Sad, but I think I’m out

[renderpaz]

Lease a vehicle for tax efficiency limit downside risks

Lease a vehicle because thats the only way you can afford it

Historical note: No Tesla ever debuted with a lease option. The only reason it was likely included is it's the preferred way for corporations to acquire vehicles.

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[runwithscissors]

Had two R2's reserved. Cancelled both. My T is just too good, so thats one down. The other Ill wait for LiDar. No rush to get an early VIN, thats a time suck waiting to happen. Ill keep my T until Scout is released. Then get the Gen 2 R2.

Same, didn't cancel yet but won't use either of my day 1 reservations and will keep my R1S. Even if I wanted the R2, I'd wait for the Gen 3 RAP1 processor/Lidar/Coastal Cloud after learning my lesson with Gen1 being obsolete. Lease rates are roughly 10% from what I've heard which is bananas and could affect sales for people wanting the cheap one. I'll wait for the refreshed R1 or something else down the road but enjoy my R1 in the meantime.

 

[NCSwa]

What concerns me is R2 Gen 2 with Lidar. Let me explain. It's my understanding that Lidar is very data intense. So much so that Tesla does not want it and I think BYD made a comment that cars do not need Lidar? Once we have Lidar will it slow down the new system and new processors? So my concern is what we don't know about the impact Lidar will have expect we all think it will be better. Everything looks good a paper but are we going to have issues created by this new sensor in the real world? I guess they can always turn it off or be selective about it's use, but that my 'concern.'

I tend to agree with this, Tesla is doing perfectly fine end to end driving with NO Lidar, it is not needed and those with it will just be constantly pumping driving data to Rivian to make the Non Lidar better.

 

[Hillbilly]

Got two EVs, two gassers, and a diesel already. Cancelled the R2 res and put down deposits on both scout models the other day. I think that's the next logical step for how we like to drive. Plus our last few service center trips have been abysmal and soured us on staying married to Rivian.

 

[ribuck97]

Looking at the lease rates and using Travis’s calculator, these numbers are not adding up.
list reasons why you might cancel.

Lease rates don’t add up because a leased vehicle is being forced to take $100+/mo in “free” options. One benefits line optimization and the other optimizes future development. The company, for their benefit, are passing costs onto leasees.

If they sell 25k R2’s in 6 months…with a 50% lease rate… that would be almost $50mil in revenue. Every $0.01 counts!

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

4.69 at the credit union, plus a $10,000 tax credit for the next two years on American made vehicles (standardized deductions allowed) for people who make $100,000 or less, that's going to significantly drop the price. (None for leases.)

That $10K tax credit on American-made vehicles is just a tax deduction, right? So you have to owe in order to benefit from it. It sounds like the EV tax credit before it became a point-of-sale discount (ie useless to most people).

 

[Zathras]

That $10K tax credit on American-made vehicles is just a tax deduction, right? So you have to owe in order to benefit from it. It sounds like the EV tax credit before it became a point-of-sale discount (ie useless to most people).

No, not a point-of-sale benefit. But any money back is good money!

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

Yeah it’s only like a few hundred dollars. If you financed the entire R2 for $60k at 5% interest you pay $3,000 a year in interest.

$3,000 x 22% tax bracket = $660 savings on your taxes

And again that’s if you financed the ENTIRE $60,000 purchase price. Won’t be anywhere near that most likely. A few hundred dollars at most.

Yep, I read the same thing in this article.

“Since most people do not pay $10,000 in interest on a car loan each year, the typical annual savings will vary on what you do pay and your income tax rate, but experts have told the Detroit Free Press that those new car buyers who typically qualify for it might see an annual tax savings from $300 to $900.”

That’s it. Better than nothing, but nowhere near as good as a $7,500 point-of-sale discount.

 

[pricedm]

You're right. But it applies to all loans on Rivians being American vehicles. So I take the deduction on top of my over-65 deduction of $6,000 for the next two years, plus this tax credit, I'm going to be doing pretty good.

Not so fast.

I purchased two made-in-USA vehicles in 2025. Both qualified for the intertest deduction. My deduction on IRS 1040: $0. Too much income or some other factor. Bottom line: don't count on reducing your tax bill unless you run actual numbers and verify your situation.

