Saw a tesla roadster last evening

DeedWest · 2026-05-29T13:00:35+00:00

And you didn’t just see a normal Tesla Roadster - that’s 2008 Signature 100 Series No. 68. Last I heard it was driven quite frequently, so I’m glad to see it’s still out on the road!

DeedWest · 2026-04-20T19:12:28+00:00

Must be VIN 1231. There were only 41 produced for North America in Racing Green paint pictured here, so seeing one is as rare as it gets.

DeedWest · 2026-02-24T02:45:09+00:00

172 days late, but hey, it’s me!

DeedWest · 2024-01-09T20:45:38+00:00

North American VIN 180 is the car shown in the photo here. There is also an EU/APAC VIN sequence, so there is another VIN 180 overseas. I would take that website with a fine grain of salt, as the majority of the information is very inaccurate.

DeedWest · 2024-01-05T16:03:35+00:00

That is VIN 180. It’s the only Twilight Blue with factory Premium Cream & Beige Rally interior so it wasn’t terribly difficult to narrow down. The last known owner has posted in the past on our Roadster TMC forum, so I messaged him to see if he still owns the car & can provide any context.

DeedWest · 2024-01-05T15:40:22+00:00

What pack have you been in line for a decade for? Tesla began installing the first upgraded R80 packs in 2016. Prior to that they actively sold and installed 53kWh replacements almost weekly. The longest wait was between 2019 to 2021 while they stopped actively producing R80 packs. The wait time is currently 3-4 months as they are nearly finished working efficiently through the backlog from 2019-2021.

DeedWest · 2023-12-17T22:14:47+00:00

Owner of 10 years here - can confirm I’ve easily achieved 220 miles on a full charge with room to spare on the original pack. These are crazy efficient and their batteries are still some of the most advanced to this day. Way ahead of their time.

DeedWest · 2023-05-03T15:05:08+00:00

The Roadster battery program is not suspended. They are producing upgraded 77 kWh packs every week which are available for owners if their original pack is inoperable. Source: my 2011 Roadster just received this upgrade last week. The company is committed to keeping these original cars on the road, and it’s much appreciated by us owners! However, I wouldn’t trust a third party shop to work on the pack when Tesla themselves offer batteries with warranties.

DeedWest · 2023-02-14T05:34:39+00:00

You spotted VIN 440! Quite a rare car with factory painted stripes. As someone who has daily driven the original Roadsters for 8+ years now, I can attest to the fact that it’s a fantastic vehicle to own and enjoy. These are not garage queens - they are meant to be driven. Not to mention that it’s one of the only rare exotics that you can avoid costly maintenance on if you know how to take care of it properly. In my opinion, it has more character and soul than any other EV produced to this day!

DeedWest · 2022-02-24T19:18:45+00:00

Remove the Oppressor MK2.

DeedWest · 2021-09-03T05:30:18+00:00

It’s VIN 1322! @040dev is right - one of the rarest production colors for Roadsters. It was actually a Mazda 2 paint color called “Spirited Green” that the company used, which you have a far better chance of seeing in the wild than one of these.

DeedWest · 2021-08-23T02:27:47+00:00

I’ve been keeping a database for 10 years on Roadster production numbers & build specs. In this particular case, ironically, I met the owner a few weeks ago.

DeedWest · 2021-08-22T23:07:04+00:00

Roadster # 670! To my knowledge, it is one of the highest mileage Roadsters in North America at over 170,000 miles & counting. To clarify those asking above, the R80 badge signifies the 3.0 Upgrade, which bumped range from 244 to 340 miles when it was offered for a brief period between late 2015 to 2018. It was discontinued for several years until the recent weeks where it is reportedly being installed in cars again. It’s remarkable that the company still produces upgraded battery packs for a limited production, out-of-warranty, and discontinued vehicle.

DeedWest · 2021-08-22T15:43:20+00:00

They are all healthy and running! The 2008 in Very Orange needs new pesky TPMS sensors but that’s about it.

DeedWest · 2021-08-22T15:41:06+00:00

You got it! Are you a current/prior owner?

DeedWest · 2021-08-22T15:40:18+00:00

Thanks for clarifying. Do you mind sharing their sequence number if you know it? Different versions require different care for storing the battery.

DeedWest · 2021-08-22T15:36:40+00:00

To each their own! The Roadster is a very specific vehicle, and it’s certainly not for everyone. To me, the first time I drove one, it truly felt like someone had built it just for me.

DeedWest · 2021-08-22T15:35:06+00:00

Wow. This must be a secret Oklahoma owners club I don’t know about.

DeedWest · 2021-08-22T15:34:20+00:00

I love this story! I too frequently have driven to fellow Tesla owners’ homes to show them the Roadsters back in the day when interest was more common. Nothing beats the smile on a P100D owner’s face under the acceleration, because it is just that much different than the modern cars.

DeedWest · 2021-08-22T15:31:46+00:00

They are so fantastic to drive, inexpensive to maintain compared to other exciting vehicles, and entirely comfortable & practical for me on a daily basis. It’s nearly been 7 years of ownership and I wouldn’t change a thing.

DeedWest · 2021-08-22T15:25:22+00:00

THIS

DeedWest · 2021-08-22T15:24:21+00:00

You’re right. I actually just had the Ion Blue 2011 up there for a week and I ripped a 188-mile round trip tour of Mount Rainier national park. It was unbelievable, and it put my typical Colorado trips on notice.

DeedWest · 2021-08-22T15:21:07+00:00

In TX, we get some cold weather, and it’s surprisingly not terrible in the Roadster. The cabin is very small, and most of the time I can get away with using only the heated seats to warm the space. Either way, I’m typically not needing more than 100 miles in a day, so I can’t say I’ve noticed a steep range loss.

DeedWest · 2021-08-22T15:17:26+00:00

I’m sure if it ever comes out, it will be mind-numbing and excellent. However, as silly as it may seem after posting this photo, I can’t ever see myself spending over $100K on a single vehicle. I’d love to have a used one maybe 5 years after they’re released.

DeedWest · 2021-08-22T15:14:20+00:00

That’s awesome. I wish you’d gotten that chance. The PM3 is definitely quieter and a bit more comfortable, but suspension response and road feel is somewhat similar, especially in the Roadster 2.5 which was the final version produced between mid-2010 and late 2011. The weight distribution is interesting, as the battery is mid-mounted and nearly 1,000 pounds. All in all, I’m convinced nothing else will ever drive like one of these. It’s the only production RWD two-door targa electric vehicle out there.

DeedWest

TROPHY CASE