Rivian Automotive electric truck and SUV

[BarkingGhostar]

My statement stands. Tiny demographic.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I don’t care about demographics. The R1S is a vehicle that will fit my lifestyle and needs perfectly. Daily driver, 69 mile round trip commute most of the time with a few annual trips to the desert to go shooting/camping. I don’t need a vehicle that can do extreme off-road but some off-road capability is needed.

We have a Range Rover Sport and I love driving it but it is my wife’s vehicle. It has the straight six engine, mild hybrid with start stop and gets about 17-18 mpg city. She drives it about 10k miles annually. It is very smooth, very comfortable on long drives and it has plenty of power. Great road trip vehicle and it looks good.

I like the luxury of the Range Rover. We have owned it for almost a year now and we both love it. Haven’t had any trouble with it either, touch wood. I did take it on a desert trip earlier this year. Wife wasn’t too pleased with me returning it filthy and with the spare tire mounted though.

 

[Commodus]

I don’t care about demographics. The R1S is a vehicle that will fit my lifestyle and needs perfectly. Daily driver, 69 mile round trip commute most of the time with a few annual trips to the desert to go shooting/camping. I don’t need a vehicle that can do extreme off-road but some off-road capability is needed.

We have a Range Rover Sport and I love driving it but it is my wife’s vehicle. It has the straight six engine, mild hybrid with start stop and gets about 17-18 mpg city. She drives it about 10k miles annually. It is very smooth, very comfortable on long drives and it has plenty of power. Great road trip vehicle and it looks good.

I like the luxury of the Range Rover. We have owned it for almost a year now and we both love it. Haven’t had any trouble with it either, touch wood. I did take it on a desert trip earlier this year. Wife wasn’t too pleased with me returning it filthy and with the spare tire mounted though.
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Precisely. I'd say Rivian needs to expand its audience over time (the R1S/R1T have a ton of luxuries you could easily cut without hurting the experience), but if you're the sort of person who would otherwise buy a Land Rover/Range Rover/BMW X/Merc G, why shouldn't you eye something like this? Good range, good performance, lots of creature comforts.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Precisely. I'd say Rivian needs to expand its audience over time (the R1S/R1T have a ton of luxuries you could easily cut without hurting the experience), but if you're the sort of person who would otherwise buy a Land Rover/Range Rover/BMW X/Merc G, why shouldn't you eye something like this? Good range, good performance, lots of creature comforts.

G wagon is a whole different level. Even used those command ridiculous money and people seem to hold onto them for longer than most people do with new luxury cars.

Very capable off-roaders though despite the fact that most people never take them off road.

 

[Commodus]

G wagon is a whole different level. Even used those command ridiculous money and people seem to hold onto them for longer than most people do with new luxury cars.

Very capable off-roaders though despite the fact that most people never take them off road.

True — I was as much thinking of the mainstream GL vehicles (GLB/GLC/GLE, etc.) as the G-wagon.

 

[JulesMaximus]

True — I was as much thinking of the mainstream GL vehicles (GLB/GLC/GLE, etc.) as the G-wagon.

Yeah, when someone says G-class it means the G Wagon, G550 or G63. Their GL series are all unibody vehicles.

 

[bbhaag]

Dougs review just dropped. Love or hate his style I have to admit he did a pretty thorough walk through of everything the R1T has to offer. I found it pretty interesting because I haven't been following it all that closely mainly because it's out of my price range. I think the one he tested had a sticker price of $74,000.

Anyway, it comes with some pretty cool tech and the performance is hard to argue with. Not just 0-60 times and things like that but also its off road, range, storage, and towing capabilities.

 

[pauldun170]

Dougs review just dropped. Love or hate his style I have to admit he did a pretty thorough walk through of everything the R1T has to offer. I found it pretty interesting because I haven't been following it all that closely mainly because it's out of my price range. I think the one he tested had a sticker price of $74,000.

Anyway, it comes with some pretty cool tech and the performance is hard to argue with. Not just 0-60 times and things like that but also its off road, range, storage, and towing capabilities.

Watching that left me with 2 thoughts
1. I don't pretend to be a contractor or someone who needs a 8ft bed. Just someone who camps monthly and wouldn't mind being able to tow a trailer with few thousand pounds of gear. The list of "Crap...thats pretty cool" was pretty long. I unzipped my pants when it got to the rails system.
2. I couldn't stop counting the amount of cool stuff that is going to fail or end up being something they are going to have to change because they didn't think it though in real world usage. I'm expecting a lot of clogged drain holes and a a cacophony of rattles and squeaks once this thing accumulates miles. I'm guessing that by year 3 a redesign is going to see a lot of stuff being changed.

 

[NutBucket]

EVs and towing just sounds like a losing proposition. Figure a 25-50% MPG hit on gas. Expect this similar and therefore fine around town but you're not (easily) pulling a boat to the lake, etc. Anyway, definitely looks like a nice vehicle.

 

[pauldun170]

EVs and towing just sounds like a losing proposition. Figure a 25-50% MPG hit on gas. Expect this similar and therefore fine around town but you're not (easily) pulling a boat to the lake, etc. Anyway, definitely looks like a nice vehicle.

