Race Your Marauder. Void Your Warrranty!

[b4z]

Big brother is watching.

Manufacturers are refusing warranty claims on tracked vehicles.

That includes autocrosses!

http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autow eek&cat_code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=02612566

[BruteForce]

SOP for warranty and insurance servicing. Deny, deny and then deny you are denying. :down:

[Dr Caleb]

I'm curious as to how they get this information. Do you have to give them your vehicle serial # or something to enter the race?

That's why I never give out my email address or real name on the internet.

[Bigdogjim]

I see Ford will back the SVT line to a point:)

[duhtroll]

Wow -

Now I know for sure I will be using a pseudonym tomorrow night at the track.

I am Bob E. Lee Schwartz II, or I could use any of the other pseudonyms from Fletch or Fletch Lives. But that's another thread.

CYA people.

-A

[SHERIFF]

I got into one hell of an argument in an auto forum over this same thing a while back. I told the people if FORD could prove their new or under warranty Crown Victoria had been abused and drag raced that FORD could and would refuse warranty coverage. It only makes sense if you stop and think about it.

But, all the forum participants said I didn't have any idea what I was talking about. :baaa:

[martyo]

Wow, you guys are paranoid!!

Race and enjoy!!

Don't act like the manufacturres are in the wrong here. You abuse a product not designed for off road (race) use and it breaks, what do expect them to do?

Put yourself in the place of the business owner (Ford, GM, etc.). How would you feel if everytime someone abused what you made and it broke, they wanted you to pay for it?

Flame on! I can use your flames to light my fire works this weekend..... :D

[RCSignals]

Every vehicle warranty I've seen has a statement to the effect that racing will void the warranty

[RCSignals]

No flames marty, you are absolutely correct

[MERCMAN]

Every vehicle warranty I've seen has a statement to the effect that racing will void the warranty
I guess that would depend on their definition of dragging, how is running a quarter mile bracket racing any different that flooring it from a stoplight(except that it is timed)

[martyo]

No flames marty, you are absolutely correct

I don't know whetehr I am speaking here as a lawyer or a business owner or both, but it made sense to me to.

I started modding my car at 400 miles and I haven't even so much as been back for a free oil change since, but in the mean time I have enjoyed the heck out the car!!!

[RF Overlord]

It only makes sense if you stop and think about it.

Agreed...I'm not sure why this subject would surprise anyone...AFAIK, it's ALWAYS been a case of: you race it and break it, then you pay for it...

It IS rather interesting that manufacturers are now going to the lengths Mitsu denies going to (cross-checking databases), though...

[SHERIFF]

Marty, the USA is a very small place, contrary to popular belief. Especially since Al Gore invented the Internet. I imagine service managers read this site to gain additional information they may not already know? You think so?

Suppose a service manager knows Jasper from the dealership, and sees Jasper post a new subject about his Marauder's best times after 14 attempts at the dragway on Saturday night. Then Jasper takes his car in Monday morning with a burned up transmission. You think warranty would cover the damage?

In the most recent St. Thomas Assembly Plant meet, I saw a participant say his car went down the drag strip 31 times. Suppose it was a newer car and still under warranty? Should FORD absorb the damages of repair? Of course not.

I don't think it's paranoia. I would classify it more as "As The World Turns!" or "The Luck Of The Draw!"

:lol:

[SHERIFF]

Every vehicle warranty I've seen has a statement to the effect that racing will void the warranty


Exactly. But I am sure you recall the debate where they all said I was full of brown stuff. :)

[sailsmen]

Thanks for the information.

I bought a Marauder to drive not a warranty to use! :rock:

[martyo]

I imagine service managers read this site to gain additional information they may not already know? You think so?



Yes.


Suppose a service manager knows Jasper from the dealership, and sees Jasper post a new subject about his Marauder's best times after 14 attempts at the dragway on Saturday night. Then Jasper takes his car in Monday morning with a burned up transmission. You think warranty would cover the damage?

Nope. Do you?



