R2 Range Limitations and Rivian's Response

[ericft]

Maybe we will see lidar and Rap1 and max pack battery end of this year when my order window comes up....fingers crossed. Would be willing to pay slightly extra for that...or at least max pack.. maybe they were always planning on a second battery option but might fast track it now...I love having and EV that is more spacious..when I had my 2021 model y it was good to take to St louis which is 2. hrs away and an easy charge for us. But missed the more trunk space of my wifes Vw atlas..never got 307 miles with the Y could never drive the 120 miles each way there and back without charging. My I4 is much more consistent. It tells me I have about 255 miles and when I get there is usually just over 50% left...was always around 40 or so with MY. Since I sold my MY, I have not followed on why the newer models are more accurate for range estimates compared to previous years? is it different battery tech, software tweaks, something else?
Also worried about the service issues with R2 as closest service is 2 hrs away from us in St louis...

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[savethemanual]

I’m still waiting for an EV that will drive 300 miles at 80mph in the dead of winter, leaving a 15% charge buffer.

Nah, 240 miles is plenty which is 3 hrs of driving. But give me a nice fat charge curve! I think the new Cayenne is close.

 

[windshieldfarmer]

Doesnt the Lucid?

The Air Grand Touring is capable….but it starts at $115,000. Lucid is also prone to lots of software issues.

 

[Eric9610]

Maybe we will see lidar and Rap1 and max pack battery end of this year when my order window comes up....fingers crossed. Would be willing to pay slightly extra for that...or at least max pack.. maybe they were always planning on a second battery option but might fast track it now...I love having and EV that is more spacious..when I had my 2021 model y it was good to take to St louis which is 2. hrs away and an easy charge for us. But missed the more trunk space of my wifes Vw atlas..never got 307 miles with the Y could never drive the 120 miles each way there and back without charging. My I4 is much more consistent. It tells me I have about 255 miles and when I get there is usually just over 50% left...was always around 40 or so with MY. Since I sold my MY, I have not followed on why the newer models are more accurate for range estimates compared to previous years? is it different battery tech, software tweaks, something else?
Also worried about the service issues with R2 as closest service is 2 hrs away from us in St louis...

Won't Happen, starts to approach the R1 price. I don't think we will see a R2 Tri motor. Max pack would add about another $7-9k and I don't think the R2 has the room. I also think this would mess with the suspension setup and I can't see Rivian wasting money on another R2 suspension design besides standard.

 

[dangros]

The IX3 is technologically awesome but I get filled with rage when I see that interior and steering wheel. I can easily see how I'd be frustrated trying to drive it and use all those controls. Luckily for me, road tripping is not something I care about so I'm perfectly ok with R2's range and charging limitations. It's biggest flaw for me is the glass roof with no motorized shade.

With respect to the roof, I think I can speak to that: When I demo'ed the R2 a few weeks ago, we had a string of 2-3 days of 100+ temps here in the NOVA/DC area. The day I drove it, it was 102 and the apt was at 3pm. I was really surprised to see how well the R2 cooled. Even at full blast, the AC seemed quieter than the R1 demo I had done a few months before (I could be wrong here). I was plenty cool enough as was my family. Even my son who complains about heat in mild 80 degree days, was fine with it. I'm sure they preconditioned it in the parking garage but mid drive, my wife and son switched spots so he could check the controls out, letting a lot of heat back in. It still cooled just fine. That, alone put me at ease with any AC/glass roof bs. My only concern now is when will it arrive and how many bugs/defects will be hammered out by Jan?

 

[windshieldfarmer]

Nah, 240 miles is plenty which is 3 hrs of driving. But give me a nice fat charge curve! I think the new Cayenne is close.

240 miles on the first leg of a trip after charging to 100% is easy. It’s the travel thereafter where things get inconvenient with an EV. 80% - 10% turns that 240 miles into 160 miles. I make several trips annually of 640 miles. I leave the EV at home…not worth the extra hour or 90 minutes for charging…or the inconvenience of finding a charger. At least more chargers are becoming available.

 

[Husky]

With respect to the roof, I think I can speak to that: When I demo'ed the R2 a few weeks ago, we had a string of 2-3 days of 100+ temps here in the NOVA/DC area. The day I drove it, it was 102 and the apt was at 3pm. I was really surprised to see how well the R2 cooled. Even at full blast, the AC seemed quieter than the R1 demo I had done a few months before (I could be wrong here). I was plenty cool enough as was my family. Even my son who complains about heat in mild 80 degree days, was fine with it. I'm sure they preconditioned it in the parking garage but mid drive, my wife and son switched spots so he could check the controls out, letting a lot of heat back in. It still cooled just fine. That, alone put me at ease with any AC/glass roof bs. My only concern now is when will it arrive and how many bugs/defects will be hammered out by Jan?

It's confusing, about half the people who report on the glass roof and the AC report that it's fine, even in 100F temps, while the other half (my very unscientific estimate), including me, report that the AC can barely keep up and the car is still warm, and that a shade is definitely needed. In fact, the Motor Trend review I recently read had a similar assessment.
Either some R2's AC works better than others, or there's just a bunch of people who have a much higher tolerance for heat and find an 80F cabin to be comfortable. I guess I'll find out how well mine works in two weeks. So far, I'm expecting to be buying an aftermarket shade (unless Rivian comes out with one).

 

[savethemanual]

240 miles on the first leg of a trip after charging to 100% is easy. It’s the travel thereafter where things get inconvenient with an EV. 80% - 10% turns that 240 miles into 160 miles. I make several trips annually of 640 miles. I leave the EV at home…not worth the extra hour or 90 minutes for charging…or the inconvenience of finding a charger. At least more chargers are becoming available.

