R1S cabin temperature just too hot for Florida

[R1TS]

My problems with the A/C in the R1S are:

• compressor seems to be underpowered for this size vehicle and very loud
• it condenses like crazy. Always have a river flowing underneath every time I have the A/C while parked for over 5 minutes in a hot day
• there are no pillar vents in the second row (just the rear of the center console)
• no second row controls (though we keep hearing that it’s coming in a future software release)
• no active cooling in the third ro

These shouldn’t be in a $100K vehicle.

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[zefram47]

You should have tinted your car. For the minimal cost, I’m now routinely 20* lower in camp temp when it sits in the hot sun.

And my AC works great, even better after latest update. Was actually just thinking after driving my Ford Explorer yesterday how much more quickly the cabin cooled. And it makes a slight whirring sound in the beginning but so did my Tesla…NBD.

100% this. I finally got mine tinted with Xpel XR Plus and the difference is kind of amazing. After a thread measuring IRR showed the stock rear tint already rejected >90% IR, I only did the front windows (50%) and windshield (70%). The cabin would get over 135F even on 80F days, and earlier this week I think I saw 120F on a mid-90s day and the steering wheel could be touched without burning your hands.

 

[strangelove]

Consider me an expert in hot weather R1S driving (see the below 10 day forecast for Austin, which mirrors the previous 30 or so days). I haven't tinted the roof yet, but did pre-emptively choose the Ocean Coast interior to help mitigate the heat problem, and I think that's proven a wise decision.

To make it tolerable, I almost always pre-condition the cabin for about 10 minutes before getting in the car. The AC does buzz uncomfortably, but I've noted that it tends to calm down once it no longer has to work its ass off to cool things. I've also found it helps to make sure all three rows of vents are on even if no one is in the second/third row to make sure the entire space is evenly cooled, so it's not constantly mixing cool air with hot (we also do this in our Pacifica).

After about 5 minutes in the car, it feels cool enough. I wouldn't say it's amazing - the Pacifica still does a better job, but only when it's underway. If the Pacifica is stuck in stop and go traffic, when the engine isn't turning RPMs, the AC is actually worse than the Rivian, which obviously doesn't need engine help to run the AC.

If the compressor noise problem gets fixed, removing that irritant, I'd classify the experience as "fine" in Austin temps. Mixing the buzz in with uncomfortable heat can get frustrating, but again... tolerable.

If you haven't bought an R1S yet, and live somewhere as hot as Austin, please consider the Ocean Coast.

 

[Count Orlok]

I took delivery of my R1S in April after an 18 month wait. I absolutely love the driving, ride and performance of the vehicle. However I just sold it (for more than I paid for it) due to the extreme heat in the cab and the poor AC. We do not have covered or shaded parking at my office and when I would go out to lunch the cabin temperature was routinely above 130. It would not cool down on my drive to lunch or the 15 min home from work. The compressor also continually whined which was annoying. No Apple Car Play or XM radio were also factors. This is just not a car for Florida until improvements are made to the AC and adding a sunshade to the sunroof. I hate losing the car but I hope to buy another one once these improvements happen..

Sounds like the love of money won over the love of "driving, ride, and performance"

 

[Dark-Fx]

Sorry I told the truth and posted this. Is it better for everyone if I lost money when I sold it? I did not buy it to make money or sell it. I said I liked it but it had flaws for me. Another post said tint did not help much. I have another vehicle and someone made me an offer so I sold it. Tough crowd here.

Just not really sure what the point was making your first post this way. No posting here asking about your problems or even hopping on some of the threads where others were making similar complaints. Just very weird behavior.

 

[MidnightRivian]

Just not really sure what the point was making your first post this way. No posting here asking about your problems or even hopping on some of the threads where others were making similar complaints. Just very weird behavior.

You have to justify letting something go that you enjoy in exchange for cash and greed so you come online to post and make yourself feel better about letting go of something because of minor issues.

Making a mountain out of a molehill so you can justify spending your profits...

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Consider me an expert in hot weather R1S driving (see the below 10 day forecast for Austin, which mirrors the previous 30 or so days). I haven't tinted the roof yet, but did pre-emptively choose the Ocean Coast interior to help mitigate the heat problem, and I think that's proven a wise decision.

