My Rivian Is Gone. In The End It Was All About The Money

My Rivian is gone and yes, I do miss it. Why did I sell it? Well, usually I would say that it was a long term tester and we weren't keeping it anyway. But... That's not the case here because I really, really wanted the R1T three years ago. Today? I really wanted to want the R1T but there were some deal breakers for me.
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#R1T #rivianr1t
0:00 - Introduction
3:10 - Final scores
13:10 - How much did I sell if for

[@Mamo878]

These near six-figure EVs are pretty much play things for rich people right now.

[@TheJoncic]

"The future"

[@Anothernerdyloser314]

@@TheJoncic There are also EVs that are under $30k.

[@mike9588]

@@Anothernerdyloser314 in the US? Yeah the Chevy bolt for 2023 that’s it

[@chiemekaa]

Their comparable ICE equivalents are also at or near six figures. But that's what happens when we in America want bigger vehicles with more niceties to match our growing waists.

[@xxwookey]

That's just big new vehicles in general. Once a normal second-hand market develops there will be EVs at prices normal people pay for vehicles.

[@AdamJakowenko]

As a "normal" non-KZbinr person, I really appreciate the candid information about finances and calculations. I'm perpetually confused by how KZbinrs like Kyle Connor (who has far less subscribers than you) is out there buying and keeping so many cars like a Rivian and a Plaid and several other vehicles all at the same time.

[@EVBuyersGuide]

I don’t wanna start any rumors, but it’s my understanding that the money is coming from somewhere else for him

[@mowcowbell]

We know Kyle doesn't spend any money on lawn care! What an eyesore that place is.

[@godofdun]

I've always wondered if Kyle is just independently wealthy and does the stuff he does almost as a passion project as much as a business. Pure speculation obviously.

[@shinybaldy]

@@godofdun his dad going from one EV to another EV for shits and giggles is pretty telling.

[@godofdun]

@@shinybaldy That too. To be fair though I at least don't get the impression from him or his dad that they think normal people go through cars like they do lol.

[@MLHunt]

Very thoughtful, detailed, informative. Especially appreciate your transparency on the financial aspects of your ownership experience.

[@superawesomefuntimego]

Have had my R1T for a couple months now and have put a few thousand miles on it. Thus far we are BLOWN away with how amazing it is. My wife keeps stealing it from me and leaving me her 2022 Acura MDX A-Spec. Even with the 20" AT's the freeway efficiency is solid, getting over 300 miles between charges on our couple longer road trips. Lifetime so far, we are averaging 2.11 miles per kw/h which is not bad I think considering how it is driven. I took it hunting for almost a week, 40 miles from the closest town and it did awesome. Vampire drain was noticed, but not crazy with camping mode enabled. We lost about 5 miles of range a day of drain. My biggest complaint is the lack of CarPlay and Android Auto. You can use the integrated Alexa to simulate some of the functions and the on board Nav is okay, but not as good as google maps. I am an avid mountain biker and the R1T is perfect for that and hauling my bikes and gear. Plenty of places to stash your gear out of sight when out riding. The powered tonneau has been flawless so far, but I did make sure to sweep off the needles and leaves when I was out camping before retracting it. I can totally see how it could cause problems though. Best of all, I can park the R1T easily in my garage, a full size like the Lightning would not fit.

[@ddhsd]

What a refreshing real video and appreciate the honesty at the end Alex you are not living in a fantasy "You Tuber" world. You inhabit the same real world any businessperson deals with plus your unique rural off grid life. A video like this is why you have become my favorite car channel.

[@cadriver2570]

I love that slow b-roll of the truck. It really communicates the materials and quality in a way I don’t get from other channels.

[@chiemekaa]

Thank you Alex for keeping it real. This is the most detailed and comprehensive user experience for electric trucks and vehicle ownership in general.

