Trading my R1T for a R1S experience.

[kayabusa]

I have an R1T for the last 9 months, with 9000 miles on the clock, never had a big problem, just a few small issues addressed by the SC in a few minutes. I'm very happy with my truck, I think this is a keeper BUT I need the 7 seats instead of the cargo bed so I decided when my R1S reservation pops up I will take, and that happened on June 24. (end of the quarter frenzy)

I was contacted by a guide and for some reasons, I start noticing some red flags on her attitude

-The way she offered me a 8,xxx vin number vehicle when production was at 14,xxx . was the first red flag....

-Second red flag happened once we found the configuration I wanted she refused to let me take possession in the factory, even without the factory tour.....

-Third red flag when I asked, Ok I just completed the 8 step process paid the balance, where is the vehicle now ? Reply was is some where but I can't tell you where.... It may be on the lot waiting for transport or can be being quality control tested but I don't know.

-Fourth red flag, tired of waiting not knowing where the vehicle was, I went to the service center and my R1S was right there ! sitting in the middle of the lot WITHOUT the side badges and with some white marks in a few places (something like a dry polish compound to me)

-Fifth red flags, the tires didn't look brand new....

I went inside the service center, and we schedule the delivery date for this Monday, due to the missing both side badges we couldn't make it sooner .... I asked why there was no badges present and all I heard was.... bullshit bullshit bullshit..... and that's my 6th red flag.

Why my guide didn't allowed me to pickup the vehicle at the factory..... did she know this vehicle had a potential body problem that needed to be addressed by the service center ? Could this be a test / demo vehicle ? Could be this a lemon returned by another customer ?

I don't want to surrender my perfectly fine R1T for something I'm not trusting.... at all....

What should I do !!!!

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[mikehmb]

Ask them for an odometer reading in advance. Hard to tell tires unless they are clearly worn - bring a depth gauge to check if you’re unsure. It’s illegal to sell a car as new if it has been previously sold, and Rivian isn’t that stupid.

I wouldn’t read anything into the Guide’s behaviors. They have dozens, if not hundreds, of simultaneous customers they are dealing with. There’s nothing nefarious going on.

That said, if you aren’t feeling it, reject delivery and wait for another one.

ETA - also, they really don’t know where the vehicles are unless they are in constant communication with the local SC, which I’ve found is rare.

 

[kayabusa]

Ask them for an odometer reading in advance. Hard to tell tires unless they are clearly worn - bring a depth gauge to check if you’re unsure. It’s illegal to sell a car as new if it has been previously sold, and Rivian isn’t that stupid.

I wouldn’t read anything into the Guide’s behaviors. They have dozens, if not hundreds, of simultaneous customers they are dealing with. There’s nothing nefarious going on.

That said, if you aren’t feeling it, reject delivery and wait for another one.

ETA - also, they really don’t know where the vehicles are unless they are in constant communication with the local SC, which I’ve found is rare.

Good to know Mike, thanks for the input.

 

[mikehmb]

Sure thing - but seriously, if you’re not feeling it, then do not get that truck.

If it was me, and I took delivery, every tiny noise or vibration would turn into immediate irritation and regret that I brought home a truck that I ”knew” was bunk (even if it isn’t).

I’m not sure what someone would be called if they were a hypochondriac but for cars … hypocardriac? That would be me.

 

[COdogman]

I'm not suggesting you are wrong to see red flags with this, but from my experience with 2 different guides I do believe they don't have visibility into many things along the way. Either that or they are all very good at pretending they don't have answers.

My truck was sitting at the factory for basically 3 months waiting for PPF and neither guide could tell me where it was or what was happening until Rivian decided to clear the logjam and remove PPF from mine and a bunch of other orders. When I asked later if the PPF was responsible for the delay, she said "probably", but even then she wasn't totally sure. I think that was an honest response.

There are definitely some red flags with your situation but I don't know if your guide is one of them....

 

[kayabusa]

Sure thing - but seriously, if you’re not feeling it, then do not get that truck.

If it was me, and I took delivery, every tiny noise or vibration would turn into immediate irritation and regret that I brought home a truck that I ”knew” was bunk (even if it isn’t).

I’m not sure what someone would be called if they were a hypochondriac but for cars … hypocardriac? That would be me.

And me.... I heard that I can inspect it first, without taking possession, I can go over everything since I already know where to look, that would help, but I don't know if they allow me to test drive it. That would make my confidence back.

 

[kayabusa]

I'm not suggesting you are wrong to see red flags with this, but from my experience with 2 different guides I do believe they don't have visibility into many things along the way. Either that or they are all very good at pretending they don't have answers.

My truck was sitting at the factory for basically 3 months waiting for PPF and neither guide could tell me where it was or what was happening until Rivian decided to clear the logjam and remove PPF from mine and a bunch of other orders. When I asked later if the PPF was responsible for the delay, she said "probably", but even then she wasn't totally sure. I think that was an honest response.

There are definitely some red flags with your situation but I don't know if your guide is one of them....

The way you describe the guides looks like a lot what I notice like a red flag... but if they are really busy it can mean other things.

I'm open to all possibilities, including driving it home with a smile on my face. But for that to happen, I would like to test drive it first, plug it to charge and touch every single thing that can be touched..... after all, it is a $100k vehicle, if they don't allow me to do that, there you have the last red flag for me.

