AIBU to leave my engine running for ten mins at 6.45 each morning (M-F)?

[ThreeJumpersIsNotEnough]

Neighbours have just come to the door with a Christmas card and a polite request to be more quiet in the mornings.

I usually leave at 7am to drop dd at breakfast club and get myself to work at 8am (I work Mon-Fri only - no weekends).

Now it's getting colder, the car is unbearably cold in the mornings so last week I started nipping out 10-15 mins earlier while dd was brushing her teeth so the car would be warm for us getting in and the frost/ice would be mostly melted from the window.

Neighbours have revealed that they are normally woken by me leaving most mornings at 7am but they can put up with it as I leave immediately so they are able to go back to sleep. However, they are not willing to put up with what I've been doing recently as they have found it impossible to go back to sleep having been awake for so long waiting for me to leave with the engine running ...

They have suggested I park further away from the house.

This is my first winter with these neighbours. They only moved in beginning of the year and we're polite to each other but not any more than 'hello' acquaintances. We live very rurally - just our two houses - in woodland area. Any noise carries and it is mostly silent (why I moved here - now I'm the one being a noise pest, it would appear). No street lights. 5 minute drive down our landlord's private (god awful road) onto the public road where there are other houses.

If I parked further away, that is further for me and DD to walk to the car each morning - in the pitch black - with our bags. Likewise, it is further for us to walk to the house each evening when we get back.

Not sure what the solution is. I told them I wasn't keen to park farther away (due to the above concerns) but they've asked me to give it a try at least for tomorrow. I've agreed to try it.

AIBU to ask for your ideas on what a peaceful resolution to this would be?

Suggest they sleep in back bedroom!!!

I have a neighbour who does this, very inconsiderate and annoying. Warm up blankets on the radiator before you leave and chuck them over the kids! So bad for environment too.

Ahhh how lovely to see my prediction come true

CANCEL THE CHEQUE

Very unreasonable-use water or de-icer!
It’s not even been that cold yet??

Don’t you think everyone is cold at that time in the morning?! How ridiculous and childish.

I would be very annoyed if you were my neighbour!! You're not considering the environment with your air pollution or the noise your neighbours have to endure. This is so that your precious ones aren't cold!!!??? FFS. Put a warm hat gloves and coat on, better still walk them to school etc.

Perhaps you could bob out and put hot water bottles on the seats before you get in. Open the door quietly. It would take the chill off the car until the engine warmed up after you left.

YABU obvs.

Selfish people like this really piss me off!

I'm sure never break the law by going over speed limit, use phone etc

Well no, why would I? It’s dangerous and stupid.

I can not believe what a bunch of wet blankets people are. If a car running outside wakes you up..... then get up

Do you ever stop to think that there may be reasons people need sleep? Fortunately my neighbours are kind and considerate!

We have a plug in heater we pop in the car on an extension lead that we pop in and leave for 15 mins or so and is of course whisper quiet

YABU. You have received constructive advice here. Put it into action and mend your annoying ways!

This has to be a spoof, are you really leaving your car running for ten minutes in the morning. A recent thread was from the neighbour of someone who did this? Are you taking the proverbial? For the environment's sake I hope someone steels your car whilst left idle on your drive/road.

I'm sure it's been said but if you pour water over please be aware of where it runs off to!

My neighbours all do it, we live on a half circle bit so basically it creates an ice rink that you then can't walk or drive over safely
Every year someone angrily posts on the neighbourhood app, every year someone falls over. It's like a Christmas tradition

I do the same! Yes 1 to warm the car, 2 defrost car 3 - most importantly, I'd diesel car you should NEVER start and drive of. You must warm engine first . Unless neighbour will pay bill for repair, then my car will be run for 5 minutes before I drive anywhere. Unless you are sat rev the car, with a lound exhaust , that would be a different story. But prob same as me, a normal family car.
I also work nights, so I have to put up it, and all cars using my street as cut through in the day, but to be honest sleep through most of it.
I fully support letting the car run.

Well that certainly answered your question!

Of course YABU but I suspect you already know that, hence the protracted explanation.

I think I saw one person who agreed with you and suggested they move to their back bedroom (yeah right, like THEY would do that).

It's unreasonable, illegal and bad for the environment so quit whining, put an extra jumper on and buy yourself some de-icer.

No one likes a bad neighbour.

Bollocks to it. Wherever we have lived most of the neighbours have done it. Where we are now it kicks off at 3:30am and carries on til me & DS2 leave at 9:25 am. We’re just oblivious to it now as different people leave at different times. We’re of the opinion that if we don’t want it then we should move where no one else lives.

Living in the country can be far noisier then a town.

Ever heard cows going to be milked at 5am

Tractors, quads and land rovers at 5am

Country life can be very loud at the very early hours.

If your tired then go to sleep......

linds57 toe are wrong and being VVU to your neighbours
You should let your engine idle to warm up before getting underway. As noted above, a diesel will not warm to operating temperature until it is under load. Thus you need only let the engine idle long enough to fully circulate the oil—30 seconds is plenty.5 Aug 2014

YABU as well as being selfish and doing damage to the environment.

The thing is (to those posters, not the OP) you don't need to do it. There are other ways around it and products that help. Rain x especially. It makes a MASSIVE difference to windows, instead of fog they are clear.

I wouldnt want to wake someone up at 6:45. I'd rather be woken at 2am to be honest. I bet some of you would be complaining if the noise was then or it was music? So how is this any different? It's unnecessary and the neighbours said it was disturbing them. If I came to your house and woke you before you normally get up for 15 minutes by screaming outside I'm sure you'd love it. Fortunately the OP has more sense than a lot of you.

In Vancouver any driver leaving their immobile engine running for 5 minutes is fined $250.00. Canadians are very keen on reducing air pollution

I don't understand why a car running for 15 minutes would wake someone up but running for 2 minutes does not.

Probably the same bunch of dimwits that complain when children make noise out in public.

YABU it's not just the engine running but the noise of doors closing too

I think your neighbours request is more than reasonable, either park further away or do whet everyone else does and just get in the car and go!

Yep agree with everyone else. My neighbours ex used to do this for 20 mins anytime of day and it drove me nuts. I didnt realise it was illegal till a friend told me. Im not flush by any account but i have a corsa and it heated seats and steering wheel. Cant emphasise how brilliant it is. Maybe an idea for next car ?

I don't actually think YABU but it sounds like maybe your housing situation specifically dictates this one. Your car will heat up quicker when you're driving it anyway than when it's idle so I would save yourself the hassle and just deal with the cold for a couple of minutes. I do tend to prepare myself a hot water bottle to take in the car with me. My lovely neighbour sprays my car with de-icer on a morning if he's up before me!