[@yrasphong]

I love when u do this type of series. Thank u

[@williamelkington5430]

A very thoughtful review. Thanks very much. In the industry I used to work in, we had a requirements category we called MIRs--most important requirements. Sounds like maybe (but I'm not clear on this) your most important requirements involve towing and price. The All Electric Family tow around a 30-foot Airstream regularly with their R1T and their F-150 Lightning, and they have no problem with the charging requirements. Maybe they have a different tolerance for managing the charging frequency and potential difficulties. I don't know. But there are people who tow happily with both vehicles. Price? Well, that's always a personal matter. What are you willing to pay for a particular set of capabilities? Depends on personal financial situation and--again--the most important requirements (the MIRs) and what you are willing to pay to meet those requirements. I'm happy you chose to review these two vehicles. You have informed us and helped us all improve our thinking about what our requirements really are.

[@Mark-de4hj]

Great real-world review Alex. I find your channel to be one of the few that absolutely deserves to make money. You generally try to be objective bearing in mind that everyone's requirements in a vehicle is different and I now turn to your channel to get unbiased information on vehicles in which I have an interest but also enjoy your reviews as a whole. Your experience with the Rivian is exactly why I never buy a new untested unproven vehicle. It's one thing to lease something for a few years and then just turn it in rather than purchasing it outright. Great that I can turn to you to provide a more in-dept information. Another thing I noticed about the Rivian without having experienced it personally, is the really sharp looking edges of that flap when the body storage area is open. I can see myself ripping off the skin of my legs on it if not paying attention! Did you find that a potential issue?

[@DanielRomero]

Appreciate the transparency! Selling it was definitely the move for now!

[@IamGroot786]

Yeah, vehicle prices are absolutely crazy nowadays. I plan to drive what I currently own right into the ground!

[@robmelone6947]

Everyone bashes the dealer with their markups but yet this guy got a pass.....

[@theotherrobzombie]

I’m pretty sure you’re not the only one. I think I’m right there with you. Something to be said about not having payments anymore.

[@tjam4229]

Excellent feedback. Much of which I’ve never heard. Thank you 🙏

[@Kezmo]

I wish everyone in the world was more like Alex. His honesty and frankness is second to none. Really appreciate the content, Alex. Thank you!

[@scottwilkins]

Personality and Inteligence don't seem to be hand in hand. He is gifted.

[@microhaxo]

Great information. I always look forward to your videos.

[@Qrail]

Alex. Great video. Being on the cutting edge is hazardous. Looks like you escaped. Painful, but us pioneers get to live and learn. My 2011 Leaf only fetched $3600 with 6 bars and 46% SOH, but it was a fun experience. Thanks for being in a position to explain your story.

[@ardenthebibliophile]

Good overview! I appreciate the candid but fair nature

[@kolt9051]

Great video, Alex! The pacing kept things interesting.

[@johnphamlore8073]

Thanks for your honesty and openness.

[@bgtanguay]

I really appreciate your explanation. I’m getting an R1T next year, and I wasn’t aware of the significance of the vampire drain issue. Lucky for me, I don’t tow, so overall I can live with the comprises you discussed.

[@goforthandlive1442]

Thanks Alex for giving me the chance to check out the Rivian at your office! So happy you were able to sell it for what you were looking for! Keep up the great work on the videos. -Rocky

[@Pekirt79]

Good explanation Alex! We absolutely love our R1T and it's the perfect vehicle for our family of 5. We have towed 5000lbs before and we have taken multiple 600+ mile trips in the 2 months we have owned it. I have never had a problem loading things in the frunk and we use it all the time. Your use case is definitely a rare one, but appreciate your honesty!

[@mikehawk4856]

You won’t be loving it in 3 years

[@good-tn9sr]

yours could be the rare case

[@zschudrowitz155]

Your videos are so practical. Great info and willingness to say “it doesnt work for me” even though high hopes to the contrary. Thank you for helping me preview a similar decision set.

[@rightlanehog3151]

Alex, Let's all agree to call this a long-term wait and medium-term test. Maybe a practical, electric towing pickup will arrive in the next few years.

[@jml9550]

Not until the battery cost go weight down and pair with solid state batteries. That won’t happen in at least 10 years.

[@TheWindriver10]

LIKE A TESLA !

[@MrNicholg]

A little dose of reality when discussing pricing on new vehicles. Thanks.

[@fineartz99]

Beneficially organized/ succinct description. Helpful.

[@jackstein5486]

I really enjoy your in depth analysis of what is good and bad. Super job on this Rivian truch that you owned.