To make it tolerable, I almost always pre-condition the cabin for about 10 minutes before getting in the car. The AC does buzz uncomfortably, but I've noted that it tends to calm down once it no longer has to work its ass off to cool things. I've also found it helps to make sure all three rows of vents are on even if no one is in the second/third row to make sure the entire space is evenly cooled, so it's not constantly mixing cool air with hot (we also do this in our Pacifica).

After about 5 minutes in the car, it feels cool enough. I wouldn't say it's amazing - the Pacifica still does a better job, but only when it's underway. If the Pacifica is stuck in stop and go traffic, when the engine isn't turning RPMs, the AC is actually worse than the Rivian, which obviously doesn't need engine help to run the AC.

If the compressor noise problem gets fixed, removing that irritant, I'd classify the experience as "fine" in Austin temps. Mixing the buzz in with uncomfortable heat can get frustrating, but again... tolerable.

If you haven't bought an R1S yet, and live somewhere as hot as Austin, please consider the Ocean Coast.

The leaving all the vents on was a game changer for me. I just have the T so smaller cab and I thought my AC was breaking until I turned on the rear vents. Now the cab gets cool and stays as cold as I need it to even when it is 100

 

[Sgt Beavis]

Sorry I told the truth and posted this. Is it better for everyone if I lost money when I sold it? I did not buy it to make money or sell it. I said I liked it but it had flaws for me. Another post said tint did not help much. I have another vehicle and someone made me an offer so I sold it. Tough crowd here.

It would have been better if you just didn't show up. At best, your post was pointless. We know the shortcomings of the R1. At worse you're just doing a piss poor job at trolling.

 

[HighVoltOverland]

So you sold your S to someone out of state right?

It would be unconscionable to sell the vehicle to another Floridian as it would still be too hot for them… right?

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Sorry I told the truth and posted this. Is it better for everyone if I lost money when I sold it? I did not buy it to make money or sell it. I said I liked it but it had flaws for me. Another post said tint did not help much. I have another vehicle and someone made me an offer so I sold it. Tough crowd here.

The reason you're catching a hard time here is you made an account seemingly for the sole purpose of bragging about selling your Rivian. You've contributed nothing of value here and your first and only post was to spread negativity and brag about making a profit over the hard work of someone else.

If I was to decide that I was selling my R1 and I posted about it I guarantee I wouldn't get the same reaction even if I managed to turn it for a profit. Its because I came here in good faith and engaged with people here. Granted some here would be happy I'm leaving but that's a whole other story.

Regardless it's not what you did it's how you did it. Did you really expect anything different posting what you did? What response did you think you were going to get in a special interest forum when your first post there is denigrating that interest to all the members? How you expected a different reception than what you received is what is baffling to me personally.

 

[lefkonj]

Any other large SUV would have similar heat issues, some most 80k+ ones come with these large glass roofs. I wish there was a sunshade but having mine tinted tomorrow and that should solve most of the problems.

 

[paulambros]

llo, I paid for a car with a feature to remote start. Why would I not use that feature to help make my life / experience better.

 

[Lizardo]

in TX. Tinted windows and door windows. Put a sunshade with reflective attachment on roof. No issues with heat and a/c.

 

[Pacblue22]

My 2008 Xterra had way colder AC - I think I paid 23k new for that vehicle lol...I know folks here can be Rivian partisans, but the AC is below average, at least in my vehicle...luckily I live in Nor California...Agree, hope v2.0 is better, but got what I expected w/ v1.0. I think they have a lot of improvements to make, as expected for a brand new company...

That said, AC has been around for decades, seems like something they should not screw up....lol give me 5 less HP and rocking AC. Funny, you can tell engineers geeking out made these cars...

I took delivery of my R1S in April after an 18 month wait. I absolutely love the driving, ride and performance of the vehicle. However I just sold it (for more than I paid for it) due to the extreme heat in the cab and the poor AC. We do not have covered or shaded parking at my office and when I would go out to lunch the cabin temperature was routinely above 130. It would not cool down on my drive to lunch or the 15 min home from work. The compressor also continually whined which was annoying. No Apple Car Play or XM radio were also factors. This is just not a car for Florida until improvements are made to the AC and adding a sunshade to the sunroof. I hate losing the car but I hope to buy another one once these improvements happen..

 

[Ventura]

The important point here is that Florida is barely suitable for human habitation. It is probably time to abandon it to the invasive pythons and iguanas.

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