I meant 240 miles @80mph with battery starting at 80 down to 10 percent. I believe out of spec got 340 miles on a base Cayenne @ 70mph. And it charges like a beast.

Edit: the OOS test was 100-0 so not quite there for the 80mph goal

 

[dangros]

It's confusing, about half the people who report on the glass roof and the AC report that it's fine, even in 100F temps, while the other half (my very unscientific estimate), including me, report that the AC can barely keep up and the car is still warm, and that a shade is definitely needed. In fact, the Motor Trend review I recently read had a similar assessment.
Either some R2's AC works better than others, or there's just a bunch of people who have a much higher tolerance for heat. I guess I'll find out how well mine works in two weeks. So far, I'm expecting to be buying an aftermarket shade (unless Rivian comes out with one).

That’s bizarre. I have high heat tolerance but my 9 year old for SURE does not. I doubt there are different versions. Our car was parked in an open sided garage - Out of the sun but it was pretty damn hot in there too. All I can say is that it felt better and quieter than my 2017 XLE Highlander that took us there. Please report back once you get it!

 

[r2fb]

With respect to the roof, I think I can speak to that: When I demo'ed the R2 a few weeks ago, we had a string of 2-3 days of 100+ temps here in the NOVA/DC area. The day I drove it, it was 102 and the apt was at 3pm. I was really surprised to see how well the R2 cooled. Even at full blast, the AC seemed quieter than the R1 demo I had done a few months before (I could be wrong here). I was plenty cool enough as was my family. Even my son who complains about heat in mild 80 degree days, was fine with it. I'm sure they preconditioned it in the parking garage but mid drive, my wife and son switched spots so he could check the controls out, letting a lot of heat back in. It still cooled just fine. That, alone put me at ease with any AC/glass roof bs. My only concern now is when will it arrive and how many bugs/defects will be hammered out by Jan?

It's not a matter of AC cooling, it's a matter of not wanting sunlight shining down and heating the car when parked or driving. I hate how everyone's chasing Tesla on this, it's one of my least favorite parts of the Model Y.

 

[evilyn]

It's not a matter of AC cooling, it's a matter of not wanting sunlight shining down and heating the car when parked or driving. I hate how everyone's chasing Tesla on this, it's one of my least favorite parts of the Model Y.

I actually like the sunroof, don't feel it adds materially to heating the car, it filters out UV and IR pretty well. What I'd like them to do is to make it sliding.

 

[macb00kemdanno]

It's not a matter of AC cooling, it's a matter of not wanting sunlight shining down and heating the car when parked or driving. I hate how everyone's chasing Tesla on this, it's one of my least favorite parts of the Model Y.

Pretty much this. Sitting outside in direct sunlight, the internal sensors in our Model 3 or Y will show 130-ish degrees during the summer in 90+ degree weather.

Granted, precooling the cabin before returning to the car while shopping helps tremendously (if I remember). I’m also bald (well, I shave my head), so I can feel the sun singe my head, so I wear a ball cap in the car.

 

[ericft]

It's not a matter of AC cooling, it's a matter of not wanting sunlight shining down and heating the car when parked or driving. I hate how everyone's chasing Tesla on this, it's one of my least favorite parts of the Model Y.

I for one absolutely hate glass roofs..no idea why it is needed, I never look out the top of the car when driving. And neither do my kids in the back seat. All it does is excessively heat the car. Regardless of UV filtering, and external source of light will heat the car up. when i had my Y I had the aftermarket installed sun shade up all the time. Plus I don't need any more risk of skin cancer on my head than is necessary..They need to do away with top glass as a measure of a premium vehicle...

 

[rvnxyz001]

I for one absolutely hate glass roofs..no idea why it is needed, I never look out the top of the car when driving. And neither do my kids in the back seat. All it does is excessively heat the car. Regardless of UV filtering, and external source of light will heat the car up. when i had my Y I had the aftermarket installed sun shade up all the time. Plus I don't need any more risk of skin cancer on my head than is necessary..They need to do away with top glass as a measure of a premium vehicle...

They need it to keep the car as low as possible for better aerodynamics while still giving you enough headroom. It is also cheaper to implement and assemble. You need at least one fewer part, the headliner, plus tons of clips, then a frame to keep the roof skin attached with some glue. Plus, if you want to sell a car with a moonroof, it involves thousands of additional components and complicated mechanisms, etc.

All this started because people want a moonroof. For them, it is a sign of a luxury car.

And once manufacturers figured out that a giant fixed piece of glass is cheaper, simpler, and easier to package, people started convincing themselves that this is somehow a premium feature too. Now you get a huge glass roof you cannot open, a hotter cabin, more glare, and then you have to hang an aftermarket shade underneath it. No matter how well it is made, that shade will still look cheap and ugly compared with a proper headliner. And who knows what happens to that thing, or where it ends up, in a major accident. Meanwhile, owners will still explain how much they love the "airy feeling" Marketing is a beautiful thing.

 

[savethemanual]

I for one absolutely hate glass roofs..no idea why it is needed, I never look out the top of the car when driving. And neither do my kids in the back seat. All it does is excessively heat the car. Regardless of UV filtering, and external source of light will heat the car up. when i had my Y I had the aftermarket installed sun shade up all the time. Plus I don't need any more risk of skin cancer on my head than is necessary..They need to do away with top glass as a measure of a premium vehicle...

With black interiors, they sure help brighten things up! The A/C keeps cool just fine in every vehicle I’ve had with these. I test drove R2 on 95 degree sunny summer day, had no issues.

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