Shopping for a “new” BEV while waiting for the Scout Traveler BEV.

[J Alynn]

My partner was looking at vehicles the other day and thought to herself that what we could do is trade the Lightning for something… But we use the crap out of the Lightning as a work truck, camping truck, and overall utility truck, so a few things would be necessary to make it worth trading:

• Would need to be a truck. Not necessarily a full-sized truck.
• Would need to be capable of towing at least 7500 pounds.
• Would need to be a higher value proposition.
• Would need to be at least as capable as the Lightning.

I just test drove a Silverado EV. There are very, very few Silverado EVs up for sale within 500-1000 miles of me, so it’s not exactly an easy vehicle to get ahold of.

The Silverado is both better and worse than the Lightning.

It's ponderous, which isn't surprising given its 2k pounds higher curb weight.

The software is more refined and faster. It doesn't have Android Auto, so to use the maps, it would require a subscription. Gross.

It's skinnier and has better steering at low speeds (with the rear steering).

It doesn't behave well under high acceleration--feels like the front tires are close to losing contact with the road. As I consider it, I think that's partly due to the rear steering. I would likely leave that off except when I needed a better steering radius...[a few minutes later]... I took it out for a second test drive with the rear steering off and it's definitely a big part of the issue.

There are some dumb oversights: There isn't a Start/Stop button; the charge port is in the rear. I don't like the automatically adjusting mirrors for backing up. I like the ability to control that myself. There's probably a setting. There's no camera view with the turn signals on.

I tested the RST so the suspension is air suspension and is adjustable. It's not as refined as the R1S or the Gravity. It definitely drives like a big, heavy truck, and the air suspension doesn't help there. It's bouncy like a boat in heat-stressed asphalt roads. But it behaves better on higher-frequency bumps.

The dealer wouldn't budge on price, though. Sigh.

But we should be allowed to sell EVs, it’s not fair, cry, cry, cry then suddenly we can’t sell unless you pay marked up prices. SSDD

 

[Schubie]

Just pulled the trigger on an interim solution myself. With the Terra's availability slipping. And my Touareg V6TDI at 327K mi. Something needed to bridge the gap.

Long story short, I picked up a '23 R1T fresh off a lease. Even with lowish (37K) miles, it was roughly half MSRP. Launch with off road package in limestone.

 

[cyure]

Just pulled the trigger on an interim solution myself. With the Terra's availability slipping. And my Touareg V6TDI at 327K mi. Something needed to bridge the gap.

Long story short, I picked up a '23 R1T fresh off a lease. Even with lowish (37K) miles, it was roughly half MSRP. Launch with off road package in limestone.

Congrats! Is this your first EV?

 

[Schubie]

It is (thanks)! Just couldn't justify another ICE while waiting...

 

[cyure]

It is (thanks)! Just couldn't justify another ICE while waiting...

Well let us know how it goes.

 

[Schubie]

It's been great--and an eye-opener!

I just did one week of driving 65+ miles daily. All on an L1 while waiting for my electrician to hardwire the L2. That said, it hasn't put a big dent in the kWh my solar array still exports. And I don't miss the nearly $400 I've been paying monthly for diesel.

The vehicle itself has been a revelation.

 

[J Alynn]

It is (thanks)! Just couldn't justify another ICE while waiting...

If willing-keep us posted on your thoughts and experiences

 

[Schubie]

Happy to. Although I've hijacked Space's thread enough. So I'll start a dedicated one.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Happy to. Although I've hijacked Space's thread enough. So I'll start a dedicated one.

It's all one big conversation...

 

[R1TVT]

Just pulled the trigger on an interim solution myself. With the Terra's availability slipping. And my Touareg V6TDI at 327K mi. Something needed to bridge the gap.

Long story short, I picked up a '23 R1T fresh off a lease. Even with lowish (37K) miles, it was roughly half MSRP. Launch with off road package in limestone.

Congrats - not surprised that it has been a revelation so far. It was for me as well. Now, I'm on an out-of-warranty journey with 60K+ miles, but the truck has just gotten better with every new update - I've done 1 brake job (which was a little surprising since I drive 1-pedal most of the time), but the brakes are still engaging & working more than you think even if you're mostly using regen. We'll have to see how things hold up in the long run and what costs look like if something goes sideways. It's already been 4+ years since I took delivery of my R1T.

I'll admit that I am also really excited about the Terra. Looking forward to seeing how Scout takes advantage of the Rivian JV... If Scout had gone straight down the VW path with SW and other things, I'll admit I probably would have tapped-out after owning the R1T. Good luck and keep us posted on the experience. Ping me if you have any specific questions too.

 

[Schubie]

Well, I'll try to keep things brief.

