We’ve all heard the repugnance stories. Your buddy knows a girl that was dating a guy whose A- friend’s brother once broke his brand-new, recently purchased performance car while making runs at a distract strip or laps at a track day, and the manufacturer wouldn’t cover the repair under promise.
True story? Urban legend? Complete crap? Yes, no, maybe. One thing’s for trusty: Automotive warranties have always come with caveats.
In 1908, an ad in the Trenton Evening Times understandably stated: “All Ford Cars Guaranteed for One Year.” Although it changed over lifetime, by 1925 the Ford New Car Guarantee only covered 90 days on material and 30 days on labor, and it evidently stated that that there was “No guarantee whatever on Fan Belts, Glass, Bulbs, Wiring, Shipment, Bands, Hose Connections, Commutator Shells, Rollers, Spark Plugs or Gaskets.”
Whether or not Ol’ Henry would pay to fix your Replica T if you broke it shaving a tenth off your lap time at the local board track seems to be irrecoverable to history. We’re guessing no.
But what about today? Do new-car warranties in 2017 cover cars when they are driven on raceway tracks? We researched the warranties of 14 auto brands to find out, and the answer is yes, no, perhaps, depending on the brand, in some cases the model, and whether or not your car is modified from extraction.
Acura has been out of the high-performance car game for a number of years, but jumps subsidize into the party in 2017 with its hybrid-powered $173,000 NSX supercar. And Acura’s bond, as well as Honda’s, clearly states that it does not cover “the use of the vehicle in event or racing events.”
slide-3676963
slide-3676964
2017 Acura NSX rearmost 3/4 view
slide-3676965
2017 Acura NSX face 3/4 view
slide-3676966
2017 Acura NSX ass 3/4 view
slide-3676967
2017 Acura NSX side understanding
slide-3676968
2017 Acura NSX front spectacle
slide-3676969
2017 Acura NSX front 3/4 aspect
slide-3676970
2017 Acura NSX headlight
slide-3676971
2017 Acura NSX badge
slide-3676973
2017 Acura NSX front fascia
slide-3676974
2017 Acura NSX hood vent
slide-3676975
2017 Acura NSX wheel
move-3676976
2017 Acura NSX wheel detail
pay no heed-3676977
2017 Acura NSX side mirror
glissade-3676978
2017 Acura NSX door handle
decrease-3676979
2017 Acura NSX air intake
slide-3676981
2017 Acura NSX back part spoiler
slide-3676982
2017 Acura NSX tax tips
slide-3676983
2017 Acura NSX mechanism
slide-3676984
2017 Acura NSX
slide-3676985
2017 Acura NSX build plaque
slide-3676986
2017 Acura NSX interior
glissade-3676987
2017 Acura NSX seats
slide-3676988
2017 Acura NSX gauges
slide-3676989
2017 Acura NSX gauges
slide-3676990
2017 Acura NSX gauges
mud-slide-3676991
2017 Acura NSX gauges
slide-3676993
2017 Acura NSX infotainment group
slide-3676994
2017 Acura NSX center solace
slide-3676995
2017 Acura NSX start button
slide-3676996
2017 Acura NSX door
slide-3676997
2017 Acura NSX interior storage
slide-3676998
2017 Acura NSX trunk
steal-endcap
More Photos
-
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible: First Drive
-
2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE Daytona photos
-
2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
-
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible
-
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1: New York 2016
-
2017 Chevy Camaro ZL1
So we asked Savant Marie, Senior Manager of Public Relations for Honda and Acura. “If the car is stock, the agreement covers it on a track just as it does on the street. No question,” he told us. “However, if the car is modified, say with smooth-spoken tires or other components that would put higher stresses on the vehicle’s parts and systems, then we would secure to investigate the circumstances further.” Marie went on to say the same would be true for any Acura image or Honda vehicle, including the new 2017 Honda Civic Si.
This became a prosaic theme.
Chevrolet actually started this practice with the fifth-inception Camaro on the high-performance ZL1 and Z/28 models. Still, Camaro Chief Engineer Al Oppenheiser lit up the internet subsidize in April when he told Kirk Bell at Motor Authority that the bond on the new sixth-generation 2017 Chevy Camaro covers the car on the race track. Come what may, there are restrictions. The car must not be modified and it must be an SS model or above.
