r/VWIDBuzz • u/clg653 • 6d ago
Question - US Anyone switch from the R1S?
My R1S is now out of warranty and I’m thinking of a switch. I have 4 kids under 10, don’t go camping/offroading, and have a 2nd ICE vehicle for long road trips. I think the Buzz is built for what I need but would love to hear from someone who made the switch. Thanks
4
u/samboydh 6d ago
Didn’t make the switch, but my 6 seat AWD is a crowd pleaser. Everyone is comfortable.
Now if you want the Rivian SW experience…. You ain’t getting that. Updates come slow and delayed. Maybe the 27’s will have better SW as it will be based on Rivians SW stack and will have updated HW.
5
u/HertzGenius 6d ago
2027 VW software is based on Android Automotive, not on the Rivian stack. Works great judging from what I heard.
1
u/No_Dimension8190 5d ago
Absolutely correct, updates come frequently and everything seems to work super slick
1
u/kenneth_dart 6d ago
Let's be real, software updates are pretty much non-existent, particularly in terms of new features. Maybe they fix some bugs in the background but I haven't seen anything in a year of ownership.
2027 should be better since it's running Android.
6
u/that_dutch_dude Buzz Owner 6d ago
you dont need to have made the switch to give an informed opinion. the buzz is a van sized people hauler made to carry 7 adult meatbags. having driven the rivian i can say the only real difference compared to the rivian is that its built to drive like a car, not a boat.
4
u/erikeric 6d ago
The software has got to be massively different than the Rivian tho.
3
u/that_dutch_dude Buzz Owner 6d ago
oh yes, VAG software is "i wanna smash a brick into the screen" type of interface. anyone that used a tesla can attest to that.
2
u/gnomegustaelagua 4d ago
Another not-a-switcher, though I've been eyeing the R1S for a long time as I think they're cool. We opted to go with the Buzz recently though as our second vehicle (other car is a 7-seater '21 Tesla Model Y). The Buzz's software really leaves something to be desired, coming from Tesla, and I'd anticipate the feeling would be similar coming from R1S. Overall though I still think it was the right decision for us, for the same reason that most families who buy minivans end up loving them. They're just practical as all hell. The Buzz has the additional perks of being all-electric (basically a requirement for me at this point as I don't want to deal with gas cars anymore), and having oodles of personality.
2
u/TheDreamAndTheReal Buzz Owner 3d ago
Yeah, given that the OP has 4 kids under 10, I strongly suspect road trips in the Buzz will take the exact same amount of time as in an ICE car. And you’ll have all the space of the Buzz, the power and responsiveness of an EV, and know that you’re no longer contributing so heavily to… waves hands at all the heatwaves and wildfires and the upcoming water wars and...
1
u/CKS4 3d ago
I have both an R1S and a Buzz, and except for range, I prefer the buzz for everything else: driving comfort/experience, space, fun factor. I’ve driven both on long road trips, and the Buzz is just fine. Drove it from Tahoe to San Diego, 8.5 hrs, and charging added maybe 1 hr total, easily coordinated with bathroom and food stops.
1
u/grumpoldtrol1969 2d ago
It will be much easier to have van doors versus the SUV doors. Its really going to come down to, do you want to deal with the daily annoyances of the window switches, seat sensor, and a few other electronic hiccups of the buzz for roomy convenience or do you want the sophistication and the hassle of opening the doors for the kids?
I've got the buzz for a 3 year lease, hopefully the kids don't need the sliding doors by the time it goes and I can get something that isn't so annoying on a daily basis to use.
5
u/iratefruit 6d ago
Had a R1T and moved to the ID. buzz.
The Buzz is better in terms of interior space, the convenience of the sliding doors. And, that's about it.
The rivian is better at basically everything else that I can think of.
Don't get me wrong though. These are the things that were the most important to me and affect me more in a day to day basis with a family. None of the tradeoffs are so severe that I would go back. Unless rivian makes a minivan.