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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: Hawaii-Five-O on 29 October 2013, 14:41

Title: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: Hawaii-Five-O on 29 October 2013, 14:41
Going to collect my GTI on Friday. I'm concerned about driving it 240 miles and mostly on motorway. It's gonna take about 4 hrs and I've heard its bad to break a car in this way but what choice do I have?

Given the time I'm collecting (mid/late afternoon), and the need to get back home the same day, I've no choice but to drive it home. Going to stop half way for an evening meal but probably won't stop for more than 3/4 hour.

Any tips
Thx
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: corgi on 29 October 2013, 14:43
Where are you going to collect?

Is there a sensible route that is, at least, partially non-motorway?
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: Chief1337 on 29 October 2013, 14:44
Vary your driving/speed/revs all the way home. Even if on the motorway, there will be opportunities to do this I'm sure, particularly in heavy traffic.
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: Ginagee on 29 October 2013, 15:27
Breaking new car in novice here… What is the best way to break it in, and when can you start giving it more beans?
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: JBirchy on 29 October 2013, 16:53
I think with more modern engines you don't have to be as careful, but this is what I will be sticking to when mine comes:

- 500 miles on light throttle < 3500rpm
- Varying engine speed as much as possible
- Above 500 miles, increase revs by 500rpm after every 100 miles or so

My brother-in-law collected a new M135i in May and he was told running in wasn't necessary, give it beans from day one! However I still think that if you look after it in the early days, it will be less likely to give any problems further down the line.
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: monkeyhanger on 29 October 2013, 16:58
I think with more modern engines you don't have to be as careful, but this is what I will be sticking to when mine comes:

- 500 miles on light throttle < 3500rpm
- Varying engine speed as much as possible
- Above 500 miles, increase revs by 500rpm after every 100 miles or so

My brother-in-law collected a new M135i in May and he was told running in wasn't necessary, give it beans from day one! However I still think that if you look after it in the early days, it will be less likely to give any problems further down the line.

Good advice there. A good run in can be the difference between a car with plenty of power, good mpg and zero oil consumption or one that uses a litre every 1000 miles and is thirsty.
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: dubber36 on 29 October 2013, 17:08
It's not all about keeping it below a certain revs, it's about not putting it under excessive load. Don't let it labour, equally don't give it full beans acceleration. On the motorway, dropping into 4th and giving it a 3/4 throttle squirt up to 5000 rpm now and again won't do it any harm at all.

Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: GTI_Redpath on 29 October 2013, 17:14
im sure i read somewhere that VW do loads of running in of the engines before putting them in the cars? I'd say drive it like you stole it!  :grin:
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: corgi on 29 October 2013, 17:17
It's not all about keeping it below a certain revs, it's about not putting it under excessive load. Don't let it labour, equally don't give it full beans acceleration. On the motorway, dropping into 4th and giving it a 3/4 throttle squirt up to 5000 rpm now and again won't do it any harm at all.

Dubber's got it spot on.  :cool:

Also, it is not just the engine but also the gearbox.

To a lesser extent you need to bed the brakes in properly and be aware that the tyres will not give their best for a couple of hundred miles... but you'd do this with every new set of brake pads and tyres...
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: Ginagee on 29 October 2013, 17:24
Thanks guys, really good advice. It's a while till I can give any beans yet, but good to know for when the GTi eventually arrives.
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: corgi on 29 October 2013, 17:35
Back to the original question.

A little forum investigation suggests you're off to Kent to pick up your car and need to get home to deepest darkest Cheshire...

If you don't mind spending a little longer getting home then I would take the motorway for the first leg M20 or M2 which ever makes most sense and M25 - you'll get plenty of speed variation on that route on a Friday.

You could take the A41 north from Junction 20 of the M25 via to Aylesbury and then A413 to Buckingham and A422 to Brackley (you'll find somewhere to eat in either of those) and they're pleasant sweeping A roads... Head on the A43/A422 through Banbury and Stratford-upon-Avon... I'd then take M40/M42/M6 Toll.

From there you could take the A5 and A41 into deepest Cheshire...

As I said, it will take a little longer but  should be doable and you'll be able to familiarise yourself on a variety of roads...

Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: CraigW on 29 October 2013, 18:11
Best tip for the drive home is just enjoy it and stop worrying about it  :smiley:
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: GolfTi on 29 October 2013, 18:19
Whichever route you take it's going to be a memorable drive, just vary the revs as already mentioned and maybe a couple of breaks.

Some decent music in case you get bored of the delicious engine noise and don't forget your camera. :cool:
You will learn to trust the Adaptive Cruise Control after a while.

Prepare for the stares and enjoy.
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: Thornster on 29 October 2013, 19:39
Just enjoy the drive!

