People sitting in their cars in their driveway, engine running.

[tvguy]

My wife and I have noticed this with more and more frequency when we go for our walks. I suspect people are talking on their cell phones. I don't understand why they leave the car running the entire time And unlike the early days of cell phones hard wired in cars, you can keep talking and take your phone in the house. One of my neighbors pulled into his driveway today as I was getting the mail. He was still sitting there, half an hour later, engine still running. Another neighbor sat in his car, engine running, did not appear to be on the phone for the entire two hours I was working in the yard. That really has to kill your gas mileage.

 

[BrianL]

I only do this when I am waiting for the windshield to defrost.

 

[SteveH]

Not my circus , not my monkeys .

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

Maybe not running heat in house. Some people gotta save.

 

[dizneegirl]

Sometimes in the summer, I go sit in my car in the garage and run the AC for a while while I play games and listen to music.

(Not wasting any gas, though... it's an electric car that barely uses any power to run AC...)

 

[lynxstch]

My neighbor starts up his truck every morning, and leaves it running for at least an hour. Oughta be warm by the time he gets in it, lol

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

My brother in-law does that A LOT. It is usually because he is listening to some sports thing on the radio and wants to get to a stopping point before getting out of the car.

 

[TippyThomas]

I use my auto start when it's cold but it only works for a maximum of 10 minutes.

 

[tvguy]

My neighbor starts up his truck every morning, and leaves it running for at least an hour. Oughta be warm by the time he gets in it, lol

I'd say so. Depending on outside temperature, a modern car is warmed up within minutes. My 2018 Ford temperature gauge shows it fully warm after driving the length of my street, which is a quarter of a mile long.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I guess it's better than being on the phone/texting while driving!

 

[tvguy]

I guess it's better than being on the phone/texting while driving!

True. But most cars today come equipped to link your phone to the car and call and text hands free.

 

[easyas123]

I've been known to take a work call on my way home and sit in the driveway while I finish my conversation.
I also start my car before I get in it to warm it up.

 

[kymom99]

Sometimes I have to work up the courage to go in the house.

 

[slo]

LOL!
This is so me this time of year. Not for more than 10 minutes though.

In the warmer months I’ll turn off my car.

Why do I sit in my car?
Because I don’t want to fumble with my phone while unlocking the door, turning off the alarm, getting the puppy out of the cage and then taking him out. It’s easier just to finish the call in the car.

 

[nene0182]

My husband does it quite often because he will be on a work call. He’d rather finish the call in the car than to come inside where the dogs would start barking.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'd say so. Depending on outside temperature, a modern car is warmed up within minutes. My 2018 Ford temperature gauge shows it fully warm after driving the length of my street, which is a quarter of a mile long.

Isn't the temperature gauge for the engine temp, not the cabin temp?

And you're in CA, where the low is what 50? Try letting your car sit out when the low gets to the teens and see how long it takes to warm up the cabin. Lol

ETA: I agree an hour is excessive to warm up the cabin, 5-10 min should suffice.

 

[tvguy]

Isn't the temperature gauge for the engine temp, not the cabin temp?

And you're in CA, where the low is what 50? Try letting your car sit out when the low gets to the teens and see how long it takes to warm up the cabin. Lol

ETA: I agree an hour is excessive to warm up the cabin, 5-10 min should suffice.

These are people RETURNING home and sitting in their driveway, so the car is fully warmed up/cooled off inside depending on the season.

 

[leahgoogle]

I do this too sometimes if I am on the phone. I will turn off the engine if the weather is good, but will keep the car running if it is too cold or too hot outside.

 

[sam_gordon]

These are people RETURNING home and sitting in their driveway, so the car is fully warmed up/cooled off inside depending on the season.

And your post I quoted was talking about your car warming up in 1/4 mile. Thats what I was responding to.

Staying in the car after returning home could be:
* listening to a sporting event or radio program
* taking a call (could be hands free) with some privacy

 

[tvguy]

And your post I quoted was talking about your car warming up in 1/4 mile. Thats what I was responding to.

Staying in the car after returning home could be:
* listening to a sporting event or radio program
* taking a call (could be hands free) with some privacy

But sitting with the engine running? Seems like an expensive choice given gasoline prices.
Yes, I did mention .....in a reply to lynxstch .....about how quickly modern cars get to full operating temperature so the heater is working. Of course. electric cars and most hybrids need no warm up time to get heat as they use electric heaters.

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