[JNC007]

So I got the call. I got the link. Im told I could have my truck in “6-8 weeks….but likely 2-3…” but I can’t test drive it?
I got some polite push back from my guide saying he’d “need to put a request in.”

Does this seem off to you? I am their demographic. Solar panels, batteries, travel the world, money to burn….check check check check. Oh also, I’m an actual cash investor! I want to put my ass in a seat, push some buttons, heaven forbid, drive it around the block. My wife would like to see what we’re investing in before we drop the bank.

Am I asking for too much?

 

[RITVT]

You get a 7 day / 1000 mile test drive when you buy essentially. That is what most of us early adopters have to deal with.

 

[CommodoreAmiga]

Am I asking for too much?

I don't think it's too much to ask for, but Rivian sure does. I've been trying to get a test ride for nearly a year. Always refused. I've traveled to several cities where drives are taking place, and each time I'm told I will not be allowed to participate.

 

[RITVT]

I don't think it's too much to ask for, but Rivian sure does. I've been trying to get a test ride for nearly a year. Always refused. I've traveled to several cities where drives are taking place, and each time I'm told I will not be allowed to participate.

I don't think it will be too much to ask once they get fully ramped and have more delivery centers rolled out, and all pre-orders filled. That said, I have no idea what Tesla did to accommodate this with scale, as I never had any desire to own a Tesla and never visited a Tesla store.

 

[CommodoreAmiga]

I don't think it will be too much to ask once they get fully ramped and have more delivery centers rolled out, and all pre-orders filled. That said, I have no idea what Tesla did to accommodate this with scale, as I never had any desire to own a Tesla and never visited a Tesla store.

I recall it being fairly easy to get a Tesla test drive. Although, I don't think I tried until the Model S came out, and that wasn't their first product.

 

[ERivTruck]

So I got the call. I got the link. Im told I could have my truck in “6-8 weeks….but likely 2-3…” but I can’t test drive it?
I got some polite push back from my guide saying he’d “need to put a request in.”

Does this seem off to you? I am their demographic. Solar panels, batteries, travel the world, money to burn….check check check check. Oh also, I’m an actual cash investor! I want to put my ass in a seat, push some buttons, heaven forbid, drive it around the block. My wife would like to see what we’re investing in before we drop the bank.

Am I asking for too much?

The test drive doesn't amount to much. It is 45 minutes in the truck, no accessories to play with. You get what ever configuration they drive up in. It is a 50/50 crap shoot to see if you can test drive it near your home or at a Rivian location of their choosing. So, not sure you are really missing out on a lot.

 

[JNC007]

The test drive doesn't amount to much. It is 45 minutes in the truck, no accessories to play with. You get what ever configuration they drive up in. It is a 50/50 crap shoot to see if you can test drive it near your home or at a Rivian location of their choosing. So, not sure you are really missing out on a lot.

Missing out isnt entirely the point. Its one thing if Im buying a $300 bear mattress with a 100 day warranty it’s entirely different thing when you’re dropping $70k-$90k sight unseen.

 

[RITVT]

Thats exactly why they gave us 7/1000

 

[JNC007]

Right, bear matress at $300 gives you a hundred days

 

[RITVT]

If you put wheels and electric motors on it, your days would go down

 

[Roamtheworld]

Missing out isnt entirely the point. Its one thing if Im buying a $300 bear mattress with a 100 day warranty it’s entirely different thing when you’re dropping $70k-$90k sight unseen.

Getting seat time in our new Mach E made a huge impact on what we ultimately purchased. We test drove a lower-trim model we intended to purchase and after returning from a short drive saw a higher trim model that made more sense even though it was higher priced. We purchased the higher trim model without hesitation (with ADM to boot ). You can test drive a Tesla or Polstar and you can find Ford, VW, and Chevy dealers that allow you to do a short drive and get hands-on before purchase. I know Rivian models aren't much different inside other than color but salespeople have said for years that once you drive a vehicle it turns shoppers into buyers. I think they should allow hands-on during various events and have models available to perform a short drive at service/sales centers. It's just a good business practice.

 

[CommodoreAmiga]

It's just a good business practice.

