It's actually pretty easy if you are sneaky! First off, when you go look at the car bring a can of aerosol glass cleaner (not a spray bottle). Lightly spray the top part of the front and rear windshields and wipe it clean. Look very closely as the streaking and residue dries. You will see an outline of a sticker that used to be there that will say "Track Experience". It's about 12-15 Inches long and will come down about 3-5 inches from the top edge of the glass. The dealer will look at you funny, but it WORKS. Another product that will do this is RainX, but the glass cleaner is better. The other two ways are easy as well. First, with only 3,500 miles, the driver's seat should look NEW, there should be VERY little if any evidence of wear on it or the steering wheel. A little creasing is normal, but if there is obvious wear on the outside seat bolster from people constantly getting in and out, you may have found a track car. The other way is have the dealer pull the front wheels off and look at the brakes. If they are noticeably worn, then it is also a suspect. If the calipers and dust shield or CAKED with brake dust and the pads look fresh, then they have been replaced and the car is suspect. Also, at 3,500 miles the tires should have evidence of being driven, but not be rounded on the edges or look 100% new. If the tires are rough looking and look old then it's suspect as well. If the tires look like they were put on yesterday and have NO wear pattern at all, then they have probably been replaced, and at 3,500 miles, that would make me suspect it. The glass trick is the best one, but the other ones are cheap insurance.

Hope this helps!

 

Those are great ideas! I'm going to try the window thing, but after all the toothpaste, buffing, and polishing, I'm not sure anything will be left. My tires have lots of scratches (if you want to call them that), but look evenly worn. They look like 10k mile tires actually. The driver seat has a few creases, but nothing out of the norm for a 11k mile car. Just on the bottom bolster, like being smashed from getting in and out of the car.

 

Well, the car is fun to drive, but it's almost more fun to drive my F150 beater because I don't have to worry about it. No worries about rocks, dings, dirt, etc.

It's a driver, just not daily.

 

Don't forget about looking for wear on the pedals. Especially a heavily worn brake pedal!

 

VERY TRUE! Didn't think of that one...

 

My theory is that alot of these come with the summer only tires. After the first snow, people who don't realize that
the poor handling is because of these tires trade them in. Period. I bought my 2004 with 4k miles and in pristine condition for around 33% off list price.

 

That's a good, well founded theory. Makes sense. I can imagine a few have been traded off for that reason...

 

I bought a 1998 C-5 Corvette that was used by GM as a "Demo" (Used at the Proving grounds, and in similar events to the SRT experience) car. I knew this going in and got a Very good price on the car Window sticker was $42,XXX. and I got it with 3,500 miles on it in November of '98 for $29,500. (pretty much the same price as a SS Camaro convert). The Light Oak seat cushion had a little wear, so I replaced the cushions. The bottom line is it was the best running car I'd owned. I put over 100K miles on it and sold it in 2005 for $23,000. Never had to do any repairs to the car, other than normal maint. (Oil, Brakes/rotors, Tires) After that experience, I wouldn't mind a Track Experience car.

 

Break 'em in right!