I don't need the extra 70something range, nor all wheel drive, so the extra $9,000 isn't worth it to me.
If that "sometimes" 100 mile trip is 100 miles 1 way, then you definitely would benefit from the longer range. As indicated, the charging range of an EV for "optimal" battery health is something like 90% to 20%. EPA range is driving like 55 MPH, which unless you spend most of your driving in traffic, your not driving that speed in california. Since you mention you are retired, it likely means that you can go places "when you want to" so likely avoid traffic when you can.
Driving at 70-75, with heat on in the winter ( you will likely still use heat in winter, and in a model 3 it directly effects range), and the standard "battery degradation" of around 5% that will occur in the first year mean your "effective" range is in the 150 range. You can charge to 100% for trips, but you wont want to charge to 100% all the time.
While my own model 3 is the performance model , and I have the full self driving option on my car (and think its "worth it"), If the choice was between the standard autopilot the car comes with and spending the money for more engine, or buying FSD, I would pick the engine 100 times out of 100. Full disclosure though, I like cars with some speed to them.
I think the "engine" (battery) is worth the money before FSD. I think both are worth it, but if I had budget to only choose 1 thats the one I would choose.
I also find it interesting that tesla is telling you they can hold your order until next year. They likely are putting you on a do not deliver list or something, but will this really protect you from price changes for that long? I dont know tesla's policies on such a thing, but most places would not let you hold a price for 7 months.
In any case, welcome to TMC. This place is generally friendly, but there are a few hot button items that get people riled up (just like any place people gather all the time to discuss things). One of them here is "Is full self driving worth it?"
Another is " why does my car only show 210 miles when I purchased 240 miles range??? its only 8 months old????"
Still another is " I only drove 8 miles, why does my car show that it lost 22 miles range?????"
All variations on the same thing of "lost" range. Everything in the car uses "range", and some more than others. Turning on the sentry mode takes 1-2 miles of range an hour, for example.
With this car, one can purchase the full self driving add on at any time, but you cant change the battery (range), just like in a regular car, you can typically change / add options, but a 4 cylinder vs 6 cylinder choice is not generally changed after purchase, at least not until someone is doing motor swaps on old cars.
Good luck with your decision(s).