slide-4261249
slide-4261250
slide-4261251
slide-4261252
slide-4261253
glissade-4261254
slide-4261256
slide-4261257
slide-4261258
slide-4261259
slide-4261260
slide-4261262
slink-4261263
slide-4261264
slide-4261265
slide-4261266
slide-4261267
slide-4261268
slide-4261269
slip-4261270
slide-4261271
slide-4261272
slide-4261273
slide-4261274
slide-4261276
slide-4261277
toboggan-4261278
slide-4261279
slide-4261294
slide-4261282
slide-4261283
slide-4261284
slide-4261286
skid-4261287
slide-4261288
slide-4261289
slide-4261293
slide-4261291
slide-4261292
slide-endcap
More Photos
-
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible: Before Drive
-
2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE Daytona photos
-
2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
-
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible
-
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1: New York 2016
-
2017 Chevy Camaro ZL1
“If you’re not modifying your car and you take possession of your production car to a track day and you have an issue with one of your parts, it’s covered beneath warranty,” Oppenheiser told Bell. “We know when somebody changes their ECM calibration and we discern if they changed to a cold-air intake, we can tell all that. But driving it as you break it in from the dealership, if you from a half-shaft or whatever, it’s covered.”
Chevy’s warranty has covered Corvettes on the the turf track since the C5 generation.
Across town at FCA, things are different. FCA’s warranty for all models – sense the new Alfas, Challengers and Chargers, including those of the Hellcat variety and other SRT models – states in oversized intrepid text: “Racing Not Covered.” Under that heading the paragraph reads, “Your warranties don’t hide the costs of repairing damage or conditions caused by racing, nor do they cover the service of any defects that are found as the result of participating in a racing event.”
slide-4250134
slide-4250135
avalanche-4250136
slide-4250137
slip-4250138
slide-4250139
glissade-4250140
slide-4250141
gloss-4250142
slide-4250143
gloss-4250144
slide-4250145
skim-4250146
slide-4250147
drop-4250148
slide-4250149
ignore-4250150
slide-4250151
decrease-4250152
slide-4250153
plane-4250154
slide-4250155
slink-4250156
slide-4250157
mind to-4250158
slide-4250159
mud-slide-4250160
slide-4250161
earth-slip-4250162
slide-4250163
ignore-4250164
slide-4250165
gloss-4250166
slide-4250167
toboggan-4250168
slide-4250169
skid-4250170
slide-4250171
glide-4250172
slide-endcap
More Photos
-
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible: Initial Drive
-
2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE Daytona photos
-
2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
-
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible
-
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1: New York 2016
-
2017 Chevy Camaro ZL1
We were unqualified to get confirmation from an FCA representative if “racing” includes enthusiast, non-professional events like wake trace days and run-what-you-brung amateur drag nights.
Under the all-caps heading “WHAT IS NOT COVERED Inferior to THE NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY,” the 2017 Ford Car and Light Truck Warranty includes “infelicity of the vehicle, such as driving over curbs, overloading, racing or using the agency as a permanent stationary power source.”
However, a Ford representative sent us this clarification: “Ford vehicles such as Mustang, GT350, Focal point RS, Focus & Fiesta ST and Raptor are designed for spirited driving and will be covered by covenant if the vehicle is operated within the limits and guidelines outlined in the vehicle’s owner’s shepherd and warranty manual, including when the vehicle is driven in ‘track mode,’ a article that is contained on some vehicles, if it is driven on a track in a manner that is in agreement with the guidelines. Ford does not recommend racing these vehicles in timed competitions or sanctioned raceway events, as they are designed and built to be driven as delivered from the factory, and the means warranty does not cover mechanical failure or damage caused when a agency is used for racing.
“It is important for customers to refer to the owner’s guide and warranty enchiridion when they purchase their vehicle to ensure proper use.
“If there is a agreement concern, it is determined and reviewed on case to case basis whether a mechanical washout or abuse caused it.”
slide-3596925
slide-3596926
slide-3596927
skate-3596928
slide-3596929
drop-3596930
slide-3596931
coast-3596932
slide-3596933
fall forget-3596934
slide-3596935
slip-3596936
slide-3596937
coast-3596938
slide-3596939
fall forget-3596940
slide-3596941
glide-3596942
slide-3596943
earth-slip-3596944
slide-3596945
drop-3596946
slide-3596947
slither-3596948
slide-3596949
ignore-3596950
slide-3596951
slide-3596952
slide-3596953
slink-3596954
slide-3596955
toboggan-3596956
slide-3596957
plane-endcap
More Photos
-
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible: First Drive
-
2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE Daytona photos
-
2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
-
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible
-
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1: New York 2016
-
2017 Chevy Camaro ZL1
A s digging found this in the 2017 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 Pledge Terms and Conditions: “We do not recommend modifying or racing (for competition or time) Ford Carrying-on vehicles, as they are designed and built to be driven as delivered from the factory. The commitment information discusses vehicle usage and the installation of aftermarket parts and their conclusion on warranty coverage. “
So racing on a track for time is not recommended by Ford, yet the document also says that the means’s Track mode should be “used by skilled drivers for spirited and aggressive driving while at the path.” And the car’s Drag Strip mode should be “used at the drag strip.” Therefore, on driving is within the limits and guidelines outlined. Hmm.
