Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for ideas on dealing with a neighbour

99 replies

glitterelf · 06/02/2019 06:51

This woman is driving us insane with her revving engine every morning from 5.20 - 5.40 trying to warm her car up. My husband has been moaning about it for a couple of weeks now but as he's already up and getting ready for work he tries to block it out. However this morning it's woken me and the noise is horrendous and totally unnecessary. I'm really pissed off as I grabbed my dressing gown and went outside only to reach the gate as she pulled away Angry
I need to catch her later but how would you handle this situation ? Because right now my thoughts are pretty dark Grin

OP posts:
Cbatothinkofaname · 06/02/2019 07:07

Is she actually revving, or just got the engine running? Revving is totally unnecessary and annoying, but if she’s actually just sitting in her car with the engine running while it de-ices then that’s not unreasonable. 20 mins is a long time, though tbf with the hard frosts recently it’s taken me 10 minutes some mornings.

It’s not her fault she needs to leave early for work, so you can’t complain just because of the timing. If she’s really revving it for 20 mins then Tell her how bad that is for her engine.

LoniceraJaponica · 06/02/2019 07:09

Why does she need to rev her engine? I get that the engine needs to warm the car up, but there is no need to keep revving the engine as well.

MaisyPops · 06/02/2019 07:11

It comes down to whether she is actually revving her engine or whether she is just sitting with her engine on (because some people would class the latter as the former if they are annoyed by noise).

I can't see how revving an engine would sort the car out quicker anyway (limited car knowledge).

One of my cars clears quickly, the other takes around 15 minutes to clear and that's because inside the windscreen freezes up and doesn't clear.

If she is revving it then tell her

Silkie2 · 06/02/2019 07:13

VERY annoying but only for a few days of the year if she is De- icing screen. If she does it for any other reason it might be worth complaining but ear plugs might be best.

Ohnonotuagain · 06/02/2019 07:13

I would focus on the revving and not the time. Point out revving the engine isn't necessary and it's disturbing.

Is the car on her drive or a public road as you're not allowed to leave cars idling on publoc roads under the highway code and can be fined (albeit a very small fine) for doing so.

Original poster
glitterelf · 06/02/2019 07:16

@Cbatothinkofaname totally revving the hell out of the engine. How her cars even working is beyond me the way she's treating it.

OP posts:
Original poster
glitterelf · 06/02/2019 07:17

@LoniceraJaponica I think the revving is to speed up the process but 20 fucking minutes of revving takes the biscuit.

OP posts:
Original poster
glitterelf · 06/02/2019 07:18

@Silkie2 it's not just a couple of days a year and there was no ice on the cars this morning just rain water.

OP posts:
ForgivenessIsDivine · 06/02/2019 07:19

Move to Switzerland. It is illegal there.

Not helpful, I know, sorry.

EggysMom · 06/02/2019 07:19

Maybe she thinks that revving the engine de-ices faster (whether it does or doesn't).

Have a conversation. Acknowledge that she has to get up early for whatever, she probably hates that too. Say that the engine revving disturbs you. Explain it makes no difference, and also ask if she's considered alternate options - a car cover, windscreen cover, or use of de-icer.

Mayrhofen · 06/02/2019 07:20

I am not sure why she would be reviving her engine? I suspect she is just starting it and letting it run whilst de-icing the car. If there is no ice it is unreasonable to run the engine before she sets off, even if it is cold. It will soon warm up inside.

Just have a word, she probably isn’t aware how annoying it is.

AdoreTheBeach · 06/02/2019 07:21

As someone pointed out above, not her fault time she had to leave for work (and I’m sure she’s not too happy to add 15/20 minutes to her day to deal with ice on her car).

This would drive me bonkers if I had to listen every morning. So maybe go round to see her, bring a van if spray de-icer and let her know in a friendly manner that it waking you up hours before you need to be up and that you’d greatly appreciate it if she’d ise the de-Icer as well as not rev the engine. You usually get more with honey than vinegar so a sweet approach.

Original poster
glitterelf · 06/02/2019 07:23

@Ohnonotuagain Its a public road and your right the time isn't the most important thing it's the noise level. However the time does still come into it. It's not even like a gentle rev it's hell for leather revving.

OP posts:
Ohnonotuagain · 06/02/2019 07:25

Then you know you're definitely not being unreasonable in asking her to not do it.

LakieLady · 06/02/2019 07:25

DP is adamant that it's best to let the engine warm up before you start driving. Something to do with getting the oil up to the bottom end of the temperature range, so that it can lubricate the engine properly before it has to do any work, or something along those lines.

No need to rev it though.

swingofthings · 06/02/2019 07:27

It makes no sense. Who in their right mind decides to stay in their car at that time in the morning for 20mns when 10mns at most would be necessary.

Are you sure your notion of time isn't distorted?

Original poster
glitterelf · 06/02/2019 07:27

Just to be absolutely clear there was zero ice on the cars this morning so her revving imo is to warm up her car Hmm I can totally appreciate she works early but to be so inconsiderate towards others isn't ok.

OP posts:
NiceJumper · 06/02/2019 07:28

Potato up the exhaust. Then listen to the revving with glee 😈

greatbigwho · 06/02/2019 07:31

I mean, idling is illegal, and fineable, so maybe have a word with her?

www.confused.com/on-the-road/driving-law/fines-for-idling

I really don't understand why people "need" to have their cars running for 10m before they drive off though. Even in the worst of ice, I switch mine on to clear the inside windows, scrape the outside and am off within a couple of minutes.

Original poster
glitterelf · 06/02/2019 07:31

@swingofthings no timings are spot on Husband gets up at 5 do hears it every morning, Frost or no frost these last few weeks. It woke me at 5.30 this morning I did try to go back to sleep but no chance so got up and went out just before 5.40 when she drove off. If she just had the engine running it wouldn't be anywhere near as bad.

OP posts:
Missingstreetlife · 06/02/2019 07:32

I think there is some regulation that says you shouldn't leave your engine running when stationary? Sounds like something wrong with her car. If you have spoken to her it's time to ring envoironmental health

Fiona0x · 06/02/2019 07:32

This is completely crazy. She's super selfish. My neighbour did this yesterday and woke me and my toddler up (who doesn't want to sleep anyway).

Literally, deice your car, put on your coat and continue with your day. It doesn't need to be fucking Cambodia in your car to be able to drive Hmm

Original poster
glitterelf · 06/02/2019 07:32

@NiceJumper well I had a similar thought only I'd opt for a banana Grin

OP posts:
Janethevirgo · 06/02/2019 07:32

Yes unfortunately there’s a lot of inconsiderate gits out there and this would piss me off.
Plus is it not meant to be against the law to have your engine running idly unnecessarily.

Fiona0x · 06/02/2019 07:33

It's bad even with just the engine running and totally unnecessary so she's bat shit crazy to be revving too!

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.