Drove a Rivian today. Drove a Chevy, Ford. My thoughts.

[hemiarch]

Abilisk you are 100% right I forgot to say we do have to buy gas at Quicktrip or the local shell station. That was my mistake and should not have been left out. Thank you for pointing that out.

Since we drive about 10-15 miles a day usually for 5 or 6 days a week, lets say 100 miles a week (remember we are retired couple). Our only long driving trips being to visit the grandkids in Houston (about a 200 mile trip each way) once every 3 months.

The Mavrick does keep track of my usage and MPG averages around 47-51 MPG it says on the dash. So at $2.50 a gallon average (today it is at $2.28 at QT) and let's say 3 gallons a week we are spending $7.50 a week on gas.

52 weeks x $10 (rounded up) = $520 dollars a year on gas


I figure tires every 3 years and

these higher end Perilli Scorpion's all season are $210 each at pepboys. So lets say $1000 for a set of 4 (including mounting/balancing/TX sale tax) every 3 years.

How much are good general use road tires for the CT if you know.

Remember this cost estimate is for our life style and of course many, many more drivers spend 2x, 3x, or even 4x what we do on gas each week depending on their job commute and other lifestyle events.

So for us since there were no EV options really that we could see for what we do with our vehicle the Hybrid at least gave us some savings over a fully ICE vehicle.

It also had to be at least a small truck as we do get 4 to 5 bales of hay every 2 months for the mini horses and gain and such.

As I have said in all my prior posts the CT has many very good or even great features like steer by wire as an example.

If you or anyone here knows of a EV that can meet our current needs please send me a message and we will look into as a option for our next vehicle.

Lastly I would say we are a baby back rib family, smoked on our smoker grill, not really a general ham slice family. We do like bacon wrapped filled Jalapeno's with our ribs also.

J

The horses are adorable. The rivian R1t fits in this category in my opinion but is a hell of a lot
more expensive than the maverick. It’s apsi does not drive itself like the CT and that’s what has been a compete deterrent for me about them.
I’m hungry just thinking about ribs and Texas Twinkies. Yum.

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[Ziggy Stardust]

We enjoy the mini's also and get one foal a year as that is all we want. Got a local waiting list that will never get filled. We are not into making money on them either as it is just a hobby to us.

Yes smoked ribs and stuffed are the way to go, and with a beer or two it really makes a good meal.

I used to do brisket also but being only 2 of us just not in the cards much anymore. Still do it if the family (kids/grandkids) comes here and it is a special event like birthday celebration or something like New Years.

Like I have said the CT is a really nice truck but just to big and extra stuff we do not need to spend $$ on. If there was a slightly smaller, less expensive version like others have mentioned we would have gave it a serious look. I got nothing against EV's at all but for us the Ford Mavrick Hybrid best fit our needs at the time and still to this day.

I read there is a small EV truck coming out maybe next year from Telo, the MT1, but it is still not in production and can only be reserved. Not sure how good it really will be till they start actually making them and selling them.

Like the CT it can be stated at say start at 30K and when actually produced the price is raised to 40K. Like the CT was from it's introduction to actual production. If Telsa kept to the intro price or just a bit more CT's would be selling like hot cakes and they would be using the Giga Factory a bit south of where we live to 75-80% utilization production at least.

 

[HaulingAss]

Drove a Rivian yesterday. I Found it stiff and vague. Steering is heavy. Go petal is stiff. Cab is really small. Deceivingly small. Nice rig but NOT even on the same level as the CT at all.

The first time I checked out the Rivian firsthand I was surprised anyone called it a pickup. Sure, it has a small bed but I've been using pickups my entire life to get stuff done and that bed is not big enough for over half of everything I've needed a truck for. With the tonneau closed the tallest item it can hold out of the weather is only 17.1" tall and it's not long enough either. I find the beds of the miniature Japanese pickups from the 1970's (Toyota Hilux and Datsun 620 AKA "Lil Hustler") more useable than the R1T due to their extra length.

