Someone Paid $86,500 for This 2011 Tesla Roadster and the C8 Corvette Is Truly Insulted

How badly do you need a battery-electric roadster that you’re willing to sacrifice “that much car” just so you can what? Not spend money on gasoline? Yes, the original Tesla Roadster wasn’t particularly lackluster by 2010 standards. Quite the contrary. It was fun to drive, quick, and the range wasn’t bad either, believe it or not.

However, nowadays the industry looks a whole lot different than it did back then, and while there’s still a case to be made in favor of an old Tesla Roadster as some type of weekend car, you can certainly do a lot better for a lot less money. At this point, these cars should probably cost like $50,000 or something, not $86k, and certainly not $100k+ (some have been exchanging hands for ridiculous sums).

Let’s look at this particular 2011 Tesla Roadster in Electric Blue, which just sold for $86,500 with 54,000 miles on the clock.

It’s the 2.5 Sport specification, which means that its 3-phase AC induction motor is generating the equivalent of 288 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, which the help of a 53-kWh lithium-ion battery. Its range is said to be around 244 miles (that’s highly unlikely though), while 0-60 mph should take around 3.7 seconds, which is certainly quick, but not 2024 supercar quick – more like 2024 hot hatchback quick.

The person who bought this car for $86,500 could have just as easily walked into a Chevrolet dealership and driven out in a brand-new 2024 Corvette Stingray Convertible 3LT. With the Vette, they would have enjoyed a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 engine, putting down 490 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, allowing for a sub-3 second 0-60 time.

Not only is the C8 Corvette considerably quicker than the original Tesla Roadster, it’s also better built, better looking, more reliable, and has greater autonomy. Seriously, sitting behind the wheel of a C8 Vette after getting out of an old Tesla Roadster will feel like sitting in a borderline luxury car. There’s a massive difference between the two.

The best this Tesla has to offer, as far as the interior is concerned, is a pair of heated black leather sport seats, sat-nav, a CD player, cruise control and air conditioning. Not exactly something you’d want to write home about.

Of course, you’re free to disagree with my take on the original Tesla Roadster as a used purchase. This is just a personal opinion. Maybe you’re a massive Lotus Elise fan and all you’ve ever wanted is one of those things, except without an internal combustion engine. Hey, more power to you. But otherwise, I really don’t see any point in purchasing these cars.