Man takes 2015 Tesla Model S 85 he bought for just $7,800 to race track to see if it can survive

This man bought a Tesla Model S for less than eight grand.

Now he’s decided to take it somewhere no one expected – a racetrack.

It’s the same Model S 85 we called the ‘deal of the decade’ a few weeks back.

But cheap thrills don’t always equal track-ready performance and this test got messy fast.

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Taking the bargain Tesla to the track

James, from YouTube channel EV Performance, rolled up to Bicester Heritage with his $7,800 Tesla – a car that originally packed 375 horsepower, a 5.6-second 0-60, and a 140mph top speed. 

Ten years and 164,000 miles later, it was time to see what was left.

The first laps weren’t promising. 

James admitted the brakes were weak, the tires slippery, and his own driving less than stellar. 

So he handed the wheel to Mark from Mission Motorsport – a charity that uses motorsport as a recovery tool for those in the Armed Forces community.

Mark immediately pushed the Tesla harder, and the results were brutal.

Under heavy use, the braking system completely folded. Fade kicked in fast, and the car was left begging for mercy. 

The steering, even in Sport mode, felt heavy and boat-like through corners. 

Yet the straight-line power was still shockingly strong. 

With traction control switched off, the Model S showed it could still move around gracefully, even pulling off tidy slides. 

And when tested, it managed 0-60 in just 5.2 seconds – actually quicker than Tesla’s original factory claim.

So while the car clearly isn’t track-ready in stock form, the potential is obvious. 

With bigger brakes, stickier tires, and maybe a little weight loss, this bargain basement Tesla could be transformed into a proper track toy.

What’s next for the $7,800 Model S

James signed off with a list of upgrades in mind: stronger brakes, proper performance rubber, maybe even a spoiler just for fun. 

What’s certain is that the Model S hasn’t lost its edge in a straight line, even with six figures on the odometer. 

It’s still got that giddy-up that made Tesla famous, and the test proved this ‘deal of the decade’ isn’t some fragile driveway ornament.

From bargain buy to sideways fun on track, James’ project is just getting warmed up.

And if this is what a $7,800 Tesla can do before upgrades, the next round of testing could be seriously intense.

Follow along for this Tesla’s next chapter by subscribing to EV Performance on YouTube, or watch the full video below:

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