[RITVT]

We all need to stop comparing Rivian to Tesla. And for the record they made 3.3B in profit in the first quarter alone.

While I 100% agree with your sentiment on the Ford lightening, and I can't wait to see a Lightening out on the road, you shouldn't compare Ford to Rivian in this case either. Rivian is essentially a start-up and going after a slightly different segment of the market. There will be crossover between the two ownership bases of course, but Ford will appeal to a much broader audience and likely have big work truck base. Rivian was pretty intentional in the target demographic they wanted. You can say people will forget that Rivian was first to market, but we are living this in present day. If you are serious about buying an EV truck, its pretty likely you are doing serious research (no matter which venn diagram circle you are fitting into).

 

[MCRNGR]

While I 100% agree with your sentiment on the Ford lightening, and I can't wait to see a Lightening out on the road, you shouldn't compare Ford to Rivian in this case either. Rivian is essentially a start-up and going after a slightly different segment of the market. There will be crossover between the two ownership bases of course, but Ford will appeal to a much broader audience and likely have big work truck base. Rivian was pretty intentional in the target demographic they wanted. You can say people will forget that Rivian was first to market, but we are living this in present day. If you are serious about buying an EV truck, its pretty likely you are doing serious research (no matter which venn diagram circle you are fitting into).

Completely agree!

Canceled my Lighting reservation cause I just like the R1 looks and capabilities so much better for my lifestyle. (In hindsight, I should have bought it and flipped because I was one of the first—lesson learned!)

If the RST turns out to be as good as it looks, that might be a consideration, but then again it is much larger than the R1 and I assume without the off road capabilities.

 

[IThinkFreely]

I think we all get into the weeds quickly in these discussions. My bottom line is that Rivian is commited to making anywhere from 50 to 100K vehicles at a straight up, huge loss. While burning cash in multiple other fires also. I get the love people have for the product but don't pull the wool over your own eyes because of it.

 

[RITVT]

Risk of loss is coupled with all lines of new businesses, across all sectors. This is why we have venture capital, angel investors, free markets and the ability to fail or succeed.The measurement of success will be based upon the strength of your product or service, timing of the market, macro and micro economic forces that Rivian will not be able to always control, and their ability to execute over time. This is literally one inflection point, but if you look at it in isolation, then I would agree with you and you should buy a Ford Lightening (if you can). I think a lot of us may be less risk averse or familiar with models that have ended up winning after long periods of not turning a profit.

 

[O. horridus]

The vast majority of people I mention Rivian to...as in "I have a Rivian reservation, I'm hoping to get it this year"....ask me,"who makes it?"..."what is Rivian" "how do you spell that"...then they sort od dismiss it because they don't know it and don't care to learn.

I experienced the exact same thing when I purchased my first-model-year Camry. No one had ever heard of it, couldn't spell it, wanted to know who made it, had problems with the insurance because it wasn't a model they knew about, etc. etc. It took many many years before "Camry" became a household name. And one of the most successful models in history. Just saying, this is NOT evidence that the Rivian is doomed to failure. Rather, it shows how much growth potential there is for the brand.

@IThinkFreely - if you're that convinced Rivian is going bankrupt, why are you still waiting for one? You should ask for your $1000 back while they still have money, then breathe a sigh of relief that you've dodged a bullet. Me, I'm sure the company will succeed but I have no desire to try to argue that point.

 

[iansriv]

Here's a shot from the day I picked up at the factory. There were 2 LG LE's in the delivery center. I asked if both were part of my delivery, one for my wife and one for me ? They wouldn't go for that.

View attachment 6516

Congrats! Beautiful T! How did you pick factory delivery? Any benefits to that? I'm an R1S pre-order. Cheers!

 

[JEV]

Congrats! Beautiful T! How did you pick factory delivery? Any benefits to that? I'm an R1S pre-order. Cheers!

