R2 rear suspension has "incredible ride quality and handling" says RJ Scaring with preview photos

[ATLRivvy]

There goes RJ talking us out of buying a Gen 2 R1 and waiting for the R2. I am getting more excited about the R2 every month that passes!

(You know, RJ, every coming soon product creates and Osborne effect but you do not have to amplify it every week on social media!)

Tbh - I wouldn’t recommend the R1S to anyone unless they were either a family with 2+ kids. Unless you have a use case for the third row it’s just kind of a cumbersome vehicle.

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[TimK]

[QUOTE="TexasBob, post

(You know, RJ, every coming soon product creates and Osborne effect but you do not have to amplify it every week on social media!)
[/QUOTE]

Bring it. As I'm going to be hanging on to my 2018 Model 3 until my number comes up for the R2. I'll take all the info RJ is willing to send

 

[ironoman]

Not sure I trust him. They also touted the R1 suspension as fantastic, and we all know the truth now.

For a truck I think the suspension is great. I have driven on washboard roads at 35-50mph with a number of people including Jeep owners and they all have commented how smooth the ride is! Am I missing something?

 

[MountainBikeDude]

Not sure I trust him. They also touted the R1 suspension as fantastic, and we all know the truth now.

I'm far from a "Rivian can do no wrong" person, but the suspension on the R1, specifically my R1T, is pretty incredible.

How many vehicles out there get you 85-90% of the way to a street style, firm, nearly flat body roll, corner ready suspension, while also at the swipe of a screen, give you a compliant, again 85-90% of a off road focused vehicle feel and articulation to match or in cases best most others in the category.

 

[MountainBikeDude]

For a truck I think the suspension is great. I have driven on washboard roads at 35-50mph with a number of people including Jeep owners and they all have commented how smooth the ride is! Am I missing something?

Nope.

So coworker commented Monday, that while he was river fishing in Squamish BC this weekend, he happened to look up and saw an R1T flying down the dirt road with a big dust trail behind it. Said it looked like the guy was having a blast! I asked him what day he was there?

Turns out, it was me

He commented, "I love the fact that you actually take that thing out down logging roads and actually USE IT" He followed up saying he spent a few grand putting a lift and better suspension on his 4Runner, but had to choose, on road compliance, or off road. He didn't want a vehicle that felt unstable on road, so went with a more stiff setup. Said that while its great on a highway, it sucks in a parking lot with speed bumps and off road feels like a brick. Doesn't necessarily regret it, but is extremely jealous of the Rivian can have both just a screen swipe away.

 

[TexasBob]

Tbh - I wouldn’t recommend the R1S to anyone unless they were either a family with 2+ kids. Unless you have a use case for the third row it’s just kind of a cumbersome vehicle.

Different preferences for different folks. We've owned two R1S vehicles (gen 1 quad and our current Dune) and I find them a nice size. Small enough to fit into urban parking spots but large enough when the seats are folded to accommodate most any cargo. We run ours with the third row always down. Excellent convenience for cargo etc.

 

[96-ramair]

McClaren inspired...

Not just inspired, "shares components with McClaren supercars..." . Honestly, my R1T is the smoothest car I've ever owned. Granted, I haven't owned a Mercedes S-class or a Rolls, but the R1T is better in every way from any Lincoln or Cadillac I've ever driven. Smooth down the interstate, and bumps/holes on dirt roads just somehow disappear. The R1S I drove last week was just a hair more firm, but also turned better due to that shorter length.

More importantly, these are the only vehicles I've ever even HEARD of that get BETTER over time. Software updates that smooth and improve the suspension handling AFTER you bought it is something that still boggles my mind.

 

[ATLRivvy]

Different preferences for different folks. We've owned two R1S vehicles (gen 1 quad and our current Dune) and I find them a nice size. Small enough to fit into urban parking spots but large enough when the seats are folded to accommodate most any cargo. We run ours with the third row always down. Excellent convenience for cargo etc.

Yeah I’m not arguing the car should be banned or anything. I just wouldn’t personally recommend it to 90%+ of people who have 1 or no kids but still end up with SUVs. I find that its just big enough to be a hassle in urban parking lots and a midsized 2-row SUV meets my cargo needs 99 out of 100 times. For the 1 out of 100 times I need the cargo space beyond a midsized 2-row, it’s because of something that a pickup would be better handling. I pretty much only drive the R1S when hauling kids (which is a lot of time).

