Purchasing a Pre Owned Rivian

[Mike777]

Been having a debate on whether to purchase a used R1S or waiting for a new R2. New R2 is going to be the same price as a used R1S which is my conundrum. The issues are being in Texas where there is no preowned inventory here online so I would have to fly to wherever it's at, pick it up, and drive it back.

Not sure if Rivian would deliver? Has anyone done this before? If so, how was your experience with the pre-owned process? I'm a little apprehensive to purchase a used EV. I've only purchased new which was the Lyriq but my lease is almost up.

I was also considering purchasing a used R1S at a traditional dealership but read there could be some issues because the car is still tied to the old owner.

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[Dave Cundiff]

Our R1T was a Demo model at Gaithersburg (MD) Service Center before we bought it. No vehicle-related issues. Superb vehicle.

Only issue was when they forgot to update the odometer mileage for the odometer statement, which in Maryland must be given to the customer BEFORE the calendar day in which the pickup takes place. We had scheduled a Friday afternoon delivery. To keep us on schedule for a Sunday flight out of Chicago, they had to open the Gaithersburg Service Center at 06:00 Saturday morning just for us -- and they did!

Not exactly analogous, as you'd expect a Service Center demonstrator vehicle to be exquisitely maintained. But analogous enough to give us some general comfort with the processes involved.

Best wishes, @Mike777! Whatever you choose, I hope you're happy with it!

 

[bfilippo]

Been having a debate on whether to purchase a used R1S or waiting for a new R2. New R2 is going to be the same price as a used R1S which is my conundrum. The issues are being in Texas where there is no preowned inventory here online so I would have to fly to wherever it's at, pick it up, and drive it back.

Not sure if Rivian would deliver? Has anyone done this before? If so, how was your experience with the pre-owned process? I'm a little apprehensive to purchase a used EV. I've only purchased new which was the Lyriq but my lease is almost up.

I was also considering purchasing a used R1S at a traditional dealership but read there could be some issues because the car is still tied to the old owner.

We purchased a used LE R1S from a Cadillac dealer and had it shipped since they are more willing to do that (or were 6+ months ago when Rivian first began to roll out pre-owned). We just had to send in the purchase info to Rivian via email to transfer ownership to my wife. Rivian even sent me the prior SC records. We bought it right under 60k miles and I immediately scheduled a comprehensive service. Despite being well over 60k by the time the appt came, they honored it fully, even replacing a headliner that was sagging which almost certainly was due to the prior owner and not just faulty.

 

[Stevetom84]

I wouldn't worry about buying used from a 3rd party dealer. In the early days of buying used you had to get connected to the specific "guide" assigned to the VIN to get ownership transfer done. It was a bit of a pain and in some cases it took weeks to get ownership transfer so you have app access. From my understanding it's been much more streamlined.

 

[KRIV_ian]

I bought a pre-owned 2023 R1T from a traditional dealership and there was no issue in getting everything set up with Rivian. I made a Rivian account before I picked up the vehicle and once all the paperwork was done, I sent them a photo of the bill of sale showing the VIN and about a week later I received an email from Rivian saying the vehicle was now mine in their systems so I could set up the driver profiles etc. If you need full instructions, I can dig out the email Rivian sent me.

 

[hoothoot]

LOTS of dealers in Texas have used Rivians with low miles often for pretty reasonable prices. In my experience, you'll find a great used selection at the pre-owned division of luxury German franchise dealers.

 

[GreggVA]

I bought a pre-owned through Rivian and am very happy with the process. Mine was not local and they shipped it at no cost. Looks like there are centers in Austin and Dallas. You can see inventory here - https://rivian.com/configurations/l...PE=PRE_OWNED_VEHICLE&TRANSFER_FEE=ALL_MATCHES just update your zip code in the top left of the screen. Rivianroamer also has a great inventory too.

 

[ENVErider]

I bought my 2022 R1T quad used at a GMC dealership, instead of a new dual-standard model, and almost a year later, I am very happy with my choice, even though monthly updates show Gen2 autonomy running away from Gen1. I'm not one of those who care much about point-to-point or city street driving; the Gen1 does most of what I want on long road trips on major highways.

Rivians are better than other EVs, but all EVs have higher depreciation rates, and it makes financial sense to let someone else take the biggest depreciation hit. One crucial thing new Rivian buyers miss is that the warranties have decreased a bit, with the Gen1 quads shipping with the best warranties (https://rivian.com/support/article/what-is-the-warranty-coverage-on-a-new-rivian). That was something I factored into my Launch edition quad. I haven't yet reached the halfway point in my drivetrain and battery warranty.

As for an R1 vs R2, I'd factor in how much off-roading and camping you'd do. The R2 will be the better value every day SUV that doesn't need to get too knarly off-road, and an operable rear window is a bonus for dog owners, but the R1's air suspension is a game-changer for off-road adventures. I use the self-leveling and different ride heights on every camping trip, and I feel comfortable going places that only those customized large-wheel ICE vehicles can go.

If autonomy is high on your feature list, I'd get a GEN3 vehicle, which appears to arrive first in late 2026 R2s.

Whichever path you take, I'm sure you will enjoy your Rivian ride.

 

[Mike777]

I only the need the cargo area that a three row provides with the third row down because we road trip alot with our family. I just need it to be bigger than our Lyriq. From what I understand the R1S is 15 inches larger in the cargo area compared to the R2 according to the Rivian Employee.

 

[bfilippo]

I only the need the cargo area that a three row provides with the third row down because we road trip alot with our family. I just need it to be bigger than our Lyriq. From what I understand the R1S is 15 inches larger in the cargo area compared to the R2 according to the Rivian Employee.

Yeah you definitely want the R1S then. We have 3 kids and drive a lot, the Model Y 7-seater was way too small within a year of having it for any longer drives.

 

[@joshdance]

We got our used from EVAuto. Great experience. Great car. No issues. We almost got one from Carvana. They will ship for around 2k.

 

[iansriv]

OP-most people that buy used and post have been very positive. You might want to contact Rivian and see if they have any road shows for the R2 in your area. I'd compare the R1 with that. All the best.

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