[kabalah70]

I got to work around a Signature Edition with one of the dealers. Looks like they still have some electrical glitches as the exterior lights, i.e. turn signals and headlights were giving us some problems, but the car did recognize the problems. I am hoping it is just some lose wires from transport or corrosion from sitting around a while or something. Other than that, fit and finish looked real nice. The engraving of the signature edition info is on the transparent window looking into the battery just below the Fisker Command Center. It has Henrik's signature, then says Fisker Karma Signature Edition, the VIN then x/100 where x is the number of the series. I am being told I will have mine by the end of November. Also, someone from Fisker called me today to ask if I has any questions, concerns, etc. and gave me a toll-free number to call. It was my Voicemail so I didn't pay too much attention to the details.I am guessing the bad publicity is worrying them.

 

[brian]

The turn signals and headlights weren't working on the Signature car? Oh boy....

-Brian

 

[Mycroft]

Correction. On A Signature car.

 

[Thebreadman]

This is going to be a cluster xxxx. I just know it. I hope we are all prepared to beta test a $100,00 piece of technology. That's what we're signing up for.

adam

 

[BillyO]

I got to work around a Signature Edition with one of the dealers. Looks like they still have some electrical glitches as the exterior lights, i.e. turn signals and headlights were giving us some problems, but the car did recognize the problems. I am hoping it is just some lose wires from transport or corrosion from sitting around a while or something. Other than that, fit and finish looked real nice. The engraving of the signature edition info is on the transparent window looking into the battery just below the Fisker Command Center. It has Henrik's signature, then says Fisker Karma Signature Edition, the VIN then x/100 where x is the number of the series. I am being told I will have mine by the end of November. Also, someone from Fisker called me today to ask if I has any questions, concerns, etc. and gave me a toll-free number to call. It was my Voicemail so I didn't pay too much attention to the details.I am guessing the bad publicity is worrying them.

Did they raise the price on the Signature cars like the regular production versions? What's the list on the Signature Editions now?


Billy O

 

[siliconkiwi]

I got to work around a Signature Edition with one of the dealers. Looks like they still have some electrical glitches as the exterior lights, i.e. turn signals and headlights were giving us some problems, but the car did recognize the problems. I am hoping it is just some lose wires from transport or corrosion from sitting around a while or something. Other than that, fit and finish looked real nice. The engraving of the signature edition info is on the transparent window looking into the battery just below the Fisker Command Center. It has Henrik's signature, then says Fisker Karma Signature Edition, the VIN then x/100 where x is the number of the series. I am being told I will have mine by the end of November. Also, someone from Fisker called me today to ask if I has any questions, concerns, etc. and gave me a toll-free number to call. It was my Voicemail so I didn't pay too much attention to the details.I am guessing the bad publicity is worrying them.

Did they raise the price on the Signature cars like the regular production versions? What's the list on the Signature Editions now?


Billy O

No, the Signature edition vehicles stayed at $100K (not sure if that is pre or post tax, though). This is first-hand info, I am on the list for a Signature Edition Karma.

 

[kabalah70]

I stopped by and the car was gone out for delivery to its owner but I was told the lights were working. I think it was a software glitch, perhaps the same one where one must wait after unplugging the car before trying to boot it up. We were going through the owner's manual on a iPad. One thing that did not work for sure was that the trunk is supposed to pop back open if it detects the key fob shut inside it. We had two key fobs and shut one in there with the rest of the car all locked up. Nothing. So, this would have been a nice feature as I have locked my keys in the trunk before. The car has several proximity sensors for detecting the fob. pressing a button on the back of the fob relseases the emergency key which only unlocks the passenger side door. It will not lock it back. We opened the emergency door release panel but were not brave enough to pull the cord.
The Signature Edition is still only $100k with title, tags, taxes, etc, my dealer said about $105,500 roughly. As for the paint job, Silver Mirage is a few shades lighter than Silver Wind. Although the Mojave interior is Tri-Tone, the third color that only runs down the center console is barely different than the other light color. The Command Center seemed a bit slow, so that in conjunction with the glitches really makes me wonder if this baby has had the software upgrade.

 

[dennis]

I stopped by and the car was gone out for delivery to its owner .

Is this car in Pennsylvania? I didn't realize they had shipped any Signature Edition cars to the U.S.

 

[kabalah70]

It was Al Gore's car that I got to see, here in Huntsville, AL.

 

[Deep Ocean]

I just hope we get free software patches. Is it going to be like Windows where an icon on the dashboard says that we have an automatic download that is going to happen in 5 minutes? Then the car stops alongside the freeway? I'm still totally sold on this car. Its a game changer.

