How did you drive your car out the dealer?
 

I came up with the idea of having people post up whether if they followed the instructions for the break-in period or drove it like they stole it.

This will be for educational purposes and to really see if babying your car during the break-in period really better the life of the engine or whether it is pointless.

This will also be specifically for our cars (370z) only.

Please post up these info:

::Example::
Year: 2009 / 2010
Model: Base / Touring / Nismo
How I Drove: I drove it like I stole it. / I babied it like it was my son.
Miles when hell broke loose: 1200
Current Miles: xxx
Mods: None, HFC, CAI, etc
Issues: None / I blew up my motor / etc.

Feel free to add additional info if you feel it is needed.

Year: 2010
Model: Touring
How I Drove: I drove it pretty gently home personally.
Miles when hell broke loose: haven't really been riding it hard, just a WOT pull or two per drive.
Current Miles: 700
Mods: Berk HFCs, Stillen G3 intake, Tanabe Y pipe, VLED LED lights, Stillen Sway Bars.
Issues: None, other than stalling twice pulling into the garage.

I am sitting around 600 miles and am driving it like I would drive any other car; a couple WOT pulls, but mostly just keeping it safe around town. I progressively worked the car up as the miles came on and have no oil consumption or issues to speak of.

Year: 2009
Model: Base
How I drove: First week I babied it then someone in a cavalier challenged me so I drove it like I stole it since then.:driving:
Issues: None

I've had my Z since November of '09 and and it feels like the day I drove it off the lot.

Miles when hell broke loose: I don't remember exact number but it was just under 1,000 Miles.

Sorry guys, I added another detail there.

Anyways..

Year: 2010
Model: Nismo
How I Drove: Babying it so far...
Miles when hell broke loose: Haven't floored it.
Issues: None

My car is still very new. 125 miles so I haven't done anything.

Slow ride. love how it feels when really warmed up though. Rich

Year: 2009
Model: Base w/ Sport
How I Drove: I kept that tach under 4k....it was hard as hell too.
Miles when hell broke loose: 1200, I was on the highway and just waited for it to turn over lol
Issues: None, runs like a bat outta hell.

You probably should ask current mileage (as christian posted in his). I've still got only 250miles on mine and am following the break-in period religiously (though it hurts). This early in the game, I don't think I'll be having too many problems.

The current mileage will also benchmark how soon/late problems appear.

Year: 2009
Model: Base with Sports Package
How I Drove: Followed the Factory manual instructions
Miles when hell broke loose: 1100
Current Miles:23,000
Issues: None. Drives smoother than you can imagine! :tup:

BTW, please don't turn this thread into a "my break in method is better than yours" pissing contest! This thread is for data collection ONLY. THX

year:2009 bought in march of 09
model: base
how i drove it: actually it was delivered to me after purchase because it has to be transfered from another dealer
miles. 7 when it hit my dealer.. another 40 being driven to me.
miles i broke loose 2500 with exception of a few pulls.

Year: 2009
Model: Base (NON-SPORT)
How I Drove: Took it VERY easy before 1200 miles. Didn't go above 4k rpms, no WOT.
Miles when hell broke loose: 1200, had to celebrate being so good for so long!
Current Miles: About 6000
Mods: Berk CBE (LOVE IT)
Issues: None. No excessive oil consumption, no crazy stuff. 6mt and clutch feels fine.
Gas mileage (for fun): Averages at 20.8 mpg.

2010 Nismo
Hammered down on test drive. Never drove a z before what do you expect!
I drive it moderately but do go WOT all the way to redline once or twice before I get home.
Current miles - 1,300
Mods - K&N Typhoon, Berks HFC's (installed tonight), NST pulleys on the UPS truck
No issues at all (Damn these are really fun cars to drive)

Year: 2010
Model: Sport Touring
How I Drove: mellow with "heat cycles" as milage went up so did rpm limit, first 200 kept under 4k
Miles when hell broke loose: ~800
Current Miles: ~4800
Mods: Berk CBE, Stillen Oil Cooler + Power Steering cooler, 18% tint
Issues: Nothing thus far.

Year: 2009
Model: Sport
How I Drove: Everyday casual driving to work and home out of the dealership. After break-in period ended, I opened it up a few times to see what it was like. Now, every once in awhile I do a sanity check that the throttle delay isn't there.... as long as oil temps are under 220F.
Current Miles: About 15k.
Mods: F.I. TDX 12" and NST Pulleys
Issues: Brake switch needs adjustment to fix the dreaded throttle delay and not being able fully open it up. Sluggish when oil temps hit 220F. Turn off the car, and turn it on again, and it appears to be normal.
Fuel Economy: ~23.7 mpg.

