Not sure how I feel on this one - HOA bans Rivian owner from parking in his own drive

https://www.thedrive.com/news/rivian-r1t-owner-targeted-by-hoa-for-parking-in-their-driveway


So I’m conflicted here.

Obviously I think it’s ridiculous a HOA can tell you you can’t own a truck - and hate HOAs with a passion to start.

But then it’s one less place in the world welcoming an EV owner and that just warms my heart. Plus - it just shows you when you buy a place in a development - READ WHAT YOUR AGREEING TO ACCEPT.

I’m 100% sure the rules were there for the owner to view - and they just assumed either they weren’t enforcing them - or that for what ever reason rules didn’t apply to them. Legally - pretty easy case to win/lose - show the precedent was set of allowing OTHERS to own/park trucks in their drive overnight - or be prepared to live by the rules that have otherwise been accepted by everyone else.

I mean legality is what it is - a contract was made - provided to the owner and they agreed to accept the terms. Unless they violate Federal/State protected classes (truck owner ain’t one) - then your bound by it. Same as an association barring open carry - if you can’t live by the rules - don’t buy there. I know I’d certainly not buy into a restrictive community (regardless of what it was) - but walking into a community like this in Florida and telling them they are wrong and to change the rules is not a smart move - people live to make up rules and enforce them and being an ass about it just reinforces that position.

 

HOA rules suck and they are generally enforced by wanna be dictators but if the owner agreed to the covenants and restrictions then there really isn't any room to bitch. All you can do is either move or live with it. Sometimes an HOA will try to enforce rules that don't exist in writing and that's about the only time where an owner can fight back.

 

So reading the article, it sounds like it's not the motor that's the cause of issue, but that it's a truck. IMO, if they have an enforced blanket ban on all trucks/on-frame SUVs then I think it's fair if he can't park there. However, if down the road there's an F150/Tahoe/etc parked in the driveway then this seems pretty crummy.

Regardless seems pretty silly to say you can't park a truck/SUV in your driveway... lol HOAs.

 

So he bought a house with a rule against parking pickups in driveways and now is complaining he cant park his fancy pants truck in his driveway? Sounds like the rivian owner is a karen

 

Those rules were written decades ago when most pickup trucks looked like crap and they didn’t want gardeners parking their beat up trucks with lawnmowers in the bed in their community. Which is a valid point. It wasn’t meant for $100k luxury vehicles that happen to have a bed. If I lived there, I’d rather see my neighbor park their Rivian in front of their house than a KIA Soul. I agree with the homeowner and I think he’ll win in court. The funniest thing is this is happening in the “Freedom” state. Lol

 

I could never live anywhere with an HOA.

The only person who gets to tell me what I can and cannot do in my own effin' house is my wife, dammit!

 

HOA’s drive me nuts. That said, they have a purpose, and in the neighborhood I used to live in did a reasonable job or protecting property values of most peoples greatest asset, the value of their home. This is the ultimate goal of the HOA. They are a necessary evil in some places regardless of how I feel about them or what kind of people tend to be drawn to their ranks.

EV’s have their issues for sure. Their biggest issue is that to some extent they are trading one form of pollution for another. However, the current form of ICE transportation is unsustainable, for a number of reasons. EV’s have a number of advantages over ICE vehicles. They are a more efficient way to shuttle people around and “should” be lower maintenance as that have less parts due to a lower level of mechanical complication. Naturally over engineering and poor quality components play a role in this but I digress. EV’s are a market accepted step in the right direction and are one piece of a multi pronged solution to the current global air pollution crisis. It doesn’t make sense to hate in them because they are different.

As for the Rivian. Go take one for a spin, it’s a game changer. It’s as fast as a liter bike to 60, quiet, smooth, and built one hell of a lot better than a tesla (at least the one I rode in was).

