2023 Rivian R1T: How's That Cybertruck Treating You?

Today I drive and review a 2023 Rivian R1T Adventure!

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Facebook: @benhardycar

[jeffshaw]

I have had mine for six months and love it. Fit and finish is luxury for a truck. It’s kinda like the everything vehicle. Lots of storage. If you want to race a corvette you can. I have a Ford F 350 diesel as my other vehicle. I’m not a car guy and not really a ev supporter. But it’s such a fun car. My other choice was a Gladiator but I have no regrets so far. Everyone that sees it wants to check it out. This is not my secondary car. But brings a big smile to my face every time I drive it. I have 6000 miles in the six months I’ve had it. Love your channel. 😎

[Xasukis]

I put my order in last week can't wait, the new cover is called their manual and its 4 interlocking pieces that slide into each other and you get a bag that you can take them out to put in the side cargo. and your friend has the same build spec that I was doing love that color

[travwill]

Thanks Ben. Exciting to watch. Grabbed an R1T last week from the R1 Shop and its shipping here soon to Texas where will take delivery. Have had Teslas, even then Hummer EV and looking forward to the nicer built interior and ride. Was able to get old $73K pricing which was good too.

[brentspille]

@Ben, the reason the screen wouldn’t respond immediately when you were showing the drive modes is bc each mode changes the suspension height. It takes some time for it to respond to each respond. Other than that, you should be good to go. 😉

[sworks]

I just got my R1T on 6/2/2023 from a Tesla Model Y P and I can tell you the R1T is the best vehicle I have ever owned. Build quality puts Tesla to shame. I was going to wait for the Raptor Ranger and new Taco TRD pro but so glad I got the R1t it is the perfect size between a full size truck and midsize with no compromises

[pepesilvia]

As someone who bought a Tesla (I'm ashamed, I know) and couldn't tolerate the car for more than 1 year due to its absolutely terrible quality, Rivian is actually the real deal.
It feels like a vehicle made BY AN ACTUAL CAR MANUFACTURER, which happens to be electric. I highly recommend it. I'm 28k miles in, several camping trips in and no issues so far.

[Theonestrongbusleader]

Yep!!! I gonna go and buy this instead Ben.

[standotkwan]

The R1T cannot fit in my garage. I will need to charge it outside. Any problems charging in the rain?

[Alex-jeod]

Great truck!! I have the R1T and it's the best vehicle purchase i've ever made.

[smarticus]

I have to check, but I recall that the frunk won't close and latch if the truck is locked. If the truck sits for a few minutes, it locks.

[ProAlchemist]

I've loved this truck since it came out, but I'm waiting until the lower priced trims become widely available before strongly considering it

[CanuckerLife]

Agree to disagree. Ordered my R1T Feb/22. My estimate was Q3 2023... OMG.... so 10 minutes later ordered a Tesla MYP to hold me over until the Rivian came. Got my MYP late June/22 Stupid fast is the only way to describe it. SUV, maybe but this thing is a sports car. Shortest turn to turn steering of any car I've driven, and reminded me of a 2021 Mini a drove one time. Feb/23 Rivian updated my delivery to Jan/June 2024 WHAT? Q3/23 to Q1 2024. Not sure why, but continued my obsession with every Rivian Youtube review. Everyone loved it. said "best EV ever" Got more excited. Couldn't wait to trade my Tesla in for the Rivian experience.

Feb/23 new update on my delivery window. June/July 2023 What? My delivery was moved up from 1 to 1 and half years from now, to a couple months from now. How did that happen? Don't care, get me my Rivian.

March/23 Rivian reached out to me and set up a drive event. When I got there, it was an R1S not a T. Apparently the T was in an accident and in the shop. 45 minute drive in the S. So.. was not impressed and disappointed. At lower speeds on bumpy roads (downtown), it bobbed back and forth. Very odd. Never had that experience ever in a car / truck or whatever. Also the power on spec should be faster than my Tesla... no. The R1T didn't respond quickly, and to get the power you had the push the pedal really far. I mean really far. No car has a gas pedal push that far, unlike the Tesla, a slight stab at throttle is a huge rush / push of acceleration. Which by the way, never gets old. It drives like it's telepathic. You think it, it just goes, instantly. I mentioned the "sluggish response" to my tech, and he said he's heard that before, and its because the pedal throw is really long.

Early May/23, Rivian sent me an email. I am allocated for production, you have 3 days to respond to complete your build. I kid you not. It said that. Basically you have 3 days to sh*&&^^t or get off the pot. I responded with, I haven't driven the T yet, need to first. They did so in one day. Took out the T for 45 minutes. My hopes and obsession of 15 months of waiting came crashing down. Yes, it drove way better than the S. No bobbing back and forth, so that was a relief. It also rode better. More comfortable.

Decision time. Is this better than my Tesla? Not a fair question because it's apple's to oranges. Do I really want to trade my Tesla for this Rivian? That was the question. This pained me for days, because I've anticipated getting this Rivian for so long and now reality hits. NO, No my MYP is so much better in so many ways, there isn't enough space here to list it. I contacted Rivian today to cancel my order and request the return of my deposit, which they put in process without even asking me why.

You said you don't like EV's and wouldn't consider a Tesla but think the Rivian would be the one EV to make you switch? I would love to hear why. After owing my Tesla for 10 months, and road tripping, then driving both the S and the T, I can't think of why.

[GA-wqxq]

Shame about the MX5 owner at the end who put a stupid big spoiler on

[wallywest]

If this thing breaks down or you need a repair lol good luck.

[D_Roadtrip_Productions]

i still choke at $30K sticker tag. Why would I ever go for $95K? That is seriously throwing your whole fortune away. When I first got out of High School, $95K was the full purchase of a nice house!

[howardstenlund]

Those headlights are straight out of a cartoon .

[kirbyvanduzer]

The only way I would get one of these is if I got a really good deal on one with the 400 mile range battery that way when I pull my atvs that I would get so the range will only go down to 300 miles they would have to give me a really good deal before I’d even get one

[mccgre]

Fun experiment: Set playback speed to .75x and his speech speed becomes normal.

[napjohn]

looks like a jeep grand Cherokee gladiator mix

[azsean]

This is like the 6500th review I've seen on Rivian and one thing that I keep NOT seeing being covered is the interior. The wood material around the dash and elsewhere in the truck....IS WOOD! IT'S SUSTAINABLE!! Like 90% of the materials used are recycles and/or sustainable but no one is talking about it. Bamboo floor mats. Fake leather. bleh bleh bleh bleh bleh