New Car on highway. Good or bad? [Archive]

sibermage

Oct 12th, 2006, 06:06 PM

I'm looking at buying a new car from the states and was wondering if there will be any repurcussions (short & long term) if I were to drive it on the highway where the speed limits are 90 km/h & 120 km/h. The total trip will take about 6 hours. Cruise control will not be used and I won't be redlining it.

I spoke with a local dearlership's service department and they said it's actually better to drive a new car on the highway as it puts less wear on the car when compared to city (stop/go) driving.

Not exactly sure if that's true or not. He could be just saying that so the car gets problems and then require servicing with them :cheesygri

Any comments?

nopn

Oct 12th, 2006, 06:14 PM

lol...dont believe what the sales person said. They just want to sale.

Maxspeed

Oct 12th, 2006, 06:28 PM

check the manufacturers website.....most cars are over 1000km....

x-batman

Oct 12th, 2006, 06:38 PM

I think it should be alright as long as your pulsing the revs and not keeping the revs constant although that might be tiresome on you, it would be fine for the car (as i believe most break in procedures call for not keeping at a constant rpm for too long)

hightech

Oct 12th, 2006, 06:56 PM

generally, when you have a new car, the first 1600 KM is very important in the vehicle life.

According to Toyota, Canada:

A few simple tips for the first 1,600 km can add to the life of your new Toyota:

Do not drive over 88 km/h.
Run the engine at a moderate speed between 2,000 and 4,000 rpm.
Avoid full throttle acceleration when starting and driving.
Try to avoid hard stops during the first 300 km.
Do not drive slowly with the manual transmission in a high gear.
Do not drive for a long time at any single speed, either fast or slow.
Do not tow a trailer during the first 800 km.
Avoid racing the engine.

You need to set the engine and get those piston rings right. Unlike high speed race bikes where they recommend 10K RPM to get the rings set.

Also, change your oil after the break in, to get rid of any contaminents.

sibermage

Oct 12th, 2006, 07:06 PM

lol...dont believe what the sales person said. They just want to sale.

This wasn't a salesperson that said this. It was someone from the service deparment... but stil... :confused:

Shaner

Oct 12th, 2006, 07:14 PM

Most auto manufacturers recommend not running your car at a constant speed for long periods of time during the break in period (at least 1500 km, although to be safe, go with about 3,000 before you start driving her hard).

Driving on the highway is not recommended for a new car! Unfortunately, sometimes it's necessary. With that said, I wouldn't worry about it too much. If you need to drive it on the highway to get it home, then so be it. It's very, very unlikely you're going to harm your car in any way.

EH100501AC

Oct 12th, 2006, 07:37 PM

If the car is new, don't put it under too much stress for the first 1500km or so like hard acceleration because you'll start burning too much oil and this will bite you in the long term for maintenance, etc.

Driving on highway is actually okay though I've also heard (but not too often) not to drive it over 80km/h? (or 88 as hightech said)

mudmojo

Oct 12th, 2006, 08:03 PM

ilovecables

Oct 12th, 2006, 08:05 PM

What's the big incentive to buy this car from the US?

hightech

Oct 12th, 2006, 10:04 PM

If you want piece of mind and guilt-free trips to the dealership (back to the US?), then follow the manufacturers break-in recommendations.

This is what some do...
http://mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

Yea I think I would take the recommendation of a auto manufacture and engineers over some guy with recreational interests to dictate how my vehicle will work for the next 200K or beyond.

xg3

Oct 12th, 2006, 11:08 PM

bought my m3 at north york BMW on lawrence and leslie.. 3 years ago..
raced it out of the dealership and it was fine the day i returned it when the lease is over.

over 88km/hr? i think i was doing 160 in the first 15km..

mau108

Oct 12th, 2006, 11:21 PM

drive it normally, speeding and slowing down occasionally and id stop at every designated service station and give the car some time to cool down.

chriswalsh

Oct 13th, 2006, 12:47 AM

I think it would be ok, but vary your speed on the way home.

Also, someone mentioned changing oil after break-in. The people at Nissan suggested we DON'T change the oil until its first scheduled maintenance (~8000km) as the oil it is shipped with is 'special'

actng

Oct 13th, 2006, 01:46 AM

Don't listen to anyONE! ...here or at the dealership, be it the sales guy or service guy.

Read the owner's manual - it will have specific instructions on how to break in your car during the first 1000km or 1500km.

Mine was something along the lines of not exceeding 2/3 of maximum engine speed (revs). And vary the speed such that the engine is exposed to as much range as possible.

But like I said, go read the manual.

Bazooka Joe

Oct 13th, 2006, 08:01 AM

If you want to be safe, follow the owners manual, it'll tell you what to do.

