I drive a Toyota Echo - automatic. Since I got it 3 years ago, I’ve noticed that it has a hard time getting out of first gear - especially when it’s cold.
I work just a short distance from the highway onramp so often I go from starting the car to gunning it to get up to speed (110km/hr) in just a few minutes.
Am I doing damage to my car by doing this?
I’m unsure of the damage part, maybe someone else can answer that, but you should let your car run a minute or so before heading out for work when it sits in cold weather all night.
I think most newer Toyotas recommend taking it easy for a bit in cold weather. They don’t want you to idle it. While you may or may not be doing damage, it probably isn’t the best thing for your car. What does your manual say?
You might also ask Toyota. I never asked them anything about my MR2, but Mazda was quite nice and helpful when I wanted to know a couple of things about the Miata I was considering.
I guess specifically I am asking if it’s bad to drive the car at high speeds when it’s still in first gear.
When the engine is still cold, yes. What kind of oil do you use? Conventional oil lubricates poorly at low temperatures - synthetic oil is a bit better.