I live about an hour from the factory and I asked my guide if it was an option. He said yes, so that's what I chose. I have heard of some people from much further away getting the option for a factory pickup, but it depends on where your truck is when you start the 8 step process. If they already shipped it to a service center, it's not going to be an option.
I only saw a small section of the production line from a catwalk over the area at the end of the line. It was really cool to see. They told me to come back when they have the extended factory tour available. That should be coming later this year, if covid restrictions don't get in the way.

 

[FirstStateR1T]

I got my R1T (first EV) 21days ago... I commute 65miles each way to work and its been nothing but great! It far quieter, more comfortable, more useful and overall enjoyable than my outgoing 152k Audi Allroad and 210k Jetta TDi Wagon.

There is a learning curve for sure being my first EV, but I am embracing things and learning to deal with any bugs. No major issues to report, simple stupid things and requests of RIVIAN in general. I look forward to the future with the R1T as is suits my lifestyle with cycling, snowboarding, camping, etc...

 

[ddowhy]

Yeah for any current or previous Tesla owners can you please share some insight in how is the overall experience or comparison? While ideally I would have liked a comparison between R1S and model S (2022) but any Tesla model can R1S/R1T would go a long way. I am really confused. I really like my Tesla but sometimes feel for how much I am paying Rivian might be a better choice plus added third row is seriously amazing!! I do love Tesla software/infotainment but don’t see any game changer per se except maybe autopilot and some of streaming integration. I mean the display is fantastic along with graphics and ability to park and watch movie, play games with my son (so exciting!!!) and having some small fun stuff but other than that I really couldn’t find anything revolutionary experience in the infotainment section. Of course the acceleration is sick and love the handling and corner turns… so if you were to compare the overall experience of your new Rivian with Tesla would really appreciate some detailed comparison. Thanks so much in advance!!

2013 P85 owner here. HV battery pack just died after 208k miles and out of warranty. quoted $12k for repair. I was thinking of pre-ordering an R1S, but I have serious concerns with a lot of the posts I see on these forums about problems with their vehicles. I see a lot of people complaining about problems, and Rivian simply isn't there yet with their service centers. And Tesla has their supercharger network deployed everywhere.

As much as I love the look of the R1S, I placed an order for a Tesla Model Y instead. I sold the P85 to someone who is going to have the pack repaired at a third party shop. I think Rivian has a lot of growing pains they need to get through before I would be comfortable with one, and thats coming from someone who ordered a Tesla in 2012 sight unseen knowing they didn't have service centers or even supercharging anywhere yet either.

However I knew Tesla had the funding to back it up and expand and follow through on their word, plus they went through the whole learning curve already with the roadsters. But Rivian is brand new...and I am not convinced yet they have the funds to survive. Yes I get this is Rivian forums but this is my opinion, and that is the reason why I stuck with Tesla instead.

 

[Livinginkaos]

2013 P85 owner here. HV battery pack just died after 208k miles and out of warranty. quoted $12k for repair. I was thinking of pre-ordering an R1S, but I have serious concerns with a lot of the posts I see on these forums about problems with their vehicles. I see a lot of people complaining about problems, and Rivian simply isn't there yet with their service centers. And Tesla has their supercharger network deployed everywhere.

As much as I love the look of the R1S, I placed an order for a Tesla Model Y instead. I sold the P85 to someone who is going to have the pack repaired at a third party shop. I think Rivian has a lot of growing pains they need to get through before I would be comfortable with one, and thats coming from someone who ordered a Tesla in 2012 sight unseen knowing they didn't have service centers or even supercharging anywhere yet either.

However I knew Tesla had the funding to back it up and expand and follow through on their word, plus they went through the whole learning curve already with the roadsters. But Rivian is brand new...and I am not convinced yet they have the funds to survive. Yes I get this is Rivian forums but this is my opinion, and that is the reason why I stuck with Tesla instead.

