R1S - Owner Feedback Please - Do you recommend buying the R1S?

[kanundrum]

3+ Years in one of the best vehicles I have ever owned hands down. DO IT

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[Dave Cundiff]

Where do I find the referral code?

Look in signature lines of the forum participants whom you believe to be helpful. For instance, mine (below) is DAVE1817288.

The point isn't using MY code, though. There are several others who are consistently helpful, funny, or all of the above. @kanundrum (above) is one. @SANZC02 (above) is another. @COdogman is another -- his signature lines put mine to shame. You'll see many people making helpful contributions throughout the forum.

***

There are others who promote their referral codes in the forums and offer little else to the community. I don't want to be "one of those people."

So, if you have time to think about such things, use the referral code of someone who has earned YOUR trust.

***

Feel free to peruse the forum for answers to more specific questions. If you don't see answers to your specific questions, please ask. Most of us want a large and happy Rivian community. The best way to achieve that is to help everyone figure out if Rivian is right for them or not.

Thanks and best wishes!

 

[kanundrum]

Look in signature lines of the forum participants whom you believe to be helpful. For instance, mine (below) is DAVE1817288.

The point isn't using MY code, though. There are several others who are consistently helpful, funny, or all of the above. @kanundrum (above) is one. @SANZC02 (above) is another. @COdogman is another -- his signature lines put mine to shame. You'll see many people making helpful contributions throughout the forum.

***

There are others who promote their referral codes in the forums and offer little else to the community. I don't want to be "one of those people."

So, if you have time to think about such things, use the referral code of someone who has earned YOUR trust.

***

Feel free to peruse the forum for answers to more specific questions. If you don't see answers to your specific questions, please ask. Most of us want a large and happy Rivian community. The best way to achieve that is to help everyone figure out if Rivian is right for them or not.

Thanks and best wishes!

Appreciate it!

Fwiw doing this again this year

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...rds-to-raise-77-370-for-501c-charities.37652/

 

[dradam]

11/23 R1S Quad 17K miles, Minimal issues, Good service experience, Charge at home, Transport massive amount of people and luggage,love driving it-- exactly what I wanted/needed and would do it again.

 

[Great Gatsby]

People like to complain, specially when it comes to new brands and new technologies. Oh, and Evs have become a bit of a punching bag in the media as of late. This is why you'll hear most headlines talk about how bad and unreliable Rivians are. It gets clicks and helps push a narrative. All the good news and success tend to get ignored outright, because that is not as exciting for them and does no help fulfill their doomday narrative.

Duds do exist, and lemon laws have been made on Rivians. As several others have mentioned, these are immensely complex vehicle perhaps a bit overleveraged in trying to be too much at once. In my personal journey, I've brought it in for service 4 times in the last 16 months. Out of those, 1 was due to the vehicle completely bricking on a busy road and having to be towed. Wife was there and it was on a morning commute to work on my 3rd month of ownership.

Would I buy it again? In every timeline, yes. To counter all the negatives, it is truly a do it all vehicle that is fun, tech forward and pleasant to be in. Every service issue has been taken care of, all under warranty at no cost to me. Very few other cars out there, EV or ICE, get me excited like my Rivian does. Currently there is no other 3s 0-60, offroading, luxury family hauler that can be filled up on the cheap at home.

Are you okay with taking it to service every so often if something goes wrong? If not, then probably pass and wait for a few more years for the company to mature.

 

[usulio]

I am near retirement and live in So. California.

Thanks

I would recommend a Prius.

Seriously, it'd help to tell us what your use cases are. What do you want to do with your car?

 

[usulio]

But to answer your question:

R1S is highly engineered for extreme on-road and off-road performance. This makes it a fantastic "adventure vehicle" for camping, exploring, skiing, etc.

But there are also tradeoffs that make it less convenient for daily life. For example, the seats fold flat for camping. But they're physically difficult to move and fold/unfold which could get annoying day to day. It rides like a truck over bumps, not a silky smooth luxury car.

Rivian is all about making everything software and their software isn't always great. The auto-lock and unlock on the doors is really hit-or-miss. People encounter bugs.

Likes:

* Ride height changes (high off-road for clearance, low on the highway to improve efficiency, "kneel" when getting in/out of the car).
* Tons of power, very stable and safe feeling vehicle. Power and regen braking make it feel like half the weight it actually has.
* Massive frunk is really useful, the car has tons of storage space, you can take 5-6 people camping comfortably.
* Large size, but not too large - it can fit in almost any parking spot or parking garage without being annoying to others. But it's still a little larger than I'd like.
* Cameras, including the overhead view, are great (coming from cheaper cars).

 

[Canuk58]

Yes I love mine and will buy again when I wear out my R1S
2nd Best offroad vehicle I have owned, Unimogs are number 1.
Great on road.

Great for camping you can sleep inside.

Thanks!

But to answer your question:

R1S is highly engineered for extreme on-road and off-road performance. This makes it a fantastic "adventure vehicle" for camping, exploring, skiing, etc.

But there are also tradeoffs that make it less convenient for daily life. For example, the seats fold flat for camping. But they're physically difficult to move and fold/unfold which could get annoying day to day. It rides like a truck over bumps, not a silky smooth luxury car.

Rivian is all about making everything software and their software isn't always great. The auto-lock and unlock on the doors is really hit-or-miss. People encounter bugs.

Likes:

* Ride height changes (high off-road for clearance, low on the highway to improve efficiency, "kneel" when getting in/out of the car).
* Tons of power, very stable and safe feeling vehicle. Power and regen braking make it feel like half the weight it actually has.
* Massive frunk is really useful, the car has tons of storage space, you can take 5-6 people camping comfortably.
* Large size, but not too large - it can fit in almost any parking spot or parking garage without being annoying to others. But it's still a little larger than I'd like.
* Cameras, including the overhead view, are great (coming from cheaper cars).

