New Car Decision - Model 3 vs R2

The Model 3 has a proven track record. Buying a new Model of any vehicle of any company is always a crap shoot imho.  These are two different classes of vehicles. But I always say the supercharging network just works and is so easy for a Model 3. The trunk is pretty good as is the space to sit.  Regarding the Rivian I’m pro electric all around, you probably won’t get an R2 anytime soon based on availability and ramp up of production.

R2 or MY makes more sense.

My question is, how old are you?  I know you don’t have a specific need for space, but the model y has more to offer than that.  I’m asking about your age because getting in and out of a car as low as the model 3 gets old really fast. Also if you are the kind of person that keeps the car for a long time, you might appreciate the higher ride in 5 years time.  From a person that got the model 3 but loves the juniper that runs in the family for the reason I stated earlier.

The Model 3 is not low. It’s higher than a standard sedan. You’re talking about it like it’s a Porsche RS or a Lotus.

Exactly

Very interesting and didn’t think of that. I am 38. I had a BMW sedan that was very low to the ground and I loved it but every person that rode in it seemed to hate getting in and out. I prefer to drive cars for as long as possible.

R2: I'm a RIVIAN fan boy. But without bullshitting anyone, let's start with buying a vehicle that spends less miles driving to the service center than actual daily driving. Let's have enough service centers to do necessary repairs. How about having repair replacement parts available. How about not having months long wait times. How about not having to rent your own vehicle when your $100k+ Rivian is not operable.. If not on immediate reservation ( already owning a RIVIAN, you will not be able to buy an R2 till likely early 2028. Model 3: only if you are single, never drive friends and live where there are no uneven road conditions and speed bumps. Seriously, great looking but limitations. Model Y Performance: The winner! Plenty of room for your stuff. Ability to have backseat passengers. Enough speed and fun to drive. Tesla makes a reliable, enjoyable vehicle. Miles ahead of any other FSD competitor.

You are right, apologies, there are ofc lower riding cars compared to the model 3. Subjectively speaking though the height difference between the model 3 and model y is very appreciated by me.

Yes I was originally looking at the MY and my wife convinced me to go with the M3. I am doing test drives Saturday so I will make a more informed decision…. And she won’t be there.

I’ve been driving the model 3 since 2019, I really don’t like how the model y looks. My parents have one and my friend is getting one but I just hate the looks. So for me it would also be between a new model 3 or the R2.

Ignoring that a Model Y would be a better comparison, go R2. My model Y is a good car, but dealing with Tesla sucks. I’d much rather support Rivian now that they have a less expensive option. I wouldn’t recommend a Tesla to anyone now that there are similar offerings on the market and the R2 is probably the most exciting option.

My general rule of thumb, any newer model irrespective of brand…. I would wait out for at least 1-2 iterations before purchasing it(they usually fix any real-world issues that the first generation faces in the next ones). That is why I had to pivot to Tesla even though I was excited for the Volvo-EX30. My old car was barely pulling me through by that time and I couldn’t wait for another 1.5yrs for the next gen EX30.

This is exactly where I am. My current car is burning oil and has to get an oil change every 3k miles. I want the R2 but cannot wait.

I love the r2 look and I really like rivians cars, but the model 3 is the obvious choice. First model year of new production car, vs a mature platform with undoubtedly the best charging network integration and best support. Almost anyone’s first ev should be a Tesla at this point (unless they just dig EVs) because they have done such a great job of easing the friction and learning curve of all the new ev things. It makes the transition utterly painless and you just enjoy the car.

I sold my tesla last year. If/when I get back into an EV, it’ll be a Rivian The R2 looks awesome, and I’m really excited for the R3X Tesla is really only worth it if you care about FSD, and I don’t think FSD is worth it

Coupla thoughts. Model 3 can be purchased today and Tesla is known to offer end of quarter incentives. Rivian R2 is still vaporware, and it's usually never wise to buy the first of anything. So - can you wait a couple years for Rivian to deliver a few units and sort out the kinks? If not, you will find the Model 3 to be an outstanding commuter appliance.

Lots of people here recommending model Y. I recommend Toyota Supra.

