to idle or not to idle?

[mr.flat6]

when you first start up a cold engine is it a good idea to let the engine run for awhile before driving off? Would driving a cold engine hurt it?
Tx!

[Jdub]

According to Tom and Ray (Click and Clack), you should never idle a motor for any length of time but instead drive it easy for the first few miles.

I don't know what they don't know about Porsches...

John

Click and Clack: http://cartalk.cars.com/

EDIT: And way OT:

Porsche demographics: http://cartalk.cars.com/Survey/Results/Demographics/Makes/porsche.html

Actual letter:
Dear Tom and Ray:

Re: the diatribe this morning about speed (as heard on AFN here in Tokyo).

The most memorable ad I ever saw on television was a public-service spot I saw while visiting my brother in Duluth. I can't exactly remember the names and model numbers of the cars, but you could fill in the blanks yourselves. In any case, a white, blank screen fades to a picture of a Porsche, say, and the voice-over says: "Porsche, zero to 60, 5.2 seconds." Fade back to white. Fade in again to a picture of a, what...Maserati (I can't remember how to spell Lamborgheeni), and the voice-over says: "Maserati, zero to 60, 5.1 seconds." Fade to white. Once more, fade in, picture of a Corvette (now I guess you guys would put in a Lexus or other Toyota), voice says: "Corvette, zero to 60, 4.9 seconds." Fade back to white. Fade in to the sturdy fat trunk of a big ol' tree. Voice-over says: "American elm, 60 to zero, zero seconds."

I kid you not, it made one hell of an impression.

Keep up the good(?) work. You have tons of listeners in Tokyo.

Yours,

Tom Clark