Today is a “numbers video”—we finally have the official buyback figures from Tesla for our Model X Plaid, and we’ve made a final decision on the fate of our Rivian R1T.
After a lot of back-and-forth, some “mixed emotions” at CarMax, and a few late-night spreadsheets, the roadmap for the SherwinM fleet is finally clear.
The Model X Plaid Buyback Numbers
Tesla has officially provided the offer for the Plaid buyback. Here is the technical breakdown of the deduction:
- Usage Fee Deduction: ~$9,700.
- Mileage Basis: They calculated the deduction based on 12,500 miles, which was the odometer reading when the vehicle first went in for its major steering rack replacement.
While Abby considered getting a lemon law lawyer, I’ve advised against it. Under California law, a voluntary buyback is often faster and less risky than arbitration. Plus, I’m ready to be done with the headaches—I even recently spotted a mysterious black fluid leaking from the rear motor area in my garage. It’s time for the Plaid to go.
The Rivian R1T Appraisal Quest
To see if we could realistically transition into a Cybertruck, I took the R1T to CarMax and Carvana for appraisals. My 2023 Dual-Motor Performance has roughly 7,300 miles.
The numbers were… disappointing:
- CarMax Offer: $50,000.
- Carvana Offer: $53,500.
- Current Lease Buyout: $68,514.
That leaves us with about $15,000 in negative equity. Even with my $4,500 in Tesla referral credits and the current $2,000 Cybertruck loyalty discount, we would still be “lighting money on fire” to make the switch.
Why We’re Keeping the Rivian (For Now)
I’ll be honest: I had a moment of “mixed emotions” when I saw a Cyberbeast being delivered at the Upland Tesla center. But at the end of the day, I love my Rivian. The community, the off-road capability (shoutout to our recent Death Valley trip!), and the utility of the truck are unmatched.
The Plan:
- Surrender the Model X Plaid: We are moving forward with the buyback to downsize the fleet.
- Keep the R1T: We’ll continue the lease and enjoy the truck for what it is—a versatile, adventure-ready machine.
- Keep the Model Y Performance: It’s a great daily driver and its resale value has plummeted so much ($25k range) that it makes more sense to keep it than sell it.
Fleet Technical Status
| Vehicle | Final Decision | Reason |
| Tesla Model X Plaid | Surrender (Buyback) | Service fatigue & $9,700 usage fee. |
| Rivian R1T | KEEP | $15k negative equity & high personal enjoyment. |
| Tesla Model Y Perf | KEEP | Low market value / High utility daily. |
| Future Target | Rivian R2 / Juniper | Awaiting next-gen hardware in 1-2 years. |
Final Thoughts: Happy Spouse, Quiet House
Abby hasn’t officially signed the surrender paperwork yet, but we are on the same page [20:09]. Surrender day will be bittersweet because we wanted the Model X to work, but the “mental fatigue” isn’t worth it [13:00].
For now, the SherwinM channel remains a Rivian and Model Y channel! I’ll continue to bring you the best in EV off-roading and technical reviews.
Watch the full buyback and appraisal breakdown here