We are all free to make our own choices. The beauty of life. I would caution by making judgments by negative comments. We all know that 90% of happy owners never say anything, but 1% of unhappy owners hold their tongue. Yes, there are some issues so far, but most are very minor. The biggest across the board issue has been the power tonneau cover- which is not a vital function of the vehicle. Look at Ford who has been making cars for ever- just recalled all the Mach E's. Rivain has been at the development stage for a good number of years prior to production (2009) that included what seems like years of testing. As for funding, Rivian has 2-1/2 years of cash funds to float at their last stated rate of burn - which did not include enough delivery sales to bother counting. This next year they will have that offset to help and as they complete the buildout of their SC's and new production, that burn rate will decrease dramatically. They have a long way to go before any potential failure scenario.

Again, all that said, you made the choice that felt right for you and there is no shame in that. I'm naturally one to avoid risk, but for some reason I chose to do so here. Perhaps because I love to see new products and do what I can to help promote that- small business owner enthusiasm I guess. Not to mention, every time I step on the accelerator, a huge smile crosses my face

 

[SANZCO2]

2013 P85 owner here. HV battery pack just died after 208k miles and out of warranty. quoted $12k for repair. I was thinking of pre-ordering an R1S, but I have serious concerns with a lot of the posts I see on these forums about problems with their vehicles. I see a lot of people complaining about problems, and Rivian simply isn't there yet with their service centers. And Tesla has their supercharger network deployed everywhere.

As much as I love the look of the R1S, I placed an order for a Tesla Model Y instead. I sold the P85 to someone who is going to have the pack repaired at a third party shop. I think Rivian has a lot of growing pains they need to get through before I would be comfortable with one, and thats coming from someone who ordered a Tesla in 2012 sight unseen knowing they didn't have service centers or even supercharging anywhere yet either.

However I knew Tesla had the funding to back it up and expand and follow through on their word, plus they went through the whole learning curve already with the roadsters. But Rivian is brand new...and I am not convinced yet they have the funds to survive. Yes I get this is Rivian forums but this is my opinion, and that is the reason why I stuck with Tesla instead.

I think you are mistaken on the funding comparison. Tesla in the early days was struggling for cash and it was in a time economically more favorable for a startup. According to Musk, Tesla was actually weeks away from bankruptcy as late as 2018 during the Model 3 ramp up.

In comparison Rivian is very well funded although, they are ramping up in one of the worst economic times with the staggering inflation and global supply chain issues. Rivian has a serious uphill battle but not because of funding.

 

[RITVT]

Mistaken on comparing a R1 to a Tesla Y too... LOL

 

[Bari]

Long story short. I’m getting cold feet. I’ve driven the same car for the last 18 years and have put 220k miles on it. Never spent this much on a vehicle.
Love the idea of electric and have reservations for both the lightning and R1T and my number came up first for R1T after changing my config. Theoretically I can pick it up Saturday if I sign for my financing tomorrow…

just getting cold feet with economy being like it is etc. but at the same time inflation numbers have been so crazy that I feel like if I wait a year I won’t be able to get a truck for this price. I want to use this and drive this until a lightning comes up for me and then choose which I like best and sell the other.
I would think resale on R1T especially given limited supply will still be good. Of course the risk is that something happens or company goes under. If there’s bad press like an R1T catches fire and burns down an orphanage or something good luck selling one.

so. Current owners. Given bad AC , no android/CarPlay, poor text integration, and some other flaws etc. are you happy? Would you purchase again?

Got my Rivian on May 2 and have put nearly 5000 miles on her. I love her. Sure there are some aspects I would like better.
What I absolutely love is - safety features. Instead of being annoying, which I have found in other vehicles, I find the ones on the R1T, like the sound it makes when putting on the turn indicator if there is a vehicle in my blind spot, the dimming and relighting the bright headlights, the road lighting in general, the comfort of the ride, quiet and spacious interior with a smooth glide ride on the road, it's ability to go up and down ( I have used it to move elderly people who are mobility challenged and they can get in - being able to lower both the vehicle and the seat helps), the kindness of the service staff, the sense that a lot of thought and care is here and will continue to be, and lastly though very high on my list, every staff person I ask, is Rivian is a good company to work for, all have said yes.
Looking forward to seeing lots more Rivians on the road and happy people driving them. And to putting lots more miles on my truck.

