Requesting a test drive

[BillyBob]

I've had my R1S reservation for a little over a year now, and would really like to take my wife to see it and test drive either it or an R1T. I live about 10 miles from the Bellevue WA SC. So I contacted CS and asked how I can get a test drive, and they came back to me with the old canned response basically stating that I have to wait until they have a test drive event in my area and get an invite from Rivian to test drive a new vehicle. Or, if I just want to see a car I can fly to Venice so I can experience their center.
After that conversation, I checked the Rivian website and they state:

We currently offer multiple ways for our preorder holders to experience our vehicles in person — including demo drives at one of our hubs or service centers, or we will bring a vehicle to you for a drive.​

which implies that I don't need to wait for an invite. Is what I was told accurate, or were any of you guys/gals able to get a test drive by requesting one.

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[COdogman]

They stopped doing the home test drives a long time ago. If you don’t want to wait for an invite your best bet living that close to he SC might be to head down there in person and beg for someone to schedule you one. When they smell your desperation they will feel sympathy and take pity on your soul.

 

[VSG]

You have to wait for them to hold a test drive event at your location. They ARE still doing these. But they're not doing them at Bellevue anymore, I think because of the state dealer laws. Some people are being offered test drives in Portland instead. Contact your guide or customer service and they might be able to provide more information.

 

[Tucker74]

When you are assigned a Guide you can request a “First Mile Demo”, usually around the time they ask you to confirm your configuration. They schedule you an hour with a local rep to walk through all the features and drive the vehicle.

 

[Guy]

When you are assigned a Guide you can request a “First Mile Demo”, usually around the time they ask you to confirm your configuration. They schedule you an hour with a local rep to walk through all the features and drive the vehicle.

This is good to know because over here on the east coast first drives have been very limited. Doesn’t help when three SCs cover from Virginia to Maine. I hope I get a chance to drive it before locking down and taking delivery.

 

[srnyoung]

As I understand it, the state of WA’s dealership laws make it illegal for them to do demo drives. Their interpretation has changed in the last year; we got a First Mile drive in Vancouver, WA (live in Portland, a mile S of the border) last June because they were not “allowed” to do it in Oregon.
We got called for another FM ride in November that happened all in OR.
Couldn’t hurt to ask CS if you can get on the schedule in PDX if you are willing to come down for it.

Edit to excise the Mole…

 

[BillyBob]

Couldn’t hurt to ask CS if you can get on the schedule in PDX if you are willing to come down for it.

That might work. I just remembered I am coming down to Indian Wells in March. I wonder if I can persuade them to give me a test drive while there.

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