My first trip with my new Corolla

[hungt1999]

I got my Corolla earlier this week and did not have a chance until today to drive it at highway speed because I got stuck in traffic jams all week.

I took the little family for a round trip from Montreal to Ottawa, it is about 200km each way. The ride is very confortable, much more quiet than my 1996 Corolla that we still use, despites the fact that it is running slightly higher RPM for the same speed than the 1996 one (both are 5-speed manual).

I am overall very satisfied with the car. There are two things that I need to get used to are:

- the slight delay between the moment you step on the gas pedal and the time it reacts

- at highway speed I need to get used to the vague steering. It feels that I am manoeuvring a big boat on the ocean, you turn slightly the steering left and right and nothing seems to happen. However, overall, the car feel very stable and safe.

By the way, the trip computer says the average fuel consumption was 7.0 litre/100km which seems a bit high to me. I have read somewhere that the fuel economy will improve once the engine break-in after 5000-6000 km (miles?) is that true? I remember that the sales guy at the dealership told me the engine has already had a factory break-in.

Here are two pics of my car:

[LeanBurn]

Congrats on the new ride. Traffic jams will kill great fuel economy every time. 7.0L/100km is not so bad for those condiditons.

Enjoy, it usually gets a bit better at those kms you mentioned, and you get a better feel for the best method of driving by then as well.

Sweet hood deflector.

[hungt1999]

7.0 litre/100km is for the trip today only! I reset the thing before leaving. The trip today was about 400km mostly highway. I did not drive more than 100 km/h, no wind, not very cold temperature neither.

I was expecting something in the range of 5.7 to 6 litre/100km but 7 seems high. That is what the computer said. The visual observation of the fuel gauge seems to confirm the computer.

So I want to check if others say is true that the fuel economy is not good at with a new engine and should improve after the engine break-in (if there is any break-in, supposely the engine has already ran thru that at the factory according to the sales guy at my dealership)

[Tideland Prius]

Well the break-in period says not to go over 80km/h and not to use the cruise control for the first 300km.

7.0L/100km is decent. Yes I know it's rated at 5.6L/100km but I'm sure you were not doing 90km/h.

Anyway, félicitations sur votre nouvelle Corolla!

[Honda city]

My last car was a Honda civic, it got only 400 km. to the tank for the first 10,000 kms. It got better after that.


BTW your rolla looks like my Rolla.

[qcfc88]

I've have yet to get under 7.2 L/100 KM, but that's a direct function of my driving style. A friend with an S (like mine) is showing 6.6 L/100 KM. It will get better!

[MXs]

haha, i am getting 8.3-8.5/100km average on the lcd display. but then i have modded the engine, which was supposed to increase my fuel efficiency. but looks like it has done the opposite as i predicted.

[andrewwoo]

congrats on your new car! yay!

eh.. it really depends if you have a heavy foot or not.. if you do.. just calm donw on flooring it from red light ot red light... jsut cruise enjoy the moment!

[Dorkinheimer]

As far as the steering wheel, I find that it's too precise, and when i move it just slightly, the car moves a lot, unlike what you say.
My 2006 Corolla is way different. You really have to turn the wheel a lot to see the car move.

As far as high RPM, I think that as long as you stay below 3000 RPM on long trips, it won't put too much wear and tear on the car. That means 120 kmh with the automatic, or 112 kmh with the manual *with the 1.8 l motor*

I recall that slight delay in my manual 2007 Yaris. I hated that, expecially when starting in a hill !!! That would cause me to choke the motor. The clutch *friction point* was also a major issue .

[Silver09]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

Well the break-in period says not to go over 80km/h

Where does it say not to go over 80km/h during the break in period?
I'm looking at the manual now(pg 114), and that is not written anywhere that I've noticed.

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by Silver09

Where does it say not to go over 80km/h during the break in period?
I'm looking at the manual now(pg 114), and that is not written anywhere that I've noticed.

Did they take it out? It was as recently as 2005. (My Prius' manual removed the "do not stay at a constant speed, fast or slow" part from the break-in but I assumed that was b/c of the CVT. It still had the "Avoid going over 80km/h").

Maybe they've changed the rules?

[touringcamry]

I find that the trip computer is a bit optimistic. I made a trip with a 3.3L Sienna minivan and the computer told me 33.2 MPG. Actual value was 28.4 MPG (pretty good for a minivan IMO).

[Silver09]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

Did they take it out? It was as recently as 2005. (My Prius' manual removed the "do not stay at a constant speed, fast or slow" part from the break-in but I assumed that was b/c of the CVT. It still had the "Avoid going over 80km/h").

Maybe they've changed the rules?

They must have.
The only thing I see they have in the manual regarding speed for the break in period is:
"Do not drive at extremely high speeds".
"Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods".

[hendrix8989]

Originally Posted by Silver09

They must have.
The only thing I see they have in the manual regarding speed for the break in period is:
"Do not drive at extremely high speeds".
"Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods".

Just don't drive it like you stole it!!

[ameri_star]

I've been breaking these rules. Not excessively, but a good few times. I'll stop doing it now, but is there any kind of problem in the future I should look forward to?