 

[MCRNGR]

Got my Rivian on May 2 and have put nearly 5000 miles on her. I love her. Sure there are some aspects I would like better.
What I absolutely love is - safety features. Instead of being annoying, which I have found in other vehicles, I find the ones on the R1T, like the sound it makes when putting on the turn indicator if there is a vehicle in my blind spot, the dimming and relighting the bright headlights, the road lighting in general, the comfort of the ride, quiet and spacious interior with a smooth glide ride on the road, it's ability to go up and down ( I have used it to move elderly people who are mobility challenged and they can get in - being able to lower both the vehicle and the seat helps), the kindness of the service staff, the sense that a lot of thought and care is here and will continue to be, and lastly though very high on my list, every staff person I ask, is Rivian is a good company to work for, all have said yes.
Looking forward to seeing lots more Rivians on the road and happy people driving them. And to putting lots more miles on my truck.

Thanks for your post! Poetic and sincere. Go Rivian!

 

[TessP100D]

Tesla operated at a loss for many years, may even still be. The question is, is RJ’s war chest is as big & full as Hank Scorpio’s?

View attachment 6544

In the past, maybe so…… but not today

 

[TessP100D]

We all need to stop comparing Rivian to Tesla. And for the record they made 3.3B in profit in the first quarter alone.

Yes. Hello……

Rivian is not Tesla and never will be.

 

[TessP100D]

I think you are mistaken on the funding comparison. Tesla in the early days was struggling for cash and it was in a time economically more favorable for a startup. According to Musk, Tesla was actually weeks away from bankruptcy as late as 2018 during the Model 3 ramp up.

In comparison Rivian is very well funded although, they are ramping up in one of the worst economic times with the staggering inflation and global supply chain issues. Rivian has a serious uphill battle but not because of funding.

Well, I understand what you are saying … however at the same time, if Elon is warning Lucid and Rivian about the oath they are on, somebody at the company better listen.

 

[SANZCO2]

Well, I understand what you are saying … however at the same time, if Elon is warning Lucid and Rivian about the oath they are on, somebody at the company better listen.

This is SOP for Elon, he really just wanted to create noise and made those statements to try and get a soft landing for his 5-6% price increase this week just 3 months after his March increases.

Entry price now for a Model X is 121k. Model S is 105k, Model Y is 66k, and Model 3 is 47k.

 

[TessP100D]

This is SOP for Elon, he really just wanted to create noise and made those statements to try and get a soft landing for his 5-6% price increase this week just 3 months after his March increases.

Entry price now for a Model X is 121k. Model S is 105k, Model Y is 66k, and Model 3 is 47k.

Maybe so. Mabye so.. lol

 

[Naresh Narang]

Long story short. I’m getting cold feet. I’ve driven the same car for the last 18 years and have put 220k miles on it. Never spent this much on a vehicle.
Love the idea of electric and have reservations for both the lightning and R1T and my number came up first for R1T after changing my config. Theoretically I can pick it up Saturday if I sign for my financing tomorrow…

just getting cold feet with economy being like it is etc. but at the same time inflation numbers have been so crazy that I feel like if I wait a year I won’t be able to get a truck for this price. I want to use this and drive this until a lightning comes up for me and then choose which I like best and sell the other.
I would think resale on R1T especially given limited supply will still be good. Of course the risk is that something happens or company goes under. If there’s bad press like an R1T catches fire and burns down an orphanage or something good luck selling one.

so. Current owners. Given bad AC , no android/CarPlay, poor text integration, and some other flaws etc. are you happy? Would you purchase again?

YES and YES.