Why we AVOIDED the Fisker Karma and Tesla S, and bought a used Maserati instead 

When a used Maserati is the most sensible choice on the list, you know the other options are bonkers.

As a PA resident not surprised about the wonderful Pennsylvania hospitality.

The first thing I tell anyone when they want to buy an old or obscure car is go parts shopping, how easy/expencive is it to get parts.

I am astounded and proud that someone in 2021 said "I'm an individual" That point alone is enough for me to not want a car that can drive it's self. I like the idea of Tesla and the Fisker, awesome cars, not for me.

My wife insisted on a *new* Tesla for her 40th, so I insisted she turn the tax credit into a unique wrap to retain some semblance of individuality (which worked out great). However, the dealer experience was horrendous, and follow ups equally so. No one should ever be beholden to a dealer for sales OR service, especially if you can do the work yourself. Yall definitely made the right choice, by far.

So, ironically... I’m a Maserati tech here in Kansas City and I just serviced one of our used cars which happens to be... a 2018 Karma Revero GT. Everything you said was completely spot on. A friend told me Karma of Ft. Lauderdale has great service. I called and talked to someone at Chicago Karma who was somewhat helpful... Keep the videos coming!!

Don’t drink “the punch” at a Fisker meet

Me = lives in the Indianapolis area and a car enthusiast. Had no idea we had a Karma dealership.

A few lighting and camera improvements and god your backdrop and your setup would look so amazing.

Love the way you described the cars. Hope to see more videos like this!

enjoyable hearing the reasoning that goes on behind people's car buying decisions. especially when the items being cross shopped are so varied.

This intro makes sense. I have actually driven all 3 of these cars at my valet job. the Fisker (the noise it makes sounds like The Jetsons speeders from the cartoon) is cool as long as it's not yours. Tesla is tesla.. its boring let's be honest The Maserati makes the most sense

Feels like an old school Casey vid. A surprise, but a welcome one. Concur on the Maserati...I'd also say it's kinda way too early for EVs in general.

I can totally understand the reasoning behind the choice. It would have been so much easier for me, cars to me are emotive, the Maserati has a beautiful sounding NA V8 and is absolutely gorgeous, it would make me feel special, as James May once said " It gives me the fizz". Great choice, would love to know what your wife thinks of it as a daily driver, after say six months. Great Video Casey, Intelligent, informative and open.

I wonder if they will remake the movie Christine but have it based on a Tesla with the self drive gone wrong.

The Gran Turismo is one of the best looking GT sport car ever (Next to the DBS Superlegerra) and it sound awesome too, a real car not an iphone on wheels or a fish looking toy. Your wife chose wisely.

The Maserati is a great choice, that sound alone aaarrrgh.

Casey I love your content.please don't ever change.keep being genuine and original. Love from florida

I have driven the Maserati it's an amazing car for the money !

Casey needs to meet Uncle Rich from Rich Rebuilds.... Worlds will collide💥 🤣.

Art is never an Algorithm neither is passion or genius././

Re: Tesla and repairs. The thing that puts me off the Tesla is the serious adversarial relationship Tesla has to most repairs and modifications being done on one of their cars and locking them out of the super-charger network etc. Which on the one hand "I understand" because Tesla doesn't want some shady shade-tree Tesla turning a row of Tesla's at a super-charge stop in to a lithium-ion bonfire. But I know for a fact that those folks who know better - who would be completely qualified to do their own work or have a repair shop - have a real uphill fight to work on Teslas as well because Tesla wants that enclosed ecosystem like Apple etc do as well. And that rubs me the wrong way. It's a bit like the idea of a car company having a monopoly on gas stations and being able to decide, "Yeah, we won't let you fill that up here because we don't like what you did with it."

The most common business practice practice today is bad business. It sucks but it's kind of nice to see that I'm not the only one that deals with it.

Really cool breakdown of the cars! Glad I found this channel.

Fisker Karma is drop-dead gorgeous. It just needs an LS swap to make it reliable and owner-serviceable. 😉

🤟🏿 to the reflection on where Tesla is at in the car market. Never thought of it like that but your right. Seems they are missing that “X Factor”.