Year: 2010

Model: 7AT with Sports Package

How I Drove: Followed the Factory manual instructions

Miles when hell broke loose: 1200

Current Miles: ~6,000

Mods: Nismo springs/struts; K&N panel filters

Issues: None. No evidence of oil burning, and made up to 283 whp on dynojet

Note: I engaged in a lot of coast down from different RPM's to heat cycle the pistons -- this is in keeping with factory recommendations, BTW :tup:

Year: 2009
Model: Sport
How I Drove: had 60mi when i got it, drove it flat out the day i got it since everyone that test drove it before me probably did the same(it was an 09 that never sold)
Current Miles: 38000
Mods: K&N drop in filters
Issues: None at all
Gas mileage: Averages at 22 mpg.

broke it in the same way i do my motorcycles, wide open

Year: 2010
Model: Touring Roadster
How I Drove: Almost into the back of a Titan (couldn't find reverse when I first tried to leave dealership)
Miles when hell broke loose: 1200 -- Not hell escaped, actually more like a well behaved prisoner was released on good behavior
Current Miles: ~3000
Mods: Stubby Antenna :)
Issues: None.

Pretty sure this thread has been done before...
http://codinghorror.typepad.com/.a/6...86df78c970b-pi

Year: 2010
Model: 40th anny
How I Drove: pretty much drove it like i would if there was 20 k on the motor...although i was a little easy at first...i live on a mtn and as some of you know i had a shelby gt500 before this and i just had to see the difference coming up the mtn.
Miles when hell broke loose: 150ish
Current Miles: 1,456
Mods: None
Issues: nothing...oil temp can get a but annoying

Year: 2009
Model: Base
How I Drove: I broke him in kinda early...
Miles when hell broke loose: roughly 500 miles
Current Miles: 16,000
Mods: all mods are in my signature
Issues: none, other than I need a tune..

Year: 2010
Model: Touring + Sport
How I Drove: Bought with 9 miles on it. Nothing over 4k, no WOT. Just a couple of pokes to feel the torque.
Current Miles: 320 now.
Mods: none yet
Issues: None at all
Gas mileage: Only been through one tank of gas. I didn't get great mileage though. 17 mpg around town.

Year: 2010
Model: Base/Sport
How I Drove: Drove REALLY nice for the first 400 then kinda hard till 500 then all hell broke loose.
Current Miles: 2500
Mods: non
Issues: None at all (oil change at 1500, doing another at 3k, then doing 3k intervals, oil still looks brand new)
Gas mileage: Averages at 18-20 mpg. (drive the car like i stole it every day all day :happydance: )

Year: 2010
Model: Touring/Sport/Nav 6mt
How I Drove: I drove super clunky out of the dealership. I followed the break in procedures.
Miles when hell broke loose: 1150
Current Miles: 4000
Mods: No performance mods
Issues: None

Year: 2010
Model: NISMO
How I Drove: Started beating it hard from the test drive before I bought it.
Miles when hell broke loose: 8
Current Miles: 1550
Mods: No performance mods (yet)
Issues: None

Comments: Already taken it to the GA mountains twice for a beat down once around 500 miles the second around 1100 miles.

09
Nismo
Like i stole it until i hit LA traffic
70
3100
rims n springs
none

Given the high cost of this car for a weekend/summer toy (not my DD) and given the fact that I plan to keep it in the family indefinately (at least 25 years or so), I obeyed the break-in instructions meticulously. Since break-in ended, I've driven my Z sensibly and responsibly and enjoyed every moment. I'm not a racing guy.

Year: 2009
Model: Base
How I Drove: Carefully
Miles when hell broke loose: Never. I have to work to hard to earn $31,000 to drive a car like hell broken loose.
Current Miles: 4,000
Mods: Katzkins leather interior and clearbra
Issues: None. Car's been perfect since day one.

Year: 2009
Model: Touring + Sport
How I Drove: I drive pretty "normally" day-to-day but occasionally I enjoy some spirited driving. Nothing ever too intense and I'm always carefully to let me car warm up before I go anywhere, regardless of how short the drive is.
Miles when hell broke loose: 1100ish. I honestly don't remember the exact number.
Current Miles: 4900
Mods: FI CBE
Issues: None whatsoever, knock on wood.

