Quote:
Originally Posted by Hags86
I think people are making overly simplistic references to ads. I didn't see this ad and think 'I just bought a racecar'.
That's just the thing. The warranty documents do NOT state this clearly. They do say there is an exclusion for misuse and neglect. In which parallel universe is a HPDE event misuse of a sports car? The advertising only gives context for an appropriate use. The warranty handbook is the definitive measure and it doesn't say anything.
People are using the Nissan example of using r35 using launch control voiding the warranty. If it says that in the documentation fair enough. I'd be completely fine with that if they make it clear.
My problem is nowhere does it say in the warranty docs that HPDE and track days affect their warranty. Only after I had a failure and pressed for a response, they came back with their own definition of misuse which is to do the same things they show the car doing in the advertising!
I'm a pretty open-minded and fair guy and honestly I don't think I'm asking for too much. Clear and timely communications, treating the customer with respect. All my communications with them were factual, complimentary and without emotion. But Toyota treated me like a second-class citizen during this process. It was only when the VCAT case was approaching did they change their mind about the warranty. They still refused to document why they denied the warranty claim despite multiple telephone and written requests to do so and they still won't give me a straight answer on whether a HPDE event voids the warranty except to say it's up to them to decide that if something breaks again in future.
Don't care how good the car is or what engineering marvel they come up with next, the post-sales experience for me was so bad it's tuned me off the brand for life.
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I repeat that although I sound like I am defending the dealers and Toyota I do not agree with the practice of promoting a vehicle for track use and then not having at least a partial warranty if used as such. My debate he is whether the use of a track in advertising constitutes a loophole in the warranty coverage.
The technicality still stands that in North America, at least, they do state in the warranty "Misuse –
for example, racing & competitive events, off-roading or overloading".
Now, before everybody jumps on the normal "HPDE isn't racing" bandwagon take very careful note of the use of the words "for example". Everybody likes to try to use the wording to skirt the restriction but those are only examples not the definitive list. No, HPDE is not "racing" nor "competitive" but it could still fall under there definition of misuse.
Many, many, many advertisements show the products being used for impossible means or with fantastic results and they do not have disclaimers stating that they really can not or should not do those things. The use of advertisements as a loophole is a losing battle.
Oddly enough I can not even find the full Australia warranty on line which is shady as hell!
Not trying to talk you into loving Toyota again. This is my first one since a brief fling with a Celica back in the 70s so I have no passion or brand loyalty for them. In fact the only reason I have one now at all is that I had a messy breakup with Mitsubishi after an 8 car run with them. The circumstances were similar to yours.