Insurance/Tax On New Car + Other New Car Questions

DaveyDave

Hi all,

Just wondering the best way to have legal documents and all in order when picking up a new car. Never done it before but want to drive my new car when it arrives in a million weeks. What's the quickest way for me to get insurance and tax sorted, I just get the reg off the dealer when it arrives? I assume they need a few days to get paperwork in order on their end too? I should be able to ring the insurance and have it next or even same day right? But car tax? Last time my ma taxed her car it got lost in the post because they don't even send it registered. Imagine...

Also, regarding driving a petrol what kind of differences can I expect coming from a diesel? I know diesel fuel economy is balls for the beginning of a journey but I'm not sure how long that lasts. Is it 20 minutes, or until the engine temp on the dash is normal? How are petrol engines on fuel economy when starting? Do I have to sit there for a while and let the engine warm up or can go I right away but keep revs low until for a few minutes?

I've read conflicting stories about cars having low fuel economy in the first 10,000km...most people saying that's not an issue anymore.

With regards to the modern turbo petrol engines, do I have to drive easy for 5-10 minutes at the end to let the turbo cool down or is that just when you're borrowing something from the Fast & Furious? As I hear the likes of the Golf TSI the boost comes on in pretty low revs so you don't exactly have to be hammering it to be on the boost?

Atlantic Dawn

Have your insurance company transfer insurance to the new car at say 12 noon on the day your collecting, arrive at the dealers about 11.30/11.45 and after inspection of new car drive it away at 12 noon. Dealer should be able to organise tax on your behalf.

Big C

if u have reg then organise tax online,usually arrives 5 days . Use last five digits of vin as your login password. Insurance as stated above. Carry some proof of purchase for Gardai

CiniO

Petrol engine with turbo will quite similar to diesel on characteristics, but might need to be revved higher to achieve performance. Don't hesitate to rev it when engine is warmed up if you need power.

Engine runs at optimal fuel economy when fully warmed up. Temp gauge on dash usually only shows coolant temperature, which warms up quicker then oil on the engine. You might see your coolant temp gauge showing normal temperature already, but engine and oil still won't be fully warmed up.

I'd say both diesel and petrol engines have very poor fuel economy before they warm up. It's just diesels take much longer. 20 min usually should be enough to most engines to warm up.

Never start it and wait on idle. That way engine warms up much slower and wastes fuel. Just start driving gently with very little acceleration at first, and then keep accelerating harder and harder until engine fully warmed up when you can floor it up to red zone as much as you wish.

For turbo longetivity you indeed shouldn't turn off the engine when turbo is hot.
Taking it easy by the end of the journey is good idea, but on top of that I'd keep engine running at idle for around 20s to 40s before turning off or alternatively just drive at really low revs for the last minute so the turbo doest spin above it's idle speed. (F.e. just crawling on car park)