Leaving your car running unattended?

[rusnak]

I was tempted to think that stay at home moms are just braindead from the crushing boredom. But you guys say it's common?

I don't even leave the car idling in a fast food drive through. I just dont like to waste gas, and it does not do the engine much good either.

[speeder]

I parked next to an M3 convertible in Larchmont Village in L.A. not too long ago with the key sitting in the ignition. The owner appeared with his Starbucks or Jamba Juice in hand and I told him that he left his key in the car.

Turned out that it wasn't an accident, he said that he did it all the time. He asked me rhetorically, "Do you really think that anyone is going to steal it?" I told him that I almost stole it myself but he showed-up too quickly.

[EdT82SC]

When I was in college I delivered pizzas one summer. One day we get a call from one of the drivers. He parked in front of the house he was delivering to. While he was at the door someone hopped in his car, and drove away. He didn't get it back, and he lost his job since he couldn't deliver pizzas any more.

[speeder]

I used to leave my diesel PU truck running for an hour or more w/ the A/C on to keep my dog cool on a 90 deg. day. Didn't worry about it getting stolen, though since it was not technically "unattended".

[silverwhaletail]

"So you were inside getting coffee and you left your truck running."
"yes."
"And It's a...?"
"2009 F250."
"The color is...?"
"Blue."
"And when we find it, the key will be in the ignition."
"Yes, probably."
"And you get coffee here every morning?"
"Every morning for the last ... uh... five years or so."
"Anything in the truck?"
"My cell phone. Uh and my wallet. Uh and my briefcase."
"Anything in the bed of the truck?"
"Oh *****...."
"What was in the bed of the truck?"
"About fifteen thousand dollars worth of surveying equipment."

[A930Rocket]

Used to it all day long in the neighborhoods we built in. Kept the truck warm or cold as needed, plus we never lost the keys.

Outside the hood, it's always locked with keys removed.

[widgeon13]

Originally Posted by silverwhaletail

"So you were inside getting coffee and you left your truck running."
"yes."
"And It's a...?"
"2009 F250."
"The color is...?"
"Blue."
"And when we find it, the key will be in the ignition."
"Yes, probably."
"And you get coffee here every morning?"
"Every morning for the last ... uh... five years or so."
"Anything in the truck?"
"My cell phone. Uh and my wallet. Uh and my briefcase."
"Anything in the bed of the truck?"
"Oh *****...."
"What was in the bed of the truck?"
"About fifteen thousand dollars worth of surveying equipment."

You forgot the handgun in the glove compartment.

[GH85Carrera]

I never understood the leave it running thinking. It does not take much effort to twist the key. The only time my car is running without me in it is when I am scraping ice and trying to warm up the car.

[unclebilly]

It really depends where you live. I leave my vehicle idling outside unattended every single day in the winter time. I let me tractors warm up unattended all the time too.

At my house, we never lock the doors on anything. The keys are in my P-Cars right now.

My normal morning routine is to get up, have a shower, get dressed, start my truck, go back inside and make coffee, grab my laptop etc, head out to semi warm vehicle, drive to work.

At work, often I start my truck and let it warm up for a few minutes before I drive home. When it's -20 out, you don't want to just start the car, jump in and drive off.

[VINMAN]

I'm guilty of it. Especialy with my diesel.

[A930Rocket]

When your outside all day and the temps are either blazing hot and freezing cold, your truck is your office. It's nice to have a climate controlled space, especially when you have to meet a client, inspector, etc. Looking all sweaty and like you just ran a marathon in your work clothes ins't pretty.

When the temps are nice, then there is no need to keep it running.

[rnln]

I know that guy. He came from the moon.

Originally Posted by speeder

I parked next to an M3 convertible in Larchmont Village in L.A. not too long ago with the key sitting in the ignition. The owner appeared with his Starbucks or Jamba Juice in hand and I told him that he left his key in the car.

Turned out that it wasn't an accident, he said that he did it all the time. He asked me rhetorically, "Do you really think that anyone is going to steal it?" I told him that I almost stole it myself but he showed-up too quickly.

[gtc]

This is the best way to get the cops to give a crap about your stolen car.
"uhh... i think i may have left my glock in the glove box."

Originally Posted by widgeon13

You forgot the handgun in the glove compartment.

[Gogar]

When I was a little younger everytime I would see a car running unattended I used to hop in and move it around the corner. Laughs a million.

[peppy]

Originally Posted by mossguy

What do you consider elderly?

Tom

Just used the word generically referring to the residence of the nursing home across the street.

[enzo1]

Originally Posted by slodave

It's odd, I see it all the time at my local 7-11. This is in the greater Los Angeles area. The cars range from Toyotas to Porsches. Yes, I have been tempted to liberate them on occasion. Drive them a little down the block, see if the idiots learn their lesson. But, it still would be stealing. I could have some nice cars right about now.

[Travis944]

I just detach my quick release Sparco steering wheel

My wonderful girlfriend makes me lunch in the mornings for work, so I stop by her house on my way to work and run inside to pick it up and thank her. So I just turn the wheels all the way into the curb and detach the steering wheel and take it with me inside. Granted it wont prevent it from someone hopping in it and trying to take off with it, but its a good enough temporary deterrent.

[wdfifteen]

It's illegal in my town.

[Joe Ricard]

Yea my Diesel stays running while I dash in to get my kid. I do have the spare key in the ash tray so all the doors get locked while I'm away. 1/3 of a gallon per hour of idling is cheap compared to a new starter.

[audiman08]

I have a few police officers in the family and I've always heard leaving an engine idling all the time at low RPM is hard on it...that's one reason police cars don't last long. I don't know if it's true...