[@rvboyett]

I've had my R1T since August and I agree with pretty much everything you've said but vampire drain hasn't been a real issue for me. I've got a broken tonneau cover but at least it's open so I can use the bed. Beyond that I'm extremely satisfied with the truck. Everytime I hit the accelerator, I just get the giggles. It's so damn fun to drive. Rivian really needs a snow mode with the ability to turn off brake regen. Even the standard mode is too much. Oh, and I'm going to beat RJ over the head with my phone if he doesn't give me CarPlay/Android Auto.

[@Wasabi9111]

Haha. Have the same exactly feeling as you about the car. I thought we would flip it but we ended up loving it too much. But some time I wonder if we should have sold it when the prices were crazy high during the summer. Def having CarPlay would avoid a lot of the infotainment issues.

[@dontbanmebrodontbanme5403]

When you say that vampire drain hasn't really been an issue, does that mean you have it and you just deal with it, or you don't have it? The idea of spending $40 to charge your car, then finding out you really only have $30 worth of power because $10 just vanished...SOMEWHERE is simply unacceptable. Maybe you keep your car plugged in and don't really it's constantly being "topped off"?

[@rvboyett]

@@dontbanmebrodontbanme5403 Well, for one it only costs me about $13.50 to charge my R1T from empty to 100%. I’ve noticed some vampire drain but it just hasn’t been enough to impact me.

[@artokiiskinen1058]

Good and honest video, thanks!

[@dennislyons3095]

I believe the reason for no android auto or car play is that both Apple & Google collect tons of data rom your use of those functions. They can get a complete data dump of you r vehicle from those interfaces. Which they can use for development of their own vehicle or sell the info to another manufacturer who will compete with Rivian. That's undoubtedly why Tesla is not willing to share their data either. For me, I have taken multiple trips in our R1T & find it the most comfortable travel vehicle I've ever owned. I have spent three hours at a time without stopping for anything & I am not figeting around to be comfortable & when I stop, I don't find the need to stretch & walk around for a few minutes before getting back in. Better than our Cayenne on a road trip. I've also met some very interesting people at charging locations. I find that an added bonus.

[@MechayaAlta]

We are a retired frugal baby boomer couple who live in the pacific nw. We own a Nissan leaf SV plus as our around town car and a Subaru Legacy for road trips. Total cost for these two cars is about the same as one Tesla Y. For us this is the best of both world at this time. I love your honest straight up reviews.

[@johnh.wilson2081]

These EV trucks are rich men's toys. There is really nothing practical about them for true truck owners. Who want's to wait 30 minutes or more to recharge their truck when they can do that in 5 minutes in an ICE truck? One thing you didn't discuss was how much the batteries would cost to replace when the time comes that you have to do that. It's always humorous to listen to EV owners seem so apologetic when they talk about the things they don't like in their EVs. Why would anybody purchase a vehicle that has been in production for a short time? Even Tesla still has problems. I purchased a brand new 2022 4 cyl Toyota Camry XSE. I have 12000 miles on it and I have had no issues with it. I paid $36K for it and it gets 38 MPG on the highway, so I can go about 400 miles before refilling tank. Good video and I appreciate your honesty. The best part of the video is you sold it and you made a profit.

[@rkalla]

Absolutely EXCELLENT breakdown

[@rkgsd]

Calling out oddities and problems when you see them before we spend our hard-earned money. That's why I love the channel.

[@SteveSabbai]

You are one of the best vehicle reviewer on youtube that is why I watch all your ads in full. That is my way of supporting you. Keep up the great work. Your reviews influence my buying habits.

[@shashankghh99]

I love this video review. Especially because shot on backyard of Rivian office in San Jose on North First St😅

[@ruthareed4422]

Thank you! We also live off grid and have been concerned about the charging day time only thing. We thought about up grading our solar and doubling our battery storage but that is another 13 to 15 k! Your review really helps.

[@supadupa3873]

Appreciate the transparency. You seem more relatable.

[@johnl9337]

Alex, great video as always. My wife had a 2017 Honda Accord Touring and it had the same problem with the vents. I prefer ac to be blown in my face and with her car it was impossible to do so with the middle vent. So, I always avoided driving her car because I always felt hot in her car. We live in Texas by the way. After that experience every time I go on a test drive I make sure the ac can blow directly in my face, if not then it’s a total fail for me. My wife current car is a Mazda CX50 Turbo and the ac blows great.

