[drumslinger]

I've had my CT a week and have only driven it locally, but I am about to go on a trip this weekend that will involve highway travel. The owner's manual says about break-in that, for the first 600 miles, to avoid jack-rabbit starts/heavy acceleration and jamming on the brakes. It says nothing about not using the cruise control, varying speeds, not going over 4000 RPM, etc.

Does anyone have any tips or experiences to share? I hope to keep my CT a long time and want to get off on the right foot, er...tire!

 

[Army Dad]

I've had my CT a week and have only driven it locally, but I am about to go on a trip this weekend that will involve highway travel. The owner's manual says about break-in that, for the first 600 miles, to avoid jack-rabbit starts/heavy acceleration and jamming on the brakes. It says nothing about not using the cruise control, varying speeds, not going over 4000 RPM, etc.

Does anyone have any tips or experiences to share? I hope to keep my CT a long time and want to get off on the right foot, er...tire!

I think most of what we used to do has gone by the wayside with the close tolerance engines of today. I think common sense would dictate, keep it off the redline, drive 55-80 attained by normal acceleration, try not to get into situations where harder than normal braking will occur, and I would vary my speeds a little every once in a while. The speed variance may be one of those things that don't count anymore, If I remember right that was to help set the piston rings without creating a groove.

Heck, drive it the way that you are going to drive it normally, let whatever break in occur by your style.

Enjoy your trip, let us know whatever little 'discoverys' you make on the CT.

 

[CCT]

+1 on AD's break-in.....and have a safe trip.

 

[chefmark]

I think most of what we used to do has gone by the wayside with the close tolerance engines of today. I think common sense would dictate, keep it off the redline, drive 55-80 attained by normal acceleration, try not to get into situations where harder than normal braking will occur, and I would vary my speeds a little every once in a while. The speed variance may be one of those things that don't count anymore, If I remember right that was to help set the piston rings without creating a groove.

Heck, drive it the way that you are going to drive it normally, let whatever break in occur by your style.

Enjoy your trip, let us know whatever little 'discoverys' you make on the CT.

A.D. good advice

 

[drumslinger]

Thanks, guys.

 

[drumslinger]

...try not to get into situations where harder than normal braking will occur

I followed all your recommendations but this one. I had an unfortunate incident on the way home. I was driving through the woods over a mountain at night, keeping my eyes peeled for deer, when suddenly in my headlights appeared two large birds (turkeys or pheasants, not sure). One was near the side of the road, the other was in the center of the lane. I slammed on my brakes and swerved, but the sickening thump followed by the bird flying over my car confirmed my worst fears. I drove a little ways (there was a car behind me) and pulled over, shaken. My dog had slid off the seat and was on the floor, scared. It was pitch black, so I couldn't see the bird. I did inspect my car, and found a silver-dollar-sized blood spot in the center of the lowest part of the bumper, but no dent or damage. Not a fun trip.

 

[veasnalong]

I followed all your recommendations but this one. I had an unfortunate incident on the way home. I was driving through the woods over a mountain at night, keeping my eyes peeled for deer, when suddenly in my headlights appeared two large birds (turkeys or pheasants, not sure). One was near the side of the road, the other was in the center of the lane. I slammed on my brakes and swerved, but the sickening thump followed by the bird flying over my car confirmed my worst fears. I drove a little ways (there was a car behind me) and pulled over, shaken. My dog had slid off the seat and was on the floor, scared. It was pitch black, so I couldn't see the bird. I did inspect my car, and found a silver-dollar-sized blood spot in the center of the lowest part of the bumper, but no dent or damage. Not a fun trip.

thing can happen do what you have to do to save your life for break-in period some time you must ignor..... glad you are ok

 

[Army Dad]

Wow, what a nasty encounter! I live in a spread out area now after being in 'wall to wall' people in South Florida for over 30 years. I still have not got used to watching for deer and other animals on these back roads. You noted vigilance, yes, constant. And I'll bet that your vigilance saved you from possibly being ambushed and swerving off the road.

You certainly handled everything ok. Good question to the forum .... Anyone have any tips other than strong vigilence when driving in rural areas? May be a dumb question but I'm not fearful of learning something.

And to heck with the brakes ... I'm sure we were all just talking in a perfect world.

I'm glad you are ok.

 

[ifonline]

I was working one night driving down a fairly quiet back road, when before I knew it, I came upon a buzzard in the road. First, I had no idea those things were so stinkin' huge! Second, I had no idea something so stinkin' huge could move so quickly!

In an instant, the buzzard was flying over the hood of my car. I mean right over the hood of my car... I was looking down the bird's butt as it was flying in the same direction as my vehicle (it was obviously trying to get away from the car)! I wasn't driving terribly fast, and it stayed there for a few seconds before slowly drifting off to the right and over a field.

Crazy.

 

[JRRRR]

A few years back I was driving in a very rural area on a two lane going about 70 mph. No other vehicles, and run up on a flock (or whatever they're called) of buzzards feasting on a flat rabbit in the middle of the road. The birds are large, and they were so focused on that rabbit that they did not attempt to move until I was right on them. They suddendly jumped up and had to loose weight very quickly, so each of them (about 4) passed the red meat out of their a.. as they jumped up. I have never seen such a thing. The hood and windshield of my car was completely covered in partially digested red meat. It was so bad that I could not see and had to quickly stop the car to keep from crashing. I hit one of the birds with the radio antenna. By the time I got back to town it was dried and stuck to the car like glue. It was the darndish thing I have ever seen or experienced. Richard

 

[Army Dad]

Wow, looks I'll have to add the buzzards to the watch list.

The critters are a challenge, when I moved from super crowded South Florida to a spread out semi rural area of Georgia I could not figure out why my car insurance didn't drop. My agent researched it and the cause is that the collision part is very high here because of damage and injury payments due to hitting deer and other animals. And I surmise it will get worse. I walk out my back door, down the deck, and walk right up to the deer in the yard. At about 10 feet they turn and go back into the woods. No real fear of humans.

 

[edubfromktown]

Car insurance

...when I moved from super crowded South Florida to a spread out semi rural area of Georgia I could not figure out why my car insurance didn't drop.

I tend to be very skeptical- sounds like a line from your insurance agent. You may want to shop insurance rates and see what happens. I did it using http://www.insweb.com with a throw away e-mail address last week.

I had been with Travelers for ~1 year because they gave me a great deal on homeowners and matched my existing auto rate. A year later, the auto went up for no apparent reason so I shopped it. Everyone was significantly higher except Allstate. When I called them, they gave me the old "that's a best case quote" and since I was switching providers so soon the price would be higher (about the same as the others).

I called Geico for grins even though their price was the highest of all. They quoted me the same astronomical price. I said no thanks and I'd check back again in 6 months. They noticed I had been a customer in the past and "wanted me back". I got a great auto rate (with a bit of fudging about what I 'm currently paying eheheh). So I ended up saving ~25% every 6 months over my existing provider! Got the extra discount for homeowners too for whatever reason (Geico outsources to the same company I guess.)