# The Men Spending $50,000 Just to Reserve a Tesla Roadster

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-men-spending-50000-just-to-reserve-a-tesla-roadster/
- Published: 2026-10-28T09:45:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-28T10:25:52+00:00
- Original publisher: Wired
- Original article: https://www.wired.com/story/the-men-dropping-50000-and-up-on-teslas-new-roadster/
- Topics: Culture, Travel

## Key points

- Tesla Roadster production is now expected in 2028.
- Deposits range from $50,000 to $250,000.
- Buyers are betting on a car with uncertain prices and timing.

## Summary

Some Tesla enthusiasts are putting down large deposits to reserve the long-delayed second-generation Roadster, encouraged by a dramatic demonstration and hopes that the car will be both exciting and valuable. Their commitment comes despite years of delays, uncertainty over final prices and Tesla’s broader focus on robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous driving.

Tesla first announced the Roadster in 2017, taking $50,000 reservations against planned 2020 deliveries; production is now expected in 2028, with delivery dates unclear. The base model requires a $50,000 deposit, the Thrust version $250,000, and the Rocket flying-car version is invite-only and not street legal. EV dealer Alex Lawrence plans to use his reservation for marketing, while tech founder Travis Cook upgraded his long-standing reservation to Thrust, though he may reconsider if the final price approaches $500,000.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.