Seeing as i should get mine next week, can anyone give any tips on running the car in properly?

the info is appreciated folks!

Follow the guidance in the user manual.

I've had mine for just over three weeks and it's done 1100 miles of enjoyable motoring. Johnny C is right - read the user manual carefully. I only finished it last week but the information about gears, speed and the first 1000/1500km is essential reading.

Personally I didn't let it go beyond 4000 revs in any gear for the first 750 miles and even then it was usually only up to 3000. Most gear changes were done around 2000-2500 revs but don't let the car labour too much in higher gears either e.g 1000-1500 revs in fifth or sixth is no good. The user manual recommends no more than 3/4 of the highest engine speed (6500) which equates to less than 4800 revs but I kept it lower.

Since it is a performance car and you will no doubt be excited by it, there is a tendancy to want to start burning it around immediately but personally, the wait has been worth it. Some people are less prudent about how they run their cars in (if at all) but I would like the engine to last as long as possible without unnecessary repair costs so I've tried to be a little cautious.

After 800 miles I started to push the engine a little more to 4000 and 5000 revs on odd occassions. I'm still not thrashing it around but the manual suggests that between 1000 and 1500 km (thats 625 - 937 miles) you can push it a little further to help it stretch itself.

Although I haven't needed to top up any oil, I would suggest you check that each time you fill up with petrol as your style of driving may differ. Also, during its run in (as with normal use), it's certainly better not to accelerate too quickly in any gear when the engine is still cold.

Let us know how you get on with the car. There are a growing number of Octavia vRS mark II owners on here and I would like to hear of other's experiences during their first couple of weeks and months of usage.

cheers folks. your advice is appreciated.

will be driving the car constantly to get it run in ASAP!!

I was always taught from the world of motorcycling - and I can remember it verbatim:

" There is no reason why letting a brand new engine rev to 3/4 of the way to the red line will do it any harm at all......... It is the amount of accellerator applied which does the damage in the early stages of an engine's life which can do the damage".

In other words, NO MORE than 1/3-1/2 throttle for the first 500 miles, then gradually it may be increased until at 1000 miles short bursts of 3/4 throttle may be applied, and by 1500 miles full throttle may be applied.

I have run in about 6 new cars and 4 new motorcycles using this tactic, and I have never had any engine faults with any of them!

When I bought my Mk 1 vRS and asked about running in, the young salesman told me that he invariably found the ones that had been "caned" were better than those that had been mollycoddled!!! [i took no notice!!!]

I did the 600 miles at 3/4 throttle and no more than 3500 to 4000 rpm then gradually increased upto 1000 miles. Used about 1/2 litre of oil.

Still don't really cane it and as I am now passing 2000 miles things seem to be loosening up really nicely.

I was told by one of the salesmen to "drive it like you stole it" from day one but as he also pointed out it wasn't his car!

So my advice would be to run it in and reap the rewards.

again many thanks for the info peeps. :thumbup:

i dont think the "drive it like you stole it" technique will apply to my Octy!!

admittedly, the one i tested was redlined (no rep from the dealer in the car ) and was well impressed with the pull all the way to 6500rpm. that car had done about 600 miles when i drove it.

cant wait though!!! i will be getting a *******ing for pushing past people on the helideck and asking the pilot to give it the "full beans" on the way back to abz!

unfortunately, the "full beans" in a mk 1 super puma is not very fast. :thumbdwn: bring on the EC225!!