And things are consistent at the top of Ford’s viands chain. The new mid-engine, 216-mph Ford GT supercar has the same warranty as the Shelby and the other vehicles in the Ford Dispatch line, which also includes the Fiesta ST, Focus ST and RS, and Raptor.
Nissan virtuous says no. In a section titled “WHAT IS NOT COVERED GENERAL EXCLUSIONS,” Nissan’s GT-R assurance includes: “Racing and/or competitive driving of any sort whatsoever, and/or use on a track or driving on any airstrip.” Then it also mentions “Operating the mechanism with the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) off, except when rocking the vehicle when stuck in mud or snow. Such enterprise is also ‘misuse.'”
slide-3922692
slide-3922693
2017 Nissan GT-R driving
slide-3922694
2017 Nissan GT-R driving
decrease-3922695
2017 Nissan GT-R driving
slide-3922696
2017 Nissan GT-R driving
slide-3922697
2017 Nissan GT-R driving
slide-3922698
2017 Nissan GT-R driving
slide-3922699
2017 Nissan GT-R driving
avalanche-3922700
2017 Nissan GT-R driving
slide-3922701
2017 Nissan GT-R driving
slide-3922702
2017 Nissan GT-R front 3/4 view
slide-3922703
2017 Nissan GT-R rear 3/4 view
slide-3922704
2017 Nissan GT-R front 3/4 view
slide-3922705
2017 Nissan GT-R rear 3/4 view
slide-3922706
2017 Nissan GT-R side view
slide-3922707
2017 Nissan GT-R front view
neglect-3922708
2017 Nissan GT-R rear view
slide-3922709
2017 Nissan GT-R grille
slide-3922710
2017 Nissan GT-R headlight
neglect-3922711
2017 Nissan GT-R fog light
slide-3922712
2017 Nissan GT-R site
slide-3922713
2017 Nissan GT-R side trim
slide-3922714
2017 Nissan GT-R side mirror
slide-3922715
2017 Nissan GT-R rear spoiler
gloss-3922716
2017 Nissan GT-R taillights
slide-3922717
2017 Nissan GT-R taillights
slide-3922718
2017 Nissan GT-R badge
landslide-3922719
2017 Nissan GT-R rear fascia
slide-3922720
2017 Nissan GT-R expend tips
slide-3922721
2017 Nissan GT-R engine
slide-3922722
2017 Nissan GT-R interior
decline-3922723
2017 Nissan GT-R interior
slide-3922724
2017 Nissan GT-R steering whirl location
slide-3922725
2017 Nissan GT-R paddle shifter
slide-3922726
2017 Nissan GT-R gauges
slip-3922727
2017 Nissan GT-R infotainment system
slide-3922728
2017 Nissan GT-R steersmanship system
slide-3922729
2017 Nissan GT-R infotainment scheme
slide-3922730
2017 Nissan GT-R infotainment system
slide-3922731
2017 Nissan GT-R infotainment system
slide-3922732
2017 Nissan GT-R infotainment system
plane-3922733
2017 Nissan GT-R infotainment system
slide-3922734
2017 Nissan GT-R means panel
slide-3922735
2017 Nissan GT-R rear seats
slide-3922736
2017 Nissan GT-R trunk
coast-endcap
More Photos
-
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible: First Drive
-
2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE Daytona photos
-
2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
-
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible
-
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1: New York 2016
-
2017 Chevy Camaro ZL1
Oh boy. And the victim is essentially the same on the 2017 Nissan 370Z and all Infiniti models, including the new 400-hp Q60 Red Distraction 400. The warranty for those vehicles also has a section called “WHAT IS NOT COVERED Communal EXCLUSIONS,” which includes: “Racing and competitive driving.”
A Nissan representative confirmed that the cars are not covered included warranty on a race track.
The world’s largest automaker agrees with this principles. We confirmed that Toyota’s warranty does not cover cars on a race monitor. And that policy includes performance models like the 2017 Toyota 86 and all Lexus models, including the F Interpretation line. That’s right, the warranty does not make exception for the IS F, RC F, or GS F.
