There are a few things to bear in mind as you drive your shiny new pride and joy away from the showroom, as highlighted by IAM RoadSmart, a UK road safety charity. Their head of driving and riding standards Richard Gladman has some advice…
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Allow the brakes to bed in
Start driving gently and avoiding harsh accelerating and braking heavily. Tyres will also last longer if treated gently for the first few hundred miles
Check the coolant levels and oil frequently
The oil consumption may be relatively high for the first 8 000km as the engine parts gradually loosen up, but it should then settle down
Avoid long runs
If possible, avoid long runs at constant engine speed for the first 1 000km or so. Varying the engine speed helps the parts to start working together over the full speed range
Fuel consumption
Fuel consumption will also gradually improve as the moving parts wear in, so don’t be too disappointed if your first tankful doesn’t take you as far as you hoped. It is quite normal for mpg to increase gradually over several thousand miles
‘Buying a new car is exciting, but it is also a substantial investment. Treating it with a little restraint to begin with will help all the parts to perform at their best for longer and more reliably. This will also help you get the feel of the car before you fully exploit the performance,’ concluded Gladman.
From: WOW
PHOTO: iStock/praetorianphoto
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