[lucky]

This might sound funny to you but I just have to ask: do you break-in used cars? I figure that some repairs or replacements may have been done on the engine or body such that a breaking it in may be prudent.

[DNADriver]

I never have done. I do take care when I first get a new car to be sure that it's ok before I give it a harder run, but otherwise no, I don't give it any special treatment.

[Dodge Doll]

Um, no, but I have had the memory chip in the transmission 'blanked' out, so that the car could learn MY driving habits and the transmission would shift at the appropriate times as a result.

Chyrsler had them in the 90's, I don't know if they still do, but I had my one employer 'blank' the chips on every trade-in the dealership got, and our used sales were top in the city.

[lucky]

Thanks for your replies guys. DNADriver, I have the impression that you in fact break in your car by a few miles at least. But anyhow, I get your point.

Hi Dodge, this "chip" thing sounds new to me. What is that? I need to learn something new today

[Dodge Doll]

It's a technology that was meant to save wear and tear on the vehicle and maximize the fuel economy.

A computer chip helps the transmission 'learn' your driving habits, and adapts how and when it shifts gears when in DRIVE. If the previous owner was really hard on the gas off the line at a red light, the transmission would have 'learned' that and adapted itself to that driving habit. If the next owner doesn't have that habit, the transmission is still going to shift itself per the previous owner, and that can be disconcerting!

I'm out of the loop, but as far as I'm aware, that technology is still in use today.

[DNADriver]

I suppose that you could call it that. I would rather call it getting to know the car, because really that's what I'm trying to do. I just like to know how a car will behave before I push it.

[lucky]

Amazing. I have heard of chips that help you automate many of the things one does in a car, like turning the lights on when it gets dark and switching the wipers on when it's raining. But I didn't know some chips actually memorizes one's driving behavior. That's cool