[mp99e99]

Hi,

I have been waiting to buy a Karma once the bugs get worked out, I know there will be bugs with a new car company but I mean where its on par with other cars (ie the message board here isn't a litany of problems).

Since this 2012's started shipping in December, will the 2013's start shipping around then? I'm anxious to buy but don't have the time to be a debugger and with a baby can't afford to get stuck/flatbedded/etc.

So does anyone think it will be fixed in this release (sometime this year) or realistically be a 2013 model for me. I can afford to wait, I just can't afford to get stuck or deal with the early adopter issues.

I originally planned to buy once 6.15 came out but it doesn't look like its fixed all the major bugs (although it appears to have addressed a bunch of signifcant ones). What I mean is that most of the owners know too much technically about how the car works and how to work around it.. I mean where I can just drive and not have issues like other cars.


Thanks!

 

[Harleyguy]

At this point I would say go for it before all cars have some sort of bugs but as mentioned in other posts the owners can put up with these issue's knowing they are driving one of the coolest cars on the road to date and also knowing there is light at the end of the tunnel .

You just have to be prepared and open to learning about a new driving experience and deciding this is the car for you .

 

[Dutch]

If people have a problem, they will come and report it here (some owners join this forum just to report an issue). If there isn't a problem, they don't even bother to join. So the picture here is distorted, and not the best way to judge whether to buy this car or not.

I've had 6.15 for half a week now and not experienced any issue yet. Even with 6.13 and 6.14 I've had three months of driving with only minor issues and nothing that influenced driving the car.

 

[Nin ja]

Hi,

I have been waiting to buy a Karma once the bugs get worked out, I know there will be bugs with a new car company but I mean where its on par with other cars (ie the message board here isn't a litany of problems).

Since this 2012's started shipping in December, will the 2013's start shipping around then? I'm anxious to buy but don't have the time to be a debugger and with a baby can't afford to get stuck/flatbedded/etc.

So does anyone think it will be fixed in this release (sometime this year) or realistically be a 2013 model for me. I can afford to wait, I just can't afford to get stuck or deal with the early adopter issues.

I originally planned to buy once 6.15 came out but it doesn't look like its fixed all the major bugs (although it appears to have addressed a bunch of signifcant ones). What I mean is that most of the owners know too much technically about how the car works and how to work around it.. I mean where I can just drive and not have issues like other cars.


Thanks!

I can appriciate your apprehension , and I was having second thoughs before I took the ownership in early march. This car is not for the faint of heart , but so far I have not expericed any problems and I enjoy driving it. I'm getting about 95 mpg and my dealer , ted britt fisker , has been very attentive. Have not been to a gas station yet, just got my 6.15 and so far so good. If you love cars, the Karma is a sweat ride ...

 

[EVer1]

ALL the bugs will probably never be worked out with this, or any other vehicle. But we've had fewer issues with the Karma so far, than we had with my husband's Mercedes (also new model year) and my friend had with her Chrysler (not a new model year). If you want to drive an ecologically sensitive vehicle that does not compromise on luxury, like I do, the Karma is ready now.

 

[Charged in The OC]

Hi,

I have been waiting to buy a Karma once the bugs get worked out, I know there will be bugs with a new car company but I mean where its on par with other cars (ie the message board here isn't a litany of problems).

Since this 2012's started shipping in December, will the 2013's start shipping around then? I'm anxious to buy but don't have the time to be a debugger and with a baby can't afford to get stuck/flatbedded/etc.

So does anyone think it will be fixed in this release (sometime this year) or realistically be a 2013 model for me. I can afford to wait, I just can't afford to get stuck or deal with the early adopter issues.

I originally planned to buy once 6.15 came out but it doesn't look like its fixed all the major bugs (although it appears to have addressed a bunch of signifcant ones). What I mean is that most of the owners know too much technically about how the car works and how to work around it.. I mean where I can just drive and not have issues like other cars.


Thanks!

In my 1600 miles of experience, the bugs are almost all related either to (1) learning how to do things differently with this car than with a regular ICE car or (2) dealing with certain options like USB, easy entry/exit etc. If the car had not had the options that the bugs are in, I would have bought it anyway. So, I just don't use them for now and I will use then when they fix them. And whenever they do fix them, since its all software it will be certainly backwards compatible. In other words, it will work for all cars not just the newer ones.

I say go for it now. Also, the pleasure of being amongst the first to have this great new technology and to wow everyone who sees it, is worth the early glitches, IMHO.

