Questions after test drive, current owners please help!

[herbicider]

Hello all, I got the shop access for my R1S reservation a few weeks ago. I participated in the R1t 1-day sale in Normal, IL this summer, and finally did a demo drive on an R1s in Chicago last weekend.
I still have some questions about this car, I have some very specific needs for my next car so I'd like to ask for help from the current owners.
Background story, I'm a Midwest driver mostly in the MKE-CHI snow area. I'm on my 2nd Model 3 and have been pure EV for the last 3 years. I drive 40k miles a year so I know EV life. We are expecting our 2nd kid in a few months so we are looking into a bigger car for the family. We need 3 rows because our parents always visit and help with taking care of the kids. I truly believe a minivan is the best choice for what we need, but unfortunately, none of us want to drive a van now. Maybe in a few years, but we tried hard, and just not now. Also, I have no intention to own 3 cars at the same time. The new car will be for the family and my wife's daily.
I only want an EV so I had R1s, Ex90, and EV9 reservations on hand. Currently, I have shop access to R1s. I believe I will be in the first batch of Ex90 and EV9.
In short, I'm looking for a big family car that can fit a stroller and everything else after a family visit to Costco on the weekend. We are short Asians, so even the Model Y's 3rd row is not a challenge to us. I also want a nice highway cruiser since we do road trips quite frequently (I can live with the current CCS charging network and make it work, with or without NACS. I know EVs.)
We do not qualify for the tax credit so Model Y is not as attractive to us as to some others. It is still the best bang for the buck choice but I want something bigger.

I have extensively tested Model X and looked into R1s hundreds of times. I also tried XC90 which I assume features should be similar to EX90. Not a big fan of EV9 as of now except for the price.
After the demo drive (which was mostly in downtown Chicago, tried the Driver+ for a very short period on Lake Shore Dr), I have some questions:
1. Height. I'm 5'9 which is the tallest in the family. I had a problem with getting in and out of the car. My 60yo mom and 70yo in-laws will have a much bigger problem. I appreciate the FWD on the Model X for this reason. I also appreciate the big door/opening on R1s compared to my Model 3. I should have checked the "kneel mode" but it was a busy day especially when you have a kid running around. The demo drive was done at the "normal" height, how much can the "kneel mode" help with climbing in and out of the car? I may install a third-party running board, does this affect the range/safety? By how much?
2. Floaty ride. Yes, I come from a Model 3 so I expected some uncomfortable floaty feelings to my habit. I had this complaint when I tested the R1t at the 1-day sale, I expected it could have been better since the last updates while everybody talked about it. However, I don't think so. The car is stable and confident when the speed is higher. But when it got down to Saturday afternoon downtown Chicago speed, I felt like my head was being thrown left and right all the time, it's unexpectedly uncomfortable with even the minor imperfection on the road. I don't get it, it's not the air suspension I experienced in my cousin's MB GLS450 or expected from a car with air suspension. I tried all kinds of suspension settings but nothing helped. Am I being too picky from a Model 3 driving experience or this is indeed something Rivian is going to continuously improve on?
3. Motor noise. I tested the quad motor version. Every time I speed up I can hear the motor noise. It sounded worse than my first-gen 2018 Model 3. It's not as quiet as any EV I tested and it's not as cool as any ICE noise. It is just an annoying motor whine. We plan to get the dual + max for the efficiency and range, is the Enduro better on this?
4. Cabin noise. Sorry, I talk about the noise a lot. But when a Tesla Model 3 owner picks up the noise, that's a problem! I think this was mentioned here and there. The cabin is noisier than the R1t because of the increased cabin space. I can hear the road noise echoing from behind. This is almost a deal breaker to me for a second, I don't mind DIY noise damping which I did on my both Model 3s. But is there an option?

Overall it is a big car with ample power, it's composed nicely by Rivian. It's easy to drive, it has the space we need, and it checks most of our boxes. But when it does not meet my expectations, it's almost a deal breaker like the ride quality and noise.
The software is not at the Tesla level but I can live with it since my wife is not as techy as I am. I don't think she can handle the new yoke/wheel on Model X which is a deal breaker too.

