martinb8
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Ben
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2022
- Threads
- 4
- Messages
- 93
- Reaction score
- 116
- Location
- Columbus, Ohio
- Vehicles
- Tesla Model Y
- Thread starter
- #1
Took delivery this past weekend of my R1T, Midnight, Black interior, 22" bright wheels. I ended up selling my 2020 Tesla Model Y to Carvana at the same time and so here are just some quick things to point out since I assume many people may be looking to make a similar jump.
- Build quality on the R1T is 1,000x better then it was on my Model Y. It's not even close in comparison.
- The panel gaps all seem within spec. Model Y had several panel issues that couldn't be fixed because they would make others worse.
- The paint quality is excellent. Model Y had alot of orange peal in the paint.
- Materials used are higher quality. This shouldn't surprise anyone.
- Ride Quality
- Given the R1T has multiple different ride options to choose from, you can find the type of ride you want and enjoy it if it's stiff or soft. The truck can handle pothole and bumpy roads. Model Y was always stiff, in my opinion.
- R1T is significantly quieter when on the highway.
- Things I miss about the Tesla? (Mostly software items that could be addressed with updates later)
- I have not gone on a 500+ mile roadtrip yet, but I already know I'm going to dread not being able to use the Tesla Superchargers to charge up. Other fast charging options aren't nearly as reliable and that will give me anxiety. Fortunately, I can charge at home, and the rumor is Tesla will open up super chargers to non Tesla's sometime in the near-ish future.
- No option for the windows to roll up automatically when the car is locked. Great for people who roll them down for pets as you drive or just enjoy them down in general. I've left my windows on the R1T down overnight on accident because of the habit from my Tesla
- The Rivian app has some key missing features and in general, not user friendly compared to Tesla's
- Rivian's app won't alert you to a door being open or a window being down if you're away from the truck.
- No way to share a destination with the truck (that I'm aware of).
- Visually, alot of dead space on the screen where they could improve appearance and flow
- When stopped at a light or in traffic, I miss that my Tesla would chime when the light went green or the car ahead of me moved forward. It was so minor and I know Tesla pushed that as an update in recent years, but it really was awesome. This may take alot more time for Rivian to add given you have to code it to read traffic lights.
- I read where others wished there was a "kneel" mode for the R1T for getting in and out. Up till I took delivery, I thought that was an overreaction to the ride height, but after having it for a few days, I would agree that having the truck "kneel" as you get in to allow easier entry would be extremely handy given it's still a little harder to climb in then the tesla was even at the lowest height and I'm 5'11"
- Things I DON'T miss about Tesla?
- FULL SELF DRIVING. I had it on my Model Y and it was nice for roadtrips, but not worth the cost, especially at today's pricing. The R1T driver assist is plenty for those roadtrips. yes, it would be nice if it changed lanes automatically and I assume that'll come in the next couple years, but I had no need for FSD to drive me around a city and when I used FSD Beta, it actually cause more issues then if I just drove it myself.
- Estimated mileage was ALWAYS overstated for Tesla. I rarely, if ever, actually got close to 300 miles in range in my Model Y and I just accepted that and moved on. With the R1T, the mileage I see has actually been pretty spot on which has me cautiously optimistic...at least till the winter when things may not be great without a heat pump.
- The lack of blind spot warning in the mirrors was a simple let down from my Tesla. Not sure why they chose to leave that off and relay simply on loud beeps to bring your attention to the center screen to see that someone is in your blindspot. Seems counterintuitive for someone trying to get to the left, to have to turn their head right. Fortunately, Rivian has the blind spot warning in the mirrors.
- Paint quality was so bad on the Tesla. Small scratches would appear from the simplest of things because the paint was so thin.
- Personally, I found the seat in the Tesla to be overly soft and not breathable so I'm thrilled to now have ventilated ones in the R1T. I know alot of people love their Tesla seats, but they weren't for me.
- Notable design flaws on the R1T - not necessarily comparing to the Tesla
- Wireless charging is basically useless unless you're sitting still. The phone slides all over the little rubber mat in the R1T. In my Tesla, my phone (iphone 12 max) was too big to charge on that wireless charger altogether so the Rivian is a little better here.
- As others have mentioned, there is no tailgate handle to grab onto when putting the tailgate up. The tailgate is automatic in going down, but you have to manually push it up. Without the handle, there really is no good play to place your hand to do this and I suspect many may scratch the paint around that area.
- I personally love the proximity sensors to tell when you're getting close to the truck to unlock it, but I would still like an audible noise (such as the chirp) to let me know it sense me. Just another way to know if I've set them off, intentionally or unintentionally.
- I don't love the vents in the truck. I find them to be in an odd place and on a hot day when you just want cold air blowing on you, it's difficult to get that to happen given the middle vents are so low. It would have been nicer if it was coming out in the middle of the dash, similar to the tesla.
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