Recent content by PMurphy

RE Rivian software support: the sudden pivot to EREV (not a current Rivian product line or engineering strength) apparently slowed the immediate delivery of technology to VW. I am sure the R2 timing didn’t help. VW is struggling with electrified vehicle tech like the other OEM’s. For better...

Well, over the weekend Jeep announced the release of a limited edition 392 CI Willy’s model. I was debating whether to jump on it or wait for my Scout. Looks like my ICE days will end in a blaze of spent hydrocarbons. Our Scout day will come. We knew this was going to be a hard pull to get...

The Brick Red/Black leather interior of the Sea Mist Blue Traveler looked better for me than the light tan on the original design mules. Would still like a decent quality black cloth option for my intended uses.

TEMPTING but I can’t buy a vehicle that I can’t stand to look at. Personal opinion I know but Rivian, could you give us an optional headlight option?! Please! I want to support you but just can’t.

This is part of the reason that the insurance companies are quick to total the vehicle which NEVER benefits the owner. Of course this leads to higher insurance rates on EV’s . Before I make the leap on ordering the scout will need to get a quick insurance quote?!

As I recall the original Scout ceased business when the workers went on strike and made demands that IH obviously couldn’t sustain. There’s a message in that history for both sides. Labor costs are important (though saw a article that set actual cost of labor to build a vehicle was around $3k)...

At least dealer franchise laws are typically created and enforced at the state level. More confident in having.a say at the state level. If needed better chance of finding a workaround when there is a patchwork of rules to deal with.

NOT at all conceding pivot to VW dealer distribution. Graz has emerged as a vehicle assembler for multiple manufacturers in Europe. No reason Scout factory floor space and even drive trains can’t be shared (ala Honda Prologue/GM) for a price. Not sure $60k Scouts are going to cash flow without...

I think the answer to the questions about what powertrain Scout builds when lie in the recent article RE the rapidly inflating price of building the factory ($3B?). Build what the customer orders while maximizing cash flow ASAP (including a parallel production line for an Audi SUV if that...

RE keeping the ICE engine loose and operating: a prior post mentioned that the GM Volt did routinely automatically start the engine and run it to check systems, keep everything loose and prevent year old fuel from being an issue. I assume a similar system is planned for Scout.

There is a thread named “Towing Range with Scout EREV vs EV…” and another about “charging rate at idle” that have some estimates but it’s all a guess right now. The scenario you explained is the real world. May have to wait for actual road test results to have any real answers. To look at past...

Body shops are a whole other issue I didn’t think much about (until you need one!). Locally many dealers have affiliated with large chain body shops vs having their name on the sign. This might(?) help with access to technology/training. Access to parts is still the bottleneck. Hoping Scout is...

This is a tough question. I will not pay a “market adjustment” to a dealer. I will not pay for paint/interior magic sprays, tire-wheel packages etc. that are pre-applied/installed and added as a mandatory price mark up (sounding familiar to anyone?). IF the vehicle is less than 100% of what I...

Just stumbled on this article describing how the predominance of Harvester orders supports the VW dealers argument that EREV’s don’t qualify for the “electric vehicle” exemption to dealer franchise laws?! Who knows how this will play out BUT if Scout loses the case we may have helped the...

150k reservations is a strong endorsement of what Scout is trying to do RE BEV vs ERV: IF I need the EREV to justify buying a Scout I think I will keep what I have now (full disclosure I ordered BEV). Need to feel/hear how EERV operates in person and what the required maintenance entails...