I remain a fan of Sandy Munro and this latest YouTube show why: Rivian has gone KISS on their current generation reduce electrical wiring and controllers simplified suspension casting battery pack parts Next year version is another clean sheet design Sensible self-driving cameras and radar Sensible, car focused CEO I'm likely to hold off on replacing my 2019 Model 3 and continue my 'Bob's Jobs' enhancements. I'm making it into the car I want, well beyond (and different) from what ordinary folks put up with. But the current Rivian deserves a second look and the 2026 model sounds a whole lot better. On the theory of buy low and sell high, I may put a little 'mad money' into Rivian stock. I like the CEO, their technical direction, and practicality. Bob Wilson
How close is the closest service center to you. Ours is 8½ hrs away & right now the winter storm warnings say highway 2 is very very sketchy
For me, it is simply the size. I don’t want anything larger than my Model 3. Smaller would be welcome. The Polestar 2 is my current leader, but even that probably won’t replace my Model 3.
same here, nothing that suits me and service center is too far. but i'm glad they are doing well, there sure are a ton of them around here. making big ev's makes sense in a country obsessed with them.
If you have a big vehicle it may get 20MPG, but if they electrify it - it then gets 80+MPGe. Smallish car may get 50mpg But if they electrify it - it then may get 110MPGe A big vehicle may save ~3 gal per Smallish ride may save ~1 gal per YMMV .
I'm driving to Franklin TN, ~100 miles, on Tuesday for a test drive. The Tesla service center is 120 miles away and I've only used them for parts and a free computer upgrade. Bob Wilson
Thanks for sharing this. Impressive. Fawning a bit. Huge. Why the front end profile? What if didn't show is what is available in the way of a frunk. Smaller cheaper < $50k R2 a bit far away. $100k is a bit much no matter the rebate.
They're even open Saturdays .... Nice !! Our local service centers (Chevy & Chrysler) aren't even open on Saturdays .
I'm impressed with any manufacturer who undertakes to improve their product year on year. Sandy Munro certainly knows his stuff.
Turn the Autopilot clock back to 2019 and: Autopilot and Full Self Driving are much further ahead and I'm enjoying the improvements. So much that my BMW i3-REx is becoming driveway art instead of my urban car. Like early AutoPilot, it is definitely "man-in-the-loop" but not as bad as TSS-P in the 2017 Prius Prime: Less bad but not something I want Efficiency: Too expensive to operate $3.00 / 100 mi - 2025 Model 3 $3.24 / 100 mi - 2025 Model Y $4.68 / 100 mi - 2025 Rivian R1S $3.00 / 100 mi - 2019 Model 3 (current) Range 329 mi (6 hr) to 363 mi (6 hr 36 min) - all exceed my biological driving limits 193 mi (3 hr 30 min) - current 2019 Model 3 matches my driving limits I see no compelling reason to replace my 2019 Model 3. It is as cheap to drive as the 2025 model and cheaper than the others. Since 2019, there are four times more fast DC charging stations, both J3400 and CCS-1 so range is not a problem. It makes sense to continue enhancements to make the 2019 more efficient and comfortable: Existing enhancements Lighter rims and lower resistance tires Lower drag wheel covers Anti-fracture glass cover "Kar Kennel" dash with phone number to TEXT Replaced overhead links Planned enhancements Passenger side reclining nap bed Rear seat passenger side 'tunnel' Aerodynamic enhancements Larger front frunk Improved cabin and cooling filters Fix creaks, squeaks, and knocks I'll cancel the Rivian test drive, no need to waste our time. But I will visit the Tesla Service Center and get an estimate for a battery replacement. My last inquiry was priced at $16,000 which is less than 1/2 the cost of a 2025 Tesla Model 3. Bob Wilson
There are reports that the revised model Y Juniper will have ~500MI range, New Tesla Model Y (Juniper) 2025: Features, Price, & Release Date | The Electric Car Scheme not that anyone can go that far without taking a bathroom break. .
Thanks but my 2019 even with 145,000 miles and 6 year battery, still slightly exceeds my biological driving endurance. Longer range could improve my block-to-block time but not as much as a faster charging battery. So I will also ask if the charging circuit can be improved, say 48 A over 32 A. Also increase DC battery charging rate over the current, peak 178 kW. Bob Wilson