[@broosewee]

Always appreciate the transparency. How about speculation on upcoming EVs and their potential in towing? Silverado EV and cyber truck in particular.

[@ImStillLooking]

Just learned about this channel. Subscribed.

[@cheekytart]

R1T owner since Aug 2022 and the lack of Airplay is a sore spot for my partner, the AC vents also irks him because you have to go into the setting to adjust rather than by reaching out to the vent. Those 2 things aside, we love everything else. We broke the Tonneau while camping, not surprising and Rivian support said they will replace for free when they get the next gen cover so we're patiently waiting on that. Vampire drain not a huge issue as we use it daily and charge it on the regular. All in all, we were able to purchase at the Pre-Order price and qualified for the rebate before it was capped so we got it at the lowest possible price. We wouldn't have bought the car without the lower initial price and rebate.

[@davec866]

Thanks for the detail Alex. How did you go about selling it? Just curious since that’s such a high dollar sell.

[@mxdarby]

I have an R1T - also in forest green! - and I agree with you about the air vents.

[@benjijamrock]

Appreciate the review, and I concur, towing needs vast software improvement, but a quick software update solves that. What I did however before buying mine, which is a Launch Edition is a spreadsheet comparing costs and amortizing it over five years. I have yet to see anyone do that. Have you seen the price of a loaded F-150 King Ranch?, It's well over $100k. But if you comp the Rivian R1T vs the same priced F-150, over 5 years you will save north of $30k owning the Rivian. Everyone thinks in terms of the sticker number, no one I have seen puts into an Excel spreadsheet, monthly gas, oil changes, service appts, maintenance and comps it versus an EV. Yes it will take you an hour to build in all those variables, but I'd say that our on the computer is worth over $30k. So even if you buy a $55k F-150, it will have cost you the same as the Rivian after 4 years. I'm keeping my Rivian forever, it's a marvel of engineering and some things in life are worth enjoying. To each his own though

[@_ckr]

Thanks Alex for R1T ownership review. I've never considered owning one due to cost, and now that I know that Rivian minor parts must be dealer installed, and an unresolvable vampiric battery loss exists (seems it's an internal battery issue/short/defect, i.e. bad battery), you have relieved me from ever having to consider Rivian ownership in the future. Subscribed!

[@Cttechexpress]

Hi Alex, wondering what you think about the R1T now that Rivian seems to have largely addressed your biggest concerns regarding towing and phantom drain?

[@Eric-xp1kl]

Alex, I appreciate your channel and your reviews...a couple of items you did not mention in your cost assessment that I would guess your LLC should be eligible for: #1 as your LLC owned the Rivian, it should also be able to write off 100% of the cost under Section 179, then add to this the Tax Credit of $7,500 + your profit made on this sale comes to a nice profit back to your LLC.

[@jerrycomo2736]

Very good, very informative video. Thank you. I actually read the comments BEFORE watching the video. This way I tend to pay more attention to issues posted in the comments as they are addressed in the video.

[@EVBuyersGuide]

We read the comments too! -Travis

[@CMCNestT]

The '12 '13 Model S also had very high vampire drain and they got much better over time with software updates.

[@nickgrnr]

You have a great vocabulary that you utilize well. Good vid sir.

[@krisabel4681]

I’m considering an r1t, this is a great video.. I’d like to see a cost of ownership comparison vs a trail boss or f150 tremor. A +70k ice vehicle vs ~85k EV, the Rivian loan might cost a couple hundred more a month but that’s saved on gas vs electricity alone @4.50/gallon vs $.13/kWh in my area.

[@TedKidd]

18:00 love how eloquently you describe charging, both towing and not towing.

[@ronkemperful]

Thanks for what you do as a great and unbiased journalist. Good decision concerning the Rivian.

[@fatboy19831]

Excellent information!

[@Mountain-Man-3000]

I didn't even realize you had this channel!

[@joefrommontana252]

Vampire drain was by far the biggest focus in this video and it’s largely been fixed with over the air updates. I’m guessing haters have found a new deal-killer problem though. At least I hope they have. The line of people in front of me to get one is long enough.