I have no intention to say good or bad of the car. Everyone has their own need for a car. I have mine and my wife has her list too and she still believes the BMW X7 is the best among those we tested. I love Rivian which offered an option to us and I wish I could have just "buy it" after the demo drive. I'm listing the challenges I have because I hope some may not be the problem as a long-term owner. I understand owning is different from testing. That's why I'm asking some true opinions here.

Sorry for the long post, and thanks for reading!

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[DuoRivians]

Dual motor is much quieter than quads. Running boards don’t affect range, if they do, it’s negligible. Not sure if you’ve test driven the cars since the big suspension software update, but it’s night and day better now (imo).

 

[SSteveEV]

1. I've only used kneel and going to lowest for my shorter passengers but while it is easier they still seem to need to jump. Running boards seem like a worthwhile option for you.
4. There's a good thread here on cabin noise troubleshooting. I'll edit with a link shortly. I was able to improve the noise significantly on my R1T, but I agree the quad motors are load and have no R1S or Enduro experience, was only dealing with wind.

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/wind-noise-solved-at-last-using-tube-rubber-seal.17797/

 

[kkgainey]

We have had our R1S for a few months now. I have 4 kids in car seats and we fit comfortably along with a Costco haul. It is not as roomy as my previous minivan, but the benefits outweigh the lesser amount of space for me. All of my children (9,7,6, and 3) can all get into the cabin without running boards. However, it would make it easier. I do have my R1S set to kneel and I definitely notice a difference for me getting in (5’6”).
As far as cabin noise. The car seats and stuff in the car definitely muffle it a good bit. Plus, kids are loud… so truly do not notice it.

 

[R.I.P.]

The DM is definitely much quieter. It's not as quiet as my model Y, but I only noticed the motor whine at low speeds in the R1 DM. I actually like it, but that is definitely a subjective thing.

 

[wrightwood]

Kneel helps my kids get in and out more easily. Running boards may help, but maybe awkward for older folks. If your wife likes the X7 best, have you considered the iX?

The ride in the Rivian is definitely not as refined as a BMW or a Volvo. If that's the highest priority, I would probably stick with the EX90, or if you need it now, the iX or Tesla.

I knew I wanted a truck for off road and snow capability. If we were buying for my wife, it would be another Volvo or Polestar.

 

[Riviot]

how much can the "kneel mode" help with climbing in and out of the car?

A lot. I'm 5'10" and it was too low for me when I switched to 33" diameter tires so I stopped using it.

Floaty ride.

Soft used to be a little floaty and stiff very hard. Now soft is too floaty and stiff is in between the old two. Try stiff in the new settings, it's good and they'll keep improving.

Motor noise.

I have a quad T and compared to a Leaf, it's way better. If you've had a Tesla, then you get it's going to make some noise. Stored energy converting to force isn't free, you're always going to hear something. Especially with more weight than a Tesla.

Cabin noise.

Again, I have a quad T and I'm very happy with it. S will likely echo more, but deal with it. My wife is hard of hearing and we can actually listen to music together AND carry a conversation simultaneously, the latter we hardly could do in ICE and the former we NEVER did. Be grateful where you can and humble where you can't.

 

[COdogman]

You should just get the van. ?

 

[Zoidz]

Hello all, I got the shop access for my R1S reservation a few weeks ago. I participated in the R1t 1-day sale in Normal, IL this summer, and finally did a demo drive on an R1s in Chicago last weekend.
I still have some questions about this car, I have some very specific needs for my next car so I'd like to ask for help from the current owners.
Background story, I'm a Midwest driver mostly in the MKE-CHI snow area. I'm on my 2nd Model 3 and have been pure EV for the last 3 years. I drive 40k miles a year so I know EV life. We are expecting our 2nd kid in a few months so we are looking into a bigger car for the family. We need 3 rows because our parents always visit and help with taking care of the kids. I truly believe a minivan is the best choice for what we need, but unfortunately, none of us want to drive a van now. Maybe in a few years, but we tried hard, and just not now. Also, I have no intention to own 3 cars at the same time. The new car will be for the family and my wife's daily.
I only want an EV so I had R1s, Ex90, and EV9 reservations on hand. Currently, I have shop access to R1s. I believe I will be in the first batch of Ex90 and EV9.
In short, I'm looking for a big family car that can fit a stroller and everything else after a family visit to Costco on the weekend. We are short Asians, so even the Model Y's 3rd row is not a challenge to us. I also want a nice highway cruiser since we do road trips quite frequently (I can live with the current CCS charging network and make it work, with or without NACS. I know EVs.)
We do not qualify for the tax credit so Model Y is not as attractive to us as to some others. It is still the best bang for the buck choice but I want something bigger.

