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?

I'm unsure. YANBU to make 'noise'... your neighbours sound like snowflakes and need to get triple glazing or wear earplugs if they're soooo bothered about the sound of a car. Don't know how they'd survive on my street main road London suburbs 10 police cars driving by per night . It's not as if you're having a party, it's a car FGS!

YA(maybe)BU for leaving the car running for 15 mins - it's just a bit unnecessary? I think 1-5 mins would be ok, with some de-icer, wear gloves, hats thermals in car. I've never started my car before getting in it since, as PP have said, it would get nicked in about 2 seconds where I live and I've survived the cold.

I wouldn't necessarily pander to the neighbours demands though. What will they ask next- no walking on the pavement after 8pm as the footsteps disturb them

What you're doing is illegal, and has been discusses on another thread at length, not to mention pissing off your neighbours.

You know exactly what you're doing. To move to the country for quiet then piss everyone off waking them up with your noisy engine running. YADBVU.

How can you even ask?

Go and move to the city where its already full of pollution.

Your car will pump out double the poluttion whilst stationary. Nice one.

A neighbour's son used to do the same with his motorbike and it drove us mad. Unfortunately we live in a close of eleven houses and the sound would echo around the space. Don't do it, it's really selfish.

ginyogarepeat I don't have any "Links"
Ive only been working on cars for 40 years, and running emission testing since the mid 90's,
But I don't have any "Links"
If you know more about it than Me, God Bless you.

Strange post ^

You are being completely unreasonable and very selfish especially at that time of the morning. Your poor neighbours not to mention the poor environment. How can you think it's a good idea to leave an engine running for any amount of time?

Some people are so inconsiderate - running the car in the winter for warmth and the air conditioning in the summer.

You need to suck up the cold, cup cake! 🧁

Jesus. Our neighbours must hate us. My partner has a Subaru & when that starts it sounds like a jet plane taking off, you can't turn the engine on and drive straight away it has to tick over for just over a minute or you'll absolute bollocks the engine driving it cold. The glasses in our kitchen shake and chink! We leave at 5.45am! Although, none of neighbours have said anything & next door have a 3 week old baby! Guess he's used to the noise already!

Omg, do you actually think that's acceptable civic the poor woman with a new baby. God some people don't give a shit do they.

Your neighbours probably wouldn't be as nasty

@Shriek sorry do you want me to buy a new car? What the hell.

@Shriek or maybe I could walk to work? find a new job with a different start time? Blow my engine up by driving it cold?

I think not.
They've never complained & we speak to them a few times a week

Why on earth would you buy a new car when you are completely happy screw every other fucker, screw them and their need to sleep or have peace and quiet! Huh!

Good god people are nuts on here. Haven't read the whole thread but please do not bloody stop doing this if it works for you OP!

Your neighbours are twats to actually approach you to complain that the sound of an engine running at 7am on a weekday is disturbing them. Unless you've omitted to say you drive an ancient tractor?
Do they actually have a life?

It's not illegal on private property. You're in a rural area so surely they're not choking on excess fumes. I assume you have another key to lock the car while it's warming up?

Some of the most ridiculous responses I've read on here. Tell the neighbours to get lost nicely. You agree with them, and comply, and I'm sure they'll find something else to complain about.

We should probs just blow up the plant for good measure huh?! The world needs more cars idling desperately, it is illegal, foand for bloody good reason there are two many selfish twats in the world killing it just reasons

We should probs just blow up the planet for good measure huh?! The world needs more cars idling desperately, it is illegal, and for bloody good reason there are too many selfish twats in the world killing it just reasons

If you can afford it, get a very good down coat. Patagonia do some good ones. Warmest coat by far I've ever had is from them - like wearing a quilt but v light. Well worth the investment. (I don't work for them by the way!) eu.patagonia.com/gb/en/product/womens-down-with-it-parka/28439.html?dwvar_28439_color=SNBL

I would be taking the key out and throwing it away

Nah you wouldn’t. You’re all fluff.

I am not exactly tactful and yes I would. Neighbours tend not to wind me up if they can avoid it.

I personally find nothing works to clear my windscreen inside the car than running it for 10minutes, so I'm afraid I'm a selfish cow and run my car, my neighbours in my right are up by the time I do so and on the left I don't know, they are both jobless with 3 kids and I find them rather selfish as the dad likes to grind up car parts at 10 at night so I don't really give a shit what he thinks, my cars on my drive, my property, no one would steal my car, quiet tiny village and if I did worry I'd you the spare key to lock the doors. Job done, my car is defrosted and the threat of having a crash due to Misty windows is too real for me to give a shit.

I'd want to drive the stupid car into a ditch and hurl the key. Just put a fucking coat in like normal people do.

Love your username curlyspencer !

Buy a chamois rather than choke up the world! How drama llama, noone has to have a crash due to misty bloody windows.

Doesn't anyone actually really give a shit about polluting the world and that it's illegal!! Just because you get away with it (like drink drivers used to) doesn't make it ok.

I have a heater windscreen de-icer that plugs into the cigarette lighter - works a treat.

Turn the car on while you’re scraping and by the time the screen is clear the car should be starting to warm up. I always take a hot drink in a thermal cup too.

Scrape the car, get in, wipe interior with chamois, start car, drive off. Read Highway Code not whilst driving or you might have a crash and we wouldn't want that

I think you're being a little unreasonable. Although idling the car isn't that noisy, the problem is people are primed when they hear an idling car to expect the louder sound when it accelerates off. So the whole time its idling they are unconsciously in a state of tension waiting for you to leave.

It isn't safe either to leave the car unattended and unlocked with the engine running / keys in the ignition either. Even for a few seconds. Many cars would probably get stolen this way every day.

And although older cars you needed to warm up a bit in very cold weather, modern cars should be okay after only a few seconds.

Gosh I’m glad I don’t have close neighbours! How annoying not being able to do what you want with your car in the mornings. I do this with my car regularly but if you want a relationship with your neighbours you really don’t have many options but to endure a cold car.

civicxx

Yes your neighbours most definitely hate you! My DH has a Subaru but he collects cars so it’s only used as a toy for the occasional Sunday drive - he never would dream of turning it on when our children are sleeping. I would kill him!