In the most recent St. Thomas Assembly Plant meet, I saw a participant say his car went down the drag strip 31 times. Suppose it was a newer car and still under warranty? Should FORD absorb the damages of repair? Of course not.

I agree.

[martyo]

I bought a Marauder to drive not a warranty to use! :rock:

I am right there with ya!

[RCSignals]

I guess that would depend on their definition of dragging, how is running a quarter mile bracket racing any different that flooring it from a stoplight(except that it is timed)
They are both abuse. The racing at a drag strip is easier to prove though.

[SHERIFF]

Auto manufacturers make out like a bandit on my vehicles. The oldest car I currently own is the blue 2001 Police Interceptor, and it just turned 15,000 miles today. It also just went off warranty on June 24, 2004. The only repair they had to make in 36 months was 1) passenger side front power window motor, 2) window regulator, and 3) the master window switch on the driver's door. #1 and #2 probably didn't need to be done if they had done #3 first. But who knows. I don't mind the new parts.

http://www.mustangmods.com/data/843/bluepi1.jpg

[Smokie]

It takes some seriously large gonads for a manufacturer to deny warranty coverage for agressive driving when they are running commercials, where the car they want to sell you is driven in a wild agressive manner, sometimes at an actual racetrack, so I guess is drive as I say, not as I do.

Now a good lawyer should be able to see an opportunity here for a little litigation ?????????

[SHERIFF]

They are both abuse. The racing at a drag strip is easier to prove though.


There's a segment of the population who still believes that "wide open throttle" is not hard on a car. The pressures and stress on engine, transmission, and rear axle components are unbelievable during wide open throttle.

[SHERIFF]

It takes some seriously large gonads for a manufacturer to deny warranty coverage for agressive driving when they are running commercials, where the car they want to sell you is driven in a wild agressive manner, sometimes at an actual racetrack, so I guess is drive as I say, not as I do.



Ahh!!!!!!!!

That's a very good point, especially with the Marauder!!!!

:beer:

[Smokie]

How quickly we forget the VIDEO of a Marauder on a racetrack smoking the tires ???? where was this you say ? At the web site for Ford Lincoln Mercury. The Marauder section, from FORD MOTOR COMPANY, of course this was before Elena Ford got a Bad case of the VAPORS and yanked the Video. But then Elena has no gonads, so I guess is cool.:uzi:

[the fat bastid]

i agree with smokie. when my mom saw the cover of the marauder owners manual (smoky burnout) she said 'i cant belive they incurage something like that' . also, the pontaic print ads show burnouts for the 3 different cars. i dont feel its incuragement exatcly but more towards that the car was built with 'performance' in mind.

and on that note, why cant i beat on my car a little? now i know what you think but i mean i've taken my car down the strip a total of about 12 times over a little more then 1 year. i havent gone in months, and lets say i get the valve tick and they deney it. “If the damage looks to be racing related, you’re not going to be covered,” thats a very slippery slope if you ask me. what rlooks related? anything in the engine bay?

i think ford/svt has it right...if you go to the drag at thier events and blow something up they will cover it because if a cobra breaks doing the 1/4 mile then i consider that a defect in workmanship. dont make a car that cant handle it then market it like it can. isnt that just lieing?

besides, what ido you do with a z06, viper, cobra, porsche, etc etc...

sorry for the spelling but i've been moving cabinets for 8 hours...nap time.

[duhtroll]

Here's my take.

I will go WOT as much as I want. I will smoke tires as much as I can without brake torque. If they deny my warranty based on "abusive driving" they will have one heck of a fight.

My car is being driven in a manner consistent with its design and its manufacture. Ford will not be able to prove that the car was never intended to go 100 MPH, or use the argument that "since driving 100 MPH is illegal, doing so will void the warranty." Why not?

If it were truly designed to not go 100 MPH, it would not go 100 MPH. There is no logical reason one would ever need a car to *go* 100 MPH but almost every car made today will do it.

That's like buying a TV and being told, "your warranty is void if you ever flip channels fast or turn the volume up over 50%. After all, it's not safe for the human ears."