I have extensively tested Model X and looked into R1s hundreds of times. I also tried XC90 which I assume features should be similar to EX90. Not a big fan of EV9 as of now except for the price.
After the demo drive (which was mostly in downtown Chicago, tried the Driver+ for a very short period on Lake Shore Dr), I have some questions:
1. Height. I'm 5'9 which is the tallest in the family. I had a problem with getting in and out of the car. My 60yo mom and 70yo in-laws will have a much bigger problem. I appreciate the FWD on the Model X for this reason. I also appreciate the big door/opening on R1s compared to my Model 3. I should have checked the "kneel mode" but it was a busy day especially when you have a kid running around. The demo drive was done at the "normal" height, how much can the "kneel mode" help with climbing in and out of the car? I may install a third-party running board, does this affect the range/safety? By how much?
2. Floaty ride. Yes, I come from a Model 3 so I expected some uncomfortable floaty feelings to my habit. I had this complaint when I tested the R1t at the 1-day sale, I expected it could have been better since the last updates while everybody talked about it. However, I don't think so. The car is stable and confident when the speed is higher. But when it got down to Saturday afternoon downtown Chicago speed, I felt like my head was being thrown left and right all the time, it's unexpectedly uncomfortable with even the minor imperfection on the road. I don't get it, it's not the air suspension I experienced in my cousin's MB GLS450 or expected from a car with air suspension. I tried all kinds of suspension settings but nothing helped. Am I being too picky from a Model 3 driving experience or this is indeed something Rivian is going to continuously improve on?
3. Motor noise. I tested the quad motor version. Every time I speed up I can hear the motor noise. It sounded worse than my first-gen 2018 Model 3. It's not as quiet as any EV I tested and it's not as cool as any ICE noise. It is just an annoying motor whine. We plan to get the dual + max for the efficiency and range, is the Enduro better on this?
4. Cabin noise. Sorry, I talk about the noise a lot. But when a Tesla Model 3 owner picks up the noise, that's a problem! I think this was mentioned here and there. The cabin is noisier than the R1t because of the increased cabin space. I can hear the road noise echoing from behind. This is almost a deal breaker to me for a second, I don't mind DIY noise damping which I did on my both Model 3s. But is there an option?

Overall it is a big car with ample power, it's composed nicely by Rivian. It's easy to drive, it has the space we need, and it checks most of our boxes. But when it does not meet my expectations, it's almost a deal breaker like the ride quality and noise.
The software is not at the Tesla level but I can live with it since my wife is not as techy as I am. I don't think she can handle the new yoke/wheel on Model X which is a deal breaker too.

I have no intention to say good or bad of the car. Everyone has their own need for a car. I have mine and my wife has her list too and she still believes the BMW X7 is the best among those we tested. I love Rivian which offered an option to us and I wish I could have just "buy it" after the demo drive. I'm listing the challenges I have because I hope some may not be the problem as a long-term owner. I understand owning is different from testing. That's why I'm asking some true opinions here.

Sorry for the long post, and thanks for reading!

1. Running boards will help with minimal impact on range.
2. Ride - It's a truck with an SUV body. Repeat - it's a truck with an SUV body. It's not a crossover design like the other vehicles you mentioned. You are buying a truck. Ride might improve slightly with additional tuning, but don't bank on that.
3. Motor noise - it's a quad motor truck with four 200+ horsepower electric motors. Four motors that big make noise. Not sure what you expect. It's a truck. Repeat - It's a truck.
4. Cabin noise - It's a 7000 lb truck with large tires and lots of glass area.

You keep referring to it as a CAR. It's not, it's a TRUCK designed for serious off road use. This is the #1 misunderstanding of the vehicle that a lot of potential buyers have. Adjust your expectations or buy the van.

 

[Big_Ike]

For your use, I'd recommend the six seat X.
I added running boards to my R1S to help my 81 year old 5' mother get in and out of my vehicle. She loves the running boards, I hate them as I'm always sliding the back of my leg down them when I exit the vehicle.
I loved my X while my kids couldn't drive and I was hauling around their friends. Loved the gull wing doors for loading and unloading bodies. The open middle made the back two seats tolerable.
While I love my R1S much, much more, I think you'll be better served by the X right now.

 

[carsly]

Having owned a Model X and S, along with other EV's, I'd offer your best bet is the X. More room than the Y, lower entry and ride height than the R1S and a much better deal at ~$80K vs. the $100K for an R1S. Oh, and the Supercharger network that you already know well.

The R1S is a truck-like SUV designed to do truck-like things. Think more Lexus GX460 or Land Rover Defender than GLS or X7. If you want something easy to get in and out of with a comfortable ride, don't get a trucky SUV, that's just not what they do well.

If you still opt to go with a R1S, I'd get it with the factory 20's instead of 21's or 22's knowing you are trading range for ride comfort. There is a noticeable difference in ride comfort with 20's. I drove one on cobblestone streets in NYC and it was quite smooth on the very rough, uneven, surface.

BUT I'd still say based on your requirements the Model X is the better-suited vehicle. It's a solid minivan *cough* crossover designed like a minivan to do quiet cruising and loading/unloading of kids with no issues.

 

[mkg3]

1. ...My 60yo mom and 70yo in-laws will have a much bigger problem....I may install a third-party running board, does this affect the range/safety? By how much?

This fact is a deal breaker.

You will not be able to get your mom or the in-laws into the vehicle without difficulty. We deal with this. My wife's parents, who are in their 70s and its not just the height, but the very fact of having to step into the vehicle creates a very difficult situation. The addition of running board doesn't help either because having to step up and into.

The ground clearance alone is not the issue. Its the floor being much higher than an ICE equivalent due to battery farm and the seat being quite high relative to the ground adds to the complexity for elders, especially for short elders.

We kept our Outback just to deal with my wife's parents. Your other choices of EX90 or EV9 may work better. Maybe EQS-SUV if the cargo space fits your needs.

Just keep in mind that parents will get older and less able so if transporting them is a priority for you, Rivian is not a good choice.

 

[HJP1]

I have an R1T for 1.5 years now and came from a 3 performance. The R1 while not quite as nimble as the 3 has a solid feel to it, I'm 70% AP soft mode 30% sport soft mode with high gen always on. The motor wine to me is part of the experience driving the Rivian, the wind noise could be softer but it is not annoying enough to be a concern. Storage in the T is awesome and I would think the S should be tops in its class also. Fit and finish has been what you would expect from a Lexus, I have one very slight panel that is misaligned that will be fixed if I ever take it in for service. I am 5'8" and have no issues getting in or out of vehicle although running boards would help especially for older passengers. If you plan to get out of the city and hit the backroads I don't think there is another vehicle that can match the on road/off road versatility of the Rivian. Plus like my Tesla 3 performance 0-60 in 3 seconds is an absolute BLAST!

 

[iansriv]

I would take the entire family for a couple of test drives, strollers and all. Take your mum as well. I'm not joking. We took our dog. Of course the dog loved it. You have some unique needs. You're the only one that can make that call. All the best!

 

[Greg Chick]

My R1T is for the snow issues I live in. I need the height to get over the berms that the snow plow puts in my driveway. I also have solar power so the EV is the choice. Everything else is secondary to me and my point is, I used a triage of my needs, and was glad to get an R1T. Call me spartan, or simple Simon, but a vehicle is not like an action movie or chick flick, or sitcom, it is transportation. Next we will expect our dashboards to provide holographic passengers for someone to talk to on long drives, or have a Kurig, to give us a "Joe". Foot massage anyone?
I'm not meaning to be an ass, just overstating my point, to make a point, this is a vehicle, not a spouse.

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