 

[AnOutsider]

Its a game changer.

Other than looks, how so? Technologically speaking its in line with a volt, no?

 

[brian]

I'd have to agree. As much as I like the car I wouldn't call it a game changer. More like baby steps. The Nina could be a game changer, however.

-Brian

 

[Fabulist]

The Karma may not be a game changer but Fisker the company is. Applying the Silicon Valley model of a "fabless" semiconductor company to building a car without a car factory is pretty innovative. Going from concept to building and selling a fairly complex car in 4 years is pretty impressive on its own, but I think avoiding the capital cost and time required to build an entire factory before even building your first car is a game changer because it basically shows the way for a lot of car companies to be started in people's garages in the future to make low-volume, high-end niche cars.

-- Fab.

 

[Mycroft]

Fabulist, I'm probably a little behind. But aren't the Karmas made in a Finland factory?

 

[Fabulist]

Fabulist, I'm probably a little behind. But aren't the Karmas made in a Finland factory?

@Mycroft: Fisker contracted with a company called Valmet in Finland to assemble the Karmas. Valmet assembles cars under contract for other manufacturers such as Porsche, Think, and others. Fisker does not own the Valmet factory, they just pay a certain amount per car to Valmet for assembly. Many Silicon Valley semiconductor companies use the same model. They design and develop the "chips" and then contract with companies such as TSMC to actually convert the design to Silicon and make the final product. That way, a small number of people can very quickly start up a company and design fairly sophisticated products without having to first spend a Billion dollars making a fabrication facility. Fisker used the same approach, which was very innovative for a car company, in my opinion.

-- Fab.

 

[Stillwaiting]

Sadly, after more than 2 1/2 years of lies, tall tales and flat out B.S., I'm out. I will be one of many who cancel a long standing order, that will be followed by "fence-sitters' not ordering, followed by dealers not wanting their other brands infected by Fisker. At that point, the wheel's literally come off of this "company".Face it folks, there are no cars for us, there probably won't be cars for us and if there is, they are going to be full fledged disasters. Fisker has done NOTHING to defend themselves against all this negative publicity. Years of delays, false statements relating to mileages, "firm" delivery dates that were promised BEFORE the car was even certified for sale, political back lash about the federal loan, reduction in batteries ordered from AONE indicates less sales than estimated, and now, electrical problems with the signiture cars??? As badly as I wanted this car and what it represented, I don't need a $100,000.00 planter. There will always be a car to buy, no need to buy one from a company that could care less about long time deposit holders or potential customers. I have a vision of 100 people at Fisker headquarters packing personal belongings into little white boxes and turning out the lights. I want to be wrong but, I don't think so.

 

[AnOutsider]

Sadly, after more than 2 1/2 years of lies, tall tales and flat out B.S., I'm out. I will be one of many who cancel a long standing order, that will be followed by "fence-sitters' not ordering, followed by dealers not wanting their other brands infected by Fisker. At that point, the wheel's literally come off of this "company".Face it folks, there are no cars for us, there probably won't be cars for us and if there is, they are going to be full fledged disasters. Fisker has done NOTHING to defend themselves against all this negative publicity. Years of delays, false statements relating to mileages, "firm" delivery dates that were promised BEFORE the car was even certified for sale, political back lash about the federal loan, reduction in batteries ordered from AONE indicates less sales than estimated, and now, electrical problems with the signiture cars??? As badly as I wanted this car and what it represented, I don't need a $100,000.00 planter. There will always be a car to buy, no need to buy one from a company that could care less about long time deposit holders or potential customers. I have a vision of 100 people at Fisker headquarters packing personal belongings into little white boxes and turning out the lights. I want to be wrong but, I don't think so.

I think that may be over dramatic. They've screwed up, but I think most pre orderers will keep their orders. I personally don't see a big case for the karma (or surf), but they've got the loans to take another shot at it with the Nina. So I think they may have until then to prove themselves.

