truck and will never be the model S.
It’s a huge truck that’s tough to fit in garages and parking spaces.

That being said, if you work from home this is a “fun car” so do whatever makes you happy.

I haven’t had a lot of issues with my R1T but you have to expect you will. Just like with my early Model S things will come up and you have to be of the mindset that you’re not getting a perfected product. But are building something with Rivian.

I see lots of negative comments online about the R1T. It’s a beta product and people need to set their expectations as such.

But I LOVE my R1T and have no remorse getting rid of my S.

Good luck with this decision

 

[JaeTheDev]

If it were me, I would pass on the used R1T. If you were to configure a new R1T at the Post-March 1 pricing, you just might have a truck sooner than those of us waiting for years since Rivian is prioritizing those builds since they are more cost effective for them.

You are likely at the height of value for your Tesla, so if you don't need a car, and you are set on a Rivian - I would sell the Tesla, sit on the cash (or maybe invest it so it is doing something for you) until your configured R1T comes in. That R1T will be less expensive than the used one, and likely have improvements to stuff that isn't working perfectly right now for some (looking at you tonneau cover).

Do you and your wife make less than 300K per year? You will also qualify for a $7,500 credit by purchasing new through Rivian if the answer is yes.

So your telling me if I reserve a R1T right now, I could get it sooner than later? Id even go for an inventory to be honest. I know it sounds desperate, which it isn’t. I’m just cool picking inventory models. I’ve done three with Tesla.

 

[JaeTheDev]

Lots of good comments here

I have my R1T and I am trading up from an early era Model S

The Rivian is awesome. But the KEY question is if you want a truck. The R1T drives amazing for a truck but it’s still a truck and will never be the model S.
It’s a huge truck that’s tough to fit in garages and parking spaces.

That being said, if you work from home this is a “fun car” so do whatever makes you happy.

I haven’t had a lot of issues with my R1T but you have to expect you will. Just like with my early Model S things will come up and you have to be of the mindset that you’re not getting a perfected product. But are building something with Rivian.

I see lots of negative comments online about the R1T. It’s a beta product and people need to set their expectations as such.

But I LOVE my R1T and have no remorse getting rid of my S.

Good luck with this decision

really good feedback here. Thank you ?

good to hear your loving your R1T. This is my fun vehicle coming for here. Being a bigger guy, I kind of like the fact it’s a bigger truck too!

 

[SASSquatch]

So your telling me if I reserve a R1T right now, I could get it sooner than later? Id even go for an inventory to be honest. I know it sounds desperate, which it isn’t. I’m just cool picking inventory models. I’ve done three with Tesla.

I'm not guaranteeing that you will get your R1T sooner but if you look around the forum, there have been numerous reports from folks that have gotten their R1T lightening fast (pardon the pun) relative to pre-March 1 reservation holders. Clearly, Rivian is giving folks willing to pay post March 1 pricing some advantage in order positioning.

 

[JaeTheDev]

I'm not guaranteeing that you will get your R1T sooner but if you look around the forum, there have been numerous reports from folks that have gotten their R1T lightening fast (pardon the pun) relative to pre-March 1 reservation holders. Clearly, Rivian is giving folks willing to pay post March 1 pricing some advantage in order positioning.

That’s a good sign then. I had no idea. I saw “new reservation will start to deliver at the end of 2023”. I do live close to the Boston area service center, so maybe that would help deliver. Hmmm. Wheels are turning! Pun intended as well!

 

[R1T-USN]

Well my 2 adventurous cents….

For… months now I’ve been shopping for the right second hand R1T. Mental pressure building constantly, keep looking, the prices are too high 100k plus…. I ALMOST pulled trigger yesterday. I was so heavy on the right decision- buy now and over pay, risk of a problematic early unit (although I’m sure Rivian would address and fix the issues. It’s happening everyday- not as clear cut and as correct as most would like, growing pains)

Woke up this morning jumped on here read through threads about ordering, the agonizingly long process, the conversations on color choices, yeah OC interior is finally in production, on and on…

I proudly gave my 1k pre order deposit down earlier today. Let the adventures and delays begin.

Hopefully Rivian will give a good trade on my Range Rover when the time comes.

No more stress and I’m not giving cash away to a dealer - I’ll let my money go directly to Rivian.

 

[SASSquatch]

really good feedback here. Thank you ?

good to hear your loving your R1T. This is my fun vehicle coming for here. Being a bigger guy, I kind of like the fact it’s a bigger truck too!

