The Tesla Roadster is famous for being sent into space on one of Elon Musk’s rockets. It's still floating out there - opens in new window or tab.. But only about 2,450 Tesla Roadster were sold globally—between 2008 and 2012.
The 2008 Roadster that was recently offered on eBay is a prime example of the company’s first production car. At the time, the performance from its electric motor was a revelation. It zipped to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds.
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But the original Roadster was pricey—almost $100,000—and not many people could afford one. Celebrities gobbled them up. So it’s an event when a pristine used example comes on sale. This 2008 Tesla Roadster in Potomac, Md., is #451, with a $120,000 Buy-It-Now price.
Electric Cars Are Durable
The current owner, who has owned the car for a year, mainly uses it for weekend drives. It’s pre-Supercharger, so it gets topped off on a 240-volt charger or via the included 110-volt mobile connector. There are approximately 163 miles of range. The odometer reads 39,899.
The Roadster looks Road Warrior-mean in its flat gray camouflage, but you can easily remove the wrap to reveal “factory gloss paint.” The car comes with both a soft- and hard-top. Recent service at a Tesla specialty shop turned up no issues.
Given the durability of electric cars, this 14-year-old model should provide many tens of thousands of worry-free miles in the future.
A Cool History
The two primary sources of the Tesla Roadster are the Lotus Elise sports car - opens in new window or tab. from England—and the speedy AC Propulsion Tzero prototype.
The budding Tesla, before Musk, licensed the Tzero system from its maker, which had never planned for production. Although the Roadster was never going to be a big profit-maker, it proved Tesla’s ability to produce its first street-legal serial production EV with lithium-ion batteries.
The battery pack stores 53 kilowatt-hours of energy, and the motor produces 288 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. It’s low to the ground and very quick. Tesla constantly upgrades its products, so in 2014 owners were given a chance to install an improved LG Chem 70-kWh battery, an aero kit, and lower rolling-resistance tires.
The Next Tesla Roadster
A new and improved Tesla Roadster is in the works. But its release date is uncertain.
The much improved and insanely fast second-generation Tesla Roadster keeps getting delayed. At this stage, it’s entirely uncertain if it will hit the road in 2023—or ever. But if it does happen as planned, a new Roadster should be quite a vehicle.
The blueprints call for a stylish, all-electric sports car capable of zero to 60 in 1.9 seconds, with a top speed of 250 mph and 620 miles of range.
There are no factory electric top-down sports cars on the market now, though speed hunters should take a look at the hardtop Porsche Taycan - opens in new window or tab..
Meanwhile, the appreciation of this old-school Tesla Roadster suggests that buying one is a good investment. It will always be a historically significant vehicle. A Tesla service center might be able to provide ongoing support for any fixes. But is something goes missing, eBay Motors has a big supply of Tesla Roadster parts - opens in new window or tab..
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.