The Rivian is good enough in terms of off-road ability, but that can get really expensive and inconvenient due to body and paintwork that gets thousands of dollars damage at the slightest bump or scratch. That's why so many Rivian owners are afraid of taking it down a brushy trail or anywhere it might get damaged. The natural toughness of the Cybertruck is a gamechanger for anyone who needs a "real" truck. And we know Tesla is here for the long-haul, the Rivian sells for less than the cost to manufacture them. It's just too expensive for what it is (unless you don't actually need a truck).

I also have driven the Chevy EV. What a floating boat of a truck wandering and swaying compared to the CT. Fast starts rock it back a lot. Quick steering feels like it's going to just roll over.

It's just another EV than is worth less than it costs GM to build. Owners are reporting the "WOW Mode" (Wide Open Watts Mode) is basically unusable on public roads because it gets uncomfortably squirrely. They have many theories on why it's so squirrely, but I think it's pretty obvious it's caused by a chassis that is not stiff enough in the required vectors to handle the launch power in a vehicle weighing over 9,000 lbs. It flexes too much under hard acceleration. I've always hated trucks for their poor driving dynamics, I thought poor handling and ride quality was just something I had to accept to get their cargo carrying abilities. But the Cybertruck has proven you can have both, 2500 lbs. of cargo, and excellent driving dynamics/ride quality in the same vehicle. The Silverado has cargo limits as low as 1300 lbs. Remember, that has to count the driver and passengers!

The Ford Lightning is just a F150 electric. It is confusing to use, body is soft and is like all my other trucks. It charges slow and does not even touch the Ct's software.

All the other EV truck options fall down when it comes to useability of the software. And that is key to the user experience for any newer vehicle. Even the next best (the Rivian software) is flaky and unreliable compared to Tesla's software. I don't know what buyers of non-Tesla EVs are smoking. It must be some really strong anti-Elon dope to make such a sub-optimal purchase decision. Either that or they are just too afraid of not looking like everyone else. If a meteorite totaled my Cybertruck, I would immediately order another of the same. Nothing else compares.

 

[NotMyTruck]

I don’t see the hype about Rivian. I really wanted to like it, I drove it, and just like OP said. It is cramped, motors are noisy, seats are not comfortable - it’s just meh, but it doesn’t cost meh money. I also do not believe any part of a rivian is full size. R1S / R1T = 4runner / Tacoma

I really like the Lightning though.

 

[tingmo13]

FSD makes all vehicles obsolete or in flip phone era.

 

[vandytom]

I have to say, I didn’t expect it but I love the truck more and more. Unless it’s the super Roadster or the really nice interior of Bentley, I cannot go back to those plastic sedans. The only thing missing is the massage chair and reclining etc interior. Maybe I can add that

 

[Effonefiddy Lightning]

The first time I checked out the Rivian firsthand I was surprised anyone called it a pickup. Sure, it has a small bed but I've been using pickups my entire life to get stuff done and that bed is not big enough for over half of everything I've needed a truck for. With the tonneau closed the tallest item it can hold out of the weather is only 17.1" tall and it's not long enough either. I find the beds of the miniature Japanese pickups from the 1970's (Toyota Hilux and Datsun 620 AKA "Lil Hustler") more useable than the R1T due to their extra length.

The Rivian is good enough in terms of off-road ability, but that can get really expensive and inconvenient due to body and paintwork that gets thousands of dollars damage at the slightest bump or scratch. That's why so many Rivian owners are afraid of taking it down a brushy trail or anywhere it might get damaged. The natural toughness of the Cybertruck is a gamechanger for anyone who needs a "real" truck. And we know Tesla is here for the long-haul, the Rivian sells for less than the cost to manufacture them. It's just too expensive for what it is (unless you don't actually need a truck).