Unfortunately, that's the most practical explanation for why Rivian isn't doing it.

 

[BridgeTwnSmith]

So I got the call. I got the link. Im told I could have my truck in “6-8 weeks….but likely 2-3…” but I can’t test drive it?
I got some polite push back from my guide saying he’d “need to put a request in.”

Does this seem off to you? I am their demographic. Solar panels, batteries, travel the world, money to burn….check check check check. Oh also, I’m an actual cash investor! I want to put my ass in a seat, push some buttons, heaven forbid, drive it around the block. My wife would like to see what we’re investing in before we drop the bank.

Am I asking for too much?

Interesting as I thought they were doing the First Mile Drives a bit before you delivery date so you would know what your getting into and remain interested in moving forward but here you are already being offered delivery without that First Mile experience. Honestly just buy it, resell it at a profit if you do not want it when you get it

I on the other hand got my First Mile Drive about a month ago but have no idea when I might get an actual vehicle ... all fun with a startup company!

 

[Roamtheworld]

I on the other hand got my First Mile Drive about a month ago but have no idea when I might get an actual vehicle ... all fun with a startup company!

This startup should be looking at forums of current/future/possible product owners and taking notes.
I know Ford looks at and responds to the Mach E forum since they have reached out to me personally. It was a nice touch to know they are following up on issues and/or comments in a forum. Ford is also stating they want future dealerships/sales locations to have electric models available to test drive and move to all online ordering in the future sales model for electric vehicles. Since Rivian has copied Telsa in so many ways this should be one of the things they embrace right now. Having test vehicles should be standard practice. I don't mind driving a few hundred miles to do that to confirm it's what you want. I thought the first-mile program was that but that hasn't translated into the practice for them. Also, non-reservation holders can't get a test drive either. This is the biggest miss IMO.

 

[Yossarian]

Bumping this thread to add my musings regarding a test drive.

I was having a beer with a buddy of mine recently, and the subject of the R1T came up. He asked if I had, or will have the opportunity for a test drive. The answer was no to former and highly unlikely to the latter, though not for lack of trying on my part (I've contacted CS perhaps half a dozen times about getting a First Mile drive, and mentioned it to my guide as well).

His response was that he would never buy something as expensive as a Rivian without having the opportunity to drive one. Both he and @JNC007 have a valid point on the issue of a test drive. I really don't think it's too much to ask to at least get to see and touch a Rivian in person before writing a check for close to $100k for one.

 

[Roamtheworld]

Bumping this thread to add my musings regarding a test drive.

I was having a beer with a buddy of mine recently, and the subject of the R1T came up. He asked if I had, or will have the opportunity for a test drive. The answer was no to former and highly unlikely to the latter, though not for lack of trying on my part (I've contacted CS perhaps half a dozen times about getting a First Mile drive, and mentioned it to my guide as well).

His response was that he would never buy something as expensive as a Rivian without having the opportunity to drive one. Both he and @JNC007 have a valid point on the issue of a test drive. I really don't think it's too much to ask to at least get to see and touch a Rivian in person before writing a check for close to $100k for one.

We have decided to move away from the Rivian purchase because of this and many more decisions that Rivian has made with the purchasing process.
I still like the size and styling of the R1T and may reconsider in the future once production reaches a point where lower-priced models are available and a test drive could be arranged.

I'm not saying Tesla, Kia, Ford, Chevy, or Mercedes are any better in the purchase process than Rivian. Still, it is clear that they want a potential buyer to rely on others to share the driving experience and that isn't a winning strategy IMO.

I have been purchasing automobiles for 36 years and I have NEVER signed the deal to purchase a vehicle without a drive first.
I'm sure unbiased reviews are available for all makes in print or online but nothing beats a butt in a seat.

 

[RITVT]

Its a new world... And a balancing act for a new company, for sure. You can do lots of interesting things to boost confidence, and you can get early adopters to take delivery without a test drive. Rivian chose to do those things, but also added the return clause for new buyers. Not a bad move. It shows how confident they are in their trucks, and keeps them working with a base of pretty serious buyers. Once you commit and go through the purchase process (and provided your mind is blown when you take delivery), its highly unlikely that you would unwind the transaction.