I am a new owner of a 1.5 Roadster in Seattle.
I'm really glad I got it!
It does have some issues:
The road noise is loud, especially on some of the bad roads in Seattle.
Speaking of bad roads, as others have also said, I try to avoid potholes and bumps because it feels jarring.
The interior squeaks and rattles quite a bit.
There is no power steering, so it takes some strength to turn the wheel at low speeds.
The original brakes are not so good, especially while wet. I try not to drive aggressively in the rain anymore because I almost ran a red light once since the brakes were not good enough to stop. Luckily it changed to green right as I ran it. I'll get some nice new brakes eventually.
It's difficult to get in/out. As a daily driver, I've gotten quite used to it. But it can get a bit old training passengers how to get in/out. Especially older/heavier people.
It has poor rear visibility. I'm going to install a backup camera soon.
I have to keep it outside a lot, and overnight it collects dew/rain that sometimes makes the interior a bit stale smelling. I also hear that the battery isn't super well protected against water, so I need to be careful while washing it not to get water in certain places. Also, I try not to drive it into puddles that are too deep. So far it hasn't been an issue, though.
However, I wish somebody had told me these things when I first got it:
The rattles and squeaks are harmless, and part of the experience.
Hitting a pothole once in a while won't damage anything. I think of it this way: Wheels of cars with a comfortable suspension that hit the potholes experience the same force on the wheels and do just fine. I've hit plenty and my Roadster is still doing well.
Who needs push-ups when you can get all your strength training from turning the wheel? :wink:
Driving the roadster feels faster than the MS P85D because it's lower to the ground and has a stiffer suspension. When I take a passenger and mash the accelerator in Performance mode, they invariably stop talking and/or scream. It's really fun!
Passing is a non-issue. I'm generally a safe driver and keep 4-6 seconds between me and the car in front of me. But if I want to pass or change positions on the road, I just basically have to think about it and it happens. Very zippy!
Overall, the advantages far outweight the disadvantages. I think it's the best car in the world, even better than the Model S!