Mercedes SLK World Forum - View Single Post

**F111F** · 06-05-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by 412driver

Good points Dan and I agree. The roads of the world are generally poor to acceptable at best. Wear and tear from normal road use may well be worse than the same miles on a smooth track. However, the average person buying a used car expects that the car has been used as intended and one that has been used for other than intended should be so represented when sold. The buyer should have the option to buy or not after considering the particulars of that vehicles life. You and I would buy a tracked car knowing it was properly maintained and cared for in accordance with that use. A person selling a home is required to disclose faults etc of the property and a failure to do so has been upheld in the courts as fraud. The same is true with cars and case law is in place regarding mileage tampering etc. Why risk litigation by not disclosing that a vehicle was driven at top speed on a track for hours. In disclosing this you will reduce your pool of buyers by 90% and thusly your resale recovery by many thousands. I sleep well every night knowing no person has ever been dupped by me intentionally.

My wife is in real estate so I understand your example. If I was selling the car, and it was asked I would tell the truth. However, whether buying a new home or used home, there are many issues that are not disclosed, that if you knew, would be infuriating (sic?), but have little to do with the "value" of the home (i.e. the A/C compressor has SEER 14 but coil only rated for 9, so your A/C is only really a SEER 9!). On the other hand, is the home repainted every year?, does not painting every year decrease the value of the home? Only if you wait too long.

On the other hand, before you can track a car, you have to check it and an ASE Approved Mechanic sign off, because they want your vehicle in top notch condition. Normally, I can run brake pads down, tires to bald, never change brake fluid, etc. Tracking a car, you are constantly servicing your car. I personally put more time and effort into making sure the car has new fluids, etc., and is in top notch, almost show room condition so that I can track my car, than I ever did with either one of my Lexus's (Lexi?). Just some more thoughts to ponder, imho.

I don't want to rant, and I think it is great that most folks don't want to track their SLK's and want to keep them at showroom quality. Believe me I understand. But I have reached an age, where I kept putting off things, and no longer want to fade to black, but want to explore life. I recently went down double black diamonds (with a ski instructor) at an age, when most folks have quit skiing. I thought in my 20's I could never do that, now I am wondering why was I afraid to try? Same with owning the SLK, and worse, now I have the AMG fever. Tracking is something I thought only young guys could do. It is for all ages, for fathers and sons/daughters. It is great to see families enjoying thing and doing things together. I don't get to do that, but I get to enjoy these activities and see others enjoying them also.

I have seriously thought about getting a track only car (it would have to be a Yugo!?!), but the SLK does handle like a dream. MB got it right!