 

[Canuk58]

But to answer your question:

R1S is highly engineered for extreme on-road and off-road performance. This makes it a fantastic "adventure vehicle" for camping, exploring, skiing, etc.

But there are also tradeoffs that make it less convenient for daily life. For example, the seats fold flat for camping. But they're physically difficult to move and fold/unfold which could get annoying day to day. It rides like a truck over bumps, not a silky smooth luxury car.

Rivian is all about making everything software and their software isn't always great. The auto-lock and unlock on the doors is really hit-or-miss. People encounter bugs.

Likes:

* Ride height changes (high off-road for clearance, low on the highway to improve efficiency, "kneel" when getting in/out of the car).
* Tons of power, very stable and safe feeling vehicle. Power and regen braking make it feel like half the weight it actually has.
* Massive frunk is really useful, the car has tons of storage space, you can take 5-6 people camping comfortably.
* Large size, but not too large - it can fit in almost any parking spot or parking garage without being annoying to others. But it's still a little larger than I'd like.
* Cameras, including the overhead view, are great (coming from cheaper cars).

Thanks!

 

[Move]

I am thinking of getting the 2026 R1S but am concerned about all of the negative comments on this site and also negative reviews from Consumer Repirts etc.

I am near retirement and live in So. California.

I would like to hear from folks who own a R1S and can talk about some of the things you like about the vehicle and whether you would recommend it.

Thanks

2024 R1S owner and both my wife and I agree, this is the best vehicle we've owned. It has definitely had issues, but at all times, Rivian has taken care of them. Oddly enough, the vehicle has gotten better with each repair. For my most recent service center visit I was given a 2026 loaner and it convinced me that we'll be upgrading to Gen 2 or a future Gen 3 model in our future. We have a reservation in for a R2 and plan to proceed with it. Additionally, we've been on several road trips with our family of 6 and it has exceeded our expectations in terms of comfort, convenience and experience. I tell everyone looking to buy one, to just take the chance and so far I'm 4 for 4 with folks agreeing it was a great decision for them.

 

[2 Out of the Box]

Could go on and on but will keep it brief:

Best vehicle I have ever owned (35+ years of owning vehicles). I have an incredibly high bar when it comes to the value of things (i.e., I expect a lot, especially when paying handsomely for things), and I will absolutely get another Rivian in the future. Absolutely fantastic automobile. And the employees seem to truly care. Can't ask for more.

Does stuff go wrong? Of course. It's hardware and software. As with anything else in life, sh*t happens. If you can subscribe to that perspective, you will absolutely love the vehicle.

Enjoy!

 

[MS Seal Beach]

I am 67 years old, live in SoCal and have an L.A. Silver 2014 R1S, 21" wheels, Dual motor, Max battery pack. I absolutely love it.

We don't go off-roading, but it's nice to know we could. I strongly suggest that you spend the $$ and get the Max battery. The biggest hurdle for seniors is to get over the fear of battery drain and our 400 potential miles (or 345 on a day -day basis) is very soothing.

We've taken 4-5 trips to Washington State, Mammoth, Arizona, and dozens of trips to the desert. You will need a screen to cover the moon roof to lower the temperature by 20F, but no biggie.

The R1S is the most comfortable road car we've ever been in. We stop every 1.5 - 2 hours for bathroom breaks and to recharge for 25 minutes, usually at Tesla stations. It's really a no-brainer using the Rivian screen program and the Tesla app.

Tappling the screen for temperature and fan speed/direction is annoying, but you'll get used to it.

We've had the 12v battery replaced and that's the only thing to be wary of....otherwise....

GO FOR IT!!!

 

[PeterSK]

I’ve had my 2023 R1S quad for almost 2.5 years and it’s the best vehicle I’ve ever owned. It can do just about anything well. Great hauling kids and dogs and stuff, comfortable and smooth on highway for road trips. Fun on winding country roads. And can climb steep hills on backwoods lumber trails. I had a 12v bricking problem right out of the gate, but once they tracked down a loose ground connection it’s been problem free. Though I have replaced two windshields due to rocks hitting it on the highway.

 

[mkg3]

I am thinking of getting the 2026 R1S but am concerned about all of the negative comments on this site and also negative reviews from Consumer Repirts etc.

I am near retirement and live in So. California.

I would like to hear from folks who own a R1S and can talk about some of the things you like about the vehicle and whether you would recommend it.

Thanks

I am retired in south OC and have owned R1S since August 2023. The vehicle now has 31K miles or so.

The question you need to ask yourself is what is your expectation of this vehicle and what do you think you are getting.

The Rivian vehicles today are built on a body on a truck frame with air suspension. Unlike R2, where its built on unitized body, the ride, handling and weight of the vehicle (R1) are significantly more like truck than a car.

Many here say it's the best vehicle they've ever owned - probably for those that say that. I cannot say that. I probably have a different criteria than those that say that. For me, the vehicle is not compliant enough in terms of driving feedbacks and is too heavy. We bought the vehicle because my wife wanted one and she likes sitting up high and truck like feel vehicle.

Would I buy it again, absolutely not. While R1S is a good vehicle, it is not what I consider one of the best in class. I have owned other body on frame vehicles and every time following the vehicle, I have moved away from it. I have come back to it for different reasons each time.

Conceptually, R2 is a better sized vehicle for our needs but I am one of those people that do not buy the same brand vehicle consecutively due to so many alternatives. So I'll probably look for Macan EV GTS or the iX5 coming out soon. Both are lighter and provides better driving dynamics.

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