Electric vehicles in the United States remain so expensive that they are status symbols. The Rivian R1T is probably one of the highest rated vehicles out there; They are expensive and hard to get. Still, a Florida HOA required a homeowner that his Rivian R1T could not be parked outside. What reason could they have?
Why would an HOA tell a homeowner not to park their truck out front?
Well, according to HOA rules, “Trucks, trailers, RVs, and/or commercial vehicles of any kind are not allowed to be parked anywhere… except inside your garage during overnight hours.” “. Glenn Gordon, the Rivian R1T and home owner says that “These were written in the 1980s by Arvida, and he said there were no trucks or vans. Since then, trucks have become a popular vehicle for personal use.
According to CarScoops, the HOA in question is Weston Hills Country Club, a neighborhood just outside of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Gordon is not taking this lying down. Gordon has lived in the neighborhood for 27 years and says he’s never had a problem like it.
Do HOAs have rules about trucks?
Back in the 1980s, when the HOA rule was said to have been written, vans held a much different place in our culture. Trucks were work vehicles driven primarily by a certain perceived class of people. These days, pickup trucks are much more common as daily drivers and can also be one of the most expensive and luxurious cars in any parking lot. The Rivian R1T is the perfect example of this.
Today’s trucks are much less focused on hauling, towing and other jobs and more on just being a truck. This is what makes the HOA mad about a six figure vehicle and feel pretty weird.
The HOA president left a voicemail to Local 10 News saying, “If the gentleman had read the documents when he bought the house, he would have seen it and there’s a chance he wouldn’t have bought the truck.”
What is the real reason?
Guessing someone’s motive can be tricky. However, since it’s Florida, there’s no shortage of speculation as to why an HOA might sweat someone out for having a high-end truck (which just so happens to be electric) in their driveway. CarScoops goes further to point out that in the news there is a Kia Telluride and an old Mazada 3 also parked on the block. You’d think the Telluride would get similar heat, or at least the old Mazda 3, if it really came down to looks. I’m digressing
No matter the reason, Gordon seems hell-bent on fighting the HOA. In fact, his attorney cited a similar case in which a man sued his HOA over a similar dispute.
“Is there something that makes you get rid of that vehicle?” Gordon was asked. “No,” he said. “We’re ready to take it… It’s just wrong.”