This whole position is absolute :bs: and even with no legal training I know I can knock this one out of the park.

If driving in this manner were inconsistent with the design and the manufacture of the vehicle, you'd think something, anything, would appear in the 220+ page owner's manual. Just checked it - nada.

Now were I to make a habit of racing this vehicle at the track regularly, then I could understand - that's falls outside the domain of "personal use" as defined by law. However I signed documents saying this vehicle was driven primarily for personal use. That's what it's being used for.

If I screw it up by modifying it, I'll gladly pay for it. If the car is designed to go 100 and it farts up trying to go 100, and mods had nothing to do with it, I'll want it taken care of on Ford's dime.

I may not win, but that won't mean I'm wrong. Right and wrong has very little to do with it nowadays.

-A

[Silver_04]

All I have to say is that I have a fold out poster of a Marauder doing a burn out on a drag strip with a lot of older Marauders sitting nearby. The cover of the fold out poster shows the rear tires spinning with smoke rolling off of the tire. Also, the mailer you could send in way back in the day for the MM dvd showed yet another Marauder wheel doing a burnout. Yet none of these images have a disclaimer stating that doing a burnout or taking your Marauder to the track will void the warranty. If Ford is going to advertise that their car is worthy of being at the track and doing burnouts they damn well better honor the warranty.

[jgc61sr2002]

How quickly we forget the VIDEO of a Marauder on a racetrack smoking the tires ???? where was this you say ? At the web site for Ford Lincoln Mercury. The Marauder section, from FORD MOTOR COMPANY, of course this was before Elena Ford got a Bad case of the VAPORS and yanked the Video. But then Elena has no gonads, so I guess is cool.:uzi:


Javier - I agree completly. :up: A very good point.

[Smokie]

Javier - I agree completly. :up: A very good point.
Thank you John, Javier.:beer:

[jrzygrl]

I only hope they can't prove how hard I drive my car on a daily basis or I'm screwed, track or not......but it sure is fun!!!!!!!!!! :banana2:

[buckyboy]

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: QUOTE=jrzygrl]I only hope they can't prove how hard I drive my car on a daily basis or I'm screwed, track or not......but it sure is fun!!!!!!!!!! :banana2:[/QUOTE]

[Redster]

Big brother is watching.

Manufacturers are refusing warranty claims on tracked vehicles.

That includes autocrosses!

http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autow eek&cat_code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=02612566

I have some familiarity in downloading info from on-board computers on heavy equipment. The technology is available to do this remotely. However, I don't think that the automobile mfgrs. need to. It is available to them when you take your car to them. Remember, in order to make a warranty claim you have to give them your car. At that point, they have ready access to the computer in your car.
I don't believe that they have the people or want to spend the money to write programs to search the web for this info. Once again, they don't need to. They can get it when you give them your car to repair.

[mad man]

:rolleyes: :nono: :eek: :bs: Does that about cover it.I have never heard such B.S. :lol:

[Tallboy]

just a thought-most insurance policies don't cover vehicles while they're on a race track.

[Silver_04]

just a thought-most insurance policies don't cover vehicles while they're on a race track.

I've not seen an insurance company ad advertising with cars doing burnouts though...

But you suppose if I let my gecko drive my car, and he wrecked it, my claim would be paid?

[cyclone03]

[QUOTE=Smokie]How quickly we forget the VIDEO of a Marauder on a racetrack smoking the tires ???? where was this you say ? At the web site for Ford Lincoln Mercury. The Marauder section, from FORD MOTOR COMPANY, QUOTE]


Yea but thats not the Marauder they sold us was it?
Just ask billygman,no production Marauder can burn the tires like that.

Unless FMC detuned the he77 out of it so it wouldn't do that,come to think of it any time a CHIP adds 30hp that proves it was detuned.

[David Morton]

I got into one hell of an argument in an auto forum over this same thing a while back. I told the people if FORD could prove their new or under warranty Crown Victoria had been abused and drag raced that FORD could and would refuse warranty coverage. It only makes sense if you stop and think about it.