3 hours to the nearest Rivian dealer is a dealbreaker. Seems like nobody read that part. I know you don’t need to go for maintenance but when something does go wrong spending over 6 hours to go to the dealer is insane.

To me it’s FSD vs not FSD. Drives to and from work will be so much nicer in m3 since the car will be driving you.

If $60k is your budget and you're not willing to look at a Model Y, than go with an R2. If it's Model Y vs R2, I'd say Model Y. If it's Model Y vs a, say, Gen 3 R2, I'd say go R2.

Unfortunately with our winters I cannot do RWD. I have to have AWD

[deleted]

Dude you are in TeslaLounge, of course a R2!

I have close friends with R1S and tesla MY. I have a M3 base sedan. The rivian is way nicer touch and feel, the electronics are good but not as good as Tesla. The model Y is just a taller version of the 3. The R1S is a close to initial release and has been in the shop for repairs often, but I had a few initial repairs that had to be made on my 3. For me it’s Tesla because the screen works so well, I really can’t complain much except it’s not behind the steering wheel. If off-road and looks is what your after then rivian has it.

Aaar Thuu!!

Model 3 all the way.

The hatch trunk is way more convenient to load bulkier items than the smaller sedan trunk opening. If you value more utility go for the MY. If you value sportier ride go for M3. But if you really want an SUV then go R2.

I picked up the short lived Mid battery M3 in 2018 and am about to hit 100k miles. Other than tires I've had $0 maintenance costs (well I guess a couple in cabin air filters and some wiper fluid) but am now determined to keep the car for my 14 yr old. I'm now looking at a used Model S (to get more range) or the R2. I'm going to hold out until the fall/winter and go from there.

I highly recommend getting SUV since you are married. Get Y or R2. Model 3 is great for driving but not as practical as SUVs. Personal experience.

Yep my first disqualifier is if getting in and out is too low.

Goong on a limb here but what about something else? I was looking at model y and tons of others, then ended up with a cadillac lyriq

I looked at the Lyriq and the interest rate is 7.5%. It’s .9% at Tesla and 2% at Rivian. As a result, I quit looking at Cadillac.

I know it's not on your list but get a used S-Plaid. Imo best car ever for the money.

Agree with you on that. I leased it, i dont think the ev market is mature enough i want to actually own it and deal with repairs. I managed a lease for a little under 600/mo and put 1k down to get the gm rewards back. I can understand if your going to buy it the interest is a big hit there. No chance wanting to lease something for a time? I know ill check the market in 2028 and see if its worth buying into then.

I drive too much for a lease. My commute to work each day will have me blowing through my miles.

R2. Tesla is on the downward trend. Rivian has something new and exciting and a platform where fsd might work one day because it has lidar and other sensors.

As someone who commutes...Do you know how much easier FSD will make your commute? I could sit indian style and watch youtube and over a 10 year period with no improvements...Id take the side of the car being safer.

Only 14 yrs I had 18 yrs on my 2008 Toyota Prius before my MYP.

I’m not sure why you would insert and ICE car when we are discussing EV‘s. Sports car was not mentioned.

Model 3. There's plenty of room for your golf clubs in the truck and gym bag in the frunk. Getting the long range model is enough for your commute as well. And it's just cool to drive without the hiccups of a first generation vehicle.

What do you think about the Lydia? I thought about it, but ended up getting the Model Y Performance.

Tesla M3 all day.

With a 60k budget - 2024 Model S. If going M3, get a brand 3P.

I think it’s going to be a year or two before R2 is really ready for problem free ownership. Think about the Y’s own trajectory.

Well people are throwing out model Y so I am also throwing out an irrelevant car

If I were in your position, I would buy a 2-yr old M-Y or a 3-yr old M-S. The depreciation is significant and you can get an amazing car and save a lot of money. If you decide to go the M-S route, I would suggest staying away from any model with a sunroof.

Considering the autopilot changes, I would go with the R2

Lease a Tesla so you are only locked in for a year or three. By that time the R2 will be in the real world and you can compare it to your leased Tesla experience.

If you don’t care that the R2 is ugly and can’t drive itself, you could consider it. Three hours from the nearest dealer is a problem, especially with a new model. Get the 3, since you don’t need an SUV or the headaches.