You asked an interesting question that I haven't heard asked before. Thanks for talking!

I'm another one that thinks Tesla's are dull. But then I say the same thing about most cars today(thank you regulators). Keeping in mind the selective nature of today's internet. This little scenario was the first thing I thought of. I get into my self driving milk toast colored car. I say, "Take me to Mad Casey's Motor Shack.", then hearing, "I'm sorry that address is not available.". "But I was there this morning?", "I'm sorry that address is not available." "What the hell!", "That address is available.".

Didn’t these have an issue where when they did catch on fire it would literally spread to each battery cell and literally burn for days even after you thought it was completely out?

Yeah, the Tesla's like high-performance IKEA furniture, thrilling but somehow boring at the same time. I'm glad y'all prioritized the quality that'll garner more gazes than "exhibition of speed" tickets, lol

Hey Casey have you thought about going with an electric car build for either your RU-vid or genius garage? There’s a guy on RU-vid with a 72 Plymouth satellite that’s Tesla swapped

I also was fascinated by the fisker, beautiful lines up close, but realized the practicality of getting it serviced out here in West Texas was not a challenge I was interested in pursuing. Perhaps when the price point falls, or when I can connect the car to a laptop and have remote diagnostics done for it, even if cost something extra. Good choice on the Maserati . Glad you are doing well, love your content. AND the video of you and your wife servicing the car was fun.

Great video, Casey! Thank you for sharing your experience with us. If you had a chance to do some research on Porsche Panamera, I'm certain there is more than a few people who would love to hear your thoughts. Thank you!

Right there with you, on the outside of the bell curve and staying there dammit!

Good stuff. Any opinion of the newer karma revo ? Thinking of one

Very nearly bought a Prius prime for a similar reason to the fisker ended up with a golf sportwagon instead lol

ya, I never have a good experience at dealerships. great video and story . tfs.

Interesting take on the Fisker. I've heard people say that they are just fancy looking Volts or maybe BMW i8's wrt to the generator approach. Is there anything unique in the Fisker that sets their drivetrain apart?

You should have gotten the Karma. I have wanted one for so long because of the quirkiness. Even with all the problems it's so cool.

Casey: the Chevy Volt had that same use of the ICE; no Direct driveline mechanical connection. It's just to generate electricity for drive motors. I enjoy your vids!

God bless Mr m Mrs Punch on their choice of a Maserati.

I love this honest breakdown of all three of these vehicles. One of our flight students had one and I got to ride in it and what a truly beautiful vehicle and extremely unique. But that customer service is so awful. Do they not understand that is going to utterly destroy their business? Tesslas are amazing, but the computers are troubling at best. In a way, I kinda hope someone that understands customer service takes over for Karma and makes that care a competitor for the Tessla.

What is the black car on the left behind the chair?

Is there's another company using the fisker body it looks pretty good

My aunt sells Tesla and is apparently really good at it and she just bought her own Tesla. Not sure what it is but she seems to really like it. I’m normally into the big loud powerful truck and cars but it looks pretty nice I like the red

Always loved the Maserati Gran Torismo. I think it was a good spec and deal considering the price new. By the way Casey, still loving my Kia Stinger Gt2. I've had free service for the last two years from my local dealership for representing them from our local Stinger group. Pretty amazing experience I'm having with my long term vehicle. Plus my car is still worth the price I bought it for during this Chip shortage!

I think you made the right call for your needs. People will often buy a car without thinking through the longer term aspects of ticking all the boxes and then servicing it, then either have to drink the cult kool-aid or have a bad time and finally move on from the car. Creep spaceship sounding cars kill less pedestrians just like loud exhausts. :)

I can't help but stare.. at that racecar beside him.. it's just so (for lack of better words) cool.. I might make a copy of it in blender later.

TDIL the Fisker and Volt both have engines whose sole purpose is to provide electricity to the battery.

The thing that would keep me from buying a Tesla is they don’t sell new parts to the owners like battery packs and that is illegal because in the United States they (all automotive manufacturers) must make parts for every vehicle for 10 years after it was discontinued. And if you say yes you can No all the batteries are rebuilt and salvaged I’m talking from the part wear house not from a junk yard try to find anything new never been on a car. But you can get oem parts for Ford, Chevy, dodge, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Rolls Royce but not Tesla. And that is way GM destroyed the EV1 because of the parts laws and that is the main reason I would never own a Tesla because it is a disposable car and how do one safely recycling the battery packs with out a fire? And just look up the environmental impact mining for the stuff that goes into a battery for a Tesla it is far less EV than Tesla said now a gasoline or diesel car can be modified to use green fuel and just remember trees live off of CO2 with out it they die then we die. Have fun please look up how the earth really works before you say I’m wrong.

I love the way the Fisker works! I’d love to see a sports car with a gas turbine generating electricity for electric motors 😎

As far as tesla... The cybertruck does get me excited! Its odd and eccentric enough and it's kind of a truck

The ony reason I purchased my 2020 Toyota Yaris LE Sedan over the Prius, was entry headroom... I am 5' 11" and my head hit the Roof Pilar when entering... The Yaris has a great Interior layout, but I should have Up-Sold to the Toyota Corolla, with having a better MPG! Don't judge me too shortly, but the Yaris LE Sedan still fits me well. But morre Horsepower would have been nice to have on my 350 mile roadtrips!

I guess Tesla ticks the boxes for people who just want transport. Which, to be fair, is a significant chunk of the motoring public. But allowing algorithms to control how these people move about is scary stuff.

Hello, Mr. Casey. How can i contact you so i can get some feedback on some things? It would help me a lot!

The Karma having an ICE engine powering a generator that supplies electricity to electric motors which power the wheels is not unique to the Karma (3:04). That is known as a range-extended electric vehicle (or some variation of those words) and is same as BMW is and Chevrolet Volt.

I think you and your lovely wife bought a beautiful car. Completely understand Now how you got there. Never fear who you piss off because you are a individual and we like you the way you are. You tell it like it is and not what people want to hear. We watch for the real Casey and Genious Garage. You could Pamper to algorithm and Double your views and be a Shell of a MAN. Us OG's are here for truth and learning and man do we have a great teacher. Thanks Casey and to the love of your life thanks for putting up with this husband and his dreams he makes reallity.

Your thoughts on the Tesla model S is the same thing that I had when I test rode a Husquanva Nuda 900R. I really wanted to *LOVE* that bike. It handled great, looked good, was comfortable to ride but it just didn't do it for me. There is no reason for me not to like it, I just didn't, it makes no sense in any way, but some times that's just they way it is with cars some times.

couldn't you just put a battery trickle charger on the regular car fisker battery whenever its planned to be parked inside? theres versions that you leave half connected to the battery so you could have it stuck out a panel or somewhere ready to be plugged in, then it would never be a paper weight haha

I agree that the Fisker Karma was an interesting concept, but ultimately I feel it was poorly executed. Your wife made the right choice.

What are you saying? I blacked out my factory silver rims on my Model S, I'm unique and my car is essentially custom!

I love the Fisker but the dealers sound like a complete nightmare!

Couldn't agree more about the tesla, Ive driven an S, and X, and been in a 3, and like you said it was nice, but the only thing that was unique about driving it was the instant acceleration and torque which was cool, but made me question how in the future of electrics how the driving experience between them will differ. During normal driving senarios it felt completely ununique and boring.

That's a good reason not to buy one. I don't care for the on/off engine of the hybrids. I do like the way the fisker is set up. I think if you could modify it so the generator gave power direct to motors, it could be really cool. I tend to lean towards the German philosophy where you get into your car to do one thing. Drive. Not drink,eat or whatever. This is why they have the Audubon. Also, there's nothing wrong with the internal combustion engine. The fuel is the problem. Aren't batteries also very toxic?🤔

I'd love to see Casey put his knowledge at an ev build because it would be brilliant

I was looking for a Grand Turismo as a more "authentic" upgrade to my 98 XK8 I rebuilt with a Procharged Ford 4.6l 32v dohc V8 (got it as a roller as part of a trade). I ended up with a 2012 XKR instead after not being able to find a GT. Problems aside both cars are appealing looks wise, I just wasn't exactly looking for my third Jag (have a 94 XJS with GM 4.2l I6 turbocharged too).

The dealship is to busy to talk to you. Karmas are fly off the shelf. The service center as a football field of karmas to fix. He was probably on his yacht . 🤔🤔🤣🤣 i think you picked the best car👍👍love the channel.

Does Rich’s company Electrified Garage service Fiskers? Maybe he doesn’t have a location near you though. Love the Maserati anyways!

I really like these videos. If the right people watch them, they might actually learn something.

Fiskar Karma powertrain unique? Did we forget about the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius?

Bad customer service is not something that you should apologize for calling out. Cars are getting very expensive and they need to be backed up by customer service

When I learnt how a Fisker Karma worked I thought it was the stupidest thing on the planet. Why make an EV that's continually powered by an internal combustion engine? Just make a normal car at that point The points you made though made me understand it's use case

Plaid looks really good

A little off the topic but... I think all the pressure to adopt electricity comes from the fact that oil reserves are under production pressure, you just can't produce enough. Oil today is not just fuel, dozens of giant industries depend on their derivatives, one of the most important is agriculture. Governments have to choose. As a lover of petrol engines and manual gearboxes, I see the day coming when it will be a product only for the rich. Good luck with your new acquisition Italian engines are great, electrical system not really but nothing that you can't live with. Have fun.

Yep, your Wife is a keeper I'm married to a Marine Cols daughter. She could care less about a car. However, during the 36 years of marriage, she thinks the cars I have owned during our marriage are exciting at the least. Vehicles being, a 300ZX, 88 Lotus Turbo Esprit, 1980 Porsche 911 SC, 1999 911 cabriolet and several BMW's. I 've got a keeper too! I love my wife! BTW, we are Tom & Jerri and the neighborhood kids love us and our cool cars.

TALKING OF THE SENSE OF SURRENDERING OF CONTROL TO A COMPUTER... the one thing that has freaked me out about Tesla was the multiple instances of the car suddenly deciding it needed to do an emergency brake on the open highway - when no obstruction existed!! I appreciate driving AIDS, that can ASSIST ME - but I do not want any car that will suddenly take all control away from me! That's not driving - that's being a package!!!

Cant wait to see genius garage at Mid Ohio

Casey’s long explanation of why they bought the Maserati when the truth is the roar of the exhaust system sold it within seconds.

The car don't drive itself the autopilot is a a sort supercruise not a self pilot by Tesla's own standard. And, personally, those who rely on the Tesla AP are in irresponsible people following an hype.

I think self driving vehicles have a place. For those individuals that are incapable of driving themselves, older people or those that have a handicapped. For the a fully functional person, I don't think we should have them. They already make cars for morons...

Electric or petrol or whatever there is in the future I won't mind, but I am never owning a car that you have to press a button on a screen just to open the glovebox

Loving the irony here that the Tesla and Fiska were designed by the same person.

The driving itself argument can keep going and I'm on both sides. But imagine when speeding, running red, and yellow lights is completely eliminated? Accidents will no longer be a thing. We're not there now, but in the near future when all the algorithms are cleaned up and the roads are refined for the tech, that would be the norm and we won't look back. I think it's just the effect of the tech being really new. But that's my take on that.

Interesting reflection and nice pun of a Tesla becoming Google... And you dont need to be a conspiracy theorist to see that algorithms are dangerous for the human mind, and I would rather hold the steering wheel in my hand. I guess thats why I have a AC Cobra replica with a muncie gearbox as a fun car, where the high beam relay might be the most advanced part.

That end was some deep shit

I don't know, the Maserati California T reminds me of the Ferrari Gran Turismo or something

You know the "concept" of a gas generator in a hybrid has been used at least since the Chevy volt

Chevy Volt was the same type of hybrid that the Fiskar Karma.

bummed the clip of your smiling wife is no longer in your intro

Casey can’t rely on Service Relationships to keep his wife’s car on the road. Why you ask? Because for the same reason a farmer needs to keep his tractor running with a 10mm, bailing wire, and a hammer to persuade systems to play along.

As a PA guy I can only apologize for the treatment, it seems with shops you either get gods or demons. Once you admitted to the dealer you weren't buying from them they no longer gave a crap about you. I appraised a local house and they were Tesla nuts, had the Tesla solar roof, the Tesla controller, 3 cars and their own supercharger. I could see a Tesla tied into your Doctor...and it saying Sorry Dave, we can't go to McDonald's.

why chose a massarati ,best price ,no planning ,sounds best

Maserati is a great choice

As an employee of a coal fired power plant I would love to see more Electric cars on the road.

If I lived in a house I could probably have an EV for a daily driver. I think it'll be a more common thing going forward, but I'd still rather wait for all the manufacturers to enter the ring first.

I can say that I pretty much agree with most all your points;especially about the Tesla being boring. Now it's fun as hell as a Friday night street blaster (light to light flexing on the Mustang's, Skyline's & Camaro's) but the "worst" thing about is the sense of Not being in control. What I mean by that is what didn't of; or maybe left out; computer controlled hacking. The fact those are nearly incapable of being operated when fully disconnected to the internet is too much like SkyNet. Someone can hack your car and drive you off a cliff, cause you to wreck of even get controlled by law enforcement because someone has an issue with you and reported you doing something illegal; even if you didn't. I know it might sound like a stretch but - Self Driving Cars - that's was the stuff of science fiction back in the 90's; yet here it is. I truly believe that should have never been allowed by The NTSB in it's current configuration. It should have only gone so far as Cadillac's "Super Cruise". In those cars, the system automatically moves towards the shoulder; slowing down slowing; and disables it with an audible alarm if your eyes aren't on the road every few seconds. I think it is also programmed to slightly "drift towards the shoulder; or something to that effect; so that you have to touch the wheel and make an input to keep it activated. If they allow this, they Must force all states to build a Tesla Lane; similar to the carpool lanes in CA; and only are accessible by Tesla's with Autopilot engaged And have a preprogrammed destination so that an audible alarm will sound to notify the driver their exit is coming up or else the car automatically pull onto the left shoulder, stops and shuts off the car until the driver restarts and only manual mode is available for the next 30 min of driving. Why do you make us think of stuff like this? Shouldn't this have been already addressed by the NTSB & the ins companies before allowing Tesla to have that feature installed in the cars. BTWI would have gone with the Fisker but I would have pulled the gas motor and swapped it out with another diesel like you have in The Omega car. That would be a perfect example of what hybrids could be today.

Maserati was your best choice

I think a car with too many nannies or even self driving is boring. What bothers me most about the most modern cars is that their internal networks and in some cases wireless networks can be hacked. I'm ok with hacking my own car but I don't like the idea of someone else hacking it. I just bought a car from the turn of the century. You can't get much newer than that and still maintain a car without being a computer and electronics technician. Eventually I would like to eliminate most of the computers in it so I can get fairly modern mechanical build quality, fairly modern luxury and give it robust mechanical simplicity and reliability. I won't actually do that until I can't maintain the electronics because all of the OEM PCMs either go bad or I can't find someone to flash a PCM to work in my car. Of course I'm looking at this with the realization that "driving" a car and fossil fuels will probably be banned before I'm ready to let them go. I'm kind of planning my version of Logan's Run but with bio-diesel because I doubt cooking oil will ever be banned. Edit: it was actually The Last Chase (1981) I was thinking of, not Logan's Run. Everyone thinking about long term car ownership is going to need to start thinking that way unless they are ok with owning a museum piece or a Tesla which is probably kind of the Model T of the autonomous EV era. The Omega Car is close to what you need but still too many computers. Also a road racer style car probably isn't what you need for a Logan's Run.

Shoulda just got a Dodge Intrepid (which started out as a Lambo concept car)

If salespeople don't take a percentage of a sale, they don't pick up the phone.