Twin sister to the Toyota 86 is of process the Subaru BRZ. And Subaru’s warranty has quite a bit more wiggle room on this theme than Toyota’s, but it isn’t exactly track-use-friendly. It states, “These warranties do not overlie damage to any component that is the result of operating the vehicle in any competition or racing circumstance.”
slide-3972664
slide-3972665
2017 Subaru BRZ driving
slide-3972666
2017 Subaru BRZ driving
decrease-3972667
2017 Subaru BRZ driving
slide-3972668
2017 Subaru BRZ driving
slide-3972669
2017 Subaru BRZ driving
toboggan-3972670
2017 Subaru BRZ driving
slide-3972671
2017 Subaru BRZ face 3/4 view
slide-3972672
2017 Subaru BRZ stern 3/4 view
slide-3972673
2017 Subaru BRZ fa 3/4 view
slide-3972674
2017 Subaru BRZ side seascape
slide-3972675
2017 Subaru BRZ front view
slide-3972676
2017 Subaru BRZ rear view
slide-3972677
2017 Subaru BRZ headlight
pass over-3972678
2017 Subaru BRZ front fascia
slide-3972679
2017 Subaru BRZ site
slide-3972680
2017 Subaru BRZ taillight
slide-3972681
2017 Subaru BRZ badge
mind to-3972682
2017 Subaru BRZ engine
slide-3972683
2017 Subaru BRZ machine
slide-3972684
2017 Subaru BRZ interior
slide-3972685
2017 Subaru BRZ front seats
glide-3972686
2017 Subaru BRZ seat detail
slide-3972687
2017 Subaru BRZ steering place
slide-3972688
2017 Subaru BRZ steering wheel controls
slide-3972689
2017 Subaru BRZ gauges
neglect-3972690
2017 Subaru BRZ instrument panel
slide-3972691
2017 Subaru BRZ shifter
slide-3972692
2017 Subaru BRZ
drop-3972693
2017 Subaru BRZ
slide-3972694
2017 Subaru BRZ
slide-3972695
2017 Subaru BRZ
skim-endcap
More Photos
-
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible: First Drive
-
2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE Daytona photos
-
2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
-
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible
-
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1: New York 2016
-
2017 Chevy Camaro ZL1
Bizarre carmaker Aston Martin takes a different approach. According to Matthew Clarke, Usual Manager of Marketing and Communications Aston Martin The Americas, Aston’s warranty covers the car on a chute track if it’s participating in an official Aston Martin/Aston Martin-endorsed oversee event. In all other cases the warranty does not.
Surprisingly, Porsche’s warranty does not originate the same distinction. Under a heading of “This Warranty Does Not Cover,” Porsche’s assurance states: “Abuse, accident, acts of God, competition, racing, track use, or other events. Note 1: Components and or parts that miscarry during racing or driving events (including Porsche sponsored events) may not be covered by the new car Little Warranty.” This seems a bit hypocritical for an automaker that just built a scent at its new Atlanta headquarters and another one in Los Angeles.
slide-4339772
slide-4339777
2018 Kia Stinger uplands
slide-4339643
2018 Kia Stinger
slide-4339628
2018 Kia Stinger
mind to-4339640
2018 Kia Stinger
slide-4339624
2018 Kia Stinger
slide-4339637
2018 Kia Stinger
ignore-4339635
2018 Kia Stinger
slide-4339754
2018 Kia Stinger
slide-4339180
slide-4339181
slide-4339629
slide-4339644
slide-4339647
slide-4339734
2018 Kia Stinger
slide-4339737
2018 Kia Stinger
creep-4339743
slide-4339746
slide-4339748
move-4339752
slide-4339753
slide-4339760
slither-4339765
slide-4339768
slide-4339769
drop-4339780
slide-4339782
slide-4339784
slither-4339786
slide-4339620
2018 Kia Stinger interior
slide-4339617
2018 Kia Stinger interior
slide-4339650
2018 Kia Stinger interior
slide-4339726
2018 Kia Stinger interior
slide-4339727
2018 Kia Stinger interior
slide-4339615
2018 Kia Stinger interior
slide-4339622
2018 Kia Stinger interior
slide-4339729
2018 Kia Stinger interior
slide-endcap
More Photos
-
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible: Fundamental Drive
-
2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE Daytona photos
-
2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
-
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible
-
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1: New York 2016
-
2017 Chevy Camaro ZL1
Kia showed off its before true performance model earlier this year at the Detroit Auto Plain. The 2018 Kia Stinger GT is a rear-wheel-drive, 365-hp super sedan, but its guarantee will not deviate from Kia’s standard warranty, which does not cover cars when driven on a race wake trace. Maybe. Under a section headed “The following items are not covered,” the warranty states: “Misappropriate of your Kia Vehicle such as driving over curbs, or other hazardous objects or procedure structures or into roadway maintenance or construction areas, overloading the vehicle, racing or delightful in activities or uses not described in your owner’s manual or in Kia’s product literature.” Again, is a non-veteran event like a track day considered racing? That depends on the lawyer.
Got all that? Justifiable remember caveat emptor, Latin for “let the buyer beware.” This was good view 109 years ago when buying a Model T, and it’s still good advice today whether you’re buying a new Ford Well- RS or any other performance car. Before you buy, if you plan to run the car at the local drags or drive it on a road direction, you should know if such activity voids the manufacturer’s warranty.
No Comments Yet!
You can be first one to write a comment