It's just another EV than is worth less than it costs GM to build. Owners are reporting the "WOW Mode" (Wide Open Watts Mode) is basically unusable on public roads because it gets uncomfortably squirrely. They have many theories on why it's so squirrely, but I think it's pretty obvious it's caused by a chassis that is not stiff enough in the required vectors to handle the launch power in a vehicle weighing over 9,000 lbs. It flexes too much under hard acceleration. I've always hated trucks for their poor driving dynamics, I thought poor handling and ride quality was just something I had to accept to get their cargo carrying abilities. But the Cybertruck has proven you can have both, 2500 lbs. of cargo, and excellent driving dynamics/ride quality in the same vehicle. The Silverado has cargo limits as low as 1300 lbs. Remember, that has to count the driver and passengers!



All the other EV truck options fall down when it comes to useability of the software. And that is key to the user experience for any newer vehicle. Even the next best (the Rivian software) is flaky and unreliable compared to Tesla's software. I don't know what buyers of non-Tesla EVs are smoking. It must be some really strong anti-Elon dope to make such a sub-optimal purchase decision. Either that or they are just too afraid of not looking like everyone else. If a meteorite totaled my Cybertruck, I would immediately order another of the same. Nothing else compares.

"All the other EV truck options fall down when it comes to useability of the software. And that is key to the user experience for any newer vehicle. Even the next best (the Rivian software) is flaky and unreliable compared to Tesla's software. I don't know what buyers of non-Tesla EVs are smoking. It must be some really strong anti-Elon dope to make such a sub-optimal purchase decision."

We did not buy a Lightning because we thought the Ford software was better. Some on the Ford forums have stated Fords software isn't as good as Tesla and have said Ford is not a tech company. So we are not under the illusion that Ford is better in that regard.
People chose different products for many different reasons. To each his own. Some don't like the looks of the CT, that may be very important in their decision. Some couldn't give a rip about software. I guess the CT checks all of the boxes for you.
I drive a Lightning but I'm a fan of what Elon Musk is doing with Tesla and SpaceX. The CT was a bit too pricey for me in 2023 when I bought my truck. And yes, my fords software sucks compared to my wife's Model Y but my bank account tells me to hold off.
So don't lump all non CT drivers into just Elon haters. It's not true.

 

[HaulingAss]

"All the other EV truck options fall down when it comes to useability of the software. And that is key to the user experience for any newer vehicle. Even the next best (the Rivian software) is flaky and unreliable compared to Tesla's software. I don't know what buyers of non-Tesla EVs are smoking. It must be some really strong anti-Elon dope to make such a sub-optimal purchase decision."

We did not buy a Lightning because we thought the Ford software was better. Some on the Ford forums have stated Fords software isn't as good as Tesla and have said Ford is not a tech company. So we are not under the illusion that Ford is better in that regard.
People chose different products for many different reasons. To each his own. Some don't like the looks of the CT, that may be very important in their decision. Some couldn't give a rip about software. I guess the CT checks all of the boxes for you.
I drive a Lightning but I'm a fan of what Elon Musk is doing with Tesla and SpaceX. The CT was a bit too pricey for me in 2023 when I bought my truck. And yes, my fords software sucks compared to my wife's Model Y but my bank account tells me to hold off.
So don't lump all non CT drivers into just Elon haters. It's not true.

I'm a big fan of not buying things you can't easily afford. But I think I would figure out how to do without a truck before I willingly bought a Ford or GM EV pickup. That's how important I find software to the ownership experience. Obviously, you are fine with it, something I have trouble understanding, given how important good software is to me. The software defines the personality of your car and your relationship with it.

 

[TickTock]

And talking about skipping out on FSD when this miracle tech is a mere $8K? That tells me you haven’t experienced v14. I’d encourage you to gain some experience with this stuff, but you do you.

It's just not for everyone. My wife won't even use cruise control! My daughter got a hand-me-down Model 3 with FSD and, although she isn't overtly against it, I have not yet convinced her to use it.
I, OTOH, won't buy a car without it. It is the primary reason I traded in my F150 Lightning for the Cybertruck. I still miss the Lightning's frunk... Ford nailed it there.

 

[CyberWalrus]

I like all the EV trucks. Rivian is it's unique own market and style. It's more like a EV Honda Ridgeline. Silverado/Sierra EV and Lightning are more traditional trucks and have familiar features moving from a gas Silverado or F-150. Styling, I like the Lightning's more traditional boxy truck style. Silverado/Sierra EV looks like a larger Rivian.

