If you've ever thought about an Evo (or other Mitsu) for use in Solo II or HPDE events, you'll want to reconsider. This is pretty serious...a local driver here in Utah just had an engine problem at an event and took the Evo in to the dealer for repair. This is what he just posted on our forum:


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Mitsubishi is voiding motor and drive train warranties including transmission for any cars that participate in an SCCA event. Warranty on Jake's Evo was put in "restriction" on 16-May, which was the very first day we brought the Evo out to an event.
This is especially baffling to me in that I was completely open with the dealer when I purchased the car that it we would be autocrossing the car -- even invited the salesperson and his manager to come up for a ride along. Sure would have appreciated knowing that parking lots and cones would void the warranty.

Edit: BTW it seems that Mitsubishi has set up an automatic search that looks for registration and results information for any Mitsubishi. They then capture the race results information, match it to vehicle purchase and service records and proactively put the car on "warranty restriction". Those of you with new cars, may want to not list the actual car make or use a screen name.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's kind of scary that companies get away with such things, and I'm hoping that they won't (it'd have to be written in to a sales contract, would it not?). At the very least, even though they have a fairly cool car, a boycott of some sort should be started.

 

that is not cool....but makes sense for mitsubishi to do that..they will only be replacing/fixing evo's for regular maintenance and manufacture's defects not because of abuse..

 

If this is true, then an even bigger should go to Subaru for including a scca membership with the purchase of a WRX (if they are still doing this.)

 

What's the source of that excerpt? I'd like to read the full story. thanks.
PS: I wouldn't buy an evo anyway. Mitsubishi will probably enter insolvency within the next 2 years as DaimlerChrysler is pulling the plug, and is going to stop its influx of cash into Mitsu motors. The result of which will be a fleet of cars (possibly) without a dealer network, and who knows what'll happen with the financing terms of customers who financed through Mistu USA.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by degooser &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">that is not cool....but makes sense for mitsubishi to do that..they will only be replacing/fixing evo's for regular maintenance and manufacture's defects not because of abuse..</TD></TR></TABLE>
Are you kidding? They're promoting the car pretty much as a race-ready vehicle...from what I understand, they talk about track days in their own monthly magazine (sent to new-car buyers)!

I think if they can't back up their quality that far, they need to be a little more timid with their advertising.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by degooser &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">that is not cool....but makes sense for mitsubishi to do that..they will only be replacing/fixing evo's for regular maintenance and manufacture's defects not because of abuse..</TD></TR></TABLE>
And you think everyone who doesn't attend SCCA events is not "abusing" their Evo?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Targa250R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
And you think everyone who doesn't attend SCCA events is not "abusing" their Evo? </TD></TR></TABLE>

And Then some.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bb6h22a &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What's the source of that excerpt? I'd like to read the full story. thanks.</TD></TR></TABLE>
The quoted post was from the Utah SCCA forum, but you can find more discussion about it (involving the owner) in this thread.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hracer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If this is true, then an even bigger should go to Subaru for including a scca membership with the purchase of a WRX (if they are still doing this.)</TD></TR></TABLE>

Subaru includes an SCCA membership but using the car in a competition will void your warranty also. And if you are thinking of using Subaru performance parts that they market and promote (and are expensive) through SCCA publications, there is also no warranty on them, even installed by the dealer.

I can understand the warranty issues, and if I was a manufacturer, I would not warranty a vehicle used in a competition, but I think the makers are very misleading with their advertising, promotions and media campaigns.

Victor Penner

 

I have an evo and have had 11k of goodluck.... i even ran 2 timetrials with nasa, another track day with bmw club, 3 auto-x's and 3 trips to the dragstrip........ my clutch is weak right now, but it should be with all of the abuse it has seen....

In general I drive just normal hard, but at the track it ran 13.4@102mph at different tracks 100% stock...... beat all of the PCA guys including 2 twin turbo 996's at auto-x and was only 2.7 seconds slower around beaverun than the fastest Honda Challenge car last spring.....and i was 100% stock tires/brakes/ everything.

I will most likely upgrade to a MR edition evo if/when they come out.

