2008 Tesla Roadster For Sale With Just 1,821 Miles originally appeared on Autoblog.
The Tesla Roadster is a vastly different machine from today's Teslas
There's a lot that can be said about Tesla as a company today, but the Tesla Roadster is largely an exception to those criticisms. Based on a Lotus Elise chassis, the automaker's first car was both sleek and impressive, and this 2008 example with 1,821 miles is a relatively rare sighting of a Tesla Roadster on the open market. This particular one is for sale on Exotic Car Trader, and you can check out the listing by clicking here.
The Roadster was an impressive machine when it was released, being the first highway-legal production car to use lithium-ion batteries, with a 53 kWh pack onboard. Charging time varies, but if one uses a 240 V charger on a 90 A circuit breaker, Tesla claimed a recharging rate of 56 miles added per hour. The electric motor produces 248 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque, which are sent to the rear wheels through a single-speed transmission. Tesla quoted a 0-60 mph time of around four seconds, which is nothing to scoff at, especially in 2008. Regenerative braking is present, of course, and the Roadster sports both front and rear independent suspension. The EPA gave it a 244-mile range, which isn't great by today's standards but was a good number back then.
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2008 Tesla RoadsterExotic Car TraderThe Roadster had some tricks up its sleeve
Uniquely, the body panels are all carbon fiber, keeping the weight down for both performance and range-related reasons. The NHTSA also granted the Roadster a waiver from the advantage two-stage airbag rule, allowing Tesla to use standard airbags instead. While that may seem unheard of in the modern world, similar waivers are given to small-volume automakers like Lotus, Ferrari, and Bugatti. The interior is a relatively sparse, but still attractive, and frankly, a massive step-up from modern Tesla interiors. The tan leather seats match the door panel inserts, while the center console houses a "gear" shifter, controls for the HVAC system, and two buttons for the seat heaters. Above that is a JVC head unit complete with built-in navigation. The cluster is relatively standard, other than the fact that it still has an RPM gauge that goes up to 13,000 RPM. I think more EVs should have rev counters, despite their comparatively useless nature.
While modern Teslas are a common sight on today's roads, only 2,450 Roadsters were built in four years, making this one that much more desirable. Tesla sold Roadsters directly to customers online, in 13 showrooms, and over the phone in North America and Europe.
2008 Tesla Roadster
Exotic Car TraderView the 2 images of this gallery on the original article
Final thoughts
Tesla Roadsters aren't a common sight on the road or the second-hand market, so if you've been looking for one, this one on Exotic Car Trader is a must-have. Of course, with such credentials and only 1,821 miles on the odometer, the $225,000 asking price of this one is to be expected. Not only will you be driving one of the first mainstream electric sports cars, but you'll be driving one built on the back of an Elise. Is that something you can really put a price on?
2008 Tesla Roadster For Sale With Just 1,821 Miles first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 27, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