[@wrodz1980]

1. Sold for a profit 2. It’s the viewers fault for not clicking on the ads. 3. Bought on a line of credit….4. The cost of running a business like employee benefits blah blah blah… Seems to me this was an impulse buy AND with the market going in the direction it is on the Rivians it just made sense to drive it and make a profit.

[@danielm9315]

Maybe the original 40K bait and switch F150 Pro would have worked for you for around town use, spirited drive, better miles/kwH than the lariat, and much more affordable. With long range towing twice a year you can just rent a truck for a day. The mega frunk is nice to have for around town shopping in a truck.

[@christopherwhull]

Towing with a rented truck is questionable with all the major rental and insurance companies.

[@olivierhiers4224]

We have a r1t, we do not tow aside from having a bike rack. I think you hit many of the good and not so good aspect of the r1t. I would add the nervousness or reliability, when bitten long trip we did encounter always something unexpected (trip of 400 miles or about) , once was the drive train and hydraulic dying on us. We put it on bad luck, but now we had ghost mis alignment popping up, full right side of the car not responding also ghosting, ghost tire pressure alarm, speed limitations….it was to be our adventure vehicle, but we are not at ease with the reliability…( ghost = item we checked or made checked but they go and come back whenever….) so there is a lot of love for the car but…yes we may move out of it too…😢

[@georgemartin1436]

Valuable feedback for the manufacturer...if they are listening.

[@MsCaterific]

Finally pros and cons. Thx

[@TheAdventureAuto]

That's so strange about the vampire drain. My Model 3 will occasionally have some drain when being used every day, but if I'm away on vacation and it's "asleep" for 7-10 days, it only uses about 1% or less. 25% would make me panic a bit.

[@maximecuypersph.d.2029]

I was a bit annoyed by not having android auto, then i got my r1s, there is a cool option to send/share the destination from Google maps to your rivian... It works waaaaay better than android auto ( no wire in the way etc)

[@amigatommy7]

Excellent explanation.

[@jghall00]

My neighbor has an R1T. I was impressed with the materials, but I prefer tactile switches to a screen for everything. And I need something that can tow long distances like my Expedition. An R1S could be a good 2nd vehicle, but our Focus Electric handles 90% of our local driving. Hopefully Rivian's next vehicles will be more affordable.

[@johnmeyer6734]

But all cars are going to the screen, not just EV

[@jghall00]

@@johnmeyer6734 I think Rivian specifically tried to copy Tesla with the screen interface. But Tesla had other positive attributes and the screen wasn't a motivation for consumers to purchase the cars. It was a novelty and cost cutting measure, but the appeal is wearing off as customers realize tactile is generally better.

[@scifithoughts3611]

Nice review! So sad to hear about vampire drain. 🤔 It’s great you made money on flipping the truck!

[@carlossaenz2370]

Just an FYI many Rivian drivers have stated that their more recent software updates have addressed or reduced the Vampire drain. Supposedly they are working on Streaming and that will be an over the air update.

[@paul49777]

Very nice review and comments. You focused on your dislikes and not the vehicle shortcomings, coddles on your positive attitude.

[@carsonassociates3263]

The biggest ownership cost of any vehicle is usually depreciation. It is quite possible for a higher-priced vehicle to be cheaper to own, if it depreciates less. (or doesn’t depreciate at all- like Alex’s R1T!)

[@navaronefrank458]

I'm personally looking forward to the GM pickup twins. I feel like GM will solve the towing tech problem plus I believe they will have a leg up on creating an efficient vehicle both in aero and drivetrain

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

I suspect drivetrain efficiency will be solid, but I'm concerned about the weight. The rumors I have been hearing from inside GM seem to put the Sierra some 2,000 pounds heavier than a Lightning, which if true will likely cause real-world range issues.

[@azorglub]

Towing range is 50% of regular range, and that's true for all trucks. Only EV solution is to have a much bigger and expensive battery.

[@godofdun]

@@AAutoBuyersGuide Maybe, but IIRC that added weight is from the larger 200+ KwH battery so maybe not.

[@appleiphone69]

@@azorglubthen it upsets handling, breaking, acceleration. Best solution is have more charging stations that can handle vehicles that are towing.