First impressions after driving my new to me gen1 R1T after ~500 miles (all on L1 charging):

1. Fit and finish on the vehicle are excellent
2. Road manners for this truck are very good
3. Overall integration and execution of software is impressive
4. Battery usage and range estimates seem predictable and accurate
5. Automatic adjustment of air suspension height helps extend highway range
6. The 'war on buttons' is no joke on this vehicle
7. Setting and forgetting vent positions helps
8. Home solar makes BEV a no brainer for daily driving
9. Rivian support for ownership transfer was responsive and fast
10. This pickup should keep me smiling until the Terra is ready

 

[cyure]

Well, I'll try to keep things brief.

First impressions after driving my new to me gen1 R1T after ~500 miles (all on L1 charging):

1. Fit and finish on the vehicle are excellent
2. Road manners for this truck are very good
3. Overall integration and execution of software is impressive
4. Battery usage and range estimates seem predictable and accurate
5. Automatic adjustment of air suspension height helps extend highway range
6. The 'war on buttons' is no joke on this vehicle
7. Setting and forgetting vent positions helps
8. Home solar makes BEV a no brainer for daily driving
9. Rivian support for ownership transfer was responsive and fast
10. This pickup should keep me smiling until the Terra is ready

View attachment 16043

Beautiful truck. Glad to hear it’s going so well.

 

[6-ScoutFamily]

A question for you 1-pedal drivers. Do the brake lights come on during regen?

 

[cyure]

A question for you 1-pedal drivers. Do the brake light come on regening like that?

They have to.

 

[J Alynn]

Well, I'll try to keep things brief.

First impressions after driving my new to me gen1 R1T after ~500 miles (all on L1 charging):

1. Fit and finish on the vehicle are excellent
2. Road manners for this truck are very good
3. Overall integration and execution of software is impressive
4. Battery usage and range estimates seem predictable and accurate
5. Automatic adjustment of air suspension height helps extend highway range
6. The 'war on buttons' is no joke on this vehicle
7. Setting and forgetting vent positions helps
8. Home solar makes BEV a no brainer for daily driving
9. Rivian support for ownership transfer was responsive and fast
10. This pickup should keep me smiling until the Terra is ready

View attachment 16043

Great to hear and have always loved that color. Enjoy

 

[J Alynn]

A question for you 1-pedal drivers. Do the brake lights come on during regen?

Yes. I had asked that a while ago and several EV owners on here confirmed that.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

A question for you 1-pedal drivers. Do the brake lights come on during regen?

Yes.

 

[oldgeeksguide]

Yes.

At what level of regen? Only when you take your foot off the gas completely? Or if you lift up a little so it does a little regen does the brake light kick in?

 

[R1TVT]

A question for you 1-pedal drivers. Do the brake lights come on during regen?

Brake lights come on as a function of deceleration (either by brake or based on the amount of regen applied and how quickly you are slowing down). If you are using a light or high regen setting, and you lift your foot very slowly off the accelerator (as if you were just starting to decelerate naturally without a physical brake) then the brake light won't come on - the effect is essentially like coasting in an ICE truck. If you lift your foot all the way off the accelerator, the truck will naturally decelerate more quickly (simulating a physical braking experience) and the light will come on.

In my R1T, you can see an image of the truck by the speedometer, and it will show the brake light illuminate (based on rate of deceleration). The brake lights basically work as they would in any other vehicle with 2 inputs instead of 1).

 

[R1TVT]

Well, I'll try to keep things brief.

First impressions after driving my new to me gen1 R1T after ~500 miles (all on L1 charging):

1. Fit and finish on the vehicle are excellent
2. Road manners for this truck are very good
3. Overall integration and execution of software is impressive
4. Battery usage and range estimates seem predictable and accurate
5. Automatic adjustment of air suspension height helps extend highway range
6. The 'war on buttons' is no joke on this vehicle
7. Setting and forgetting vent positions helps
8. Home solar makes BEV a no brainer for daily driving
9. Rivian support for ownership transfer was responsive and fast
10. This pickup should keep me smiling until the Terra is ready

View attachment 16043

Here are a few observations that I would pass along to a new owner.

1. Standard ride height doesn't have much of a negative effect on the HWY (VS. the lowest setting).
2. I only use CONSERVE mode on the HWY (not around town) - Conserve tends to torque the front tires driving local
3. LOW & HIGH ride heights can also increase tire wear based on negative or positive camber.
4. Use car wash mode when washing (and get used to enabling it) at home, or at a car wash.
5. Camp Mode is great for more than camping - like turning all your lights down when waiting, or for going stealth mode.
6. Tow mode is awesome - cameras are super helpful. Tows like a beast of a truck, but I have only towed locally.

I'm basically driving around in All-Purpose at the standard ride height with a medium suspension setting (and regen setting) most of the time. The truck can do almost anything in those settings anyway. SNOW mode is my second most used drive mode. All of the other modes are reserved for anything else of pavement, and used less frequently in my case.

Connect+ subscription is also worth it if you didn't get it.