 

Sorry - I might be in the minority here but expecting warranty coverage for something that you take on the race track is behavior that is begging to be shut down with tactics like are described here...

K

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by L8ApexH22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Are you kidding? They're promoting the car pretty much as a race-ready vehicle...from what I understand, they talk about track days in their own monthly magazine (sent to new-car buyers)!

I think if they can't back up their quality that far, they need to be a little more timid with their advertising.</TD></TR></TABLE>

exactly...but im sure they will save thousands of dollars by voiding warranties...who ever said that running a buisiness and making loads of money is to do everything by the book...

by browsing the rsx board i have seen a few occassions where people blew their tranny or motor by misshifting and honda replaced the whole motor/tranny....how about voiding the whole warranty? that would save honda a ton right?...

but this could be a fake article or something the whole article would be nice...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Targa250r &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
And you think everyone who doesn't attend SCCA events is not "abusing" their Evo?</TD></TR></TABLE>

no... but that is an easy way for mitsu to track down those types of people...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bb6h22a &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">PS: I wouldn't buy an evo anyway. Mitsubishi will probably enter insolvency within the next 2 years as DaimlerChrysler is pulling the plug, and is going to stop its influx of cash into Mitsu motors. The result of which will be a fleet of cars (possibly) without a dealer network, and who knows what'll happen with the financing terms of customers who financed through Mistu USA. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I didn't know this, Mitsu is on the way out?

 

Remember that in most situations, a warranty is the manufacturer guaranteeing that they made the item correctly for what it was designed. They can't guarantee that you can't break it.

I remember sitting on the grid one day and read the little disclaimer on the cuff of my old Simpson nomex racing gloves. Basically it said "If you are wearing these, you are on your own".

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Knestis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sorry - I might be in the minority here but expecting warranty coverage for something that you take on the race track is behavior that is begging to be shut down with tactics like are described here...

K</TD></TR></TABLE>

It is calling out the manufacture on their bullshit marketing. Every single one of them uses the "race-inspired," "race-tuned" and "track tested," but they buck up in opposition if you ever put the car through it's paces -- as presumed the manufacture did when they were developing the car.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MLogan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I didn't know this, Mitsu is on the way out? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yah. Daimler Chrysler has been pouring in money into Mitsubishis for years -- Carmax stopped carrying Mitsubishi last year. Here's an article that outlines the problem: Mitsubishi Motors in Financial Trouble.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MLogan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I didn't know this, Mitsu is on the way out? </TD></TR></TABLE>
Yeah, it looks like they are going down. Chrysler is pulling the plug and they are trying to get investors using different channels, like WRC, but they can't get their act together. I am sure somebody like Ford, GMC, Fiat or Renault will buy them. It will be unfortunate to lose such a nice car.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bb6h22a &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It is calling out the manufacture on their bullshit marketing. ...
</TD></TR></TABLE>

But because you have a clue about racing, you KNOW that is only "lifestyle" or "image" marketing. People who don't race don't care and can revel in just looking fast. My cousin has an STi and readily admits that he is just a poser, driving around in something that looks like a WRC car.

It's a street car - part transportation, part fashion statement, not at all racer. The only people who should be upset about this are the ones who lack the critical thinking skills and personal sense of responsibility to (a) make a choice about whether to race or track their car, and (b) deal with the natural consequences of that use.

The number that VW Racing (Europe) used to toss around was that one road racing mile was equal to 50 street miles - and one rally mile was equal to 500. That's the equivalent of about 3500 street miles per hour, turning pretty conservative laps at VIR. Do you really think that any manufacturer should be held to that level of use?

K

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Knestis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

But because you have a clue about racing, you KNOW that is only "lifestyle" or "image" marketing. People who don't race don't care and can revel in just looking fast. My cousin has an STi and readily admits that he is just a poser, driving around in something that looks like a WRC car.

It's a street car - part transportation, part fashion statement, not at all racer. The only people who should be upset about this are the ones who lack the critical thinking skills and personal sense of responsibility to (a) make a choice about whether to race or track their car, and (b) deal with the natural consequences of that use.

