Hi Scotty, et al,
I'm purchasing a new Ford Maverick with week with the 2.0 turbo. Yes, I know all about them, but I'm an easy driver. I don't hot dog my vehicles. Also, I know about the possible ramifications about buying a newly produced vehicle, especially made in Mexico. However, due to our country's crazy fiscal situation, I parted with my beloved 2020 Ram due to its thirst, and the fact that a dealership offered me $10,000 more than what I paid for it. I'll be driving 250 miles to pick it up. Being brand new, and driving back on the interstate, should I employ the typical old school break-in procedure, i.e... changing my speed every 10 minutes? I'd love to set the cruise control and go. Also, Should I keep my speed at 65mph and under?
Thanks!
Erick Faust
erick.faust@gmail.com
You're not joking on the crazy trade-in offers for recent model year used cars. My 2017 Mustang has 22,000 miles and I've had two Ford dealers offer me $25,000 for it. I paid $24000 and change for it when it had 55 miles on it. They want me to trade-in on a new F-150. That trade-in "offer" is just getting added onto the new car's price right now.
Scotty's said in the past to not use the cruise control in the first 1,000 miles. Changing your RPMs is what you're after. Driving on the highway 250 miles should be no problem for breaking it in. I would make sure to do a lot of city driving when you get home on the remaining 750 miles, so you can get a better range of RPMs. You don't want to drive like a maniac, but you also don't want to drive really gentle, if that makes sense.
I would follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the "break in" procedure.
Being a hybrid, the combustion engine shouldn't be strained too hard, so I wouldn't worry too much about break-in. However, you should be looking in the owner's manual for that sort of thing. That's what it's for.
