Motorists offered top tips on driving brand new cars
If you're on the lookout for new car deals and planning to visit a few showrooms in the coming weeks, then you're not alone. Summer is prime time for vehicle shopping, whether you're wanting a family hatchback or a cool SUV.
However, you might find that driving your new pride and joy is a little bit different to being behind the wheel of what you used to own, simply because the vehicle is so factory-fresh.
With that in mind, IAM RoadSmart has offered motorists some top tips on what to bear in mind as you pull away from the forecourt for the first time.
Head of driving and riding Richard Gladman first recommended allowing the brakes to bed in by avoiding any harsh accelerating and heavy braking. That means you might need to stay away from Sunday drivers on country A roads, then.
Next on the list was checking the oil levels frequently. This might sound more like something you'd need to do on an old banger, but new cars require it too, Mr Gladman said. That's because they may consume oil at a hungrier rate for the first 5,000 miles as the engine's parts gradually loosen up, before settling down and using it at a steadier rate.
Another top tip was to go on a trip that involves varying speeds, rather than simply heading for the first bypass you see and putting the car through its paces. With a new vehicle, you need to give the engine's parts chance to start working together at a full range of velocities, so mix it up a little on that maiden outing.
Finally, Mr Gladman urged new car buyers not to be too disappointed if their brand new car seems to be a gas guzzler rather than the efficient machine promised on promotional material.
It's normal for the first tankful to be used up more quickly as the moving parts get used to, well, moving, but the number of miles per gallon should improve as the vehicle notches up a couple of 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," Mr Gladman concluded.
The tips come after recent research by automotive experts CAP found many car buyers are now looking to upgrade their vehicles every 18 months, just as they might do with their mobile phones.