Ordering a Fisker on lease - am I bonkers!?

Ordering a Fisker on lease - am I bonkers!?

Author
Discussion

130idvg

Original Poster:

63 posts

195 months

Monday 25th March
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Hi all,

Looking to replace our xc40 with a bigger electric car, taking advantage of tax savings due to business etc.

2 cars in the running, Škoda Enyaq 85x sport line as it’s cheap. Also drove a Fisker ocean extreme and was pleasantly surprised. I know that Fisker are on shaky grounds, so am I bonkers? Will just be a 2 year lease. My concerns are:

1. If they go bankrupt, who will maintain the vehicle. Primarily concerned about software issues. I was planning on taking the maintenance pack - would this mean if it can’t be maintained, they’re in breach of contract so can return the car?

2. A lot of the key features (apple carplay etc) are still coming in OTA updates. I guess, unless they are bought out by a bigger company, these features won’t come through.

Appreciate your thoughts! Enyaq will be fine, but a bit boring!

autumnsum

435 posts

38 months

Monday 25th March
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Unless you can get one for a similar price to those Maxus pickup trucks (is under £100/month) I think this would just be like paying to have a headache.

Biggles Flies Undone

32 posts

8 months

Monday 25th March
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It's a difficult one. I'm also considering one, but the idea of a completely new car, from a new company and one that has had a somewhat chequered history is testing the rational part of my brain.

One thing I am thinking though is that the car itself isn't really owned by you, its a lease car and so if it stops working etc then the risk should fall on them, as it is "their" car after all. I know it isn't as simple as that, but it's another line of protection in theory.

I'll probably just be boring and get something with a wee bit more pedigree, but I do like the look of them.

Where did you go for a test drive?

Mezzanine

9,674 posts

226 months

Monday 25th March
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You’d be absolutely bonkers to go anywhere near that product if you ask me, especially in this country.


CrgT16

2,114 posts

115 months

Monday 25th March
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Imagine small bump then months to wait for parts for repair… no for me

PistonTim

561 posts

146 months

Monday 25th March
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A terrible idea given the current situation.

raspy

1,796 posts

101 months

Monday 25th March
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It sounds like you are seeking excitement from your next lease. Therefore, go lease the Fisker. It will be a far more memorable rollercoaster ride than the boring Skoda.

Biggles Flies Undone

32 posts

8 months

Monday 25th March
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Given that I also love older Italian motorcycles which regularly enjoy leaking electricity, coolant, oil, fuel and engine parts, then maybe I am the ideal person for one of these...

130idvg

Original Poster:

63 posts

195 months

Monday 25th March
quotequote all
I mean I do already own a defender, so maybe I’m a glutton for punishment!

The logical part of me knows that the Škoda would be cheapest hassle free motoring.

My thoughts were that there might be potential to return the car if any issues as its lease. That’s probably easier said than done. What is the real risk of ending up with a rented brick on the driveway!?

Biggles Flies Undone

32 posts

8 months

Monday 25th March
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It does sound like Fisker is teetering on the edge right now. A risk too far I think.

Toaster Pilot

14,661 posts

165 months

Monday 25th March
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130idvg said:
What is the real risk of ending up with a rented brick on the driveway!?
Surely at this point you just tell the lease company to stick it? If you can't get it fixed then it's their problem, not yours.

Seasonal Hero

7,954 posts

59 months

Monday 25th March
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Still leaves you without a car.


Otispunkmeyer

13,053 posts

162 months

Monday 25th March
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Biggles Flies Undone said:
It does sound like Fisker is teetering on the edge right now. A risk too far I think.
By the Fisker Investors Club on Reddit some seem to think bankruptcy is near. All the current inventory has been taken off the website and all deliveries have been stopped. They believe all these cars will essentially be held back as part of the bankruptcy sale.

The reviews of the Ocean have been absolutely horrid as well. It definitely sounded like it needed a bit more time in the oven from both a software and hardware point of view. Maybe it has been rushed out to get money in the door but that won't work if the actual product is too ropey right from the off. Word gets around too fast.

Tractor Driver

141 posts

37 months

Monday 25th March
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Piece on the Autocar website just now suggesting that Fisker’s future is in greater doubt, as talks (believed to be with Nissan) fail.

Shame, as the car looks decent, albeit with OTA updates that are slow to materialise, but I’d avoid buying or leasing one now.

DJP31

245 posts

111 months

Monday 25th March
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Could you get hold of the lease agreement now and have a good read of the t&c's - see what it says under the termination clause? If there's nothing there, or not enough to give you comfort drop them a line and get the response in writing. One way or the other that should confirm the position.

Personally I'd be more worried about the parts supply, especially if suppliers aren't willing to extend usual credit terms. If the company just manges to keep limping along you wouldn't have the grounds to hand it back, which you may have if they go pop.

Still Mulling

13,469 posts

184 months

Monday 25th March
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Fisker trading just suspended on the NYSE. Don’t do it.

Fast Bug

12,186 posts

168 months

Monday 25th March
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Toaster Pilot said:
130idvg said:
What is the real risk of ending up with a rented brick on the driveway!?
Surely at this point you just tell the lease company to stick it? If you can't get it fixed then it's their problem, not yours.
Easier said than done with a lease agreement.

You may find the leasing company will be pulling their offer anyway at this rate!

jules_s

4,549 posts

240 months

Monday 25th March
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Still Mulling said:
Fisker trading just suspended on the NYSE. Don’t do it.
It was close to this last week iirc

I joined the FB Fisker page as I was drawn in by the power/looks/range - some proper twitchy UK owners/leasers atm

Mezzanine

9,674 posts

226 months

Tuesday 26th March
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When.