Finished R2 demo test drive? Share your review / impressions

[tivoboy]

Thanks for your thoughts on the ix3. I will be making sure to test drive one before I place my R2 order. I spec'd one out online at ~70k. With an add'l 100 miles of range and faster charging than the R2, I am interested.

BMW dealer and parts network is superior to Rivian in my experience. One thing I found odd is that you can't get ventilated seats in any of the current ix3 configurations. Every car has trade-offs. I hope the ix3 is more engaging to drive.

knowing BMW the ventilated seats are there they just require a $35 monthly recurring payment to activate.

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[Mos Eisley]

One thing I found odd is that you can't get ventilated seats in any of the current ix3 configurations.

And true to form, to get a heated steering wheel will cost you $1500 bundled with things you may not want. I want to go back in time and off whoever first jumped on the bundling options bandwagon.

 

[rogunenode]

And true to form, to get a heated steering wheel will cost you $1500 bundled with things you may not want. I want to go back in time and off whoever first jumped on the bundling options bandwagon.

I agree re: bundling, but in this case, I was able to configure a base and then add the heated wheel as a standalone option for $200.

 

[Mos Eisley]

I agree re: bundling, but in this case, I was able to configure a base and then add the heated wheel as a standalone option for $200.

Ah- I never saw that option. That I could get behind.

 

[rvnxyz001]

Thanks for your thoughts on the ix3. I will be making sure to test drive one before I place my R2 order. I spec'd one out online at ~70k. With an add'l 100 miles of range and faster charging than the R2, I am interested.

BMW dealer and parts network is superior to Rivian in my experience. One thing I found odd is that you can't get ventilated seats in any of the current ix3 configurations. Every car has trade-offs. I hope the ix3 is more engaging to drive.

One advantage of the iX3 over the R2 is that you can order it without a glass roof.

 

[Millbarge]

knowing BMW the ventilated seats are there they just require a $35 monthly recurring payment to activate.

this has been an internet rumor for like 5 years. I'm not sure about other countries, but in the US there's no subscription based heated/vented seats on BMWs or any other car that I'm aware of.

 

[Mos Eisley]

this has been an internet rumor for like 5 years. I'm not sure about other countries, but in the US there's no subscription based heated/vented seats on BMWs or any other car that I'm aware of.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/alista...subscription-to-refocus-on-software-services/

" BMW found customer uptake for the heated seats subscription was not high. Nota added, “People feel that they paid double – which was actually not true, but perception is reality, I always say. So that was the reason we stopped that.”

 

[tivoboy]

this has been an internet rumor for like 5 years. I'm not sure about other countries, but in the US there's no subscription based heated/vented seats on BMWs or any other car that I'm aware of.

So, you’re saying all this is fake news?
https://autos.yahoo.com/policy-and-...w-admits-charging-extra-heated-134500815.html

https://www.businessinsider.com/bmw-scrap-heated-seats-subscription-service-car-2023-9

 

[Millbarge]

So, you’re saying all this is fake news?
https://autos.yahoo.com/policy-and-...w-admits-charging-extra-heated-134500815.html

https://www.businessinsider.com/bmw-scrap-heated-seats-subscription-service-car-2023-9

this is from Australia. It was never implemented in the US.

My BMW has a "subscription" for remote start and traffic camera info. they offer different intervals, including lifetime. I could have bought it for slight discount when I first bought the car; but I can still go into the BMW store any time I want and turn it on for a fee.

If heated seats are optional, really, what's the difference from a "subscription model" like that? They tried to do that in Australia and it got terrible PR. So they charge it as an option. Big whoop.

 

[tivoboy]

this is from Australia. It was never implemented in the US.

My BMW has a "subscription" for remote start and traffic camera info. they offer different intervals, including lifetime. I could have bought it for slight discount when I first bought the car; but I can still go into the BMW store any time I want and turn it on for a fee.

If heated seats are optional, really, what's the difference from a "subscription model" like that? They tried to do that in Australia and it got terrible PR. So they charge it as an option. Big whoop.

Not sure where the australia parts comes from (autoblog and drive are both US based automotive magazine/sites, as it businessinsider), but it clearly states they did this, and removed it, but remain committed to doing it.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/bmw-commits-to-subscriptions-even-after-heated-seat-debacle

 

[iamnid]

I just did a test drive of the R2. The particular one I drove had the 20" wheels.

I'm very impressed. It rides WAY better than my R1S. Additionally, there weren't any creaks, rattles while driving and it was very quiet. It's triple digits where I am today and the AC had no problem keeping the vehicle cool -- much better than the AC in my R1S. The stereo is also better than the standard stereo in the R1S. The power was impressive - reminded me of my Model Y.

I really liked the smaller size - it's perfect for my use case. I didn't really notice any obvious signs of cost cutting -- everything felt more or less equal to what I have in the R1S. Sure, there is no screen in the back seat and the main screens are slightly smaller, but it didn't scream "cheap" or "cheaper" to me. The frunk was larger than I expected from viewing videos and photos online.

I'm a bit disappointed in the Catalina Cove color. I currently have a Rivian Blue and I wish it was as bright as that. It's much darker than photos would have you believe. Half Moon Grey and the White looked very nice (as did launch green) but they aren't my preference.

In all, I like it much more than my R1S and am looking forward to my August-Sept window for ordering. The Rivian rep seemed to think Coastal Cloud interior (which I want) will be available by then.

The only thing that was a bit strange was that, on full acceleration, when I was pushed back into my seat, the upper seatback seemed to deform a bit and pop out through the back. Hard to explain but if I push back in the seat with my upper body, the seatback kind of inverts like if you push the side of coke can and you can visible see the deformation if you're sitting in the back. I showed the rep and he said he hadn't seen that before.

One last thing, I didn't find the cooled seats to be overly loud at all.

 

[Mos Eisley]

One last thing, I didn't find the cooled seats to be overly loud at all.

It's noticeable at a standstill, no music on, seats set to high etc. but in regular use while driving, not egregious. Compared to my wife's Mazda CX-5, the R2 is certainly louder but not intrusive IMO.

 

[iamnid]

One last thing -- they definitely need to fix the haptic halos (or whatever they're called). They were just awful. Scrolling up or down with them was fine as was left or right. I tried clicking them "back" (toward me) to change what was displayed on the driver display and had to do it about 5 times to get it to work properly. Every time I'd try to click them, it would register an upward or downward scroll and cancel what I was trying to do. Great in concept, not good in practice. I'm sure these will be fixed but, for now, they aren't good.

I even tried holding very still and was VERY deliberate with my actions -- still ended up spinning the wheel while I clicked it.

 

[Jeremy3292]

One last thing -- they definitely need to fix the haptic halos (or whatever they're called). They were just awful. Scrolling up or down with them was fine as was left or right. I tried clicking them "back" (toward me) to change what was displayed on the driver display and had to do it about 5 times to get it to work properly. Every time I'd try to click them, it would register an upward or downward scroll and cancel what I was trying to do. Great in concept, not good in practice. I'm sure these will be fixed but, for now, they aren't good.

I even tried holding very still and was VERY deliberate with my actions -- still ended up spinning the wheel while I clicked it.

Yep agreed. Latest software update thread has them as an updated feature/bug fix.

 

[rvnxyz001]

Yep agreed. Latest software update thread has them as an updated feature/bug fix.

I'm wondering how this can be fixed with a software fix if they are still rotating, unless it knows you want a click and completely disables rotation. Proper fix would be adding a few buttons IMHO...

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