I Sold My Rivian R1T After 3 Years - Was It Worth It?

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I did a road trip from Norcal to Socal. Used the hotspot in the vehicle in the middle of I5, and was getting speeds of 120Mbps, it was insanely impressive. As for the camp speaker, it is very annoying how it always is looking to connect to something, especially my phone. What I found was to forget the connection on my iphone and that resolves the issue. Then when you want to use it in the future, just re-connect it via BT.

I'd say apple car play and android auto aren't deal breakers when buying a new car if the new car software does it right. Take my Chevy Equinox EV for example. No Android Auto but has built in google maps and you can download any other music app and what not. I honestly prefer it that way since if my phone were to randomly disconnect from the vehicle, I would still have navigation.

Are you getting a replacement vehicle for the Rivian?
It's sad to hear about the tire space and the rust in the vehicle, Rivian will have to find a way to make that tire space a better and more practical design.
Additionally they will have e to take a page out of the current automotive truck like Ram and Chevrolet/GMC and make a standard stepping ledge to gain access to the truck bed.

IDK why you wouldn't sell a car private party. It's so easy. Often the first person will buy it. If you want it to be streamlined just put it a couple thousand below market and it will move

Weird to see a video of your story so hard to avoid the Tesla brand as a whole. Cybertruck is absolutely a comparable vehicle. Ultimately the way I went after so much deliberation between Rivian and Tesla. I semi considered the Lightning, but I'm not a traditional truck guy that capitulates to the politically correct. Unfortunately, Rivian's autonomous systems and charging network was the losing factor for me. Longer bed and functioning tonneau cover was a winner too. I carry an air compressor to solve the not built in compressor.

I do love the R1T interior but for me for the features and functionality I had to go with the Cybertruck

1) FSD is amazing and when I bought mine I was able to transfer it from my Model Y

2) I get a lot of power outages in my area. I installed the Tesla PowerShare system and it’s backed up my home during a few outages already. Allowing me to continue to work from home etc

3) Rear wheel steering. It’s so nice. It’s almost as agile as my model Y

4) 2500 pounds of payload. That’s just sick. That’s HD truck territory

5) Steer by wire. It seriously makes other vehicles feel ancient.

6) Having the 240v 40a outlet in the bed is incredible. I can level 2 charge another EV or run a sump pump or welder or whatever during an emergency

I know people hate Musk and therefore hate Tesla but for me and my needs it was the best EV truck out there. Politics aside.

I got my R1T on sep22, lemon it on Jun 23, I switched to R1S, lemon it in less than a year, got my money back. Service was a nightmare, both broke all the times.

Hi Ben, what kind of home charger were you using for the Rivian? It power shared?

You literally left off mentioning the best selling EV truck, the Cybertruck. Lol

“I always buy used, except when it’s brand new “ 😂

Good review, and really painted the picture of what Rivian ownership is all about. While I agreed with most of it I was taken back with the lack of mention of the Gen 2. Being a Gen 2 owner I felt that much of your negatives have been improved, especially the software, suspension, maps, and even the latest Gen of the tonneau cover. I was a previous Tesla owner and there tech was better, but I am absolutely loving my R1T and can tell after several updates that Rivian is rapidly improving.

Paying cash: "Financing" should be (lost) opportunity cost. Wouldn't investing 80k into S&P 500 for 36 months would net on average 1k per month. S&P 4100 3 yrs ago to 6000 today.

So what’s your next EV?

Ben Ben Ben Ben Ben I love your videos, but you can’t leave us on a cliffhanger. You have to tell us why you sold it. I understand you have your other channel and I love your videos man, but come on. Tell us why you sold it. Just spill the beans for everyone.

Only a moron woild buy a vehicle from a company that was going bankrupt. Your data science qualifications need to be questioned....

A lot of your software complaints are just connectivity issues. Which i find odd. I have connectivity throughout rural PA and have had an excellent connectivity. But the truck software does kind of freak out a bit when connection is spotty.

only an EV apologist will make excuses for their vehicle losing over 1/3 of its value in 3 years. In 3 more years this truck will be worth less than 15K, when you can find nearly 30 year old pickups in good condition for that price. absolutely insane.

I want one

The critique of the software is pretty harsh. I use the maps every time in the truck without issue. I honestly encounter very few issues with the software in general and it's worlds ahead of most other vehicles.

Nav and WiFi has been great on mine. May be a LA issue versus a car issue.

When is Rivian coming to Australia?

No Android auto is absolute deal breaker for me, would never buy a vehicle without it

Dumped it before the warranty ran out. Good move.

Why never mention the Cybertruck?

