Does anyone have any experience with a breakdown under warranty at the track? I am aching to get my 996 on the track but the "worst case scenario" is a bit daunting.

 

I've been tracking my car for a while now, and so far the only people who have crashed were in the RED and BLACK (most experienced) groups. DE events are a great way to get a feel for what the car can and can't do. Missshifting should be your biggest concern. These cars were made for the track, so I wouldn't worry about a car malfunction, especially with a 996 or newer.

 

Warranty has nothing to do with DEs.
Get that car on the track!

 

If the dealer finds out you were on the track, they may very well void your CPO warranty. Do a search as there have been posts with some upset people who's warranties were voided due to "abuse".

 

Depends on your Dealer.
http://www.championracing.net/2006/index.htm
Some encourage it.

 

First thanks for the video, it was great!

But to the post I have to respectfully disagree! If most dealerships hear you are at the track and something happens mechanical you really are on your own.
I would NEVER tell a dealer you track the car if it is under warranty.
I PAID for a new tranny because of this and I do have a good relationship with my dealer.
There are MANY posts to this effect, do a search.
I am just giving another opinion to you guys as a warning!! Be careful with the track situation!!!!...tom

 

Good thing I would NEVER track my car.

 

Tom,
I am VERY curious to know what the circumstances were under which they would not cover the repair on your transmission....

If I may ask, did they prove abuse?

 

yes they did. they have pictures of abused parts and if your parts match their pics you abused the car end of story.
that's how they "proved" it.
But that being said I would never not take my car to the track. that's what I bought it for and I will drive it like a madman and if I have to pay to play I will. No matter how you look at it if you have a porsche and are not taking it to a track you are wasting its abilities and missing the thrill of a lifetime.
It will still hold up better than any other make out there so bottom line get to the track!!!

 

I sure have never seen you there!!!

 

Depends on the dealer. The manual clearly states that track use of any kind is cause for Porsche to decline warranty. But, there are dealers out there that encourage it and do pre-tech inspections, endorse DEs through PCA, etc. I would have a hard time believing that my "pro-DE" dealer would give me any trouble if I had a problem with my car whether it was on or off track.

Even within a dealership you can get good and bad. With my BMW, I had no problem, but a friend that went to the same place for service once got the old "Because you track the car we aren't covering..." where another service advisor would have probably worked the issue to get the coverage. What gets me is the dealership / SA makes the same whether the car owner pays or it is warranty - so why not be an advocate for the customer?

 

the word going around now at rennlist is to acquire separate DE or Race insurance. One of those cited is Chris Maume at Snelling Walters. Does anyone have experience with this company? I just sent him an email to receive an application. Apparently for DE the coverage is 3-4% of stated value and either a 2K or 4K deductible. I personally would feel a bit better with coverage for a catastrophic issue....but how much that is worth is up to each individual.

 

I don't think there's a need for "more" coverage if your insurance already covers you. My carrier does as does my umbrella. So for people like me, who have DE coverage already in their normal auto policy, having yet another policy on top of it wouldn't really do much. It's the people that have exclusions in their regular auto policy that should have a separate policy to cover DEs...

 

Indeed, an umbrella policy is ideal. I am simply worried, like what happened to a friend of mine with Farmer's ($20K!), that the agent will guarantee you are covered. Unfortunately it is not the agent who decides on claims, it is an adjuster.....he was not covered because they had sent out an "addendum" excluding any track driving and his agent did not know. Now that simply sucks. Insurance is great until you have a claim and then, and only then does one usually learn about your policy and it's fine print. Bottom line, get it in writing you are covered for DE events.

 

I'd say your friend has cause to go after somebody for that. All of my policies over the years have always sent me addendums, not my agent. But if your friend's situation is different, then he should expect his agency to cover the loss.

As to getting it in writing - your policy is in writing and mine, for example, talks about driver's education and does not exclude it. It does exclude timed events held at a race track - so no Club Racing.