 

[ebarneyr]

I just drove the Demo today at the Denver Fisker dealer. The engine noise which bugged me in the pre-production model I drove in August is fixed and fine now. While I would like more acceleration, it is good and virtually unchanged since August. The car holds the road like a sports car! I drove it up into the mountains from Denver on curves with changes in elevation and it hugged the road almost as well as the Porsche Carrera GT I have had and have enjoyed in the mountains. I suggest you may be giving up at just the wrong time. I am definitely taking delivery on mine whether it comes in late December or some time in early next year. Ebarneyr

 

[Fabulist]

Sadly, after more than 2 1/2 years of lies, tall tales and flat out B.S., I'm out. I will be one of many who cancel a long standing order, that will be followed by "fence-sitters' not ordering, followed by dealers not wanting their other brands infected by Fisker. At that point, the wheel's literally come off of this "company".Face it folks, there are no cars for us, there probably won't be cars for us and if there is, they are going to be full fledged disasters. Fisker has done NOTHING to defend themselves against all this negative publicity. Years of delays, false statements relating to mileages, "firm" delivery dates that were promised BEFORE the car was even certified for sale, political back lash about the federal loan, reduction in batteries ordered from AONE indicates less sales than estimated, and now, electrical problems with the signiture cars??? As badly as I wanted this car and what it represented, I don't need a $100,000.00 planter. There will always be a car to buy, no need to buy one from a company that could care less about long time deposit holders or potential customers. I have a vision of 100 people at Fisker headquarters packing personal belongings into little white boxes and turning out the lights. I want to be wrong but, I don't think so.

Seriously, no need to be like a teenage girl stood up by her prom date. When it comes right down to it, none of us had much skin in this game because we all have very small, fully refundable deposits and could walk away at any time. Fisker, on the other hand had to commit over a Billion dollars of investor and public money to this project and went from sketch to car in 4 years, faster than GM, faster than Nissan, and everyone else is still talking about maybe some day having an electric car. None of these things ever go exactly to plan, especially when they are developing new technology and dealing with changing regulatory landscape and building a company all at the same time.

So the delay, redesign, regulatory tangles, and bad press is par for the course in this sort of enterprise. If it is more than you can take, then that's absolutely fair and vaya con Dios. But there is no need to throw a tantrum and wish every one utter devastation in your wake. The last guy who said "apres moi, le deluge" did not come to a very pleasant end, so at least, heed the lesson of history.

That said, I am sorry to see you go this close to getting a car. I hope you come back when the company has a bit more of a track record so you feel more comfortable.

-- Fab.

 

[Deep Ocean]

Its a game changer.

Other than looks, how so? Technologically speaking its in line with a volt, no?

When I FINALLY sink into those Cordovan Leather seats, grab that steering wheel, REV the engine, Hold the handbrake and slowly let out the clutch, see the smoke in the rear view.... wait, what car did I put down a deposit on?[hr]

Sadly, after more than 2 1/2 years of lies, tall tales and flat out B.S., I'm out. I will be one of many who cancel a long standing order, that will be followed by "fence-sitters' not ordering, followed by dealers not wanting their other brands infected by Fisker. At that point, the wheel's literally come off of this "company".Face it folks, there are no cars for us, there probably won't be cars for us and if there is, they are going to be full fledged disasters. Fisker has done NOTHING to defend themselves against all this negative publicity. Years of delays, false statements relating to mileages, "firm" delivery dates that were promised BEFORE the car was even certified for sale, political back lash about the federal loan, reduction in batteries ordered from AONE indicates less sales than estimated, and now, electrical problems with the signiture cars??? As badly as I wanted this car and what it represented, I don't need a $100,000.00 planter. There will always be a car to buy, no need to buy one from a company that could care less about long time deposit holders or potential customers. I have a vision of 100 people at Fisker headquarters packing personal belongings into little white boxes and turning out the lights. I want to be wrong but, I don't think so.

Seriously, no need to be like a teenage girl stood up by her prom date. When it comes right down to it, none of us had much skin in this game because we all have very small, fully refundable deposits and could walk away at any time. Fisker, on the other hand had to commit over a Billion dollars of investor and public money to this project and went from sketch to car in 4 years, faster than GM, faster than Nissan, and everyone else is still talking about maybe some day having an electric car. None of these things ever go exactly to plan, especially when they are developing new technology and dealing with changing regulatory landscape and building a company all at the same time.

So the delay, redesign, regulatory tangles, and bad press is par for the course in this sort of enterprise. If it is more than you can take, then that's absolutely fair and vaya con Dios. But there is no need to throw a tantrum and wish every one utter devastation in your wake. The last guy who said "apres moi, le deluge" did not come to a very pleasant end, so at least, heed the lesson of history.

That said, I am sorry to see you go this close to getting a car. I hope you come back when the company has a bit more of a track record so you feel more comfortable.

-- Fab.

I'm still in. What's a few hundred delays anyway amongst friends? Seriously though, I couldn't imagine what it would take to do what Henrik has been able to do. Keep going Mr. Fisker, just let us know what's going on as much as you can.