Do RESULTS On The Race Track Matter To YOU, The Car Buyer?

Probably one of the most iconic sayings in the automotive industry is "Race on Sunday, sell on Monday." Also another favorite of mine is "There is an ass for every seat."

In recent years there's been a big push from all of the auto manufacturers to produce vehicles with sporting intentions. This has led to more M cars, AMGs and even Lexus creating the F division. And a lot of automakers have gone racing.

While for some it's been a significant part of their DNA, e.g., Ferrari, others it's become another way to market its products. But with the mega investment some manufacturers are making into its racing operations we can't help but wonder if buyers — YOU — actually give two shakes about who has a podium finish.

Do race results matter to buyers, or is it something simply of the past?

In a new clip released by XCAR,a spokesperson from Ford Performance talks about the all-new GT and how it was borne from a race car. It seems to all make sense until he suggests that its gunning for Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans next year.

[crickets]

I mean, I can understand 50 years ago this was a big deal but now it seems awfully trite because Ferrari is still going to sell every unit it builds and Ford will still sell every GT it decides to construct, no?

What say YOU, Spies?


More than 50 years after the Ford GT40 exploded onto the motorsports scene, ford's returning to Le Mans with the all-new 2016 Ford GT.

HoustonMidtown - 7/3/2015 6:04:29 AM

+3 Boost

No

TomM - 7/3/2015 7:31:15 AM

+1 Boost

When that phrase was coined - stock cars - while modified - were still made from cars you could buy. Today - most of them are simply bodies that sort of look similar to something made by a manufacturer but otherwise have little to do with an actual car. There may be some races - which still feature actual cars that can add to the sales - Corvette, Ferrari - and Porsche come to mind - but the days of every day sales of cars is again long gone.

TheSteve - 7/3/2015 9:00:01 AM

+3 Boost

Not me.

MDarringer - 7/3/2015 9:08:57 AM

+1 Boost

No. While I think manufacturers who race learn from racing, I couldn't care less who is winning what.

TauronB2G - 7/3/2015 9:23:26 AM

+3 Boost

Nope...I don't care at all.
T

ATrain - 7/3/2015 9:52:04 AM

+2 Boost

Actually, it does, but not as originally intended. There's too much of a gap between track-dedicated cars and street cars. However, it does have an impact on my post-decision validation. (Call it pre-post purchase dissonance management...)

In other words, once I pick a car, I look for information that supports and track performance comes into play.

Of course, I track some of my cars and those are the ones where it matters most.

MDarringer - 7/4/2015 9:50:33 AM

+1 Boost

So for the cars you track, your purchase depends solely on numbers or unrelated racing cars of the brand?

ATrain - 7/4/2015 10:40:26 PM

+1 Boost

Matt, I think you need to read the post again...

Agent009 - 7/3/2015 10:07:23 AM

+3 Boost

Absolutely! But it is also dependent on the series as well. LeMans (WEC), F1, IMSA and several other series focus on innovation to meet the rules and compete.

In this type of racing the brands the continually focus on mimicking fail miserably but those that prove to they can innovate rise to the top. This attitude and focus on innovation move the sport and the industry forward and this spells progress for everyone.

Remember to innovate is a gift, to copy is simply pedestrian.

Actually I won't buy tires or a vehicle from a company that does not race because of this.

MDarringer - 7/4/2015 9:53:29 AM

+1 Boost

So when you are replacing tires on your Chevy Spark, you have to have tires that are racing proven? Street tires and racing tires are two totally different universes.

Throw some track comp tires on your car, but don't get your Andrew Christians in a knot when they need replacement shy of 10K miles.