Quote:
Originally Posted by detltu View Post
I'm with the GT350 owners on this. Car going into limp mode in a 20 minute HPDE session is not acceptable for any sports or performance car. I expect that out of a GT or SS even if they don't have the PP/1LE package. Chevy made the same mistake with the Z06. I expect the ZL1 (without the 1LE package) to perform fine on the track without going into limp mode. I will be very disappointed if we start getting reports of ZL1s going into limp mode. Ford got the message when they made the track pack the base car for the next year. They should have done that from the beginning.
Whether it will hold up in court is another matter. In the court of my personal opinion though it's pretty clear.
|
Difference between the GT350 & the ZL1 (or the SS for that mater): GM intended the regular car to be track capable, knowing that most would never use it as such.
Ford did NOT intend the base GT350 to be track capable, knowing that most people would never take it to a track. However, they knew that some would track it and therefore offered a track package with those specific buyers in mind.
The people suing Ford knowingly bought the car without getting the track package and then proceeded to take it to a track anyways. That is on them.
Think of it like this: on pickup trucks, there exist towing packages that can increase the tow rating of the truck by several thousand pounds. Whose fault is it when someone takes a half ton truck that isn't so equipped, hooks up a 12,000 lb trailer (instead of the 8500 lbs they should have), and cooks the transmission or causes some other failure. The manufacturer for not giving every single truck the maximum capacity, or the owner for exceeding the known capabilities of his truck?
Or what about suing because your ass gets cold in the winter and your car didn't come with heated leather seats, only basic cloth ones. Sure, you could have ticked the option box and gotten the upgrade but when you ordered you had no idea that you were ever going want that capability. The manufacturer knew the car would get cold in the winter, but they knowingly sold cars without heated seats. How dare they!
In my opinion, both of those scenarios make just as much sense as suing because your non-track pack GT350 was not track capable. How much more obvious does it need to be? Put it in the owners manual? Oh, right they pretty much did:
Quote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ford GT350 Supplemental Manual Page 28
Operating at High Speeds and on Track
Days
Your vehicle is capable of sustained high
speeds and track day driving if equipped
with powertrain coolers (Track, R model).
Note: Obey all traffic laws and only operate
your vehicle at locations designed to do so
safely.
Before operating your vehicle at high
speeds, follow these guidelines.
• Verify your tires have the correct tire
pressures (see Tires in this
supplement).
• Inspect wheels and tires for wear and
damage. Replace any damaged wheels
or tires.
• Do not operate your vehicle at high
speeds with more than two passengers
or while carrying cargo.
• For sustained high speeds or track day
use with a Base or Tech model, we
recommend that transmission and
differential coolers are added. Your
vehicle has electronic controls to
reduce power and/or limit RPM to
reduce powertrain temperatures if
required.
|
https://owner.ford.com/tools/account...tang&year=2016
So, they outright say that the GT350 needs coolers for track days and sustained high speed driving (coolers that come with the track pack and R model). And, they warn that it will go into limp mode if it starts to overheat.
Sounds like none of the folks suing bothered to spend a couple minutes reading their manual.