Our powertrain, thermal system and frame structure enable the R1T to tow up to 11,000 pounds in all variants. When towing at full capacity, you can expect around a 50% reduction in range. .

For a vehicle with 300 miles of range that would work for me just fine.
We aren't long haul truckers

 

[Brainonska511]

EVs and towing just sounds like a losing proposition. Figure a 25-50% MPG hit on gas. Expect this similar and therefore fine around town but you're not (easily) pulling a boat to the lake, etc. Anyway, definitely looks like a nice vehicle.

How many people buying trucks now are really doing those things now?

 

[pauldun170]

Dougs review just dropped. Love or hate his style I have to admit he did a pretty thorough walk through of everything the R1T has to offer. I found it pretty interesting because I haven't been following it all that closely mainly because it's out of my price range. I think the one he tested had a sticker price of $74,000.

Anyway, it comes with some pretty cool tech and the performance is hard to argue with. Not just 0-60 times and things like that but also its off road, range, storage, and towing capabilities.

Continued

 

[bbhaag]

Continued

Yeah I watched it a couple of hours ago and....well....the R1T looked pretty damn confident when going off road. That one climb he skipped then came back to looked intense!

 

[IronWing]

Continued

I think Rivian needs to work on the traction control programming. There was way too much wheel spin for a modern off roader. Four wheel independent power should work better than what the video shows.

 

[Ackmed]

Sure most people buying trucks aren't doing truck things. But how many people buying G Wagons are using them for off road? Or any other SUV's. People like vehicles for different reasons. Trucks and SUV's sit up higher, some people like that.

I used to detest Doug's reviews, but over the years have come to really like them. His mannerisms have grown on me, and his review of the Rivian is great. We saw one local two weeks ago, looks good in person. Depending on the reliability of it, this will be a pretty good vehicle. Even more so when the Bronco'ish looking version comes out without the bed but a SUV. I believe it has 3rd row as well.

 

[herm0016]

I think Rivian needs to work on the traction control programming. There was way too much wheel spin for a modern off roader. Four wheel independent power should work better than what the video shows.

I don't think the wheel spin is necessarily the issue, it looks like they are spinning when it senses there is a bit of load, then kicking the rock out, spins another half turn or so then goes to another wheel. if it was looking for more load, you may just sit there spinning the wheels a half turn at a time looking for the load and not going anywhere. It does need some kind of virtual locker though. That looks like a tough hill that I would not be able to get up even with a rear locker in my sierra with a similarly aggressive tire. a land rover with the diff and center auto lockers could probably do it. I don't think anything else will spin the wheels less. I am really enamored by the Rivian but my wife wants the full electric and we will keep the gas truck. she wants a sporty looking awd electric like the mach e. we do a good bit of light towing, driving in the mountains in the winter, up to wyoming with the slide in camper etc to keep a gas truck around.

 

[Viper GTS]

I am extremely late to this party, but I have an R1T reserved as of late September. I'm up to six EVs reserved or on order now:

Model Y Performance (currently due January-February)
Mini Cooper (ETA March)
F-150 Lightning x 2 (first pre-order was very early @ ~30s or so into the event, second is a $100 gamble that I'll be able to trade it basically even for a new one at 2 years if I decide I want to stay with an F-150 vs switching to Rivian)
Rivian R1T (who knows, probably 2023/2024)
Cybertruck (probably never at the rate they are going)

My wife is convinced I'm insane, but if you refuse to buy another ICE daily driver this is what you have to do to have options when the time comes.

Viper GTS

 

[Brainonska511]

Sure most people buying trucks aren't doing truck things. But how many people buying G Wagons are using them for off road? Or any other SUV's. People like vehicles for different reasons. Trucks and SUV's sit up higher, some people like that.

Yes, people buy vehicles for different reasons. But because so few buy trucks for actually hauling and towing stuff, it seems like towing capacity/range is a weird issue to pick on for the EV truck that's clearly marketed towards the typical US consumer who buy trucks or SUVs and have no real interest in ever towing anything.

 

[Kaido]

I am extremely late to this party, but I have an R1T reserved as of late September. I'm up to six EVs reserved or on order now:

Model Y Performance (currently due January-February)
Mini Cooper (ETA March)
F-150 Lightning x 2 (first pre-order was very early @ ~30s or so into the event, second is a $100 gamble that I'll be able to trade it basically even for a new one at 2 years if I decide I want to stay with an F-150 vs switching to Rivian)
Rivian R1T (who knows, probably 2023/2024)
Cybertruck (probably never at the rate they are going)

My wife is convinced I'm insane, but if you refuse to buy another ICE daily driver this is what you have to do to have options when the time comes.

Viper GTS

How do you feel about the Mini's specs? 114-mile range with zero to sixty in 6.9 seconds?

I ended up giving my Model Y reservation to my buddy, as it expires tomorrow otherwise. Saves $11k over the current config tho, not bad! He's hoping they can't produce it until the EV credit hopefully gets turned on haha.