And...my 2025 interest was trivial (thanks to 1.99% loan + substantial down payment/trade-in) so not much help even if I qualified.

 

[NeverFollow]

I fail to see the logic behind leasing a car, unless you run a business and can claim the vehicle costs as a tax deduction.

For an individual, leasing means paying fees for three years and then returning a car that is practically new, with only 30,000 miles or less. Including extra fees for tiny scratches, required GAP insurance...

Then, you sign a second lease, pay fees for another three years, and return the car with another 30,000 miles on it.

It makes far more sense to take out a six-year loan instead. It costs less than two consecutive three-year leases, and in the end, you actually own the car, meaning you can keep driving it or sell it.

Personally, I always pay cash for my cars, whether new or used, so I buy only what I can afford..

With very few exceptions, please tell me if leasing still make sense for you?

 

[dleepnw]

R2 lease doesn't make sense right now. Rivian launched with it, which is surprising, but they have no incentive to make killer lease deals right now because demand is high and supply is low.

I'm planning to buy the R2 then in 2-3 years trade in for either the R3X or the Scout Traveler.

Scout is compelling because of the EREV option. If you've road-tripped in an R1T/R1S you know the DCFC charging is rough because of the size of the battery and poor thermal management leading to mediocre charge curve. Having 500 miles of range and just charging less often is better for long road trips than a BEV like the R1. Perhaps the R2 will have a better charge curve - time will tell.

And the R3X? I'd get it just because it looks bad-ass.

 

[Mos Eisley]

I fail to see the logic behind leasing a car, unless you run a business and can claim the vehicle costs as a tax deduction.

For an individual, leasing means paying fees for three years and then returning a car that is practically new, with only 30,000 miles or less. Including extra fees for tiny scratches, required GAP insurance...

Then, you sign a second lease, pay fees for another three years, and return the car with another 30,000 miles on it.

It makes far more sense to take out a six-year loan instead. It costs less than two consecutive three-year leases, and in the end, you actually own the car, meaning you can keep driving it or sell it.

Personally, I always pay cash for my cars, whether new or used, so I buy only what I can afford..

With very few exceptions, please tell me if leasing still make sense for you?

I don't lease but have friends who have nothing but leased for decades - they are 100% bought in to the subscription nature of leases that is now common from phones to entertainment networks. They like changing vehicles every couple of years, aren't concerned about the financial side of it, like that the cars repairs are always covered... leasing gives them that "ease and freedom."

 

[RandomMcRandomFace]

I fail to see the logic behind leasing a car, unless you run a business and can claim the vehicle costs as a tax deduction.

For an individual, leasing means paying fees for three years and then returning a car that is practically new, with only 30,000 miles or less. Including extra fees for tiny scratches, required GAP insurance...

Then, you sign a second lease, pay fees for another three years, and return the car with another 30,000 miles on it.

It makes far more sense to take out a six-year loan instead. It costs less than two consecutive three-year leases, and in the end, you actually own the car, meaning you can keep driving it or sell it.

Personally, I always pay cash for my cars, whether new or used, so I buy only what I can afford..

With very few exceptions, please tell me if leasing still make sense for you?

If you want a new car every 3 years, then leasing is attractive if you think the residual is higher than the actual expected value of the car when you trade it in; that plus a money factor that can be better than a financing rate (which isn’t the case for the R2 right now), then leasing can make sense. Leasing EVs also protects you from a huge drop in value if “something” happens - car company goes bankrupt, huge tech leap, changes in federal policies, etc.

Of course 2 3-year leases are more expensive than a single 6 year loan - you got a new car in the middle of the term under the lease scenario.

 

[JCWCVG]

Wish more of you cancel or defer to Lidar R1S owner since March 2023. Tried placing a reservation On March 7 only to have it fail 3 times. Did not get back to it until March 9 until 3 x$100 credit holds disappeared.

Check my email 4-5 times a day looking for the confirmation order email

 

[Blitzjb]

4.69 at the credit union, plus a $10,000 tax credit for the next two years on American made vehicles (standardized deductions allowed) for people who make $100,000 or less, that's going to significantly drop the price. (None for leases.)

People that make less than 100k should not be buying a 60k car.

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