 

Sounds like no court is needed. Just go to the next HOA meeting with an Amendment proposal. Would be wise to drive around the neighborhood and see if you’re the only schmoe doing it first. If you can get a little support, propose the amendment. If it passes, yay. If not, put it in the garage, sell the truck, or move. Or be the A-hole that costs your community HOA $40k to win the right to park the truck you shouldn’t have bought in your driveway.

 

A. This is FLORIDA we are talking about - it’s not like the majority of the residents down there are driving super cars. EVERYTHING they drive looks like crap - not just the trucks.

B. I’d gladly look out my window to see my neighbors nicely patina’d square body than have to stare at a damn Tesla or 3 series “luxury” car.

 

Yes - and that purpose is simply to annoy the living shit out of neighbors with telling people how THEY should enjoy THEIR property. It’s hate an HOA - will never do one again. Want to protect property values - that’s simple - move to an area with high cost of living and decent zoning regulation. Leave the task of dictating who can do what where to the government- we don’t need more over site from some local Karen elected by the 3 people who bothered to show up for a meeting on a weekday afternoon when most everyone is working.

As to Rivian - I actually like the concept - but concept is still a tad weak right now. Sure it goes like hell quickly - useful as that is - it doesn’t make a great truck for 90% of truck owners. Kinda like how manufacturers tout things like payload and torque - just because it can tow a couple of tons and hold a few cargo containers - doesn’t mean most people use it to that extent. 0-60 in 2 seconds is great - but if you never go above 40 like in city driving - then not really useful. Most people use a truck to haul family/themselves and occasionally light cargo.

My other complaint with Rivian is more the owners - just like the buyers of those “luxury” cars think that owning something “unique” makes them better - I see it with some Tesla / other EV owners. Again - not all - just some. What you spent on a vehicle doesn’t make you a smarter/better vehicle owner - it’s how much you spend modding it that shows that.

 

@Shamrock92 lol. can anybody go check on our guy here? Lotta hatin' going on.

 

Its a theme

 

When I say pickup trucks back then looked like crap I’m not talking about styling and prettiness. I’m talking about most of them were actually used as work trucks and more often than not they were beat up. You don’t have to get so defensive I’m not talking about your truck. Lol

 

What is it about the Rivian that you don't like? That it's faster and has a better payload and comparable tow capacity to the Tundra with a fraction of the cost of ownership past 40k miles?

In all seriousness, however - screw HOAs. I could never have someone else telling me where I could place my garbage bin or what trees I could plant.

 

I remember towing a Uhaul trailer down to my mother in law's Condo in Florida with my 09 Crewmax to get her moved in to find out they had a no pickup truck rule and she had to make notifications to let me slide for the week. But it was musical spots the whole time trying to keep people from bitching. 150 year old crusty So and so across the way looked out her window and got mad claiming it blocked her entire view like she looked out her huge window and saw nothing but truck, no sky, no lake. Then someone else would see it in another spot and say something. Gargantuan black pickup truck blocking the sky and destroying the neighborhood aesthetic or something was the talk of the complex all week. I was treated like I roared in in a straight piped 78 Monte Carlo on Donks with 2 18s in the truck or something. They were told I was there as a favor to her and me the wife and kid would be quiet and polite all week and then on our merry way but this didn't do much to stop the grumbling.

It was almost like they all got off on having something new to be mad about for the week.

Aside from the rules themselves I don't want to live around the types of people who gravitate most strongly to that kind of arrangement. I'd rather take my chances in non HOA neighborhoods although i guess I get why some people can be drawn to them.

Peace, quiet and control seems nice until you're all in and then realize you want to do something not allowed.

 

This person chose to buy a nice looking house in an HOA. They picked their poison, live with it

 

HOA says no trucks parked over night?

OK, great.

Sell the Rivian and buy a retired NASCAR stock car that still has the race motor in it. Vinyl wrap it so it’s not as obviously a race car.

Let those shitters enjoy Holman-Moody style boom tubes attached to a 358 cui axe murderer V8 every morning.

 

HOA's can suck big time, until you buy a house in a nice neighborhood, your neighbor dies and leave the house to his meth addicted kids and it turns into this.