But I also can’t believe the Hummer EV sells in urban areas at all so I’m obviously just not a natural fan of full-sized SUVs in general.

 

[runwithscissors]

Not just inspired, "shares components with McClaren supercars..." . Honestly, my R1T is the smoothest car I've ever owned. Granted, I haven't owned a Mercedes S-class or a Rolls, but the R1T is better in every way from any Lincoln or Cadillac I've ever driven. Smooth down the interstate, and bumps/holes on dirt roads just somehow disappear. The R1S I drove last week was just a hair more firm, but also turned better due to that shorter length.

More importantly, these are the only vehicles I've ever even HEARD of that get BETTER over time. Software updates that smooth and improve the suspension handling AFTER you bought it is something that still boggles my mind.

Agreed but Gen 1 R1S drives nothing like the R1T when it comes to suspension due to shorter wheelbase. Every person that gets into my R1S complains about getting in/out due to height and the suspension. The suspension has improved dramatically but it's still not good for the average person, even with my 20's. I have to put it into sports lowest as I am about to park because kneel is too slow when I have passengers.

Rivian should sell running boards if they're desperate for money because many people would buy them. I know aftermarket exists but it's not practical for many people.

 

[coupedncal]

I am a strong proponent of keeping things simple (within reason) to get more life out of a product. I have seen adjustable suspension crap out after a few years on the road on BMW and MB products and that does not sit well with me. Rivian can and should make R2 a compliant ride for both on road and off road use cases without using adjustable suspension.

 

[captainjp]

But I also can’t believe the Hummer EV sells in urban areas at all so I’m obviously just not a natural fan of full-sized SUVs in general.

I drove next to one yesterday, and it wasn’t as big as I expected.
(That’s what she said)

 

[DayTripping]

It helps to clarify what you mean by adjustable suspension.

It could be just adjustable dampening, pre load, ride height, etc. I think in your case you maybe are referring to the adjustable ride height with the air springs but I could be wrong.

At a minium, I want adjustable dampening. I want to be able to adjust the preload and rebound dampening. If my R1T had good coilovers with adjustable dampening, and even manual preload, I'd have been happy, and maybe even happier.

For the discount Rivian R2, I'd like to see adjustable dampenin.

For my R1T, one of the reasons I bought it is for the air spring adjustable ride height and different suspension modes.

 

[ENVErider]

Not sure I trust him. They also touted the R1 suspension as fantastic, and we all know the truth now.

Brother, I don't know what you are driving but my R1T is freaking amazing at handling on and off road. I have never owned a vehicle this nice before. I still find it hard to believe that this is a new car company's first effort. I hope you have a better experience in your next vehicle purchase. The R1s are definitely too expensive for anyone not thrilled with the purchase and performance.

 

[SANZC02]

Different preferences for different folks. We've owned two R1S vehicles (gen 1 quad and our current Dune) and I find them a nice size. Small enough to fit into urban parking spots but large enough when the seats are folded to accommodate most any cargo. We run ours with the third row always down. Excellent convenience for cargo etc.

Also depends on if you roadtrip with pets. I find the R1S is a much better fit for us verses the Jeep GC when we road trip with the pups. The pups easily fit behind the second row leaving the frunk and backseat for cargo. With the Jeep we always had to have half of the backseat folded for the pups.

 

[TomServo2112]

Nope.

So coworker commented Monday, that while he was river fishing in Squamish BC this weekend, he happened to look up and saw an R1T flying down the dirt road with a big dust trail behind it. Said it looked like the guy was having a blast! I asked him what day he was there?

Turns out, it was me

He commented, "I love the fact that you actually take that thing out down logging roads and actually USE IT" He followed up saying he spent a few grand putting a lift and better suspension on his 4Runner, but had to choose, on road compliance, or off road. He didn't want a vehicle that felt unstable on road, so went with a more stiff setup. Said that while its great on a highway, it sucks in a parking lot with speed bumps and off road feels like a brick. Doesn't necessarily regret it, but is extremely jealous of the Rivian can have both just a screen swipe away.

That’s where I really try to re-calibrate my expectations. My R1S is my first true vehicle that appears to be designed to excel at both on and off road (or at least be adequate at both). When I’m driving on-road I oftentimes wish for the buttery suspension my 2017 Cayenne S had, but I also rarely/never took the Cayenne over any sort of overlanding or modest rock crawl trails that I’ve taken the R1S. The recent software update that adjusted the R1s over speed bumps, etc., has really helped mine.

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