Saw a Fisker Karma last night

I test drove one a few weeks back. Absolutely gorgeous! Unfortunately, it drove like a dog and had quite a few software glitches. At $110k, I passed on it in this iteration. I'm not sure the company is going to last to the next generation.

Btw, it appears the car will average about 32 miles per gallon if you use it past the battery limit of 30 miles.

 

Was that the "pedestrian alarm" sound?

 

met one in my city a bit ago. looks amazing in real life, very dramatic, very seductive. wish it had a v12, but thats not the point.

http://i40.tinypic.com/33c9g2e.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/py54w.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/2447h3k.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/afal92.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/2m32nx3.jpg

 

I drive past the Fisker dealership just about every day, I've seen them on the road twice. Decent looking car, but I've heard way too many reports of glitches and problems. I think that the only way Fisker survives is if they get acquired by a larger automaker.

 

From what I have read the funny whine is from the GM sourced 4 cylinder engine. Which I find totally odd considering that it doesn't sound like that in the GM cars it's in. The Atlantic they debuted yesterday uses a BMW sourced 4 cylinder which should be better. I abosolutly love the looks of the Karma and really hope they get the bugs worked out and continue to build cars. The sad part is it may take an acquisition to keep them alive.

 

I was always struck by how big they are.

Neat looking car; there was one at the C&C in Raleigh in February. It stole the show.

 

Yes, they're quite big. But the interior is cramped. I had a ride in one 3 weeks ago. Build quality (fit and finish of non-electronic stuff) was very nice. Interior space is taken up by the battery pack that runs down the center of the car as a spine. I also had a chance to try the back seat. Very cramped and no headroom. Couldn't wait to get out. Car is more of a 2+2 than a true 4 seater.

We drove the car in Manhattan from downtown to midtown and got quite a few stares and people snapping pics on their phones. It is a striking car in person. The pics truly don't do it justice.

 

Speaking with a tech at a Fisker dealer the whine at low speeds is actually a speaker...yes....a speaker. Apparently overseas there is a government mandated law that a car must make sound at speeds below 25MPH. When the Fisker is using battery power it would not make any noise at all.

Next time you see one take note if the sound changes at all....it is just a constant whine.

 

I'd opt for the Maser and a $5000 prepaid gas card in the glove box.

 

but you'd really rather have 20 BMW 2002s.

 

I drive by the Fisker dealer at least once a day, I will have to take notice this when one is pulling in, this is really interesting.

 

I'd take the GM four over the BMW any day and twice on Sunday.

 

I wasn't trying to say anything bad about the GM 4 cylinder. They have done an amazing job in the past 4 years on that motor (the post Eco-Tech). With that said I would never, ever take a comproble engine from any manufacture over a BMW mill. Well excluding Ferrari of course.

 

I find the car quite good looking and I like the fact it is electric, but with a generator onboard.
The down side is that it is big on the outside and rahter cramped inside, particularly the back seats.
The trunk is a real joke, with just enough room for some groceries.
If you are heading for the airport, it better be for a small trip, as there isn't room enough for suit cases.
All in all it is difficult to understand / assign the real mission for this car, as it has many things I like about it, but just as many I dislike about it.