It's not a rumor. Those cars come with it because the engines were manufactured with closer tolerances to eliminate the need for break in. Most production engines are produced with tolerances that are "good enough". The plan is that break in will cause the engine parts to wear together in the first few thousand miles. Synthetics are so frictionless they actually prevent that. Ususally the worst problem you see from using synthetics too early is a bit of an oil burning problem. The piston rings never have a chance to seat properly. Whether or not you can use synthetics right off the bat, is completely engine dependent. And the X was designed to require a break in. The cars you mention are all more expensive, lower production, high performance cars with engines built to higher tolerances.

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Eric Konarske
'01 Solar Yellow XE 3 Pk. 4x4

[This message has been edited by ILUVMYX (edited 02-12-2001).]