What do you think of scout motors?

i paid $30K for a limited edition MV Agusta in 2020. 2025 second hand price $35K!!!! Which means the APPRECIATION has covered rego and insurance, fuel and one tyre

Cybertruck = GOAT

Nearly 20k a year, we have lost the plot guys

So jealous. We in EU don't have Rivian R1's here :( Would not get R1T though. Very few people drive pickups here. Not very practical, unless you are a handyman or a goat-herder. But R1S seems perfect for my needs.
I agree on Carplay topic. IMO they could even get rid of most of the car OS'es. Some might work ok for the first 3 years, but after that the built-ins are pointless.

All valid points, Ben. On the tonneau cover issue, the new v2 version that started with the California Dune is being used going forward on all releases. It is a much superior design with narrow slats and is virtually silent. I believe they have solved the problem.The latest Gen2 hands-free capabilities are generally available and work surprisingly well along with the much higher resolution cameras. A software-defined vehicle is a thing of beauty if the manufacturer commits to the future. I ordered a Gen2 R1T Dual Max Performance (Stealth package) with the v2 tonneau cover in May and hope to take delivery next week.

So what are you getting instead?

I have the gen 2 software is amazing coming from a model y. Also hotspot works in places where my phone doesn't work. I have a R1S.

I'm hoping I am in a good enough financial position to purchase one at the end of next year

I don't have those issues with the wifi in my R1S. Works pretty well, I work remotely from the car on a regular basis. itunes integration is a turd... not sure if that's Rivian or Apple. When I call service they each blame the other one 😑

I have no use for a truck, and I'll probably never buy one. I have an Ioniq 5 and it's my favorite car of all time. But Rivian EV's definitely look nice and have some nice features and I recognize how it could be just the thing for many Americans who would absolutely not buy anything other than a truck and are not even interested in any EV at this time.

I have 46k miles on my quad lunch and will never let it go. 😎

Oh look another EV fan who spends all his time saying how much more reliable and cheaper EV's are and then sells it just at the time they claim the savings in heavy maintenance of an EV kick in. They do this despite a major kicking on depreciation.
Come on folks practice what you preach buy these second hand "bargain" EV's, run them for ten plus years to high mileage.

I am watching this video in my Rivian on the wifi and have never had an issue with it. Maybe AT&T is just bad in your area?

Did I miss how many miles it had done?

Goes on about being sustainable and buys a massive pick up as a 'family car'. Well it goes on a dirt road and needs to carry golf clubs and camping stuff.
Missing the point much?

I'm surprised the 12V batteries weren't covered under warranty.

I’ve owned a Rivian R1T for 11 days. On day 7, it decided to malfunction and it no longer responds to the key fob, my phone or Rivian. My wallet, ID, work PC and many other things have been locked in it since Saturday and it’s Tuesday night and Rivian still won’t give me a timeframe for when someone can look at it. I had to tow it 2 hrs because I was on vacation. It has 50% battery and the 12 v are not dead and pressing the drink button will not wake it up. I bribe a software update got interrupted. Any ideas? I can tell you resetting it by pressing the sos and left wheel button won’t work. I loved my truck for the 7!days it worked but I am returning it because they simply can’t support their vehicles, not in MA anyway. Mine is blue like yours, it is sad that I have to get rid of it, my second choice is so different, Tacoma TRD Pro is being shipped to me now

Based on historical, demographic, and financial evidence, the U.S. is approaching a demographic and economic point of no return. Fertility collapse, aging, inequality, and anti-immigration policies are converging. If current trends hold, the U.S. population could decline by up to 40% by 2100, crippling its global economic role. Unlike past eras, there’s no industrial or baby boom to bail us out. If the U.S. collapses or becomes isolationist, the global system built around it follows.

You might say the world continues elsewhere—but not the world we've built around American finance, security, and innovation.

My experience with connect+ is also pretty positive and I can’t imagine not paying for it. It’s not thatttt expensive and the hotspot is perfectly adequate for what I’ve used it for.

I’ve owned a Rivian R1T for 11 days. On day 7, it decided to malfunction and it no longer responds to the key fob, my phone or Rivian. My wallet, ID, work PC and many other things have been locked in it since Saturday and it’s Tuesday night and Rivian still won’t give me a timeframe for when someone can look at it. I had to tow it 2 hrs because I was on vacation. It has 50% battery and the 12 v are not dead and pressing the drink button will not wake it up. I bribe a software update got interrupted. Any ideas? I can tell you resetting it by pressing the sos and left wheel button won’t work. I loved my truck for the 7!days it worked but I am returning it because they simply can’t support their vehicles, not in MA anyway. Mine is blue like yours, it is sad that I have to get rid of it, my second choice is so different, Tacoma TRD Pro is being shipped to me now

You basically bought yours at a used price even though it was brand new.

Apple CarPlay! Say it again for the people in the back 🗣️🗣️🗣️