What Car? Q&A - Do I need to run in my car?

Q: I have just bought a new Alfa . The salesman was unsure about the running-in procedure, telling me to refer to the handbook. Unfortunately, this is also very unclear, only mentioning it very briefly. I am a great believer in running-in new cars properly - can you advise?
Gary Smith

A: Modern cars don't need running-in (which lets the engine, gearbox and other mechanical parts bed in and wear a little) in the way that cars did in the past. However, for the first thousand miles or so it is worth driving the car gently, particularly from cold.

You'll find that the engine will loosen up after the first few thousand miles - it will feel generally more free-revving and you may see a slight improvement in fuel economy.