Car engine issue!

Cars put out more pollution when they are started. Unless a car has a stop-start facility it will do no good to keep stopping and starting it at traffic lights. Not only do you end up damaging the starter motor you run the risk of stalling or breaking down in a queue of traffic which causes even more problems.

Our Vauxhall turns itself off when the car is not moving (STOP-START technology), but it's not something you turn on - it is the default condition. It is possible to turn the facility OFF, but every time you remove the keys from the ignition the STOP-START facility will turn itself back on again. It takes a bit of getting used-to, but I quite like it now.

That's not very good for the engine or fuel economy. If the car has the technology it's a shame not to use it.

Our car engine has the facility to turn itself off and on when we are sitting at traffic lights or in heavy traffic, but DH has to be reminded most if the time to use it. He would sooner sit there with his foot on the clutch.

Its against the law in parts of Europe to have the engine running if the car is not moving. You are expected to switch off the engine even at traffic lights. I am not in the least surprised you were called a dumkopf. Lucky he didn't call the Police. Sounds like you are all a credit to Clarkson!

It only happened to us once, we were in France and a German tourist told me in no uncertain terms to switch off the engine. I had just stepped out to take a photo and the cool box was plugged in to keep the champagne cool. He spoke in German, I ignored him so he repeated it in English. As I got back into the car I turned to him and said "du bist eine dummkopf", he was fuming.

If anyone walked past my car coughing dramatically and frowning at me, I'd wind down the window and hand them a Strepsil!

When I first knew the S.O. and we were going out somewhere and I was doing the rounds of the house [checking doors and windows were locked etc] he would sit outside in the car revingthe engine. One day I stormed outside screaming 'that isn't going to make me get ready any faster y'know'. He never did it again.

It drives me mad too! But, if I am waiting for DS1 outside a hospital/doctor's surgery etc, and it's weather like this, I run the engine too! I could go in and wait but he's 43 and doesn't like his mum following him around!

Oh yes. I never thought of that. I don't use the aircon cos of the fuel consumption. If I was rich I'd run it whenever I wanted to lol.

"If it's warm I don't know why they do it."

To run the aircon?

If it's cold it might be me trying to keep the car warm because DH really suffers from the cold.

If it's warm I don't know why they do it.