[SoCalGuy]

Has anyone that has driven the demos noticed that the display is no longer white even during the day?

Also, a brain fart on my part, but I didn't realize that all the body panels on the Fisker are plastic. Is that the case also for other high end cars like the Panamera or Maserati GT?

 

[Dave_Car_Guy]

I didn't realize that all the body panels on the Fisker are plastic. Is that the case also for other high end cars like the Panamera or Maserati GT?

The body panels are part and parcel of the Aluminum Space Frame technology. Audi has used this on R8s and A8s, and Ford used it on the Ford GT supercar. The space frame frame is light and rigid and allows for better fuel consumption and also, I believe, allows the cars to be made in smaller batches. Regular steel monocoque design relies on the steel body panels actually creating part of the car's structural rigidity. That is the way cars have been built for years but it requires large batches of cars to make economic sense (think: assembly-line welding). Small-batch cars with aluminum space frames can use plastic body panels because the body panels are literally all decoration that is "hung" on the frame. I suspect that also means greater flexibility in how you can shape those panels, because you don't have to worry about rigidity (think about all those cars you have heard of where the convertible version is not as stiff as the coupe version...not necessarily so for a space-frame). As for other high-end manufacturers, many have used space frames or race cars but avoided them on production cars due to cost. Bottom-line: Fisker's technology goes a lot deeper than electric motors and a battery. We are getting a lot of technology for the money. I'm no engineer, but that is my take on it...

 

[Dutch]

+

Has anyone that has driven the demos noticed that the display is no longer white even during the day?

Even during the day it can get too dark inside (because of shade, rain) and then it switches to black.

 

[brian]

I've noticed this too. Seems *all* of the photos and videos that I've seen of the demo cars has been the black dash:

I actually prefer the black dash more than the white one, but I kinda thought both were cool.

-Brian

 

[SoCalGuy]

+

Has anyone that has driven the demos noticed that the display is no longer white even during the day?

Even during the day it can get too dark inside (because of shade, rain) and then it switches to black.

Actually it was quite bright outside when I took it for a spin - so wonder what's going on there.

On a side note, I did notice what I think Dutch mentioned earlier regarding the seems/flushness of the body panels. If you check out just above each headlight, right where the front bumper panel meets the headlight and the hood, that panel actually sticks out as opposed to rest flush with the headlight and hood. Wasn't a big deal until I noticed/focused on it. I wonder if they'll fix this. You can kind of see it in the below.

 

[brian]

I just got back from my dealer to check out their demo - they're still not doing test drives yet since they're waiting on a software update first. However, I must say I was a little disappointed in the build quality. That body panel issue that SoCalGuy posted above was not specific to that particular car. It was the same on my dealer's car too, and it was *really* obvious. That pointy panel part was sticking up quite a bit and not even remotely flush with the hood or headlight. It actually wobbled around. I was able to easily push it down flush where it should be, but then it popped right back up. It was as though they forgot to attach a connector there or something.

Also, the windows has issues as well. The driver side window was not going up all the way leaving a gap, and the other windows had pretty sloppy fitting of the windows to the seal. Other areas of the car had somewhat rough panel alignment - I was not impressed.

The interior looked good tho, but I didn't really spend much time in there. The leaves on the clear plastic things on the doors just made it look like the plastic was cracked. I don't get the leaves anyway, and I'm glad my car won't have them.

One other thing that occurred to me is that there's nowhere in this car to plug in a radar detector. You could plug it into the 12v socket in the arm rest, but then you'd have a cord stretching across the middle of the car and the arm rest wouldn't close. Hrm....
-Brian

 

[ct-fiskerbuzz]

I just got back from my dealer to check out their demo - they're still not doing test drives yet since they're waiting on a software update first. However, I must say I was a little disappointed in the build quality. That body panel issue that SoCalGuy posted above was not specific to that particular car. It was the same on my dealer's car too, and it was *really* obvious. That pointy panel part was sticking up quite a bit and not even remotely flush with the hood or headlight. It actually wobbled around. I was able to easily push it down flush where it should be, but then it popped right back up. It was as though they forgot to attach a connector there or something.

Also, the windows has issues as well. The driver side window was not going up all the way leaving a gap, and the other windows had pretty sloppy fitting of the windows to the seal. Other areas of the car had somewhat rough panel alignment - I was not impressed.

The interior looked good tho, but I didn't really spend much time in there. The leaves on the clear plastic things on the doors just made it look like the plastic was cracked. I don't get the leaves anyway, and I'm glad my car won't have them.

One other thing that occurred to me is that there's nowhere in this car to plug in a radar detector. You could plug it into the 12v socket in the arm rest, but then you'd have a cord stretching across the middle of the car and the arm rest wouldn't close. Hrm....
-Brian

My dealer is waiting for the software upgrade as well. Their EC demo car did not seem to have these fit-and-finish issues though.

The leaves are supposed to be "fossil leaves" or something. They're just a design thing, probably appeals to the same people who want to pay extra for the animal-free EC interior.

I gave up on radar detectors after someone broke into my old car to steal the detector (and nothing else!) back in the 1990s. I'm not sure how useful they are now that LIDAR is common.

 

[brian]

I gave up on radar detectors after someone broke into my old car to steal the detector (and nothing else!) back in the 1990s. I'm not sure how useful they are now that LIDAR is common.

I've got one of those fancy Passport models with the GPS and it's *amazing*! Works incredibly well and has saved my ass many times. The GPS lets it remember where all the false alarms are, so the thing almost never goes off unless it's actually a cop.

Regardless, the lack of an accessible 12v port is a bummer even for phones. You can't just have the phone plugged in and out for you to access it. It's either plugged in while sitting in the armrest, or sitting in a cupholder on battery power. There really needs to be a 12v port that's not tucked away. The back seats have 'em so, I don't know why there isn't one up front where it matters.

-Brian

 

[brian]

Oh, I forgot to mention that the dash was only displaying the black theme. It was bright and sunny out today, so it would appear that they got rid of the daytime white theme.

-Brian

 

[SoCalGuy]

I just got back from my dealer to check out their demo - they're still not doing test drives yet since they're waiting on a software update first. However, I must say I was a little disappointed in the build quality. That body panel issue that SoCalGuy posted above was not specific to that particular car. It was the same on my dealer's car too, and it was *really* obvious. That pointy panel part was sticking up quite a bit and not even remotely flush with the hood or headlight. It actually wobbled around. I was able to easily push it down flush where it should be, but then it popped right back up. It was as though they forgot to attach a connector there or something.

Also, the windows has issues as well. The driver side window was not going up all the way leaving a gap, and the other windows had pretty sloppy fitting of the windows to the seal. Other areas of the car had somewhat rough panel alignment - I was not impressed.

The interior looked good tho, but I didn't really spend much time in there. The leaves on the clear plastic things on the doors just made it look like the plastic was cracked. I don't get the leaves anyway, and I'm glad my car won't have them.

One other thing that occurred to me is that there's nowhere in this car to plug in a radar detector. You could plug it into the 12v socket in the arm rest, but then you'd have a cord stretching across the middle of the car and the arm rest wouldn't close. Hrm....
-Brian

My dealer is waiting for the software upgrade as well. Their EC demo car did not seem to have these fit-and-finish issues though.

The leaves are supposed to be "fossil leaves" or something. They're just a design thing, probably appeals to the same people who want to pay extra for the animal-free EC interior.

I gave up on radar detectors after someone broke into my old car to steal the detector (and nothing else!) back in the 1990s. I'm not sure how useful they are now that LIDAR is common.

I did get to test drive it even before the update and will say that the car handles well and the noise is absolutely not an issue - in fact, in Sport mode, the ICE actually sounds nice. On the interior, the only thing that bothered me was the ceiling/roof - parts of the cloth looked like it was starting to sag or not properly adhered. The dome light also looked pretty cheap - almost identical to the Volt's - when you push the button to turn on the light, it indents into the fabric, like its just attached with velcro or something.

 

[marswill]

I have also noticed what I consider to be build quality issues with the demo car at Silicon Valley Fisker. The panel just above the right headlight was raised and loose. The dealer said that it came loose when they removed the protective shipping cover. I also noticed that the left side of the hood and the left fender didn’t align properly with the hood looking like it sagged a bit in the middle of the seam. In addition I noticed what I think were body panel squeaks during the test drive. I certainly hope that these issues are corrected before customer deliveries. :s

 

[Fabulist]

I certainly hope that these issues are corrected before customer deliveries. :s

They have certainly had plenty of time to address these issues.

-- Fab.

 

[Mycroft]

These are only demos. You don't expect them to have as good a fit and finish as the cars they deliver to customers do you?

 

[brian]

These are only demos. You don't expect them to have as good a fit and finish as the cars they deliver to customers do you?

Yes, I do.

 

[AnOutsider]

These are only demos. You don't expect them to have as good a fit and finish as the cars they deliver to customers do you?

Why not? They're what the customer is going to base a buying decision on aren't they? You can excuse the early ones they did the roadshows with, but these came right from the factory where production cars are to be built.

 

[Deep Ocean]

The demo I drove two weeks ago had good lines and no fit and finish issues. Other than the fact that the dealer scratched up the bumper on a brand new friggin car. I didn't detect any squeaks or other issues. A good car! Hope mine is just as good.

 

[Sigurd]

Don't pull up the front bumper cover edges by the headlights on the demos. It'll scare you! I have no idea if I should go to Office Depot, Target or Home Depot for repair parts.

 

[AnOutsider]

Don't pull up the front bumper cover edges by the headlights on the demos. It'll scare you! I have no idea if I should go to Office Depot, Target or Home Depot for repair parts.

Pics?

 

[Sigurd]

How about 6 layers of locking velcro. Each layer glued to each other. I removed two layers and the bumper cover fit nicely. But, is this what I want to have to do for my $100K car? If they have a problem with the # of velcro pieces to use for a proper fit, then I'm in trouble.

 

[SoCalGuy]

How about 6 layers of locking velcro. Each layer glued to each other. I removed two layers and the bumper cover fit nicely. But, is this what I want to have to do for my $100K car? If they have a problem with the # of velcro pieces to use for a proper fit, then I'm in trouble.

How were you able to remove the bumper???