Paint Scratches - should I take delivery or wait for a different vehicle?

[Coskigirl]

I just got a call that they discovered some significant paint scratches that will required body shop work. I can take delivery today and then have the work done later or I can have a vehicle brought in that is slightly different in a way I don’t care about and would actually reduce the price but I’m still waiting to see if I would then have to pay the transfer fee. I also don’t know if they would give me a loaner during the body work. I have to make a decision soon because my appointment is in less than 4 hours. Waiting to hear from a Rivian Guide as the delivery person is who called so I didn’t start driving up.

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[Audiotek]

I would only take delivery if my Rivian loaner is there waiting for me before I sign the paperwork. And I need to have the loaner key fob in hand before signing.

Rivian is honest that your ride need touching up which is great but I would not take it home with scratches...I'll take the loaner home with imperfections.

 

[Riv_Ian]

Body shops can do great work, but I think it's extremely difficult to get the quality and durability of a factory applied and cured finish (done properly). My recommendation would be to wait for one that doesn't need rework. Good luck!

 

[ebellinder2]

Which model was being delivered to you

 

[VSG]

1. They will fix it to your satisfaction. When you schedule the body work, they can give you a loaner or a rental car. Discuss this when you schedule the body work so that you get what you want.
2. This won't affect the value of your vehicle.
3. Body work will likely be weeks or months away.

Really up to you. Probably a little more hassle to keep the configuration you ordered, so if you really don't care that much get the other one and move on.

Advantage of taking delivery is that you will get time to use your vehicle and if you discover other things that need to be taken care of you can address them all at the same time as the body work.

I would only take delivery if my Rivian loaner is there waiting for me before I sign the paperwork.

That's not one of the options - OP would have to bring delivered vehicle back when body work is scheduled. OP would get loaner only while vehicle is in the shop, which could be a month from now.

 

[Coskigirl]

Thanks for the input everyone. After taking a moment to breathe then talking through it with a Rivian Guide he pointed out that it’s entirely possible that if they transfer another vehicle it could also have damage from transport and then I still have to go through paint work and don’t have the config I ordered. I also looked at the different configs pics (dark out vs bright) and realized I really do like the dark out. Based on all of that I took delivery this afternoon and will schedule work at my convenience when they can give me a loaner. Everyone in was super helpful and low pressure.

 

[Coskigirl]

Which model was being delivered to you

R1S Dual

 

[mic-chris]

Was this a brand new order? Wow, this feels like traditional car dealer nonsense. Then they gaslight you by saying a replacement could have damage in transport. Sounds like they are refusing to be responsible for THEIR side of the business. That hurts to hear from this company.

 

[Rivan]

It looks really good, I wish my wife took the green color instead of the white.
As far as work, they will definitely take care of it. I agree with, you drive it for sometime, take note of other thing that needs to be fixed and just have a one work order to be fixed at the same time.

 

[Coskigirl]

Was this a brand new order? Wow, this feels like traditional car dealer nonsense. Then they gaslight you by saying a replacement could have damage in transport. Sounds like they are refusing to be responsible for THEIR side of the business. That hurts to hear from this company.

Wow, that's quite the jump. If they were trying to play games with me they wouldn't have notified me before I drove 1 hour to the delivery, they would have hoped I didn't notice the damage (and quite honestly after seeing it I probably would not have noticed it), and/or they would have pressured me into another option that was more expensive. All options likely would have gotten delivered before the end of the month. I just don't get the feel that they were gaslighting me at all.

 

[justinkitswa]

I really can't stand Rivian's 'direct to consumer' sales model. Initially I thought it was neat, like ordering a new MacBook - just pick out the one you want and fork over a stack of cash via an app and pick it up when it's ready.

But in practice this means lots of vehicles are delivered to consumers without adequate PDI (pre delivery inspection) Why? Because they don't have to. Traditional car dealers have to present vehicles in a sellable state. If a vehicle shows up damaged during transit, they are obligated to fix it before putting it on the lot.

Same for build quality - if you were able to test drive your new Rivian you may find squeaks, rattles, wind noises, other issues that might prevent you from purchasing it. I've walked away from vehicles after a test drive because I found quality problems I knew would be difficult to fix (rattling dash parts inside a VW ID.Buzz)

I get this may be a differing opinion from the group, and I agree a sweaty obnoxious sales manager breathing down your neck sucks, but the experience of buying a vehicle is a moment in time that you have to live with for a very long time. I can tolerate obnoxious sales people for a few hours compared to a broken vehicle for years.