That being said, Of course read the CC&R, rules and regulations. Many HOA's have strange outdated bylaws that you must abide by. If you don't agree-don't move there.

 

That’s nothing a match and 20 gallons of gasoline can’t solve.

 

dukes of hazard replicas can be purchased

 

I'll just say this, been there, done that. If you live in a town with responsive law enforcement people will find a way to get a house like that cleared out. Someone is dealing, someone has warrants, something illegal is going on. I may not like HOAs but I also don't live in places with Apathetic local law enforcement who ignore serious neighborhood problems. I try to find that middle ground.

 

I'd never live in an HOA. Thankfully, they pretty much don't exist in my town.

 

20 gallons?!? That’s ruefully irresponsible fuel consumption in a thread talking about EV’s… just stab a lithium battery and toss it in the clutter More eco friendly.

 

The good news is municipal government does not enforce HOA rules and 99% of HOAs don’t have deep enough pockets to handle a law suit.

 

What's really messed up is In most of these places you can own a full sized SUV but not a pickup. They really just don't want beater contractor rigs all over the place but there's no easy way to write an effective and consistent rule for that. So my neighbor can have a 15 year old Suburban or Tahoe and fold the seats and stuff ladders and buckets into it every morning but I can't have a 2023 Tundra Platinum or F150 Limited. Makes absolutely no sense But I guess makes them feel better.

 

Again - don’t like the rule - it’s simple - get a majority of residents to vote with you and amend the rule.

I suspect there’s more to this story though - like the complainer who had no problem sharing the complaint to media might well have already tried this and failed for some reason or another.

And again - the rule is simply no overnight parking outside - he has a garage and can park it in there without issue.

Personally it sounds to me like the homeowner and the HOA deserve each other. A complaining idiot against a group of idiots enforcing a misguided rule. To those saying “sue them” - again - for what ?? There was a rule book on file - homeowner agreed to be bound by those rules when they bought the property. You can’t sue because you don’t like the rule - you can ASK that they be amended and secure a majority of votes to support that - but again there’s a procedure here and likely a reason he hasn’t been able to do that. The courts have no business in this unless the rule was passed after without a grandfather clause or without proper notice given/opportunity for rebuttal for example.

 

I don’t hate the Rivian - like just don’t love it either - at least at it’s offered price.

Ownership cost past 40k miles ? How many Rivian’s have 40k on the clock and are for sale - seriously. I’d guess the number with that amount of mileage could be easily counted right now. I’m sure your talking “projected” resale - which as we all know is zero guarantee. What was the projected resale on Teslas a year ago and what are they selling for now with the price cuts ? As with all EV - pricing can rapidly change and change that projected resale quickly and create a nice chunk of negative equity if your carrying a note on them.

My counter to the resale argument is simple - what’s a Rivian going to sell for in 5/10/20 years versus what a Tundra sells for. 5 years in and you can easily get 50% back on a Tundra with 15k a year use - 10 you should be seeing 35% or so. That’s pretty damn good - yes - inflation plays a role - but even looking at resale data pre 2020 it was in line with that. Oh - and my 2021 Pro probably cost half new of what a Rivian sells for. Rivian might be faster and have more towing - but there’s something to be said for a slightly slower and weaker truck that will still be mechanically sound in a decade and whose owner will still have near 50k in their wallet for buying that truck vs being an early EV guinea pig.

 

My buddy was in a condo complex where the condos didnt have air conditioning. His wife was pregnant and it was a hot summer. He gets chastised for putting an AC in the window because rules. So he throws his name in during the next election, gets elected and boom...no more AC ban.

That said...F HOAs and their power drunk dictators.

 

Why would that warm your heart? I don't want an EV but I certainly don't mind if my neighbor does. The amount of childish hate that I see for electric vehicles is crazy.

Did you know that there were people back in the day that also protested against gasoline powered vehicles? That's about how ridiculous it seems to protest EV's. It's a free country. Let others live.