Beast vs. Premium AWD

[hemiarch]

I'm a grey haired guy and have a beast. I always need more COWBELL!!

Just so long as you’re putting your pants on one leg at a time.

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[MCA]

I have the 25 PAWD it’s a 796xxx Vin # zero issues the cant rails are perfect. The right qualities is superb! Tesla gave me a great trade in offer! So I ordered the beast 05/28 even if the offer is close at pickup there’s $4000 tax benefit there Also. at this point for me it’s a no-brainer.

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

$20k MAYBE if it also came with 1.5-2x the battery size...
$20,000 for 1 more motor... nahh. not for me.

I'll stick with the good enough one, and invest the difference.

 

[Fodderof4]

If you have to ask. Get the AWD.

 

[TyPope]

AWD. Maybe Tesla will make the acceleration package available in the future.

What if they did that for the beast, too? whoa

 

[TyPope]

$20k MAYBE if it also came with 1.5-2x the battery size...
$20,000 for 1 more motor... nahh. not for me.

I'll stick with the good enough one, and invest the difference.

That's a fair and rational decision. I wouldn't consider it a fun decision. Nor is an investment a guaranty. Nothing wrong with preparing for the future but since I'm where I want to be in that regard, I'm not going to wait for an investment to pay off in the future when this one pays off every day. I measure this decision in smiles per mile.

 

[2me]

Cyberbeast vs Premium AWD – Is the Beast REALLY Worth ~$20K More Long Term?

Looking for some real-world owner feedback from people who have lived with either or both.

I recently drove a 2026 Premium AWD and honestly really liked it. Plenty fast, comfortable, practical, and seemed like a strong overall package.

Then I drove a Cyberbeast… and wow. The acceleration and overall experience were pretty incredible. The performance side definitely got my attention.

A little about me / how I buy vehicles:

I’m not someone who flips vehicles often. I bought a 2021 Model Y, kept it a long time, maintained it well, and generally tend to buy and hold vehicles for years. I’m trying to think through this from a long-term ownership perspective, not just “what is fun on a test drive.”

A few things about my use case:

- I do not plan on towing much.
- Mostly daily driving, road trips, normal truck use, and enjoying the vehicle.
- I tend to keep vehicles awhile, so long-term satisfaction matters a lot.
- Performance is fun and important to me, but I also think a lot about value, practicality, ownership experience, and long-term cost/value equation.

One important clarification: money itself is not really the issue here. I can make either one work financially.

My bigger question is simply:

> Is the Cyberbeast truly worth roughly ~$20K more than the Premium AWD over long-term ownership?

That’s really what I’m trying to figure out.

Some of the things I’m considering:

- Do Cyberbeast owners still love the Beast after the honeymoon phase?
- Do any Beast owners wish they would’ve saved the money and gone Premium AWD instead?
- For Premium AWD owners — do you ever regret not getting the Beast?
- How meaningful is the extra performance after living with it for awhile?
- Ride quality, efficiency, range, tire wear, maintenance, daily usability differences?
- If you keep vehicles for years, does the Cyberbeast premium continue to feel justified?
- Any regrets either direction?
- If you had to buy again today, which would you choose and why?

I know the Beast is a blast — I felt that immediately — but I’m genuinely trying to determine whether the extra performance and ownership experience justify the additional ~$20K over time, especially for someone who tends to keep vehicles for quite awhile.

Would love to hear from current owners, especially anyone who has driven both or seriously cross-shopped the two before buying.

Thanks!

 

[2me]

Cyberbeast vs Premium AWD – Is the Beast REALLY Worth ~$20K More Long Term?

Looking for some real-world owner feedback from people who have lived with either or both.

I recently drove a 2026 Premium AWD and honestly really liked it. Plenty fast, comfortable, practical, and seemed like a strong overall package.

Then I drove a Cyberbeast… and wow. The acceleration and overall experience were pretty incredible. The performance side definitely got my attention.

A little about me / how I buy vehicles:

I’m not someone who flips vehicles often. I bought a 2021 Model Y, kept it a long time, maintained it well, and generally tend to buy and hold vehicles for years. I’m trying to think through this from a long-term ownership perspective, not just “what is fun on a test drive.”

A few things about my use case:

- I do not plan on towing much.
- Mostly daily driving, road trips, normal truck use, and enjoying the vehicle.
- I tend to keep vehicles awhile, so long-term satisfaction matters a lot.
- Performance is fun and important to me, but I also think a lot about value, practicality, ownership experience, and long-term cost/value equation.

One important clarification: money itself is not really the issue here. I can make either one work financially.

My bigger question is simply:

> Is the Cyberbeast truly worth roughly ~$20K more than the Premium AWD over long-term ownership?