At the end of the day, make the decision that you're comfortable with.

 

[mic-chris]

Wow, that's quite the jump. If they were trying to play games with me they wouldn't have notified me before I drove 1 hour to the delivery, they would have hoped I didn't notice the damage (and quite honestly after seeing it I probably would not have noticed it), and/or they would have pressured me into another option that was more expensive. All options likely would have gotten delivered before the end of the month. I just don't get the feel that they were gaslighting me at all.

That is my opinion, it is your car your choice. I think doing “body work” to a brand new car is crazy. Personally I would want something off the line without blemishes if I’m paying $70k+.

I really can't stand Rivian's 'direct to consumer' sales model. Initially I thought it was neat, like ordering a new MacBook - just pick out the one you want and fork over a stack of cash via an app and pick it up when it's ready.

But in practice this means lots of vehicles are delivered to consumers without adequate PDI (pre delivery inspection) Why? Because they don't have to. Traditional car dealers have to present vehicles in a sellable state. If a vehicle shows up damaged during transit, they are obligated to fix it before putting it on the lot.

Same for build quality - if you were able to test drive your new Rivian you may find squeaks, rattles, wind noises, other issues that might prevent you from purchasing it. I've walked away from vehicles after a test drive because I found quality problems I knew would be difficult to fix (rattling dash parts inside a VW ID.Buzz)

I get this may be a differing opinion from the group, and I agree a sweaty obnoxious sales manager breathing down your neck sucks, but the experience of buying a vehicle is a moment in time that you have to live with for a very long time. I can tolerate obnoxious sales people for a few hours compared to a broken vehicle for years.

At the end of the day, make the decision that you're comfortable with.

Couldn’t agree more, you will get a lot of push back on this because to a lot of people here Rivian can do no wrong. But one of the cons of direct to consumer is competition. With a dealer you can walk out and go somewhere else. With this it’s basically then go get a different product. You lose leverage. However there all also many (more) cons to traditional dealers also. To each their own.

 

[VandalSibs]

I really can't stand Rivian's 'direct to consumer' sales model. Initially I thought it was neat, like ordering a new MacBook - just pick out the one you want and fork over a stack of cash via an app and pick it up when it's ready.

But in practice this means lots of vehicles are delivered to consumers without adequate PDI (pre delivery inspection) Why? Because they don't have to. Traditional car dealers have to present vehicles in a sellable state. If a vehicle shows up damaged during transit, they are obligated to fix it before putting it on the lot.

Same for build quality - if you were able to test drive your new Rivian you may find squeaks, rattles, wind noises, other issues that might prevent you from purchasing it. I've walked away from vehicles after a test drive because I found quality problems I knew would be difficult to fix (rattling dash parts inside a VW ID.Buzz)

I get this may be a differing opinion from the group, and I agree a sweaty obnoxious sales manager breathing down your neck sucks, but the experience of buying a vehicle is a moment in time that you have to live with for a very long time. I can tolerate obnoxious sales people for a few hours compared to a broken vehicle for years.

At the end of the day, make the decision that you're comfortable with.

They still do pre-delivery checks - that's how this one was found out!

 

[Dark-Fx]

Was this a brand new order? Wow, this feels like traditional car dealer nonsense. Then they gaslight you by saying a replacement could have damage in transport. Sounds like they are refusing to be responsible for THEIR side of the business. That hurts to hear from this company.

Traditional dealers generally don't even tell you that damage happened, and repair it first. Ask me how I know.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Was this a brand new order? Wow, this feels like traditional car dealer nonsense. Then they gaslight you by saying a replacement could have damage in transport. Sounds like they are refusing to be responsible for THEIR side of the business. That hurts to hear from this company.

Utter nonsense. Traditional dealer would have tried to repair the fastest and cheapest way possible. Say absolutely nothing and rush you through delivery, so you wouldn’t notice and send you on your way, so the salesperson can get cleared for their commission ASAP.

Here the staff did everything they could and are allowed to do in their positions—provided transparency and offered multiple paths forward. Go short the company somewhere else.

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