Lalji

Looks like I need some advice!

I lent my brand new car to my nephew who is 17 years old. I told him that the car was in a break-in period and to go easy. When he brought it back within 20 minutes, I saw that the app had 23 alerts. The app said that he did 19 hard accelerations and 4 hard brakes.

I know, I'm an idiot for lending him the car, but as difficult as it is, lets try NOT to re-state the obvious.

My question is, do you think there is any damage to the car now? What should I do? Ignore it?

Thanks in advance!

2500 hd

Not smart, too late now.

Lalji

Again, stating the obvious. So, I guess I just ignore it is your advice?

2500 hd

Other than never letting him drive the car again, there is nothing more to be done.
Hopefully he didn't damage anything.

Lalji

When he brought it back, I could smell the rubber and fuel smell. That's why I'm worried. Now, it might just be my mind playing tricks on me, but I feel like I can hear a very faint "ticking" sound from the engine.

Falcon0159

I'm sure the car is fine. As long as there's no physical damage that is from hitting something. These cars are meant to be abused.

Lalji

Yeah, no physical damage that I could see... But I can't see underneath.

davelv

The car won't let the engine or transmission exceed limits during breakin of first 500 miles so outright damage is unlikely. Some people in fact support full throttle breakins. Brakes require high speed burnishing which looks like he did that too.

As to the ticking noise, take it in for warranty repair.

Kracka

It's broken in now!

Seriously though, it's fine. The ticking is likely the DI fuel injectors. The LT1/LT2 is a very noisy engine, especially with it right behind your head.

Lalji

Okay, thanks for all the advice!

chevyrules727

The car will absolutely let you go above the 4000 RPM break in redline and let you go all the way to 6600 RPM.

It's a soft limit and visual only to remind you to not go above it. But it will if you just floor it.

About the only thing there is an actual limit is reduced torque in gear 1 and 2.

The Former

For Pete's sake. You can't drive the car hard at all? What is a Corvette for?

2500 hd

The car is probably fine, it would just **** me off that the nephew didn't respect the man's property after such a nice gesture.

winders

What aspect of 17 years old, male, new C8, and lend ever made any sense at all?????

Bob Paris

You have NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. During the short period when GM turned on their "Smart Driver" app without driver's knowledge, it showed that I had numerous hard accelerations and hard stops. It also showed that I rarely wore my seatbelt which is incorrect. I can only guess that their parameters for judging hard acceleration and stops is very narrow so that driving a performance car "normally" would trigger such alerts. As far as the seatbelt issue, I always wear my seatbelt but I usually start the car and then put it on as I back out of the garage. I presume that if the seatbelt is not latched prior to engine start, then I earn a 'ding.

vipervetteguy

Not true. A 0 mile C8 will rev to the same rpm as a 10K mile car.

Kevin A Jones

I'm pretty sure this one incident will not do damage.
Problem is that if you now develop an engine problem whether related to your nephew's bad judgment or not you could have a warranty issue.

sTz

He sounds like a dealer tech… ha. If you see no damage, then I wouldn’t worry about… and that app over-exaggerates “hard accelerations”.

Lalji

Not for the first 500 miles, right?

Lalji

Yeah, I'm pissed, but what can you do? I told him he can't drive it alone anymore and he wants to take it to Prom.