Any tips for the long drive home?

[Hawaii-Five-O]

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

[corgi]

Where are you going to collect?

Is there a sensible route that is, at least, partially non-motorway?

[Chief1337]

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.

[Ginagee]

Breaking new car in novice here… What is the best way to break it in, and when can you start giving it more beans?

[JBirchy]

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.

[monkeyhanger]

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.

[dubber36]

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.

[GTI_Redpath]

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! 

[corgi]

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. 

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...

[Ginagee]

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.