u/WrapAggravating4511

Hey all ,

Some background info: I’m a modern car guy but not a vintage car guy.

I’m buying an ‘86 Fiero GT for my dad (it’s from a dealer in FL) and flying out of state to look at it before pulling the trigger. Dealer’s already had their own mechanics go over it, and they don’t allow third-party inspectors to touch the car — but they’re willing to put it on a lift while I’m there and take me for a test drive.

Since I’ll only get one shot at this in person, want to make sure I know exactly what to look at/listen for.

Specifically:

What should I be checking while it’s on the lift (rust spots, mount condition, leaks, etc.)?

What should I listen/feel for on the test drive that would flag engine, clutch, or trans issues?

Any GT-specific things (fastback body, Getrag 5-speed) I should double check beyond general Fiero stuff?

Any red flags in dealer-provided inspection reports I should push back on or ask more questions about?

Appreciate any input — want to go in prepared since I won’t have my own mechanic there with me.

Long-time Tesla owner here — had an M3P and two Model Y Long Ranges over the past 5 years. My most recent MYLR just got totaled in an accident, and with the insurance payout in hand, I’m seriously eyeing the R2 as my next car.

Test drove it twice and really liked what I felt in the limited time I had, but want to hear from people who’ve actually lived with one, especially those who made the jump from Tesla.

A few things I’d love this community’s honest take on:

For former Tesla owners who switched — what made you leave, and do you regret it or feel vindicated?

What does Rivian do better than Tesla, in your day-to-day experience?

What does Tesla still do better than Rivian, aside from FSD? Trying to go in with realistic expectations, not rose-colored glasses. Or things you wish Rivian offers but haven’t in a long time and don’t know why.

What should I realistically expect going from Tesla’s ecosystem/ownership experience to Rivian’s?

Popular mods — beyond the obvious organizers/all-weather mats, what are people actually doing to their R2/R1S/R1T?

Wheels/tires question — the 20”/21” wheels with beefier tires have me a little worried about cost and selection. Is aftermarket wheel/tire selection limited compared to Tesla? Any setups that meaningfully improve efficiency without wrecking ride quality?

Steering feel — I’m used to being able to adjust steering weight on Tesla. Is there any way (software or aftermarket) to tune the R2’s steering feel?

Highway driver assist — haven’t tried Rivian’s system yet. Compared to Tesla Autopilot (basic, not FSD) — is it on par for relaxed highway driving? Lane centering, adaptive speed matching to car ahead, braking for slowdowns, and does it handle emergency obstacle avoidance/lane changes at all?

Appreciate any real talk — good, bad, or “here’s what I wish someone told me before I bought it”

Thanks everyone

Hey all,

longtime lurker. Looking for some sanity check from people who’ve been through this recently.

My situation:

•	EB-2, ROW, FAD current  
•	Approved PERM PD: 9/10/2024 (not sure if this matters at this stage but throwing it in). Approved I-140 mid of March.   
•	Filed I-485 + I-485J + I-765 + I-131 concurrently on 5/17  
•	Receipt date: 5/22  
•	Two officer touches so far per third-party tracker: 6/10 and 6/16  
•	No biometrics appointment notice yet  
•	Filed via lockbox, IOE receipts (all three forms got consecutive numbers)

I keep seeing people on this sub saying they got their biometrics appointment within 2-3 weeks of filing or NOA1. I’m coming up on a month and still nothing. Starting to wonder if something’s off or if I’m just being impatient.

A few questions for the group:

1.	What’s the actual realistic biometrics scheduling timeline these days for EB-2 ROW? Is the “2-3 weeks” thing the median or just the lucky tail?  
2.	Does ASC location significantly affect timing? I’m in a high-volume metro.  
3.	Are silent case updates (officer touches with no public event code) actually meaningful or is this just tracker noise that people read tea leaves into?  
4.	Anyone here had a similar timeline and then got biometrics in week 4-6? Trying to set realistic expectations and not spiral.

Appreciate any data points or honest takes.

Thanks 🙏