But, all the forum participants said I didn't have any idea what I was talking about. :baaa:Sherrif's right on this and I agree. But here's the rub.

The driving force in dealership politics with the manufacturers today is CSI, Customer Satisfaction Index. And that basically boils down to one or two things. First, did the dealerships service department fix it right the first time, and second, is the customer satisfied with the service experience? The driving force in dealership internal politics is, mechanics hate working under warranty time scales. They generally pay about half what Mitchell or the other labor time guide publishers pay and that means mechanics are going to fight sometimes to prove the cars warranty is voided. They're going to look for anything that's not factory that they can blame for the failure. Understanding these two things, and taking steps to avoid the pitfalls, will keep your service manager on your side, and he is the defender of your warranty claims.

For instance, a guy brings his car into the dealership a second time for a pinion seal leak! CSI red flag is up and now the service department is looking for anything it can use to say, "This isn't our comeback." Turns out the guy went to the speed shop since the earlier repair and had 4.10 gears installed. The seal they used is a cheap non-descript generic, so guess what? The Service manager AND the mechanic now have proof and motive to void your claim for warranty repair. This is the wrong way to treat your service department.

But try this on for size instead. He has a Trilogy Supercharger installed by his dealership service department, pays them $1400, and later the crankshaft breaks. Having had warranty repairs before and always giving top marks for first time repair and satisfaction, his service manager wants to fight for his customer, especially since he greased the mechanics' palm with a $50 bill for doing the job under warranty, the mechanics were scrambling to work on this guys car! The service manager is getting everything he wants, good CSI numbers from the customer (when CSI is high, the factory reps look the other way on a lot of stuff), and no gripes from the mechanics. Why would he want to screw-up a good thing?

Your service department manager is your best friend, treat him well and give him what he wants, high CSI numbers and happy mechanics.:cool:

[BillyGman]

[QUOTE=Smokie]How quickly we forget the VIDEO of a Marauder on a racetrack smoking the tires ???? where was this you say ? At the web site for Ford Lincoln Mercury. The Marauder section, from FORD MOTOR COMPANY, QUOTE]


Yea but thats not the Marauder they sold us was it?
Just ask billygman,no production Marauder can burn the tires like that.

.I'm not sure what that video clip included since I didn't see it on the mercury website before it was removed. However, if that was the same footage of the video that's on the CD that was given to me by the mercury dealer that I bought my Marauder from along w/my owners manual, then those burnouts were done using the brake pedal along w/the gas pedal, and any stock Marauder can do that right off the showroom floor. It's the burnouts from a dead punch that they cannot accomplish w/out extensive modifications (gears, chip, after market Torque converter w/3,000 RPM stall speed, and headers).

And even if the burnouts performed in the video clip in question wren't done by using the brake pedal, then the producers of such a video can easily have applied some motor oil to the back tires to get those tires to spin and smoke from a dead punch. I'm sure that's how Hollywood does it.

[RCSignals]

marty said it best. Enjoy your car.

If you break it at a track, have it towed home, not direct to the dealer, and do not call Ford roadside assistance and tell them where you have broken down!

[Patrick]

Thanks for the information.

I bought a Marauder to drive not a warranty to use! :rock:


:beer: :beer: :up: :up: :up:

[Patrick]

I'm not sure what that video clip included since I didn't see it on the mercury website before it was removed. However, if that was the same footage of the video that's on the CD that was given to me by the mercury dealer that I bought my Marauder from along w/my owners manual, then those burnouts were done using the brake pedal along w/the gas pedal, and any stock Marauder can do that right off the showroom floor. It's the burnouts from a dead punch that they cannot accomplish w/out extensive modifications (gears, chip, after market Torque converter w/3,000 RPM stall speed, and headers).

And even if the burnouts performed in the video clip in question wren't done by using the brake pedal, then the producers of such a video can easily have applied some motor oil to the back tires to get those tires to spin and smoke from a dead punch. I'm sure that's how Hollywood does it.


:rock: :rock: :rock: :rock: :rock: :rock: