[FiskerLover]

All: I am checking out listings for a Fisker -- trying to find one that is updated and has the least likelihood of having issues. I live in Chicago. There is a listing for a Silver Karma -- VIN #YH4K14AA9CA000393 -- with less than 1500 miles. Being #393 , I'm assuming this is considered an early version?

I used the VIN Lookup tool and it appears that the vehicle has had a few updates, but some are missing. Have any of the resident Karma mechanics worked on this vehicle or otherwise have information about it? Is there a mechanic local to Chicago who can perform a prepurchase inspection?

How can you determine if the vehicle is eligible for the tax credit?

Apologies for all the questions, but just trying to make an informed decision and become a proud owner.

 

[AlJOHN]

I believe the Federal Tax credit is to the original purchaser only. Assuming that with 1500 miles, and early VIN it was previously registered.

I will defer mechanical info to the forum experts.

 

[sherrillt]

IF it is still on MSO (never titled/registered) it should still be eligible because it is technically still a new car regardless of miles.

 

[steven]

All: I am checking out listings for a Fisker

Hi FiskerLover,

I would be very weary of early vins. They say they have soft splines which are very expensive to fix. I would ask the dealer to warrant the splines 100% for 4 years if you are set on an early vin. Also make sure the battery was replaced by the recall.

Of course all this is mitigated by the price you may be paying. Many of us paid $120K (if I only waited a few months), if your paying in the 60s, who cares, it's a great deal!

You will love the car, I still love mine and its almost 3 years old.

 

[hoffman2121]

In the market

I am interested in buying a Fisker as a daily driver. I commute about 20 miles a day to and from work and do a limited amount of local driving on the weekends. Once in a while I will take one day local trips.

Can anyone and everyone who owns a Fisker give me the straight story on what kind of reliability I can expect? Please be specific about your experiences. I plan to buy a used one with less than 10K miles. I am also about 190 miles from one of the new Fisker dealers if I need service. Any info on service and maintenance would help too.

I am completely new to the brand, but I love the look of the car and I want to buy one in the next six months.

Thanks in advance for any info or stories that can help me.

 

[Nin ja]

I am interested in buying a Fisker as a daily driver. I commute about 20 miles a day to and from work and do a limited amount of local driving on the weekends. Once in a while I will take one day local trips.

Can anyone and everyone who owns a Fisker give me the straight story on what kind of reliability I can expect? Please be specific about your experiences. I plan to buy a used one with less than 10K miles. I am also about 190 miles from one of the new Fisker dealers if I need service. Any info on service and maintenance would help too.

I am completely new to the brand, but I love the look of the car and I want to buy one in the next six months.

Thanks in advance for any info or stories that can help me.

Best people to get the skinny on the Karma's by Vin is fiskerphilly, harlyguy and alexpop. There is a lot of stuff on this site you can look up by searching the site. I bought mine new on the waitlist. Unit 997, had all the service done on it and with a little over 5K miles, mine has been great so far, but i drive mine as a Sunday or good weather kind of car. Filled it up three times and still have a 1/3 of a tank. I pamper my car and enjoy the drive every time I get in it. There are plenty of members here who drive it daily and I met one owner who had over 75K miles and still going strong -- Fiskerphilly services his car. My recommendation, make sure all the factories campaigns where done. Make sure the muffler is the lastest with the welds. Make sure to check that it has the green dot on the Electric Motors or had the RDM/Traction done. and most of all, get it with the tri-tone leather -- at these prices, its a good deal. Oh two more things, if it does not have it, get the clear bra and rear wheel wells done and make sure you get a battery tender and 240 charger for it - you won't regret it. Hope this helps

 

[hoffman2121]

Thanks for the feedback Nin_ja, all good stuff. I assume a VIN check will reveal if the factory campaigns were done. I will probably need to travel a good distance to purchase my Fisker so I want to do all my homework upfront. I will reach out to fiskerphilly and the others.

 

[Nin ja]

Thanks for the feedback Nin_ja, all good stuff. I assume a VIN check will reveal if the factory campaigns were done. I will probably need to travel a good distance to purchase my Fisker so I want to do all my homework upfront. I will reach out to fiskerphilly and the others.

Good luck and once you buy, make sure to register with http://www.thenewfisker.com/ -- when you get it, make sure you post the pictures ;-)

 

[ahamuser]

IF it is still on MSO (never titled/registered) it should still be eligible because it is technically still a new car regardless of miles.

I was checking other vehicles that also have low mileage and have never been registered - but has been titled by a dealer. What then?? Does it qualify for the $5000 warranty allotment? What about the $7500 tax credit.

Any info would be appreciated.

 

[sherrillt]

Sorry - If it was ever titled it is technically no longer a new vehicle (regardless of miles) and would not qualify for the tax credit or new car warranty. The MSO/MCO is the birth certificate from the factory and is what you hand over to the DMV to create a title and there is only one. If a dealer titled the vehicle, I can only assume they took the tax credit for themselves and placed the vehicle in service at some point as a owned unit even though it is still on their lot as an unsold/no public owner registered unit.

 

[Bert Yetman]

BUT......you don't need paperwork to claim the $7500 exemption on your income tax. Just claim it and if you get an audit or a rejection of your claim...well, you tried. No penalty.

 

[sherrillt]

Well it is an honor system (enforced by audit and penalties) and you are already at risk saying you are taking a deduction on a "brand new" 2012 car 3 years after its introduction in 2015...very suspect. Being undocumented is not totally true, I bought my car new and do my own taxes and know I had to provide the VIN on my tax forms and I believe a block on the dealership where purchased, so I am sure if reviewed during audit if it may come up that a deduction was taken against the vehicle previously (based on VIN), it would additionally point to your intent and fraud. Is $7k worth all the headache of your past 7yr returns now being scrutinized? Once a discrepancy is found they start digging for more skeletons...and typically find more in past years. Not worth it if you ask me.

But again if you ascribe to the methodology above every deduction in the book can be taken - education, home improvement, child care, charitable donation, etc...and no one should pay any taxes. Auditing is very rare depending on income level and the type and number of deductions you take and it's all a roll of the dice....just don't roll "snake eyes" my friend.

 

[Bert Yetman]

IMHO it is presumptuous to mention IRS and honor system in the same sentence, as recent headlines reveal. A buyer has the right to assume a new car with very low mileage, bought from an authorized dealer, is, in fact, a new car. The transfer papers will have the new car dealer's name as further proof. I believe it is fair and proper for the buyer to submit a claim on income taxes. If you do your taxes through a CPA, they will go to the audit in your place and only the topic questioned by the IRS will be discussed. No digging. Never go to your own audit.

 

[sherrillt]

.... A buyer has the right to assume a new car with very low mileage, bought from an authorized dealer, is, in fact, a new car. The transfer papers will have the new car dealer's name as further proof. I believe it is fair and proper for the buyer to submit a claim on income taxes...

?? Let's see - if the car is NOT on MSO any longer because someone titled it to become an owner, how can anyone reasonably think it's new regardless of miles :huh: - IF the car was put in service the warranty clock started on that date and it is no longer new and that's the bottom line. There is NO "Right" by any buyer to wish away facts with bogus assumptions. Just because a dealer sells a low mileage car it does not make it new...hence the term "like new"

 

[Bert Yetman]

sherrillt, since neither of us is directly involved in this transaction, I'll end my end of the discussion by noting that nowhere in the previous posts are the words "like new" used, except in your note.

 

[steven]

I am interested in buying a Fisker as a daily driver. I commute about 20 miles a day to and from work and do a limited amount of local driving on the weekends. Once in a while I will take one day local trips.

Hi hoffman2121,
I drive my Fisker as a daily commuter car, about 16 miles each way. It registers about 20 miles of electricity because its mostly on the highway. My weekend and long trip car is my Prius. It seems its best not let let your Fisker sit for very long.