Set up your phone before setting off.

Load CD before setting off.

Don't be tempted to try and work out all the functions on the wheel or set the radio stations during the drive!

Unless you want a very long drive home just take the shortest route, vary the speed a bit and give it a couple of overtaking blasts (try not smiling during/afterwards!).

Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: dippy_x on 29 October 2013, 19:42
I have a 220 mile / 4 hour treck home after picking mine up.  If I set the sat nav up to avoid motorways I'm looking at a 6 hour journey.  I'm planning on making the journey as normal, varying the speed/revs on motorway and maybe setting a 40 min timer at which point I'll turn off at the next junction for a while and then rejoin the motorway.
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: peterdoherty on 29 October 2013, 19:58
500 mile trip home tomorrow!!!

Just going to vary the revs and enjoy it even more!
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: Rob916 on 29 October 2013, 21:01
I have always made sure the engines up to temperature and never worried too much with revs or speed ! These things are pretty much bullet proof, especially with modern oils etc.
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: Hawaii-Five-O on 29 October 2013, 23:12
Eh up... thanks for all the tips and advice folks. Of course I'm going to enjoy the journey, goes without saying, just wanted to get some advice about best practice for the first long drive.

The main reason I posted is because I can not avoid the long motorway journey to get the car home and just wanted some best practice tips. I'm going from Kent to Cheshire so it will take between 4-5 hrs and is approximately 240 miles.

Sounds like the key is to vary revs, don't bumble along babying the engine, maybe come off the motorway for a while and rejoin, pause for an evening meal and throw in little high throttle for good measure.

Sounds like a plan!

Thx all  :smiley:
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: Fabio Bignose on 30 October 2013, 08:27
H5o

When you collect the car, look at page 339 of the handbook. It tells you how to treat the engine when running in.
(im sure its 339 although book in car so just look up running in, in the index.
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: GTI_Redpath on 30 October 2013, 08:35
H5o

When you collect the car, look at page 339 of the handbook. It tells you how to treat the engine when running in.
(im sure its 339 although book in car so just look up running in, in the index.

anyone got a picture of this page?
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: monkeyhanger on 30 October 2013, 09:05
H5o

When you collect the car, look at page 339 of the handbook. It tells you how to treat the engine when running in.
(im sure its 339 although book in car so just look up running in, in the index.

Page 339? Makes sense – thanks VW, I always read books back to front, not because I’m Chinese, but because I like to know “whodunit”. I thought VW had ditched this section when I couldn’t find it in my handbook.
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: AlanH on 30 October 2013, 10:30
Page 339? Good grief, how many pages in total in the handbook now?
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: Chief1337 on 30 October 2013, 11:44
Eh up... thanks for all the tips and advice folks. Of course I'm going to enjoy the journey, goes without saying, just wanted to get some advice about best practice for the first long drive.

The main reason I posted is because I can not avoid the long motorway journey to get the car home and just wanted some best practice tips. I'm going from Kent to Cheshire so it will take between 4-5 hrs and is approximately 240 miles.

Sounds like the key is to vary revs, don't bumble along babying the engine, maybe come off the motorway for a while and rejoin, pause for an evening meal and throw in little high throttle for good measure.

Sounds like a plan!

Thx all  :smiley:

Have fun! Looking forward to seeing some pics of the new motor!
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: Spenaldo on 30 October 2013, 12:11
Just go careful, i drove from Dartford to NW Germany through France, Belgium and Holland. Nowadays engines have been tested with far more tolerances than we can do to our cars. I picked up on 17th Oct i now have 998miles on the clock and i am currently in Garmisch in Bavaria. This afternoon im off to Innsbruck and a little drive on the Brenner Pass!
I sat at 160Kmh on cruise all the way down here, 402miles on one tank.

Just enjoy it!!
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: Gnasher on 30 October 2013, 17:37
Spenaldo - totally off topic but I lived in Gutersloh for 6 years as a kid!!
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: peterdoherty on 30 October 2013, 20:04
Just on the Cairnryan-Belfast ferry after a 500 mile/10 hour drive home after collecting on Monday. Knackered so full story tomorrow.

Planned on taking it easy but couldn't resist a few cheeky blasts!!!

What a car though!!!!
Title: Re: Any tips for the long drive home?
Post by: sam67GTD on 30 October 2013, 23:14
Just on the Cairnryan-Belfast ferry after a 500 mile/10 hour drive home after collecting on Monday. Knackered so full story tomorrow.

Planned on taking it easy but couldn't resist a few cheeky blasts!!!

What a car though!!!!

Good man Peter, I'll keep an eye out for you in your GTD  :wink: