Tell tale signs a GRY has done track days?
Discussion
I'm looking for a GR Yaris for a weekend car, and I'd prefer that what I buy hasn't been someone's regular track day toy. The sensible thing for someone to do would have been to take the original wheels and tyres off, and use track day rubber on a spare set of wheels, so no clue there. So what other signs are there a car could have had a hard life, and maybe seen some gravel traps.
You can do track days with the original wheels, and original tyres if you're so inclined. Aftermarket parts could be an indicator but not every car with aftermarket parts goes onto a track. Going on a track day won't sound the death knell for a GR Yaris - I'd be looking more for engine mods and then getting a feel for how much they were called upon either on the track or on the road. Service history, attitude of the owner etc....
rodericb said:
You can do track days with the original wheels, and original tyres if you're so inclined. Aftermarket parts could be an indicator but not every car with aftermarket parts goes onto a track. Going on a track day won't sound the death knell for a GR Yaris - I'd be looking more for engine mods and then getting a feel for how much they were called upon either on the track or on the road. Service history, attitude of the owner etc....
My point about the wheels and tyres is, if the car has done a few K miles from new, and tyres have hardly got any wear, they haven't done the same miles the car has, or if it's got a new set of tyres at 3k miles why? I know tracking a GR won't ruin it, but track miles close to flat out are much harder on a car, than going fast around a few corners on the road occasionally IMO. And I'd rather buy a car that's never been on a track, than one that was bought to hammer around tracks with little mechanically sympathy, because it was going to be moved on at 2 or 3 years old.Just seen this. I wouldn’t worry about track miles, the cars are often highly looked after.
The Yaris has attracted a large percentage of older Ford RS owners who think this will be the next Escort Cosworth in 20 years time, that means many have been stored and seeing low mileage but for whatever reason aren’t servicing the things and then selling them for whatever reason (I suspect it’s because spending money on storage and servicing means they’re loosing money), so I would be more concerned with low mileage cars with incorrect servicing over a track car.
The Yaris has attracted a large percentage of older Ford RS owners who think this will be the next Escort Cosworth in 20 years time, that means many have been stored and seeing low mileage but for whatever reason aren’t servicing the things and then selling them for whatever reason (I suspect it’s because spending money on storage and servicing means they’re loosing money), so I would be more concerned with low mileage cars with incorrect servicing over a track car.
RSstuff said:
The thing about Track days is that some people will just drive a bit faster than they would on the road, and others that will rag the car all day. If a car has done lots of track days, that's not a car I'd want to buy.
But you have exactly the same scenario on the road. Someone who drives at 10/10ths everywhere and someone who crawls around in it never even getting to the speed limit. Edited by RSstuff on Wednesday 6th August 15:58
ecsrobin said:
But you have exactly the same scenario on the road. Someone who drives at 10/10ths everywhere and someone who crawls around in it never even getting to the speed limit.
10/10ths on the road isn't likely for extended periods. The same on the track is much easier on a car with only 260 bhp, and high grip levels.London GT3 said:
Cars that I have seen with lots of track use have shown a darkening of the paint on the red brake calipers. A deeper shade of red, rather than the bright red or originals.
Sure that’s not just brake dust? Mine often look a dull red then every 6 months they shine like new. 
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