I am very interested in a Model 3, but I keep waffling back and forth between RWD and AWD. They both offer very distinct advantages, and although I have seen some folks wish to upgrade to AWD, I haven't seen anyone wishing they would have chosen RWD.
As I see it, here are the advantages of RWD:
- Longer Range, 325 versus 310 (advertised)
- Greater overall efficiency
- Lighter steering, more nimble feel
- An immediate $4200 savings ($4k+tax)
And here are the advantages of AWD:
- 1/2 second faster to 60 mph
- Greater acceleration, especially at high speeds
- Improved traction for starting in wet or snow
I live in snow and cold country (Wisconsin), so I would be running dedicated snow wheels/tires on either car during the winter. That said, I am not worried about getting stuck with a RWD, as I have driven primarily 2WD cars without issue over my last 35 years of driving. But, being new to EVs, I fully admit to having some range anxiety, and am slightly worried about range in the winter, making it a bit difficult to justify paying over $4k for less range, even if it is only about 5% less.
So other than the differences I have noted above, are there any other reasons why I should pick one drivetrain over the other? I keep telling myself that the RWD is fine for my needs, and honestly, I was really impressed with the overall traction during a recent drive of a MR RWD in the rain. However, I am really curious about the AWD, and I wonder if I would ultimately prefer it. I am planning a comparison test drive of the RWD vs AWD in the sprig. Is there anything else I should be observant of during these drives?
Thanks for your feedback in advance!