I currently own a Model 3 and I'm eyeing up a Model Y or a R3 for my next vehicle, taking any bias out of my answer (even though we're on a Tesla subreddit), I'd go with the Model Y because you'll be waiting until 2028 for the R2 if you're lucky and plus, it's a first gen product so there's going to be issues. I'm not saying the Model Y is perfect, but it's a more refined design and has been worked on for several years.

> best charging network integration R2 will have nearly the same network.

The Model Y is an R2 equivalent. If OP is considering the R2, then they might be willing to cross shop a Y.

Yeah they might want a Toyota Supra as well. Never know bro

Bro if you communte get a Tesla the standard self drive is good enough. You going to thanks yourself.

Have you thought about a used Model S? Look at late 2023 and newer so you get the HW4 package. It’s a ~$100k car going for ~$55k. Larger battery (~400 miles range) and the largest warranty Tesla offers (150,000 miles).

Nearly the same, and its navigation integration isn’t as good. All v1 and 2 superchargers won’t work with it, which is a lot of them. Even ignoring the absolutely awesome stress relief of Tesla’s fsd since that’s a stupid subscription now, Roadtrips with a Tesla are even more effortless than a gas car, every other ev they take more effort than a gas car, planning charging stops and routes. Once you are used to ev life, then rivian or other EVs can really offer a lot, and are probably worth the extra hassle if it’s something you like. But if you are new to EVs and want the easiest transition from ice that doesn’t cause the wife to be always pissed about “having to find a charger” and “always worried about the battery going dead” a Tesla 3 or Y are the clear choice.

Should be comparing the MY instead of a nearly compact car vs a CUV.

R2

Sit in each car for 30 minutes. Tesla seats are murder for taller or big people. The absolute worst. Pick a comfortable car for the time/distance you travel. Don't settle (like me) for the cool styling of Tesla. It's literally painful.

I have a 25 M3 AWD that I use as a commuter car for my 6 month seasonal ski job. I commute 170 miles round trip daily on freeway and mountain roads in winter conditions. This car is great and I find it is a nice size that makes it fun and sporty to drive. I do have a couple other larger ICE vehicles that I drive if I need more room etc. If I only had one car I’d probably opt for the MY as it offers versatility in terms of size etc. in terms of handling and sportiness the M3 hands down.

Or just say Bugatti. If it has to be a Toyota that's similar to R2, I guess RAV 4?

reminds me of the 145 page [thread](https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/2026-model-y-suspension-rattle.343652/page-145) of users complaining about suspension issues on the juniper

I’m not here to praise Rivian, but I own a 2026 R1S. While the first three months had three service visits, it’s been a solid daily driver and roadtripper ever since. They always give me Quad loaners so I was never out of a car. I have two service centers within an hour. For one service visit, they drove the hour to my house to work on it here. They’ve always had the parts, and you do not rent your own vehicle. It is all covered. My experience has been as good as Tesla and BMW. Plenty of used R1s out there if you don’t have cash to snag a new one. I can’t speak to the Y, but the R1S is as good if not better in certain ways than the 2024 MX. When there was a mountain of snow and ice next to our driveway from the plowing, I sent my R1S on AT tires over it like it was nothing. Drove around on what were mostly terrible roads with no issue. Got back, sent it again over the giant mountain of snow and ice, and it had no trouble. Haven’t driven the CT to compare, but my Rivian spends miles driving daily and in snow, ice, rain, and sleet without issue. Plus, for $100k SUV, it looks beautiful inside and the matrix headlights are great. I still like Tesla’s screens and software better, but Rivian makes a great car.

I have a 3. You can keep golf clubs in the trunk, but to fit I need to take out my driver and 3 wood, and have the bag diagonally. I wish trunk was slightly wider or deeper to better fit clubs.

If you don’t have a preorder in for an R2, you will not have a chance to buy one until at least early 2028 at this point.

The Rivian is every bit as easy as the Tesla navigation. FSD is miles ahead, but we have both and roadtripping is just as easy charging wise in an R1 vs an MX. They both work just as well as ABRP or Plugshare for in-car planning.

