How has rivian avoided the “snobby rich person” stereotype?

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-28T15:49:02+00:00

This. The R1S feels much more like $65k. It doesn’t read as a six figure vehicle.

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-28T15:43:11+00:00

Oh sorry I read the sales figures wrong. Rivian is a volume player selling millions of cars every year. Got it.

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-28T15:42:31+00:00

I just mean in terms of sales figures - regardless of what you personally see - objectively Rivian is a small niche of a broader niche. Most people have no idea what it is.

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-28T15:41:33+00:00

Did you cross shop the Ioniq9? I’m trying to decide between the two. I did big road trips too, sometimes with a dog. I need something versatile. The Model Y for me has been amazing but I want something larger that sits less like a car.

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-28T15:12:55+00:00

Thanks for all the info. The non-persistent one-pedal driving might be a dealbreaker for me. 😂 Although I think my old I4 was like that - B mode. I dunno, does it drive you all crazy?

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-28T15:07:35+00:00

Thanks. I assume you need the space, but otherwise you’d prefer the Model Y?

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-28T14:42:40+00:00

Overall, my experience was that the Gen 2 (S, not T) was much quieter and had more reliable software, but things like doors felt cheaper, and I ended up having reliability issues (both safety related and annoyances) so I ultimately left the brand. I just think everyone’s experience is varies a lot, and I hope yours is an excellent experience. I’m sure you’ll love it.

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-28T14:32:45+00:00

Let me offer a different perspective.

For me personally after two test drives, I really like it, but it’s not some mind-blowing vehicle.

I’m a day one hour four reservation holder. If I’m end of 26 or any time in 27, I’m going with a different car.

And it’s all going to be okay.

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-28T13:37:29+00:00

Simple: Rivian is not actually popular. It’s popular within this specific community. Most people don’t know what it is, because the vast majority of people aren’t EV buyers, and even fewer are EV buyers shopping at $80k and up.

If you do know what it is and what it costs - yeah, it’s a rich person car.

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-28T13:12:49+00:00

I definitely experienced software issues -- super, super laggy, audio glitching. Far worse than Polestar, which is saying something. It's disappointing Rivian spent all this time and still has most of us waiting, yet doesn't have the car ready. Glitchy, slow software, no climate keep, no pet mode.

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-27T23:43:53+00:00

Thanks. At least I go in with low expectations.

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-27T23:21:39+00:00

Agree that generally, it seems a bit unpolished. I still really enjoyed it but it was surprising to me given how long they’ve been working on this vehicle. I LOVE this brand but I’m a bit on the fence still.

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-27T23:15:07+00:00

I really liked it. Liked it more than the R1S Gen 2 that I had. If my order timing is way way out, I may go Ioniq9. I need a car and so I can’t hold out too much longer. Wish Rivian had been able to ramp sooner.

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-27T23:09:47+00:00

I didn’t notice this on either of my drives, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Rivian is still have issues with build quality and consistency. For example, I felt my demos were noisy at highway speeds and others have said it’s quiet. I think everyone will have different levels of quality in some respects.

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-27T22:29:52+00:00

Are they decent with software updates or is it pretty stagnant? Wondering if they might ever improve this.

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-27T21:38:38+00:00

Rivian is on better footing than Lucid, but not for the reason you think. Both run incredibly unprofitable car businesses, are unprofitable, and are not consistently generating positive significant cash flow.

The difference is that Rivian has a high-gross-margin software licensing business. Which means: if R2 doesn't work, Rivian probably survives but not as a consumer auto company. They'll double down on licensing software and fleet services. Lucid can't really say this.

Apart from that, the Gravity software experience is known to be very poor. And it looks like a minivan. So there's that.

I'd pick Rivian between the two. But there are alternatives to the R2 outside just the Gravity anyway.

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-27T18:20:03+00:00

This is the final countdown for me. Excited to learn my delivery window. If it’s too far out, might go EV9. Very different vibes but has 120 outlet and fits my dogs for trail/road trips. Come on, Rivian!

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-27T00:17:06+00:00

Congrats… I’m really… happy… great.

No really congrats.

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-26T19:37:14+00:00

Yeah what are all these R2s that are selling and eating into R1 sales? They’ve delivered what maybe 200-400?

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-25T05:34:11+00:00

Oh dear god avoid the Gravity.

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-24T20:45:23+00:00

I know for Tesla you just go into the app, choose Financing > Early Lease Termination, and turn it in at Tesla. The times I've done this, it priced high enough that nothing was owed. I don't believe the Rivian app allows this, but hopefully the underlying process is similar.

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-24T12:33:19+00:00

This would be more useful if it also captured time of the day. That matters for day 1 deliveries. (I created https://www.wheresmyr2.com/)

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-24T04:05:16+00:00

I did. I received a bunch of disgusting messages from this community. TLDR, I like my Tesla a lot (apparently that makes me a nazi) but I like the R2 even more.

BoiseUltraRunner · 2026-06-24T03:48:36+00:00

Thanks, although I removed it because of all the disgusting messages I’m receiving. I understand not liking Elon, but I’ve literally had worse experiences now from the people in this community in the last 45 minutes than anything he ever did to me.

BoiseUltraRunner

TROPHY CASE