Before CT, I was looking at the Ford lightning and Toyota/Lexus gas/hybrid vehicles.

CT is different. For me was the bleeding edge technology, low maintenance, and unconventional design. I also looked pass just the physical EV truck/car part of it. I thought about Tesla's business, innovations and amount of engineers employed that work on it, and other Elon Musk companies, like SpaceX, X, X.AI, Boring Company, neural link. No one else has that. Elon Musk vision and freedom, that none of the other CEOs have, bounded by board of directors.

The FSD is next level. $8k or $99 a month is in my opinion a steal. Others would charge similar for high end audio, carbon fiber package, wheel packages, or luxury packages. FSD is literally a personal driver, uber.

After demo driving a CT, first time I felt a vehicle of the future is here. I was going to auto shows to look at new cars and always felt a little disappointed. There were new features, more gadgets, screens, lights, power everything, but was all the same old formula.

So far love my CT. Still amazed, how they made a pick up truck that look like a fridge on the outside, space ship on the inside, but drives like a sports car, and also drives itself. The Cybertruck is a transport robot. I hope Tesla make a Cyber van and Cyber SUV next.

 

[SlegMD]

If you’re committed EV class of vehicles then ease of use with charge network and software pulls Tesla far ahead. Traveling 1k miles and having to rely on Electrify America would scare the living shit out of me. Having the truck just do what it is supposed to do software wise is piece of mind

 

[wshunter]

That’s like saying enjoy whatever you got be it ham, pork, or bacon. Sure, gas and hybrid owners are totally satisfied with their ham and pork because they don’t know any better. EVs are the bacon! You say your only expenses are tires. Can I assume you use gas? One of the biggest expenses there is to car ownership? You don’t even count that because it’s just such a given part of life. Not to EV owners it ain’t. Our electric bills go up a slight bit. Nowhere laughably near what I used to spend on gas. You’ll never make a better financial decision than buying an EV in general. And talking about skipping out on FSD when this miracle tech is a mere $8K? That tells me you haven’t experienced v14. I’d encourage you to gain some experience with this stuff, but you do you.

Yep. I just finished a 1700 mile trip in our CT. A lot of it in rainy weather. Check stats when we got home: saved $179.00 in gas, 98% on FSD 14.2. I would consider another. EV, but none have anything close to FSD, which I consider essential. Also, few other vehicles can power my house for several days in power outage like mine did last spring. And, I was clipped in the right rear quarter last summer by a Chevy Equinox. The plastic wheel well trim and wheel cover had to be replaced and the rear door and quarter panel were scuffed and the plastic from the Chevy had to be buffed off. Pieces of the Chevy had to be picked up out of the street. Any other vehicle discussed here would have had major expensive repair.
That reminds me that a friend warned me before the Thanksgiving trip to be careful of the traffIc. I said, “that’s why we’re taking the tank!”

 

[NotMyTruck]

It's just not for everyone. My wife won't even use cruise control! My daughter got a hand-me-down Model 3 with FSD and, although she isn't overtly against it, I have not yet convinced her to use it.
I, OTOH, won't buy a car without it. It is the primary reason I traded in my F150 Lightning for the Cybertruck. I still miss the Lightning's frunk... Ford nailed it there.

The cybertruck frunk is a joke. I would trade the bed space for a proper spare like the f150 and a frunk like the f150

 

[hemiarch]

The cybertruck frunk is a joke. I would trade the bed space for a proper spare like the f150 and a frunk like the f150

You’d also have to accept a retro design that pointlessly has a large front end able to accommodate an ICE which is fine but in my opinion not worth the other compromises.
Appears the Tesla engineers agree.
I agree a spare would have been a better feature in an off-road capable truck than a sub trunk.

 

[REM]

If it was say 2 feet shorter and maybe a bit smaller overall it would have been considered by us.

Why is the length of the vehicle such a deal breaker?

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