 

[Karma31]

Now. Minor stuff still remain post 615 but incredible achievement for brand new cutting edge technology car from start up company. Plus new 60 month 60,000 warranty just sweetened the deal.

 

[smithles]

I have put 1054 miles on mine over the last month. The only problems I have had are the USB, the exit/entry, and the tire pressure fault. I did experience 1 time, the PRND fault but was able to do the reset trick listed here in Fisker Buzz. I would recommend this car and say jump in when you are ready. I've had different but just as many problems with my Mercedes and my BMW. And my Toyota Sequoia has had a series of problems and then the dealer didn't put the tire on with the lug nuts and tried to drive it off and wrecked it at the dealer shop. To date I can't recommend any car company over Fisker but I feel they could be more responsive with information. All that said, I find my car to be the single most enjoyable car experience in 48 years.

 

[mp99e99]

wow thanks for the feedback everyone. Since I dont have the car (yet) I can only go by what I read not by firsthand experience so it is great to hear from everyone.

harleyguy mentioned that 6.20 is coming soon, I cant spend the $$ on a karma and have my wife seeing me hard rebooting it etc, so this is very important to me, especially with a baby I cant get stranded even once. (Not normal stuff like flat tire I mean PRND issues or other stuff people have posted)

I watched the karma review posted by one of the members here from texas and I wanted to know if they fixed that shuttering noise when you get 55mph from the back windows. Its sort of like crinkling or crackling.

Also, when in electric mode, I noted the high pitched whine, sort of like in a airplane when I test drove. Can you hear this normally or do you get used to it? Or do you get a headache from that noise after awhile. Just curious because no one talks about it [maybe with radio you cant hear it].

Finally, I hear from alot of drivers here they love driving the car, but an occasional person complains the car is very generic to drive and doesn't give feedback. Is this because they are expecting it to drive like a sportscar rather than sedan?

Thanks everyone, as you know its no fun waiting but having my wife tauting me for buying this car would also drive nuts. So I want to make sure I'm not going to get needled by her or my family who all think I'm nuts for wanting to buy it!

 

[kwsmith007]

I am one of the people that had a major system problem with my car. (See thread about Major Powertrain Fault) but I would still heartily recommend the car. Out of the thousand or so sold only a few have had what I world consider major problems. I had a BMW 760 that was at least as problematic as the Fisker seems to be.

One thing to consider is the flatbed/loaner car policy of your dealer. Fisker Miami is located in an odd part of town quite removed from the bulk of their customer base. In light of that, they have an ironclad policy of:

"We will pick up your car on a flatbed and drop you off a nice loaner car 24/7 365 rain or shine"

And when mine died they really did that, in a flash, no questions ask. If your Fisker dealer has something like that or you have a stable full of other cars and live near the dealer then go for it no question.

IF your in a situation where if the cars dies you have to arrange transportation for your Fisker and yourself, then I might tell you to hold off for a couple of more months at least.

Relative to your questions

It's not a 1969 Porsche 911S ... but it's fun to drive, it's a big heavy car so you have to really drive it but that's part of the fun.

You cannot hear the inverter whine over the wind and tire noise at any reasonable speed, never mind over ZZ Top blasting La Grange.

 

[Karma31]

Also, when in electric mode, I noted the high pitched whine, sort of like in a airplane when I test drove. Can you hear this normally or do you get used to it? Or do you get a headache from that noise after awhile. Just curious because no one talks about it [maybe with radio you cant hear it].

Finally, I hear from alot of drivers here they love driving the car, but an occasional person complains the car is very generic to drive and doesn't give feedback. Is this because they are expecting it to drive like a sportscar rather than sedan?

You do get accustomed to the whine but normally with the radio on it's barely noticeable. Another cool unique sound this car makes.
For the life of me I can't imagine any owner describing the driving experience as generic. It's by far the most entertaining sedan I have ever driven and superior to the likes of the Panamera and Jag.
Getting back to the whining, I'd never tolerate that in a wife or girlfriend lol

 

[Charged in The OC]

wow thanks for the feedback everyone. Since I dont have the car (yet) I can only go by what I read not by firsthand experience so it is great to hear from everyone.

harleyguy mentioned that 6.20 is coming soon, I cant spend the $$ on a karma and have my wife seeing me hard rebooting it etc, so this is very important to me, especially with a baby I cant get stranded even once. (Not normal stuff like flat tire I mean PRND issues or other stuff people have posted)

I watched the karma review posted by one of the members here from texas and I wanted to know if they fixed that shuttering noise when you get 55mph from the back windows. Its sort of like crinkling or crackling.