 

[COdogman]

The way you describe the guides looks like a lot what I notice like a red flag... but if they are really busy it can mean other things.

I'm open to all possibilities, including driving it home with a smile on my face. But for that to happen, I would like to test drive it first, plug it to charge and touch every single thing that can be touched..... after all, it is a $100k vehicle, if they don't allow me to do that, there you have the last red flag for me.

Yeah, I don't blame you for wanting to do all of those things. You should definitely listen to your gut sometimes. I have not yet heard of anyone being allowed to test drive it before signing and swiping, but I would say it's worth trying!

 

[kayabusa]

Yeah, I don't blame you for wanting to do all of those things. You should definitely listen to your gut sometimes. I have not yet heard of anyone being allowed to test drive it before signing and swiping, but I would say it's worth trying!

If they said no to test drive, I will have to take a leap of faith if I want to keep it. I don't remember that felling from any brand new purchase in my last 30 years buying vehicles.

 

[mightyratz]

My guide was a really cool guy, and tried to be very helpful. But I get the idea they are extremely overworked. So it may not have anything to do with the actual vehicle.

I'm in the same boat as you, I've had the R1T for over a year, and picked up the R1S last month. I thought I'd drive both for a week and decide which one to keep. Five weeks later I've finally decided to sell the R1T, but its really a toss up. They're both really great trucks. Hope you're able to take delivery of your R1S, and get to enjoy it.

 

[COdogman]

If they said no to test drive, I will have to take a leap of faith if I want to keep it. I don't remember that felling from any brand new purchase in my last 30 years buying vehicles.

If I were in your situation a big part of my decision would involve how much faith you have in your local service center. Not that you want to spend much time there, but they clearly did some work on it. Did they get it to 100%?

The good thing is you have some idea of how your local SC works from owning a T prior to this. If you like them and trust they will take care of you, it's probably going to be ok.

But you need to be comfortable with it or you won't be able to enjoy your new S!

 

[jimmyb2]

The way she offered me a 8,xxx vin number vehicle when production was at 14,xxx . was the first red flag....

The 14xxx VINs were the R1Ts. The R1S was in the 12xxx VIN series in June. I got mine Jun 29 with a 12xxx VIN manufactured in June according to the metal GVWR plate on the door frame.

Since they were making 4000+ vehicles (combined T & S) per month the 8xxx VIN could be April or May build.

That should help with your #1 red flag. Of course, I am making a number of assumptions since I don’t work there.

 

[LoneStar]

I can't allay all your worries, but I can address the 'white marks' on the vehicle at the SC. I know this because when my R1T (from 2022) landed at the local SC, I couldn't wait for my appt to go check it out. The SC is less than 10 miles away from home so I went over there a day or so after my guide told me it arrived. My pickup appt was about a week after that due to backlog.

I walked around the outside of the SC and found it (not too many Launch Greens at that time) and verified the VIN through the windshield. Right away I saw 3 or 4 white marks almost like a light white shoe polish here and there, mainly along the lower body trim to paint line. Noticed it generally coincided where the trim looked oddly set. I wiped it just a tad to see what the heck it was and it easily wiped away. So its almost like a paint chalk if you will.

When I met the shop manager who came outside (probably because they thought I was casing the place or something), we spoke for a short while. I asked about the white marks and he said it was normal practice during final checkout at the plant. It points to things that the SC can deal with during the PDI done in the SC. So its only done for cosmetic kind of things or whatever can confidently be dealt with at the SC.. He didn't explicitly say this but I presumed it was to reduce the "clog" at the end of the IL plant line and keep vehicles moving that can be corrected before customer delivery.

 

[kayabusa]

can't allay all your worries, but I can address the 'white marks' on the vehicle at the SC. I know this because when my R1T (from 2022) landed at the local SC, I couldn't wait for my appt to go check it out. The SC is less than 10 miles away from home so I went over the

I can't allay all your worries, but I can address the 'white marks' on the vehicle at the SC. I know this because when my R1T (from 2022) landed at the local SC, I couldn't wait for my appt to go check it out. The SC is less than 10 miles away from home so I went over there a day or so after my guide told me it arrived. My pickup appt was about a week after that due to backlog.

I walked around the outside of the SC and found it (not too many Launch Greens at that time) and verified the VIN through the windshield. Right away I saw 3 or 4 white marks almost like a light white shoe polish here and there, mainly along the lower body trim to paint line. Noticed it generally coincided where the trim looked oddly set. I wiped it just a tad to see what the heck it was and it easily wiped away. So its almost like a paint chalk if you will.

When I met the shop manager who came outside (probably because they thought I was casing the place or something), we spoke for a short while. I asked about the white marks and he said it was normal practice during final checkout at the plant. It points to things that the SC can deal with during the PDI done in the SC. So its only done for cosmetic kind of things or whatever can confidently be dealt with at the SC.. He didn't explicitly say this but I presumed it was to reduce the "clog" at the end of the IL plant line and keep vehicles moving that can be corrected before customer delivery.

Thank you for sharing that, similar to what I saw too but I didn't ask that question yet.

 

[kayabusa]

My Appointment is tomorrow Monday at 5 pm so I hope they have it clean it and all sorted out for my final inspection.
I text them and ask for the odometer reading, (that's to @mikehmb for point that out) the answer was 16 miles. So now I'm starting to get my confidence back, Anyway I will give a throughout look tomorrow.

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