A Used Fisker Karma Is Still Surprisingly Expensive

There are currently 50 different Fisker Karma models listed for sale on Autotrader — all of which hail from the 2012 model year. Back when the Karma was new, the base model — called “EcoStandard” — started at $103,000, while the top-level “EcoChic” version was $116,000.

Five years later — after the car was orphaned, following a short production run — what do you think they go for? $20,000? Or maybe less, since it uses a complicated plug-in hybrid drivetrain that could be difficult to service? Maybe $15,000? $10,000?

Surprisingly not. The average asking price for a Fisker Karma on Autotrader right now is $48,800. Fifty grand! For a car that was manufactured by a now-defunct car company for just one model year using a rather complicated hodgepodge of drivetrain parts and (presumably) presently unobtainable body panels.

And that average price doesn’t appear to be wishful thinking: There aren’t 47 Karma models priced at $9,750 each, and then three people asking $1 million apiece for their extra-special ones. Instead, the Karma asking-price range seems to be distributed fairly evenly, with the cheapest example offered around $34,000 with high miles, and the most expensive ones in the low-$60,000 range with low miles.

I’m not sure about you, but I’m shocked by this. I always kind of figured the Karma’s values would drop the moment Fisker announced it was leaving the market — but that absolutely hasn’t happened. Instead, the Karma appears to be holding about 45 percent of its value over 5 years, which is stronger than most cars — even in spite of all the objective reasons it shouldn’t be.

Admittedly, however, there’s one big subjective reason the Karma deserves to keep its value so well: It’s gorgeous. And even if you don’t think it’s gorgeous, you have to admit it turns heads like few other vehicles. Considering they only made a small number of them over a short period of time, its design alone is likely keeping people interested — and I suspect that’s why the Karma’s values are so high. Find a Fisker Karma for sale

Doug DeMuro is an automotive journalist who has written for many online and magazine publications. He once owned a Nissan Cube and a Ferrari 360 Modena. At the same time.

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