I really like the idea of the F-150 EV. imo it's the smartest EV out there. Test-driving a Mach-E also changed my mind on the electric Mustang. I feel it's the best EV on the market at the moment. The Rivian is SUPER cool. Also really like the upcoming SUV version!

Truck-wise, I'm aiming for the Cybertruck right now, especially for that 500+ mile battery. So I'm not really in the market for a truck per se, as much as a big battery. But I do really love the interior of the Cybertruck, and the exterior design has grown on me over time. Low-poly metal guppy lol. The electric tadpole! But then again I love ugly & unique cars (Delorean, Kia Soul, Beetle, etc.) so this fits right in haha.

 

[Viper GTS]

How do you feel about the Mini's specs? 114-mile range with zero to sixty in 6.9 seconds?

I ended up giving my Model Y reservation to my buddy, as it expires tomorrow otherwise. Saves $11k over the current config tho, not bad! He's hoping they can't produce it until the EV credit hopefully gets turned on haha.

I really like the idea of the F-150 EV. imo it's the smartest EV out there. Test-driving a Mach-E also changed my mind on the electric Mustang. I feel it's the best EV on the market at the moment. The Rivian is SUPER cool. Also really like the upcoming SUV version!

Truck-wise, I'm aiming for the Cybertruck right now, especially for that 500+ mile battery. So I'm not really in the market for a truck per se, as much as a big battery. But I do really love the interior of the Cybertruck, and the exterior design has grown on me over time. Low-poly metal guppy lol. The electric tadpole! But then again I love ugly & unique cars (Delorean, Kia Soul, Beetle, etc.) so this fits right in haha.

As a 3rd/4th car it's completely fine. We're at two cars in the household right now which is at least one too few. I'm looking to get to 2x daily drivers, 1x spare daily driver, and one or more fun cars. Mini fits the spare daily driver nicely plus would make a nice loaner if family visits. 'We have no room for you, but we can offer you a free EV loaner with charging at our house.'

There's a possibility we'll end up keeping the 3 Performance instead but a maxed out Mini with tax credit is about half the cost of the 3P so it's a compelling package IMO. It's definitely not an equivalent car, but it doesn't need to be. We did test drive one locally before submitting the real order. It's a neat little car and capable of doing my daily commute even in winter.

Viper GTS

 

[Kaido]

As a 3rd/4th car it's completely fine. We're at two cars in the household right now which is at least one too few. I'm looking to get to 2x daily drivers, 1x spare daily driver, and one or more fun cars. Mini fits the spare daily driver nicely plus would make a nice loaner if family visits. 'We have no room for you, but we can offer you a free EV loaner with charging at our house.'

There's a possibility we'll end up keeping the 3 Performance instead but a maxed out Mini with tax credit is about half the cost of the 3P so it's a compelling package IMO. It's definitely not an equivalent car, but it doesn't need to be. We did test drive one locally before submitting the real order. It's a neat little car and capable of doing my daily commute even in winter.

Viper GTS

That actually makes a lot of sense! We had a crappy old Ford Escort that was our random family car for whenever someone's broken down or were in a financial pickle or whatever haha. It was really great to have that resource available! Half the cost of a Tesla is no joke either!

 

[bbhaag]

Rivian R1T was just named MotorTrends 2022 Truck of the Year. Pretty cool truck and imo deserves it. The other three finalist were the Ford Maverick, Hyundai Santa Cruz, and the GMC Hummer EV.

This Gamechanging Pickup Is the 2022 MotorTrend Truck of the Year

A remarkably original take on the pickup truck redefines the genre and comes out on top.

www.motortrend.com

 

[Commodus]

Rivian R1T was just named MotorTrends 2022 Truck of the Year. Pretty cool truck and imo deserves it. The other three finalist were the Ford Maverick, Hyundai Santa Cruz, and the GMC Hummer EV.

This Gamechanging Pickup Is the 2022 MotorTrend Truck of the Year

A remarkably original take on the pickup truck redefines the genre and comes out on top.

www.motortrend.com

I'd agree. It's not just that it's an EV, it's that it happens to be a very fine truck with clever touches you wish other trucks had. Me, I'm just hoping Rivian is quick to make a lower-cost model — the R1T includes a lot of things you could definitely cut while still having a great truck. Ditto the R1S, for that matter.

 

[heymrdj]

I'd agree. It's not just that it's an EV, it's that it happens to be a very fine truck with clever touches you wish other trucks had. Me, I'm just hoping Rivian is quick to make a lower-cost model — the R1T includes a lot of things you could definitely cut while still having a great truck. Ditto the R1S, for that matter.

I would love to see an R1T in small work truck form. Keep the big battery option, give it some nifty bed accessories for carrying long things, set it on steelies and go.

 

[Viper GTS]

I think we are years away from them having any spare capacity to entertain a cheaper vehicle. They'll sell everything they can make of their flagship platform for a long time.

Personally I really want the rumored crossover (think Local Motors Rally Fighter, but on Rivian's skateboard), but I'll buy a truck now if they will sell me one.

Viper GTS