A few weeks ago on Wife Swap (yes, yes, I know…) a woman was featured that would get up at 3am in order to go out and warm up her husband’s truck for him before he headed to work. Since then I’ve noticed a lot of people going out to warm up their cars on cold days before leaving for work in the morning. In one case, it was a woman still in her pajamas, who reminded me of the Wife Swap woman.
Perhaps I’m too paranoid, but I’d never start my car up and leave it running in my driveway. I’ve seen enough stories of cars getting stolen in these very circumstances. Or, perhaps, it’s just that even when it was down below zero wind chill, it still didn’t seem worth it to make a trip outside, a trip back inside, and then another trip back outside just to have a car that was warmer a few minutes sooner.
What say you?
Posted in Everyday Life
Monica March 9, 2007, 3:37 pm
I’d worry about it being stolen too. The last cold spell we had in Madison it seemed like a lot of people were warming/idling their cars though. It’s a waste of gas. If it gets that cold where you are, you probably have a good coat, and even if it isn’t warm when you get into your car, at least you don’t have a wind chill. Suck it up and deal, wimps!
Aanen March 9, 2007, 3:45 pm
I usually wait in my car while the engine is warming up for a few minutes that way all the fluids get a chance to warm up.
My old car didn’t have heat!
COD March 9, 2007, 4:21 pm
It’s also bad for your car and bad for the environment. I start the car and go. As long as you have oil pressure and the proper oil it’s safe.
Merle March 11, 2007, 2:44 am
I would worry about that as well. A second set of keys, though, would allow you to relock the car after starting it — that won’t prevent a thief from breaking the window and taking it, but at least it would require a bit more effort.
Having been at the hospital today, I saw a whole lot of people pull up and leave their car idling while they help an injured passenger out. That would be an easy steal, as well, because the driver is burdened. Just one more thing to remember in case I ever decide to turn to a life of crime…