Yes, That is just the exact reason that no matter how good the dealers make
the ex "program" cars as they call them here look. They can be a risky
purchase. I dont understand why somebody would abuse a vehicle because it
is not theirs.
Scott

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 One that was normally treated ok, but staffer got sick of the way company X
was treating him.

 Got into the mood of where he wasn't going to use the clutch.  Nothing wrong
with it, just he didn't want to use it.  The dry changes were a bit crunchy,
but worked just fine.  The stops were a little interesting though, slowing to
a stop shuddering was one, but crank starting without clutch was another.
 Did this for several days straight.

 Then (same car, another time) got into the rally-style mood, did some
mud-driving without the aircleaner to make it sound a louder.  Spent the
entire day running around in water and mud.

 Spent most of the next day cleaning mud out.  Intended to do this same day
on the way home, but servos wouldn't give a hose because they didn't want that
much mud on their driveways. Got sick of that and continued with hose at his
place, left mud all over the driveway.  Got sick of *that* and tried a
"carlovers" style carwash - left MORE mud.  Did this mainly because there was
a company car service due next day.

 They questioned where "all the mud" come from.  Apparently, even when you
thing you've got it all, you don't really.

 And that was the mild one.

 Another company car crossing Marrickville Road (Sydney) bumped on the
terrain at speed, and took out the transmission.  Claimed was parked with
wheel on the footpath that slipped and bottomed out.
 Brake testing was always good fun, watching the front disks glow red through
the plastic hub cap covers.  (which melted of course).
 Removed the last bit of exhaust to make it go harder (or louder, or
something), but succeeded in only melting/cooking the carpet in the boot.
 There's LOTS more, but suffice to say that he would have liked to use this
car as a 'show vehicle' to how hardy it was after this abuse - if it wasn't
for the incriminating evidence though.
 This was of all cars, a Mitsubishi.

 Then there was hire that had four very prominent flat spots (ABS faulty).
Not a problem though, because the day's racing at Wakefield Park evened the
out just nicely.

 One car took a spin on the grass.  Whooptidoo you say, except he tried later
to remove *that* excaust to "make it go faster".  Succeeded only in melting
one side of the mounting point of the rear bumper, letting it hang loose.  His
wife chucked a mental thinking he crashed it, he just hadn't realised it had
melted loose.
 Couldn't find a way to re-attach it securely, so on return, parked up
against another car to hold it in place.

 There were more hires on the track, just otherwise uneventful.

 He did this for a while before realising if he was going to get more power,
he would have to build something himself.  So he did.  Put an illegal (well,
non-engineer-signed non-RTA authorised turbo anyway) on a Torana 202, went too
well, way overpowered for the car.  But wanted more power.  Abused that on the
track quite comprehensively before selling it.

 Did I mention he put the race slicks of *this* Torana, onto his company
Mitusbishi (mentioned earlier) to race it on what nearly turned out to be a
wet day?
 The tire place MUST have noticed the fleet car sticker on the rear window
when asked to swap tyres, but didn't say anything.