However, I took a new car on a 1500 km road trip 2 days after I bought it, and there haven't been any problems yet (mind you I'm only at 50k). I just changed the oil once it was over.

Supershyguy

Oct 13th, 2006, 10:05 AM

sibermage

Oct 13th, 2006, 10:27 AM

What's the big incentive to buy this car from the US?

Price is the big incentive.

SkylineR34X

Oct 13th, 2006, 11:32 AM

Besides the break-in procedure, make sure to check the warranty policies. I don't remember, but I know few manufactures' warranty is in US ONLY, while others cover everywhere in N.A.

DaLurker

Oct 13th, 2006, 12:12 PM

Usually they recommend not to keep the engine at a constant RPM and in my manual, they recommend a few Full throttle runs at highway speeds (ie in 3rd, 4th gear).

Although I'd say follow your manual.

What are you buying anyways?

And for the guy who bought the M3, that car was probably raced at the factory when they tested it.

xg3

Oct 13th, 2006, 01:46 PM

i think 5 millions M3 are made each year... i dun think they race test them all.. this is no ferrari man..

it really doesn't matter what car it is.. but the thing is.. modern technology has minimize the needs to be extra caution about new engines.. they are made way better than 20 years ago... Just drive normally and it will survive.. if ur car is meant to be a lemon, there is nothing u can do to prevent it.

actng

Oct 13th, 2006, 05:07 PM

i think 5 millions M3 are made each year... i dun think they race test them all.. this is no ferrari man..

not at the factory but i bet you at the dealership they race them around the city before delivering to the customer.

the idea is the M3 guys think they have a virgin car but it's already been raped long before they even knew it arrived in town.

sshe11

Oct 13th, 2006, 09:08 PM

not at the factory but i bet you at the dealership they race them around the city before delivering to the customer.

the idea is the M3 guys think they have a virgin car but it's already been raped long before they even knew it arrived in town.

Most new cars have <10 kms on them .. how bad can it be ??

ilovecables

Oct 13th, 2006, 09:20 PM

Price is the big incentive.

Now you've got me curious - what make/mmodel?

xg3

Oct 13th, 2006, 09:27 PM

JAGpilot

Oct 13th, 2006, 09:50 PM

Lemme guess, your driving from TB to Toronto? Just fly down here. It takes a LONG time to drive more than 6 hours

xxgg

Oct 14th, 2006, 12:00 AM

So... after the break-in period how should you drive?

Take it on the high way and rev it high?

Blunt

Oct 14th, 2006, 01:41 AM

First 1000kms, drive the car as hard as you can.
Something about getting the pistons to set properly...
ehhh.. google it yourself. Believe it if you want, I'm not sure. :confused:

sibermage

Oct 15th, 2006, 12:57 AM

Now you've got me curious - what make/mmodel?

Looking at purchasing a 2007 VW Rabbit from the states.

KelticSlob

Oct 15th, 2006, 12:26 PM

First 1000kms, drive the car as hard as you can.
Something about getting the pistons to set properly...
ehhh.. google it yourself. Believe it if you want, I'm not sure. :confused:

Yeah, you're right. You need to drive the piss out of a new car to get the pistons sealed properly. Highway trips are exactly the wrong way to break in a new block.

CompuNurd

Oct 15th, 2006, 07:08 PM

Looking at purchasing a 2007 VW Rabbit from the states.

What's the price difference? It comes up to $16,500USD with the following equipment, compared to $17,900CAD. Add up the currency...and the fact that your warranty can't be transferred in Canada, unless it's 1 year old. I checked it out, as I was planning to buy in the U.S.

I know for sure the Basic Canadian VW Rabbit is luxurious compared to the US version. Better check it out. Basic version has power windows, tilt/telescope stearing wheel, 16" tires, cruise control, sunglasses compartment, alarm system+passive anti-theft device and CD/MP3 player w/ 10 speakers, Ipod adapter, Electronic Stabilization Program. I'd try to shop around for car insurance instead...as you'll be in for a major surprise.

It's a fully equipped Jetta...without a trunk. :cheesygri

actng

Oct 15th, 2006, 07:34 PM

dealers dun race the cars.. the max they drive it is to the gas station before delivering it to you. otehr than that, move it around the lot... they dun race the car to test it for you.. in fact i doubt they care.. is much easier if u go back when you have issues.

and yah like above.. my car had 7km when it was delivered..

so, from the factory to the truck, truck to the boat, boat to the habor.. and etc... not much racing can be done... unless they do 1/4 miles ...

check your sources.

my car had 16km on it.
my friend's car had 100+km on it.

i know people who work at dealerships who tell me they take cars out for lunch or for the weekend. dun forget a lot of dealerships sell you the car you test drive. i alone put 5 km on a test drive once.