I've always given new cars a sensible belting (ie, drive them how I normally would). Haven't had an engine problem with 5 new cars*, never had to top up oil, power has been good and fuel usage is always around the manufacturer's claim. I've read plenty of claims that a hard run in seals the piston rings properly, I don't think that means pinging it on the rev limiter driving out of the dealership. But I don't believe in treating them like Fabergé eggs.
Edit: *touch wood*
Mine: Octavia vRS Combi (MY15) | Brilliant Silver | 6MT | 162Kw 350Nm | Tech Pack* | 18" Black Pack | Leather | Sky Port | Ordered Aug 14 | Built Wk 48 2014 | Landed 3/2/2015 | Delivered 20/2/2015
Hers: MY06 MkV Golf TDI 6DSG | Silver | Stock | RNS510 + Badge RVC Installed.
Weekender/Project: Classic Mini 1972 Dependant #2: Mk4 2001 GTi
It says to push it gradually to so many revs at each stage, the final being right out to redline. It's pretty much impossible to get it to 6.5k without doing it in a lower gear and getting to 100km/hr. Was only for a short stint. After that you drive it normally. No idea what the current manuals say but that was the TFSI engine. I asked the dealer when picking it up about any running in and they said no it's done at the factory. Checked the back of the manual and it had pretty specific instructions ala above, normally they just say don't sit at a single speed for too long, use cruise control, tow trailers etc for the first X kms.
I drove most of the hume/M5 from the dealer delivery in Campbelltown to Hurstville just using the first 3. M5 was 100 at the time and I could over-run down to 60 then accelerate at half throttle up to 100 as there was no traffic (for a change).
The next day I drove Hurstville to Ulladulla & return with all the family on board using up to 4th. The were starting to turn green with the slow-down speed up style so I had to stop that.
carandimage The place where Off-Topic is On-Topic
I used to think I was anal-retentive until I started getting involved in car forums
There is a bit of thing going in the UK where they take standard vehicles of the assembly, fit a couple of roll cages and thrash them around a track for 24 hours.
Vauxhall/Opel did it in 2013 with two diesel Astras and achieved a record 3002 miles.
Mazda have just done the same with three Mazda 6 diesels and achieved 3293 miles. New record but in a different engine size category.
Point of the story is no pre-running in, no reliability issues (whole point of test) and apparently no engine oil consumed.
Are we over thinking this running in lark?
Actually they have done it. My A3 TDI(e) was specifically designed to improve fuel economy. 1.9tdi, manual, hub caps instead of alloys for wind resistance etc. (yes getting rid of hub caps and ECU retune soon but that is another story)
The 2008 A3 has a taller 3rd and 5th gear than normal, they are not evenly spaced, so the revs drop at suburban and highway speeds. It sees about 1800 rpm in 3rd at 60kph and similar at 100kph in 5th (no 6th gear). The A3 sees average about 4.5l/100 combined. A highway run drops to the high 3's L/100. Although fully loaded with a bike on the roof (bike had a bike bra on) and a stiff south easter from Adelaide to Melbourne, I couldnt get below 5L/100. Very annoyed. But still last tank was 75% highway and I got a touch over 1000km from 50L the tank. Overall, Prius eat your freaking heart out.
But RS I drove as per the owners manual for the first 1500km with no high revs and no constant revs, then at 5000km it got new VW/AUDI branded oil and new filter. That stuff aint cheap. Now I get low 6 L/100 and a trip to Port Fairy and back from Melbourne averaged a tad over 5L/100. But this is a diesel so it doesnt mean much in this thread.
But I still drive 'enthusiastically' within the speed limit.
Oh and as mentioned as far as speed limits in Oz, the road north of Alice springs is back to no speed limit for about 300km.
2001 - A4 B6 1.8T Sedan Manual - (sold @ 254,000km)
2008 - A3 8P 1.9tdi Sportback Manual - (sold 90,000kms)
2013 - Octavia RS wagon - 1z - Race Blue - TDI - 6M - Leather - MDI - Whispbar S44W - LED interior kit - RVC forward?/retrofit - Mk3 gear shifter
2021 - Q3 S-Line wagon - F3 - Daytona Grey - Westfalia towbar - no other options available.
Yes the green line version has taller gearing, but it isn't substantially better than a std version with the exact same setup.
Not doubting your figures are impressive though
2014 Skoda Ambition Plus 103TSI candy white wagon, 6sp Manual, Tech pack, Panoramic Sunroof, 18's, Colour Maxidot, Comfort BT
Ordered 07 May 14 (Wk 15), Built Wk 37, Loaded 27/9 (wk 39), Docked 12/11 (wk 46), DELIVERED! 12/12 (end of wk 50 - 7 months + 1 week).
Managed to jam 52 litres in the tank today. Still had 30km left to empty before i filled up.
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