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Dude got into a fender-bender in his Rivian. Insurance offered $1,600. The repair bill was $42,000.
Not The Bee ^ | Jul 16, 2023 | Staff

Posted on 07/17/2023 9:29:20 AM PDT by Red Badger

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I just feel like there's some stuff they're not telling us about these electric cars...

A Rivian owner said his R1T electric pickup truck cost about $42,000 to fix after it was hit at a stoplight earlier this year, according to a report The New York Times.

Chris Apfelstadt told the publication that while he'd expected the repair wouldn't be cheap, it was a "shocking number."

The incident, which occurred February in Columbus, Ohio, was at first believed to be somewhat minor, according to the Times report, which said the other driver's insurance offered to pay about $1,600. But, after the electric car was taken to a repair shop that was certified to work with Rivian products the cost jumped to $42,000, the publication said.

Yeah I think it goes beyond that. "Shocking" is when you get the bill for dinner at La Guccia's and you find out that glass of wine cost $80. This is something else entirely.

The price tag was so high in part because the very minor accident "affected a panel that reaches from the back of the vehicle all the way to the front roof pillars of the truck," and the repair required the removal of both the ceiling and front windshield.

The extremely limited number of licensed Rivian repair centers also drives the cost up.

This is a cautionary tale, ladies and gents. If you ever find yourself ready to drop $90K on a robot-looking electric truck ... make sure you've got another half of that socked away in case someone looking at their phone bumps into you at a red light. 🤷‍♂️

Insanity. EVs are just not there yet, man.


TOPICS: Outdoors; Society; Sports; Travel
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1 posted on 07/17/2023 9:29:20 AM PDT by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger

I saw one of those things, Fugly.


2 posted on 07/17/2023 9:30:24 AM PDT by BigFreakinToad (Biden whispered "Don't Jump")
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To: Red Badger

Have you seen that Volkswagen van ad with robot driving ,they make it look like it’s just like gassing up ,no time at all to charge it ,LOL


3 posted on 07/17/2023 9:34:04 AM PDT by butlerweave
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To: Red Badger

EVs are made from the cheapest and lightest materials available to save weight and they are easily damaged, ergo, expensive to repair.


4 posted on 07/17/2023 9:35:23 AM PDT by chopperk
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To: Red Badger

Insurance companies will be adjusting their rates accordingly

Have fun suckers


5 posted on 07/17/2023 9:36:30 AM PDT by NWFree (Sigma male 🤪)
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To: Red Badger

So, did the insurance end up paying the $42,000 or total the vehicle. I’m thinking the title and content would be very different if they agreed to only $1,700 of a $42,000 bill. Then again, the level of quality and investigation of journalism today is suspect.


6 posted on 07/17/2023 9:36:42 AM PDT by Reno89519 (DeSantis 2024. Successful Governor, Honorable Veteran, Respectful, Respected.)
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To: Red Badger

Okay, the repair Bill cost was not at all startling. I’ve been reading how they’re totaling these cars for minor accidents. However what’s left out of this story is the conclusion.

Did the other insurance company up their offer? Did the vehicle get totaled? Is his insurance company suing the other driver’s Insurance Company? Did he end up walking away from the car or did he pay to have it fixed?

I don’t know why it’s so difficult for the people who write these stories to actually follow up


7 posted on 07/17/2023 9:37:51 AM PDT by ChildOfThe60s ( If you can remember the 60s.....you weren't really there..)
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To: Red Badger

The new Tesla truck is starting to roll off the assembly line. Expect expensive repairs there too.


8 posted on 07/17/2023 9:38:14 AM PDT by NautiNurse (`)
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To: Red Badger

Expect to see car fires for such vehicles in order to total them out for the insurance.


9 posted on 07/17/2023 9:39:06 AM PDT by T.B. Yoits
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To: NautiNurse

I’d be afraid to drive it.

Some nut will try to break the windows..................


10 posted on 07/17/2023 9:39:31 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: Reno89519

Yes, it’s like they write the teaser and then and then call it done.


11 posted on 07/17/2023 9:40:15 AM PDT by ChildOfThe60s ( If you can remember the 60s.....you weren't really there..)
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To: NWFree

“Insurance companies will be adjusting their rates accordingly

Have fun suckers”

The ICE driver’s insurance paid up.


12 posted on 07/17/2023 9:42:32 AM PDT by TexasGator
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To: ChildOfThe60s

I don’t know why it’s so difficult for the people who write these stories to actually follow up


It is very possible that is the current situation. Solutions don’t happen over night, they take time.

We used to know that but IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION is the common note of many these days.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-modern-brain/201909/the-real-issue-instant-gratification

This is worthy of consideration because many of the activities that promote instant gratification are linked to unhealthy behaviors.

So many here on FR want instant gratification. The battle is long and hard and worthy. Electing Trump was just the start, and we are beginning to see a lot of momentum.


13 posted on 07/17/2023 9:43:09 AM PDT by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
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To: Red Badger

Porsche and Audi are similar costs.
The Aluminum body and frame can make repairs very expensive.
That is why my Porsche is a weekend driver and I am VERY careful.


14 posted on 07/17/2023 9:43:41 AM PDT by Zathras
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To: NWFree

Insurance companies will be adjusting their rates accordingly

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

In a logical world that’s what would happen. And it’s still may. But I consider it a real possibility that the electric car wackos in the government will make a rule saying that it’s unfair to charge more to electric cars and force the insurance companies to spread that cost among the rest of us. The government can bring a lot of pressure to bear on these companies. This is what you have when you live in a regulatory state rather than a genuine Republic


15 posted on 07/17/2023 9:44:13 AM PDT by ChildOfThe60s ( If you can remember the 60s.....you weren't really there..)
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To: PeterPrinciple

Your point is well taken, however if it is indeed the fact that some of this stuff is still pending that should be noted in the article. So no I’m not asking for instant gratification I’m asking for properly written story.


16 posted on 07/17/2023 9:45:28 AM PDT by ChildOfThe60s ( If you can remember the 60s.....you weren't really there..)
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To: Red Badger

Stick finger in flame...
Expect painful result...


17 posted on 07/17/2023 9:49:49 AM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is the next Sam Adams when we so desperately need him)
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To: Red Badger

Stupid guy. Don’t these people do their due diligence before making outrageously expensive purchases?


18 posted on 07/17/2023 9:51:06 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam
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To: Red Badger

This is just very poor design with no attention paid to ease of repair or maintenance.

The same was true oF some ICE cars where to replace the spark plugs you almost had to take the engine out.


19 posted on 07/17/2023 9:53:19 AM PDT by aquila48 (Do not let them make you "care" ! Guilting you is how they control you. )
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To: MayflowerMadam

I see Teslas and others every day. But this is an ‘upscale’ area, so there are a lot of people with more money than good sense.................


20 posted on 07/17/2023 9:57:33 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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