Year: 2009
Model: Base w/ Sport
How I Drove: exactly as instructions for break-in said
Miles when hell broke loose: 1200
Current Miles: 25,000+
Mods: None
Issues: None

I bought mine the first week they were out. Drive it 60+ miles a day so it did not take long to get to 1200.

Year: 2010
Model: Nismo
How I Drove: Just like Zaggoron, I just about drove it right through the show room window trying to figure out how to get it into R. :) After that I tried to take it easy with a few *fast* starts here and there ;)
Current Miles: 800ish
Mods: center console garage door opener.
Issues: Tire air pressure sensor was TU on arrival. Dealership had to order a new sensor. I'm waiting to have it installed until after my plates arrive.

Year: 2010
Model: Touring Roadster
How I Drove: how do you phrase that so it does not void the warrantee
Miles when I got it: 38 (so you know it had some ragging at the dealership)
Miles when hell broke loose: 41 (as soon as my racing buddy got in the drivers seat with a warm motor)
Current Miles: 3400 (got its first oil change at 2336 with redline)
Mods: None (suspension first)
Issues: None

Year 2009
Model Touring/Sport 7AT
How I drove it home Followed Man. Spec. Break-In
Miles when bought 126 miles
Miles when hell broke loose 1150
Current Miles 5,6xx
Mods ARK Type II Exaust
Issues None, great car so far

Year: 09
Model: Base CY 7AT
Miles when I got it: 3
Miles when all hell broke loose: 3 - drove it hard from day one - made it sweat! Never believed in "breaking in". Never did it with any of the 40+ cars I have owned and never had any issues at all.
Mods: See sig
Issues: Attracts women. Other than that, none at all.

AZ Roadster

Year: 2009
Model: Touring 7at
Miles when I got it: 2
I got out of the deaership, proceeded to the u turn and went 120 past the dealership...the first free oil change conversation was interesting to say the least.
After that I basically kept it under 4k until 1200 miles with a couple of pulls thrown in for good measure.
Miles so far: 6400
Mods: only light mods for now but planning on tt in the next few months
Issues: broken tpms sensor

Year: 2009
Model: Base w/Sport Package
How I Drove: Followed the Factory manual instructions most of the time
Miles when hell broke loose: 1200 (First oil change) :tup:
Current Miles: 3,2000
Mods: Custom Air Intakes/F.I. Catback Exhaust (not installed)
Issues: 2 Holes (1" Dia) on the front bumper :mad: (Front bumper replaced by Nissan)

^^ you got the FI exhaust and still not installed:confused: What setup did you go with and why has it not been installed yet?!!

'09 with 6MT, Touring & Sport pkg.
I had to drive almost 100 miles to a dealer that had the car. We took a test drive so the car had about 22-25 miles on it when I left the dealer. It was one of the hottest days of the year, over 100 degrees in SoCal. I pulled over a few blocks from the dealer, hopped out and with a tire gauge that I had with me check the air pressure. All 4 tires were 45 PSI. I bled them all down to about 36 PSI, got on the freeway and drove home, varying the speed between about 60 and 80 the whole way and keeping an eye on the oil temp gauge. I drove it easy and according to the book until about 1250 miles. I changed the oil, and went for a 200 mile round trip mountain drive. At one point while waiting at a signal, there was a big truck in front of me so when the light turned green I put my foot into it, shifting at about 5500-6000 rpm. I was just slipping into 4th gear, glanced down and the speedo was almost at 100 MPH so I backed off.
I have yet to actually red line the car, it goes 0-85 fast and easy enough that I haven't felt the need to give it more.

Year: 2009
Model: sport touring
How I Drove: Babied until about 700 miles.
Miles when hell broke loose: 700
Current Miles:16k
Mods: None
Issues: Zero. In fact, it barely uses oil; perfect.

Year: 2009
Model: PW Nismo
How I Drove: Drove it hard right off lot, realized I still had the sales guy with me. Dropped him off to walk back. Drove it hard the rest of the way home.
Miles when hell broke loose: I tried to follow this guys philosophy: Break In Secrets--How To Break In New Motorcycle and Car Engines For More Power
Current Miles:3900
Mods: CAI
Issues: Nothing we haven't all seen before (240 deg. temps)

2009 BASE SPORTS PACKAGE 7AT
Had 50 miles on it when i got it.
Followed manual for break in
Now has 7000 on it two mobil 1 oil changes
Hell hasn't broke loose yet.
Only red lined once sounds stupid but trying to learn how to drive car in manual mode. had a 6MT before
Had it up to 105 mph on closed road.

only issues went through two gas caps fixing evp leak code.
so far no rattles!!!