[@azorglub]

@@appleiphone69 true but then we are back to either charging for 35mns every 100 miles or for 60mns every 150 miles. I don't really see a future for long distance towing with an EV anytime soon. And I love EVs and am awaiting my R1T.

[@LivingInKaos]

Air vents - with the updates a few back, my vents work just fine. Once in a while there is a quirk and won't move on startup. All I do is go out of Auto then back to Auto and it positions fine. As for Towing - you mention how far under the receiver is being aerodynamics - but it is more departure angle. Have to remember, this is an adventure vehicle.....

[@vinnym5095]

What size tires did you have on the rivian? Do you think it’s worth the price to get the 20” AT for $3500?

[@andrewmacanada]

Excellent video

[@MadMadOne]

I got one. The cold weather efficiency is poor. I don't know how efficient heat pumps on EVs are for short trips and if one would have helped here. Vampire drain might be 1 percent per day. Agree with most things you said. The cost of an accident or regular repairs can be crazy. Service center booked till February 😐. Fortunately issues are minor. It handles like a sports sedan. I don't think there is any big SUV/truck that drives like this today. The thing I cannot stand is the keyless entry situation. The fob is not passive and the phone unlocks it from far away - when it works. I disabled it completely. Also annoying is the lack of a start button and the authentication prior to starting the vehicle. Once the vehicle unlocks, from say 20 feet away, it is drivable. Someone can simply hop in, lock doors and drive away. Also if I leave teenagers in the car while shopping, I would like a way to prevent them from driving it.

[@awashkowitz7156]

It should be able to be disabled via the app. A PIN (like Tesla) would be helpful in some circumstances…but not the one you described. I only drove a few times before my kids knew the PIN for the Tesla

[@divingmonk]

Thanks for the added support to why I continue to wait, happily, for my CyberTruck...

[@jjj32801]

Alex appreciate the thoughtful analysis. Looking forward to getting my Tesla Cybertruck!

[@greggmcclelland8430]

Great Review. I have a tesla model Y performance and I like the F150 lightnings' looks. I was wondering if the grill hanging down would be a head banger for tall people. The trunk lid on my model Y can be reprogrammed for opening height to keep it from hitting the ceiling in my garage. The problem I have is that I have to duck when getting groceries. I have to reposition it a little and be careful. By the way, Rivian factory is only about 40 miles from me. Ironic I picked up my Tesla at the service center in Bloomington, IL where the rivian factory is located. As far as insurance goes, I would definitely look for cheaper insurance. You were getting scalped.

[@cwheremonster8870]

Great presentation. The word we are all looking for is “parasitic drain”. It’s very common in the RV world, particularly with the use and implementation of lithium battery systems. I’m still hoping these systems get ironed out.

[@chrissimmons9969]

You can’t blame Alex at all for bouncing the Rivian or the Lightning for that matter. I’m not anti EV, but I do feel like they are just too insanely expensive. I don’t tow or have any need for a truck or SUV, but if I had to use that type of vehicle it would most definitely be a used ICE vehicle. I was able to buy a new 2020 Honda Accord 2.0t for just under 30k and I really wasn’t happy in having to spend that much. In hindsight with the way the car market has gone I’m extremely happy how things have worked out. My Accord does everything I need it to do and the 2.0T engine is a gem. I plan on keeping and driving this car for a long time especially considering where car prices have gone and push to force people into EVs.

[@bikebudha01]

Here was my "Rivian Math". Rivian, a mid sized pickup that cost $80k. Honda Ridgleine, a mid-sized pickup that costs $42k(RTL trim). The $38k I saved would buy 20 years worth of gas. The Honda engine would last that 20 years. I got the Honda... (oh, and 'vampire drain' of 25%, confirms I made the right choice)...

[@wacoodude6567]

In 3 years all pure EV companies are going to struggle. All traditional auto makers will be there to compete with them with much better products, sales and service networks. These are manufacturing start up not tech start ups (as much as they like to think they are with their evaluations) where they can acquire millions of subscribers/owners overnight.

[@Matt-dx3wo]

😂

[@carlosnorris352]

Not really. It’s a fashion statement to own something built by a company that’s exclusively 100% EV. Remember how tree huggers were not buying camry hybrid because only prius would scream from the distance they’re environmentally conscious.

[@Frankmaui67]

Good video without hype and without hyperbole

[@jackking5631]

I owned the same config r1t as urs. My biggest concern is the wind noise from side window and a pillar. Took it in service once and didn’t get fixed. Gonna do another service this month. No vampire drain so far.

[@cdstoc]

Nice to hear a real-world cost breakdown. The vampire power loss is insane. Imagine how upset people would be with gasoline cars if that much fuel leaked out of the tank just sitting, even though replacing it is quick. And Alex's example of road trips is still unsatisfactory to me. Stop for an extended time after 300 miles, then go 200 more. We routinely go 500-700 miles a day in our road trips with one quick fill up on the way during lunch, then another one at dinner to be ready for the next day. EV's are great for daily use but for me are not yet practical for road trips unless

[@richardjansen3838]

I agree with everything you stated, but I can't get past that Rivian front end.

[@cencio_1976]

What platform did you use to sell the Rivian? I’m interested because I will soon have to either trade in or sell privately a 8 year, 135k miles A7

[@elainebradley8213]

We love our Tesla model 3. Are amazed how much we're saving on gas. Delight to drive. Kept the Sierra for towing and picking up lumber etc.

[@ddhsd]

Thanks!

[@ronaldadams3230]

I live near where the Rivian's are built, they look awesome. I have to look and see what it is every time one is on the road.

[@anoopmathew82]

Alex since you had the base wheels, how would you say on road ride comfort is relative to main stream SUVs? My wife has a 2013 MDX. I have an R1S on order and while we got a chance to drive an R1S it had the all terrain tires on it, so wanted to know how the 21" wheels with road tires felt in comparison to something like an MDX/X5 etc.

[@EVBuyersGuide]

I thought the ride was perfect.

[@mynock250]

Beautiful truck, with the issue of vampiric drain, you can actually turn off a telsa its in the menu and its recommended for longer periods of non use. I left the country for 2 weeks with the car shut down, not on charger and lost less then 1%.

[@darrelpeters]

Yep the problem with most EVs is that they’re just too damn expensive for the average person to afford. Excluding the Chevy bolt and maybe the Nissan versa which nobody wants, the rest of them start at 40 grand. The average Joe can’t afford that. As popular as EV’s seem to becoming, it will be years before the general population adopts them. Someone needs to make a good quality long range affordable EV before you see many of them on the road.

[@Cjdergrosse]

One issue; I was told by my Rivian guide, 1) my powered tonneau cover will break eventually & 2) it’s under warranty they’ll eventually replace them. Not sure where you’ve heard if you have a powered cover you won’t get a replacement? That’s the first time I’ve heard that. Also they limited the amount of installed power covers, should reduce any recall cost later down the road, if they don’t replace under warranty. I can’t imagine it NOT being recalled.

[@markhopkinsphoto7257]

I like the traditional pick-up truck look of the Lightning.

[@user-oo3uj5ku9r]

Thanks for being real Alex.

[@kd7lxl]

What was the cost breakdown on renting for those two times a year you need to tow and driving something like a Bolt the rest of the time?

[@igorgetsin3646]

Don't forget to add the 7500 TaxCredit. Take the credit flip the car seems to be the theme around. I see tons of Rivians and Mach Es with minimal mileage all listed above MSRP. But that gravy train is over .

[@forrestcarlson1742]

The vampire drain is a major issue and something I love not having in my Lightening. I got the XLT so pricing is half of that Rivian. For me towing is not an issue and road trips are fine. We can only do about 200 miles before needing to walk around a little bit anyway.

[@xxxmina]

I tow plenty but I tow in conserve Mode/normal mode. As for reverse camera, there is a camera where the middle brake light is... you can see it in security mode... they need to allow us that higher camera in reverse/ trailer mode... if you combine both cameras you will have a good backup camera. Buying it for 80k is a great price, that's what I paid... a range rover with all the same features costs 150k. Tesla model X 150k. Most fully loaded top of the line trucks are from 70-100k . I believe its a great value. Demand is high, you made profit selling your truck... What more do you want? My only issue is how slow the "fast charging" is ... 200kw/hr if i'm lucky... most of the time i just get 100 at 350kw chargers.