Do you regret buying a RWD Model S?

[BrianS85]

I’ve never owned an AWD car so I don’t have anything to compare it to. My RWD S85 does fine the 10 days a year it rains here in San Diego. I had no preference when it came to the Dual motor but I figure it’s one less expensive thing that can break.

 

[abasile]

We live in the Southern California mountains, up near the ski resorts, and our RWD S85 does well in the snow. Having driven Dual Motor Model S cars as service loaners, I'm still quite happy with our "classic" RWD car.

That being said, in California, the authorities usually require either AWD or snow chains when there's snow on the main mountain highways. I hate having to (mostly unnecessarily) use chains on the Model S! Therefore, I'm glad our family chose to hold out for AWD when we bought our Model 3 last year. We just received over two feet of snow and the AWD Model 3 has enabled us to breeze through the chain control checkpoints. But I don't think this will be a consideration in the UK.

 

[Atlantan]

I have both. RWD and AWD. I prefer RWD; it feels like you're being 'pushed'. AWD... feels like you're being 'pulled'.

.

I concur with this....the feeling of getting pushed with a RWD induction motor with no torque ripple experience is quite fun. I don't regret it a bit.

Cheers

 

[dalepearson]

Thanks for the continued comments gents.
I am going to look at a RWD model today and take for a test drive.

 

[scottm]

RWD can turn off traction control. Which is necessary sometimes to get moving from standstill on ice. Believe it or not.

AWD launch better on ice, with no need for traction disablement.

RWD have slightly quieter cabin, no front motor whine.

AWD have more even tire wear, with less need for wheel rotations.

RWD seem to have more robust front suspension arms, and no front CV shaft issues (obviously).

RWD (pre-facelift) have an oddly inaccessible 12v battery, which might need replacements.

RWD is a bit more of a driver's car, if you like that kind of involvement.

AWD is a more foolproof drive, correcting of your errors.

AWD are more fuel efficient, in model S.

 

[dalepearson]

Cheers gents. I put down a deposit on a RWD model today

 

[kev1n]

i have both

i can say that the RWD is more fun to drive

they both have different driving style and i wouldnt say one is superior over the other (excluding obvious reasons where AWD is needed for certain weather conditions)

 

[Vinc]

Cheers gents. I put down a deposit on a RWD model today

You won’t regret it.

I own a 2014 RWD and got to drive a brand new AWD for a week as a loaner. OMG was it noisier than my 5 year old car! If you don’t really need it, AWD is totally skippable.

 

[scottm]

Cheers gents. I put down a deposit on a RWD model today

Good move. What one did you go for? (year/specs!)

 

[SSedan]

Late to the game here but I live near Green Bay WI high today was cold enough the salt was doing nothing to the snow that fell yesterday. Yes so cold salt won't melt snow. Happy with my 2014 P85, coworker has a RWD Model 3 and a much longer drive than I and did buy snow tires and LOVES the car.
RWD is fine on snow so long as it isn't too hilly or terribly deep, those who say otherwise just are not good driver's.

 

[dalepearson]

Went for a November 2017 Model S in Midnight Silver with 19" alloys (I really wanted 21's but will get them later).
Its got AP2 enabled, pano roof, latest revision rear seats, sub zero pack, premium sound, air suspension, carbon interior.

I think thats the important things. Should collect in a weeks time.

Hopefully its an uncorked version Not the end of the world if not, the weather was terrible so didn't do any enthusiastic driving.

 

[ucmndd]

Went for a November 2017 Model S in Midnight Silver with 19" alloys (I really wanted 21's but will get them later).
Its got AP2 enabled, pano roof, latest revision rear seats, sub zero pack, premium sound, air suspension, carbon interior.

I think thats the important things. Should collect in a weeks time.

Hopefully its an uncorked version Not the end of the world if not, the weather was terrible so didn't do any enthusiastic driving.

Was Tesla still making 75 RWDs in November 2017? I thought they discontinued them a couple months before that. Interesting.

If it's really that late of a build, it should be uncorked.

 

[dalepearson]

Well thats when it was registered, not sure on the actual build date.

 

[jerry33]

My 85S is six years old and 120K miles. Still great (other than that awful V9).

 

[dark cloud]

Late to the game here but I live near Green Bay WI high today was cold enough the salt was doing nothing to the snow that fell yesterday. Yes so cold salt won't melt snow. .

That was how Mr. Fahrenheit chose his scale; the point at which the ammonium chloride-brine solution did not freeze is where he started the scale at 0 degrees F.

i have both
i can say that the RWD is more fun to drive

yeah, I have to turn off the traction control to have fun. Everytime I reach for the touchscreen when it is snowing my wife pipes up "JUST DON'T!"
damn her.

 

[SSedan]

-9f this morning, biggest winter complaint about my rwd S is windows freezing, happens on everything, just a bigger hassle with the frameless windows. A winter package heat strip would be amazing.

 

[islandKongen]

Not a second. I went from a 4motion 2012 VW Passat and has never looked back. Living deep in the rural parts of Norway where snow is present of the better part of half the year and hasn't experienced any problems. Important factor to this is proper snow tires. I run studless Yokohoma tires.

 

[jerry33]

Most of the vehicles seen in the ditch are AWD.

 

[Agassi]

I love my RWD Model S. I have my reasons documented here:

Tesla Model S 75 Rear Wheel | Agassi Tesla

 

[dark cloud]

Most of the vehicles seen in the ditch are AWD.

Yup. And most of the people passing me by 15 km/h on the highway yesterday in the snowstorm were 17-25 years olds, many of them with a new driver green "N" on the back of their AWD vehicle.