Also, when in electric mode, I noted the high pitched whine, sort of like in a airplane when I test drove. Can you hear this normally or do you get used to it? Or do you get a headache from that noise after awhile. Just curious because no one talks about it [maybe with radio you cant hear it].

Finally, I hear from alot of drivers here they love driving the car, but an occasional person complains the car is very generic to drive and doesn't give feedback. Is this because they are expecting it to drive like a sportscar rather than sedan?

Thanks everyone, as you know its no fun waiting but having my wife tauting me for buying this car would also drive nuts. So I want to make sure I'm not going to get needled by her or my family who all think I'm nuts for wanting to buy it!

I've never driven the car at speed with the back windows down so can't comment there, although many cars get air build-up in the rear when windows are in certain up/dpwn configurations that causes a pounding. The whine is small and I kind of like it because it sounds futuristic compared to an ICE noise. I drive with the radio on most of the time so I don't hear it much anyway.

And as far as driving characteristics, I completely disagree. I am still surprised how fast I can take a corner in this car because of the low center of gravity, great suspension and all the weight being between the wheels. Also, the smooth, non-shifting, flat torque curve acceleration is intoxicating. Steering is precise and feels very confident. I actually find ICE cars to be kind of rough after driving the Karma for a while.

 

[WOJO]

I cant spend the $$ on a karma and have my wife seeing me hard rebooting it etc, so this is very important to me, especially with a baby I cant get stranded even once. (Not normal stuff like flat tire I mean PRND issues or other stuff people have posted)

I feel the same way. I just don't know if my wife will be willing to do soft/hard rebooting and other small stuff sometimes needed to get you going. We love to go out a lot and she drives back home most of the time so I want her to feel very good about this car just like she does about her Continental GT. I just don't want to be the only one driving our Karma tho.

As far as getting stranded even once, I feel very comfortable that this will not happen.

 

[Sportsmeddoc]

I have 2000 miles and get near 50 mi to a charge- still at 409 mi/gal (the max it will read) put $20 in the tank back in Jan only because dealer used ICE to test an update. Still have just 614 (trucking to Vegas this week for 615). No dealer in Scottsdale so all I do is call roadside- they have a closed carrier come to my house and pick it up- take to vegas- have a luxury rental delivered to my house and then they truck it back (closed carrier)- they have the best customer service of any company I have ever dealt with- Porsche, Jag, BMW, Mercedes, Hummer, AUdi- have had them all- Fisker crushes them in service- no problems- they call often to make sure I know when driver is coming and to check after they pick up/drop off. Minor glitches I have had are no big deal- i wish they did not exist BUT the car is so fun to drive and worth every bit of the nuisance. They will solve all of the issues eventually and it is fun having it before everyone else. It is a tech marvel

 

[MyColorIsGreen]

I sprayed some RAID Roach and Ant Killer around the car and its been running smooth! CEL is on but 50% of the cars I have owned had Check Engine Lights glowing on the dash at one time or another..

 

[Fabulist]

Getting back to the whining, I'd never tolerate that in a wife or girlfriend lol

If she only whined when she was pushing you down the freeway at 70 MPH, I think you would find a way to get used to the whining.

 

[Bert Yetman]

The whinng is certainly there on acceleration, however, in my case at least, the tire noise, minimal as it is, covers the whine. Sort of like white noise makers for sleeping. Not a problem.

 

[Al J]

As some have accurately pointed out, these were (most fixed in 6.15 software release) related to bluetooth and ipod connections as well as some intermittants with the navigation interface -- none, for the most part, that effect the driveability. I have had mine for 2 months, although bluetooth had issues and dealing with a learning curve with the driving the technology, I have enjoyed the Karma. I have NEVER had a company trying so hard to make sure the owners are satisfied. Satisified with conference calls, satisified with warranty extension, satisfied with dealers bending over backwards to make sure everything is communicated. All said, it is the most fun I have had driving in years -- My last Lincoln was in the dealer for repairs from brake failures, air conditioning issues, headlights that went off and even the compass broke... I found it had 87 known issues by Ford -- non of those were communicated or proactively fixed. Buying a 100K vehical is a major decision, I don't regret making it.