I think I'd rather look out the window at a Cybertruck in my driveway than that hideous thing. Wtf happened to Chevy designers? They haven't made a decent looking truck in decades.

 

It’s kinda funny because I always liked the way GM trucks looked. Until this one. I think the Silverado EV is hideous, but a shade better than Cybertruck.

My dollars don’t care what it looks like, though. I’ve had a few ugly cars and trucks in the past, and I’m sure there will be more.

 

Tom, I know you're not a fan of this channel but have a look at the Rivian.

 

Watching that TRX eat everyones lunch was heartbreaking until it got it's lunch eaten by the Rivian. LOL! Priceless. I would have thought for sure that Tesla would have won though. Very surprising.

 

Whoa. I skip most of their videos, but that was pretty enlightening. I've always thought the Rivian was an impressive machine, but that shows it really well in a competitive environment. Thanks for sharing those.

My biggest concern with Rivian is longevity and durability. I've read a few reviews from professional reviewers who experienced issues during Rivian's off-road press demo. I'm a cautious guy when it comes to new brands, and it took years of established track record before I was comfortable owning a Tesla. I think Rivian will be enough of a volume player to estalblish a reputation for build quality and reliability in less time, but the Lightning is probably the safer choice in the meantime. Rivian has a lot going for them though, and they're going to be an awesome source of competition for the Big 3 in the coming years. It's a great time to be a truck enthusiast!

 

They have a better warranty than the big 3. Most of which (including Ford) only have a 3yr/36k comprehensive warranty aka bumper to bumper.

From their website.

Comprehensive

5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first
Our Comprehensive Limited Warranty coverage includes all parts and labor necessary to correct defects in materials or workmanship of any parts manufactured or supplied by Rivian that occur under normal operation.

Battery Pack

8 years or 175,000 miles, whichever comes first
This coverage includes the battery pack enclosure and all components inside. Parts that connect the vehicle to the battery — including but not limited to external cables, harnesses and hoses — are covered under the Comprehensive Warranty terms.

The Battery Pack Limited Warranty will also cover the retention of 70% or more of the battery capacity within the warranty period. Batteries that are repaired or replaced will continue to be covered for the remainder of the original warranty period.

Drivetrain

8 years or 175,000 miles, whichever comes first
Drivetrain Limited Warranty includes the coverage of the electric motors, gearbox assembly and the dual power inverter module with high-voltage cables.

Corrosion (Perforation Only)

8 years with unlimited miles
Perforation Corrosion Limited Warranty coverage includes the repair or replacement of any original body panel that rusts completely through, from the inside out. Any body panels that are repaired or replaced by Rivian under this warranty will continue to be covered for the remainder of the original warranty period.

My main concern with them was repair service and they state they cover road side assistance and warranty repair coverage that's in step with the warranty. Rivian is definitely standing behind their product.

More on service: https://rivian.com/experience/service Yes, they come to you for most repairs. That in and of itself was holding me back wondering if I had to ship it back to get it fixed, they cover everything including shipping to and from a service facility. Didn't see any mention of a loaner though.

 

Which is impressive, but the problem with highly-leveraged new companies is that nothing guarantees they will survive into the future. Fisker Motors was a notorious example who produced the expensive and problem-infested Karma about ten years ago. They sold only a handful before going bankrupt. Imagine owning a Karma after that happened? Warranty is only as good as the company backing it.

I don’t think Rivian will suffer the same fate. But I’m not ready to bet $75K on that, either. Not yet.

 

Agreed on all counts. I still have about 2 years to decide between them or the Ford Lightning. The Ford is a traditional full size truck, the Rivian is mid size compared. Going to be a hard choice when the time comes.