What Classifies as Abuse?

[Calidrifter]

Dealer trade? Seems like it may have been a tester for the dealer.

[Chewie4299]

The one that I test drove on Thursday was being driven by the owner of the dealership and had 260 miles on it.

They may have to do a dealer-swap to get me the one I want in the right color so I'm worried about this.

[YukiHachiRoku]

The worst thing you can do is launch it from a dead stop from high RPM's, that puts abusive stress on everything. It really is terrible to do that. I drive like a bat out of hell a lot, but I have never once launched this car from standing still.

[eriktherod]

You mean like dumping the clutch with it revved to a good 4k? Yeah, that'd put some stress on things I'd say.

Most things, even the concept above can be classified as 'racing' driving, which is inherently more stressful on components. You just have to realize that the harder you work the car, the more stress and potential issues it may have down the road. Not to say it will or that's the only way it can, but you are definitely increasing your odds.

Abuse, in my opinion, is improperly driving the car. Things like grinding gears, gas+brake for no good reason (especially on autos), launching with overly high revs (adds up over time), balancing the car on a hill using the clutch instead of brakes, etc.

Abuse != running the car hard. Abuse is tearing the car up for no legitimate reason.

[Sigh-on-Rice]

I guess "abuse" is relative. I've seen multiple sales persons red lining the engine without warming it up. To me, that's an abuse.