The number that VW Racing (Europe) used to toss around was that one road racing mile was equal to 50 street miles - and one rally mile was equal to 500. That's the equivalent of about 3500 street miles per hour, turning pretty conservative laps at VIR. Do you really think that any manufacturer should be held to that level of use?

K</TD></TR></TABLE>


You're right it's image. However, they're still banking on the implicit connection between the allure of a racecar, and their product when they market the car as a race derived model. Moreover, the equation of 50 street miles equating to 1 track mile is irrelevant; if my car has a 5 yr 30k mile warranty, and it was sold to me with the implicit suggestion of it being race derived, then what possible justification could a manufacture have against how I accrue those 30k miles?

I'm not arguing manufactures be held liable for consumables (although how nice that would be). Rather, I'm arguing that: if a car with race derived components, tested and developed on a race track, is used in a lapping day, or an HPDE, and a component fails on said race derived vehicle, then either 1. The manufacture should admit that their advertising was false and misleading, or 2. bank roll the repair.

Bottom line: if you sell me on the race derived technology and performance, then stand behind the claim. Otherwise, don't make the claim at all.

Lastly, I find it amazing that even though we (racers & open track participants) are but a fractional population of the buyer pool, we carry the full weight of the scapegoat, finger-pointing when the car fails, yet we're the ones who're exercising self-accountability by using the car, and its performance, in a controlled environment, while JohnnyAsswipe canyon carver gets comp'd a new motor when he mis-shifts and grenades his new motor after nearly wiping out an entire family because he crossed a double yellow to hella mad tiite apex that turn coming down the mountain.

 

I'm so lucky to autcoross alongside my local honda service manager.

But really, if you cant afford repairs on it, dont race it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hatch2k &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

But really, if you cant afford repairs on it, dont race it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

What? We're not talking about racing, we're talking about attending a an open track event, and not worrying about having to blow 3k when the snap-ring takes a **** in your new Evo's tranny.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CRX Lee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Remember that in most situations, a warranty is the manufacturer guaranteeing that they made the item correctly for what it was designed. They can't guarantee that you can't break it.

I remember sitting on the grid one day and read the little disclaimer on the cuff of my old Simpson nomex racing gloves. Basically it said "If you are wearing these, you are on your own".</TD></TR></TABLE>
Every company that sells racing equipment says that "WARNING!!!
RACING IS A HAZARDOUS SPORT. NO WARRANTY IS MADE OR IMPLIED REGARDING ANY PRODUCT MANUFACTURED OR SOLD BY BELL MOTORSPORTS, PYROTECT, OR FILLER SAFETY TO PROTECT USERS FROM INJURY OR DEATH. USER ASSUMES ALL RISKS."

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bb6h22a &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

What? We're not talking about racing, we're talking about attending a an open track event, and not worrying about having to blow 3k when the snap-ring takes a **** in your new Evo's tranny. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Well, yes and no.
1)If you race/performance driving/anything beyond normal driving, new or older car, you should be able to afford it.
2)If you race or drive to the extreme a new car, first I wouldn't tell the dealer I was racing or participating in an open track event, I'd say that I was on my way to class/market/church/work and the engine/tranny/anything stopped working. Don't know what's wrong, don't know anything about it, but I am sure is under warranty.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Victor Penner &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Subaru includes an SCCA membership but using the car in a competition will void your warranty also. And if you are thinking of using Subaru performance parts that they market and promote (and are expensive) through SCCA publications, there is also no warranty on them, even installed by the dealer.

I can understand the warranty issues, and if I was a manufacturer, I would not warranty a vehicle used in a competition, but I think the makers are very misleading with their advertising, promotions and media campaigns.

Victor Penner </TD></TR></TABLE>

We had the same situation happen to a Subaru dirver a couple of years ago. I think someone at the dealer looked up the website of the club from the sticker on his car and saw his name on the results. Bye, bye warranty...

We basically just post the first name and the car on the results since then...

 

I'm with Kirk on this one. You can't honestly expect a manufacturer to honor the warranty of a car used in competition. Unless they say, "Feel free to track our car" I don't care what sort of marketing play they use and how times they say something was race-whatever. Use it what it was designed for or risk losing the support of the manufacturer.