Chris L

Interesting article in Evo this month:

"Evo spoke to a number of manufacturers to see where you stand if you indulge in a few trackdays. Subaru's UK importer, IM, was happy to help with our investigation and reassuringly stated that 'Using a vehicle on track does not automatically invalidate the warranty.' However, IM pointed out that abuse or misuse - whether on road or track - will invalidate the manufacturer's warranty.

Exactly what qualifies as 'abuse or misuse' is undefined. There is also some ambiguity as to what sort of track event is acceptable under the terms of the warranty. IM stated, 'The event must be properly managed and marshalled and the driver of the vehicle must be comptetent to drive on a track and be under appropriate supervision or instruction.'

The message from Subaru seems to be that trackdays in themselves do not always mean that the warranty won't be honoured, but that individual cases will be investigated if there is a suspicion that the car has been abused."

I'm glad that's cleared up then

Chris

johnfelstead

how do they determine that one then?

mutant_matt

If their spies witnessed you driving without an instructor in your passenger seat, when on track John....

Matt

Neil Smalley

According to the Evo article. Mistubishi will void the warranty of any Evo 7 they catch on track. The same goes for BMW(for BMW's obviously).

Steve Whitehorn

iTrader: (13)

BMW tried it on with an E46 but have backed down.

So a bit of a result.

http://www.scoobynet.co.uk/bbs/thread.asp?threadid=156098


Steve

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

John,
They determine it by if YOU overtake them, then they are driving sensibly if they overtake you their Nutters LOL

Tony

Neil Smalley

Steve

I knew that BMW had backed down in one instance. Do you know if what Evo Mag are reporting is a change in BMW policy, as opposed to a one off?

johnfelstead

cant argue with that Tony.

Thats why i carry a front facing camera. IM pay me to be on the lookout, as do BMW, Porsche, Ferrari, Noble, TVR, Skoda, Mitsubishi ........ so far no one has had their waranty void by my systems. LOL

Steve Whitehorn

iTrader: (13)

Neil
He had to really fight for it. I think eventually the MD of BMW (Uk I assume) got involved and he got his money back which was 5 figures.
From what I can tell it is still a bit of a grey area. But this may set a precedent. Like anything I think that if you shout loud enough and threaten enough indirect negative PR then they will cave in. But they won't lay them selves open to openly saying all track use is OK.

So dosen't answer the question really. But I think the negative PR thing is the key. (Do I pay 10-k to keep this bloke happy because he is going to give me 100-k worth of bad press/bad name within mostor sport fans/potential buyers/what if the press get hold of this!)

Best wishes
Steve

Steve777

iTrader: (8)

I hear that at the recent SIDC track day at Donnington Park, Subaru UK were there unannounced taking down car details as they came on and off track !

Take ya number plates off before you go on track is my advice and hope that the manufacturer doesn't suss you then they will be none the wiser.

At least on track the tarmac is smooth so you should be able to drive the car better on track than on road

Chris L

Steve

That story is what really prompted me to post this. The slightly two-faced attitude of IM does it no favours amongst its customers. To actually take prospective and current customers on track to show them what the STI could do when it first realeased and then turn round and say you can't use your car on track is a little unfair.

Now they say some track use will be OK

Confused? I am...

Chris

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

If I remember rightly...... At Donny only 2 highly "Modded" Subaru's had their warrenty's revoked. but it did also worry me at the time. I don't think this did Subaru's reputation any good a very poor PR job
Did my first driver improvement day at Bedford haven't heard anything from IM Miss use or abuse is the terms which warrenty was revoked and doesn't mesn track could mean anywhere,

Tony

Mossman

It is a sad state of affairs. Can you imagine Westfield or caterham doing the same....... I don't think so.
Mossman