This comment is important to keep in perspective. The R1T is a beta tester. It's the first vehicle, first model year, from a completely new company.

You are paying premium prices but may not necessarily get a premium experience, especially early on as Rivian works to identify and fix issues.

I have purchased several first model year vehicles in the past from manufacturers like Acura, BMW, and Ford and regretted it every single time.

I intentionally waited to reserve an R1T even though I'd been tracking them since 2018 because I wanted them to work out the issues in the first model year (My window is currently in 2023). Personally, 'I'm OK with that because it means less frustration dealing with issues that a lot of folks don't feel like they should be dealing with when they are spending $80k+ on a vehicle.

But then again, you are coming from a Tesla and maybe you've had your share of issues with your Tesla experience and are already accustomed to having to deal with service issues frequently.

I wouldn't know, because the three times I tried to buy a Tesla, I backed out because the "new" vehicle had so many issues that Tesla was trying to tell me was "within spec."

To each, their own.

 

[virgnia_rivian]

So your telling me if I reserve a R1T right now, I could get it sooner than later? Id even go for an inventory to be honest. I know it sounds desperate, which it isn’t. I’m just cool picking inventory models. I’ve done three with Tesla.

I wouldn’t bank on that. Many of the people who have jumped the line are near major service centers and have gotten an R1T from a cancelled order. There are no “inventory” models. You likely wouldn’t see an R1 vehicle until end of next year at the earliest if you reserve no. New reservations don’t even get to configure anymore. You’re just grabbing a spot in line.

Back to your original question, the two vehicles are completely different. Do you want a truck that can off road, drive in the snow, drive on the beach and go to the grocery store? Or do you want your model S. Answer that question and then you’ll have your answer.

 

[JaeTheDev]

I wouldn’t bank on that. Many of the people who have jumped the line are near major service centers and have gotten an R1T from a cancelled order. There are no “inventory” models. You likely wouldn’t see an R1 vehicle until end of next year at the earliest if you reserve no. New reservations don’t even get to configure anymore. You’re just grabbing a spot in line.

Back to your original question, the two vehicles are completely different. Do you want a truck that can off road, drive in the snow, drive on the beach and go to the grocery store? Or do you want your model S. Answer that question and then you’ll have your answer.

I live in Rhode Island so having an R1 during snow sound magical. Tesla are great in snow, but Id assume an R1 would be about as legit as possible in the snow.

I live about 1:15 - 1:45 (traffic times) from the Chelsea MA service center. Is that considered, close? Id assume so. Id gladly take a canceled order, tbh. I’m ok with that.

 

[SASSquatch]

Well my 2 adventurous cents….

For… months now I’ve been shopping for the right second hand R1T. Mental pressure building constantly, keep looking, the prices are too high 100k plus…. I ALMOST pulled trigger yesterday. I was so heavy on the right decision- buy now and over pay, risk of a problematic early unit (although I’m sure Rivian would address and fix the issues. It’s happening everyday- not as clear cut and as correct as most would like, growing pains)

Woke up this morning jumped on here read through threads about ordering, the agonizingly long process, the conversations on color choices, yeah OC interior is finally in production, on and on…

I proudly gave my 1k pre order deposit down earlier today. Let the adventures and delays begin.

Hopefully Rivian will give a good trade on my Range Rover when the time comes.

No more stress and I’m not giving cash away to a dealer - I’ll let my money go directly to Rivian.

I think you made the right call. A lot of the mental anguish is fueled by the desire for an R1T and everything it represents, yet, at the end of the day, it is a major financial decision. It is tough to not have some emotion when dealing with something that inherently is emotionally driven.

Buying on the second hand market right now is a TERRIBLE financial decision. You are lining the sellers pockets with profit at the expense of your future equity in the vehicle. It is inevitably going to come down to earth as Rivian ramps production AND other manufacturers enter the 4x4 EV arena. Jeep is right on Rivian's heels with their new 4x4 offerings and others are coming as well.

I'm enjoying living vicariously through the experiences of the great folks on this forum who are willing to share, both their exhilarating and frustrating experiences. Hopefully, when your R1T is ready, you will have less frustrating and more exhilarating experiences because of the refinements made from all the feedback Rivian is getting from the "beta testers" who are current owners.

 

[R1T-USN]

I was in brain dump as I responded, glad you pieced it together

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