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New Gen 2 Rivian review video by Out of Spec

savethemanual

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I want to see Whistlin Diesel review (destroy) a Rivian ;)

Also, Kyle seems to have to be the first one to post content when there's a new launch media event. Perhaps digest the experience a bit before putting out the video.
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UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan

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Also, Kyle seems to have to be the first one to post content when there's a new launch media event. Perhaps digest the experience a bit before putting out the video.
Controversy = clicks and eyeballs = traffic and ad revenue. He has no reason to change his formula.
 

Zorg

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Yup, that's why I take all these influencers with a grain of salt....it's ALL about how many views and subscribers so they can get PAID.
Well no one works for free. Again, I find OOS reviews to be better than the average content on the Internet and definitely less filtered. I enjoy the nerdy details. It's not for everyone. Plenty of other reviewers on the Internet. I don't get the bitching and complaining. It's not like anyone is forced to watch any video.
 

MountainBikeDude

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I know it's cool to dump on Kyle but overall his videos are pretty informative. The DS lease is a crazy value right now and the charging curve is attractive.

Is there a better reviewer on YouTube?
Well, there is Kim Java, the know it all Tesla/roof glass evangelist.
 

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Donald Stanfield

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I know it's cool to dump on Kyle but overall his videos are pretty informative. The DS lease is a crazy value right now and the charging curve is attractive.

Is there a better reviewer on YouTube?
Marques Brownlee is a better reviewer.
 

Donald Stanfield

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We have to disagree on this one. He is enjoyable but definitely less knowledgeable.
He is less knowledgeable. I cannot argue that. I'm biased because I don't care for Kyle. I'll give up some information to avoid the risk of rolling my eyes hard enough that they get stuck that way.
 

RWerksman

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I have a real love / hate with him.

He seems like an OK dude, and I wouldn't mind getting a beer with him. While I think he is generally an entertaining individual, and really enjoy the jist of the content and the techy details, I feel like the videos consistantly waste my time.

Every single one.

Every single time.


It's a one man podcast with no script and no controls with the only prep seemingly being a single bullet - in this video it's, "talk about why Rivian is good." Realistically, he needs to outline to limit unwanted detail, topic drift, and completeness of thought.

I also think he internalizes too much - answering the question, "is this good for me" or "is this good compared to everything I've seen" rather than focusing on appeal to the audience and regional availability. Not everyone has big dogs* and no one is abile to bring in China market cars, so maybe harping on those points over and over isn't ideal.

Also, the line jump was bullshit. It's been a long time since then, but that doesn't make it right.


I guess I'm more negative than expected. I'm not sure what that says more about. ?‍♂


* - I have a Great Dane, so it is meaningful to me, and even I think it's too much.
 

Canthoney

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I don’t like the fact that he’s not transparent about his channel’s resources (or should I say his dad’s resources) to buy $100-200k plus vehicles it seems like every other week. His family seems very well off, and kind of snobby.

I was very put off when he jumped the line to get his pre price hike Rivian without a preorder, and was asked about in an interview shortly after and got defensive and acted he did nothing wrong. Just super entitled behavior, like he is handed everything in life.

Also, I don’t need to watch a floppy haired Justin Bieber hairstyle looking dude act like he’s an electrical engineer for an 1-2hrs+ about features most people will never experience outside of China.

I would rather watch the real floppy haired engineer on Engineering Explained lol
 

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UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan

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I don’t like the fact that he’s not transparent about his channel’s resources (or should I say his dad’s resources) to buy $100-200k plus vehicles it seems like every other week. His family seems very well off, and kind of snobby.

I was very put off when he jumped the line to get his pre price hike Rivian without a preorder, and was asked about in an interview shortly after and got defensive and acted he did nothing wrong. Just super entitled behavior, like he is handed everything in life.

Also, I don’t need to watch a floppy haired Justin Bieber hairstyle looking dude act like he’s an electrical engineer for an 1-2hrs+ about features most people will never experience outside of China.

I would rather watch the real floppy haired engineer on Engineering Explained lol
Him and most influencers remind me of Consumer Reports. Lots of words, consistent structured format, mixed with some semblance of science and objectivity... all meant to lend an impression of legitimacy. Understandable how some might see it and conflate familiarity with a subject to actual nuts-and-bolts expertise.
 

MountainBikeDude

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Well no one works for free. Again, I find OOS reviews to be better than the average content on the Internet and definitely less filtered. I enjoy the nerdy details. It's not for everyone. Plenty of other reviewers on the Internet. I don't get the bitching and complaining. It's not like anyone is forced to watch any video.
TLDR as much as some give the guy shit, his videos have singlehandedly influenced some of the improvements on Gen 1 and 2 we now enjoy.

I'll be honest, I'm with you. I appreciate the in depth videos. It's sometimes like a Munro tear down video, the ones without Sandy at this point are amazing to watch, and extremely informative, the ones with Sandy turn into "back in my day...." Not saying Kyle is a Sandy, but just that there's bound to be good and bad.

I did feel he was hyper critical of the Gen 2 max pack, but a part of me agreed with his point of view, he just didn't frame it well. For his use cases, he really wanted 800V (900v and some change on a Rivian) architecture, and a more aggressive charging profile and thermal management, or Taycan level charging performance. Because those two singular things were missed and not addressed, to him it was a "well what's the point of the refresh?"

I think that expectation from Rivian's V2 refresh, isn't necessarily misplaced, especially when you think of Rivians' track record for pushing their hardware and software defined features to give the customer more every month.

I watched his Cybertruck videos, and was genuinely curious why there was a plethora of Rivian coverage, but when it came to his Cybertruck, it borderline didn't exist. I'm glad he posted a bit of an owners update recently and seemingly the love affair has worn off a bit.

The referal code plug however gave me John Rhodes Rivian facebook page vibes "No one can post their referal codes on this page but me!" I'd consider dumping the referal code in the comments, but not doing a self advertised plug, that was a little tacky.

He hit the nail on the head with Rivians willingness to engage with the customer and take critical feedback to improve, literally the next best thing next to the vehicle itself. I am looking forward to his Paolo Alto deep dive with the Rivian team, I'm hoping for uncesnsored, candid answers on the choices behind some of thier decisions, cost savings aside.
 

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TLDR as much as some give the guy shit, his videos have singlehandedly influenced some of the improvements on Gen 1 and 2 we now enjoy.
I really wish that Rivian would pay more attention to general community sentiment and less attention to influencers. There has to be a more effective way to do this.
 

Zorg

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My guess is that R2 will get the latest and greatest tech, and R1 hardware won't get much attention for a long time, just like Tesla S and X got left behind.
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