A+ right now kind of sucks. It’s gotten better on straight roads, but Rivian’s ADAS pre-UHF was as good if not better because of auto-lane change. We bought an R1S to complement an MX and auto-lane change has changed a little to you having to manually push the car into the next lane after which UHF picks back up. It used to be automatic. They intend to fix that, and I still like the R1S for roadtripping, but it’s nowhere near as good driving itself as HW4. However the space feels a lot bigger and it’s nicer aesthetically inside.

Get a used MY, wait for the production R2 cars to mfg at least 6 mo and then reconsider

In what world does being married require a SUV?!? I’m married and two kids, I can’t imagine the inconvenience of having to park a SUV being worth “practicality.”

This is the truth above. Buy a used HW4 model 3/Y. Biggest hit of deprecation gone allowing you to more easily trade in the Tesla towards a R2 if you want in 2028/2029.

Ahh damn ok was a thought. Im also really concerned about miles as well.

Depends! I am not saying being married  requires SUV, I am saying that SUV is better choice than Model 3.

R2 will be a game changer

With that commute I wouldn’t even consider anything besides Tesla for FSD. My commute is shorter and FSD has been a complete game changer. With that budget I’d look at used MS or M3P/MYP

Don't get the Rivian. I am a current R1S owner and looking to get into a Tesla. It's a great vehicle when it's not in the service center but in my less than 2 years of ownership this thing has spent near 50+ days in the service center. I've had big issues, small issues, and many in between. To make it worse the service center experience is laughable (both in getting an appointment and in the actual techs). Previous car was a Range Rover so I'm used to poor reliability and service center visits but damn, owning a Rivian makes me feel like the RR was a reliable, perfect car. I hope they can get their stuff together but I feel it'll take a number of years OR a buyout by a larger auto manufacturer before things get to an acceptable level.

Rivian is yet to have their “production hell”. If you’re willing to wait until end of 2027, then go R2, otherwise go with M3.

Model Y or Model Y Performance.

Should be MY vs R2 Its a tough choice since both cars are still very different. I REALLY like FSD and Tesla software in general. That will still pull me personally towards the ModelY. I really wish resla had a real SUV option that goes head to head with something like an R2. More offroad and higher off the ground. I dont want a full pickup truck. Just a nice SUV.

Get the cheapest used Model 3 with Hardware 4 (so 2024 “Highland” or after). You don’t want HW3 and don’t. need to pay up for a new anything.

Those are vastly different cars. In all honesty I can’t have a car without FSD again. This has changed my life in my drive.

Rivian stock went from $130 down to $15 currently. Just saying.

He’s going to keep the car for his child who is currently 14 years old

Why

We’ve had our 2026 Gen2 R1S for about 6 months now and it’s been rock solid, no issues. Same with our 2024 Model3 though, great car. Model 3 takes the cake for “short drives” because of FSD. Rivian is king for long road trips, UHF is pretty good in the R1S and the extra range and more importantly space are king in the Rivian. Plus the Rivian can handle snowy weather and off-roading like a champ.

R2 supports the supercharging network. Our 2026 R1S has a NACS port, not J1772.

more storage! higher seating position for old folks!

I would prefer legacy model y look over model 3 look. But I guess for each their choice.

Dual income no kids is probably the first and last time in your life where you’ll have the money to buy something because it is fun without regard to practicality and have the health and time to enjoy it. Giving that up without an actual concrete reason is throwing away something you can’t get back.

Model 3. Self driving is amazing. Just got one and it changed how you drive

If you want the car to drive itself, then Tesla is a no brainer. Nothing comes close to Tesla’s FSD

Interesting choices, MY would be more comparable to a R2, but I digress. Given how long your commute is, if I have the choice having a car without FSD is unimaginable, it will change your life in a real way. In regard to the R2, it looks nice but if you haven’t already preordered one, you probably won’t get delivery until 2027, idk if you want to wait that long.

R2 all the way, it’s just better

I'm a Rivian (R1S) and a Tesla owner (2 x 3, 2 x Y). I'm fortunate enough to be close to service centers for both. 4th Tesla in, I'm very keen to swap out my Performance Y for the upcoming R2.

Bruhh wtff… you weren’t kidding about the 147 pages 😭😭. I thought it was a joke about expected issues being a lott… but no, so much discussion about justt suspension 🫩