That’s really what I’m trying to figure out.

Some of the things I’m considering:

- Do Cyberbeast owners still love the Beast after the honeymoon phase?
- Do any Beast owners wish they would’ve saved the money and gone Premium AWD instead?
- For Premium AWD owners — do you ever regret not getting the Beast?
- How meaningful is the extra performance after living with it for awhile?
- Ride quality, efficiency, range, tire wear, maintenance, daily usability differences?
- If you keep vehicles for years, does the Cyberbeast premium continue to feel justified?
- Any regrets either direction?
- If you had to buy again today, which would you choose and why?

I know the Beast is a blast — I felt that immediately — but I’m genuinely trying to determine whether the extra performance and ownership experience justify the additional ~$20K over time, especially for someone who tends to keep vehicles for quite awhile.

Would love to hear from current owners, especially anyone who has driven both or seriously cross-shopped the two before buying.

Thanks!

 

[John Helms]

Like you, I struggled with this decision before I got my 2025 premium all-wheel-drive.

Finances were not an issue either.

What tipped the scales for me in favor of the AWD and not the beast was the excessive motor wine from the front because of the extra motor.

I’m getting my 2025 AWD bought back and replaced with a 2026. During the 45+ days my vehicle has been in service centers. I’ve had multiple opportunities to drive 24 and 25 cyber beast.

They still have that front motor whine especially during regen braking, which I just cannot stand quite honestly. YMMV.

Given the fact that I rarely will be launching the vehicle and the fact that the all-wheel-drive version realistically gets from 0 to 60 in 3.9 to 4 seconds. It’s way faster than I ever drive. And the top speed is about the same for both roughly 114 miles an hour which I’ve verified both.

So for me, it was a mechanical issue with the motor noise.

Couldn’t justify spending $20,000 more to be annoyed daily during normal commute up to 80 miles an hour, etc.

 

[John Helms]

If you genuinely don’t care about acceleration and will never launch it then get the PAWD. Get some powerwalls or something!

That being said, I love everything about the AWD but the novelty of the acceleration has worn off for me and there has been moments I wanted more.

The rational me is fine though!

Plus- tires! The beast is even more hungry

Well, if I’m posting on the right message. I have a 24 all-wheel-drive cyber truck and I love it. I’ve looked at the cyber beast and rode in one basically the same vehicle except one is a rocket and other one is just a jet fighter plane, both are plenty fast. I have a 24 model three which I enjoy honestly the truck is more of my wife’s than mine other than the accessories you get with the cyber beast I can’t see spending $20,000 extra unless you’re figuring in the additional equipment that comes with the cyber beast I enjoy the quiet smooth ride planning a trip to Washington DC for the July 4 holiday FSD is nice on both my cars. But to answer your question which one to buy it comes down to which one do you want? Good luck

 

[c379776]

Nice thread. Just changed my order to CB with armor.

 

[MM-eTech]

I had the same dilemma when placed an order for CT back in April. I liked the acceleration on CB, but the motor noise was really annoying! I got to test drive both CB and PAWD for few hours each, both 2026 models, motor noise difference is significant between 2 models. I ordered the PAWD. If it was not for the motor noise, I would seriously consider CB, just for occasional fun!

 

[hemiarch]

Well, if I’m posting on the right message. I have a 24 all-wheel-drive cyber truck and I love it. I’ve looked at the cyber beast and rode in one basically the same vehicle except one is a rocket and other one is just a jet fighter plane, both are plenty fast. I have a 24 model three which I enjoy honestly the truck is more of my wife’s than mine other than the accessories you get with the cyber beast I can’t see spending $20,000 extra unless you’re figuring in the additional equipment that comes with the cyber beast I enjoy the quiet smooth ride planning a trip to Washington DC for the July 4 holiday FSD is nice on both my cars. But to answer your question which one to buy it comes down to which one do you want? Good luck

So, what additional equipment do they come with now if you choose CB? Do you still get all the FS mats, D rings, shade, and other stuff? Lightbar? PowerShare gear?

 

[HRP783]

Go with PAWD
Take that extra and buy space x ipo next week.
thank me in a few years

 

[John Helms]

So, what additional equipment do they come with now if you choose CB? Do you still get all the FS mats, D rings, shade, and other stuff? Lightbar? PowerShare gear?

As to what the actual gear is that you receive when you purchase a new cyber truck I don’t know. I would like to know I guess that’s another question for Grok, but initially there was quite a bit of equipment that came with the truck, including the ability to use it for battery backup for your house which is a big deal. A Generac generator runs about 15 or $20,000 now as far as I know, I have one of them also good question when you find out posted up here or I will.

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