What to look for in a used Roadster

[zack]

I think Zack found one...apparently she also owns horses!

Hold on here, she's a working girl!

 

[bonnie]

Hold on here, she's a working girl!

Ummm, Zack? You might want to check the street definition of 'working girl'.

 

[dpeilow]

Hold on here, she's a working girl!

I'm glad I just finished drinking my tea...

 

[pgwoosley]

Some small points:
- Check for a complete tool kit, especially the "key" for the wheel locks
- If a sun visor has been removed from the windshield, is it present?
- Are the manuals complete? (usually under the passenger seat)
- Has the PIN been changed?
- Is the front license plate bracket present?
- find out the seller's sign-in and password and review the data (options, etc.) for the car. The info will disappear once Tesla has been notified of a sale
- Is there a remote for the radio/navigation (Roadster 1.5, I do not know about other versions)
- Find out the date and mileage of the last service

 

[zack]

I'm glad I've been able to provide you all non-stop amusement. 8^P

 

[bonnie]

I'm glad I've been able to provide you all non-stop amusement. 8^P

And we appreciate your thoughtfulness, Zack .

But what I REALLY want to know is 1) did you tell her you publicly announced that she was a working girl, and if so, 2) do you still have all your limbs?

 

[Jaff]

And in the news today, a 2010 Tesla Roadster was stolen near Minneapolis...:biggrin:

(Just kiddin Zack, just kiddin...:wink

And we appreciate your thoughtfulness, Zack .

But what I REALLY want to know is 1) did you tell her you publicly announced that she was a working girl, and if so, 2) do you still have all your limbs?

 

[jordanthompson]

How can you tell the version number on a Roadster? Is there anything in the VIN? or perhaps the manufacture date?

 

[TEG]

Nothing in the VIN specifically. It was as easy as having a date of manufacture, or certain VIN # when they changed over, but now that they said they will convert old/used Roadsters to 2.5 specs you could end up with older VINs with older original dates of manufacture that have 2.5 components.
Possibly the best way is to look at the PEM labels.

Note, the 2010+2011 VINs have indicated sport or non-sport. I wonder if they take an old 1.5 and put a 2.5 sport motor in it if they would want to change the VIN? They could end up with the "wrong" motor code if they didn't. Perhaps the 2.5 refreshes will result in a whole new VIN and model year? (Are they basically going to build a whole new car using some parts from an old one?)

Basically 2008 model = 1.5
2010 model introduced 2.0, but then changed to 2.5 along the way.
I don't have the exact date/VIN handy when they switched from 2.0 to 2.5.

 

[Doug_G]

Also there isn't a completely clear-cut line in the sand between the versions. Tesla upgrades things as they become available. For example, some of the later 2.0's have the 2.5 PEM's, upgraded seats, improved sound deadening, etc.

 

[TEG]

This is approx/ballpark:

VIN 1-500 = 1.5
VIN 501-999 = 2.0
VIN 1000+ = 2.5

Again, those are not exact, but close, and apply to North American VINs.

 

[vfx]

2.0s can be largely converted to 2.5s but 1.5s can only make cosmetic upgrades (if the even wanted to!).

 

[NigelM]

Note, the 2010+2011 VINs have indicated sport or non-sport.

Although my insurance company insisted that according to their VIN "look-up" I have a Sport; but my Roadster 2.5 is a non-sport. Whatever, it makes no difference to my insurance in any case so I didn't argue the point.

 

[TEG]

Although my insurance company insisted that according to their VIN "look-up" I have a Sport; but my Roadster 2.5 is a non-sport. Whatever, it makes no difference to my insurance in any case so I didn't argue the point.

Does your VIN start out 5YJRE1A3... or 5YJRE1A1... ?
The 8th position is usually '3' for sport, and '1' for non-sport.

 

[NigelM]

It's a 1.

 

[TEG]

OK, so your insurance company seems to be mis-informed somehow.

 

[NigelM]

Ummm, wouldn't be the first time an insurance company got something wrong.....

 

[TEG]

When I got my insurance card for the Nissan Leaf it said it was a "Nissan 370z".
I had to call the insurance company and tell them about the error, and they said something about needing to update their VIN database for the 2011 models.

 

[SByer]

2.0s can be largely converted to 2.5s but 1.5s can only make cosmetic upgrades (if the even wanted to!).

I don't know that I'd consider the sound package or the suspension package only cosmetic. But yeah, no motor or PEM upgrade path (and I wouldn't want an interior upgrade path).