Why do people idle in the parking lot for 20/40 minutes?

[+ azdr0710]

Sorry to grouch, but I'm sitting in a lot (car off, windows down) now and it's 75 and perfect out. Three cars in a row have parked near me to go into a store and have left their car idling with windows rolled up and a passenger inside. Is it because of phone use? Or AC is on? Or what? Very common nowadays and it never happened more than 10-15 years ago. Happens all the time, it seems. What up??

[+ sniper]

They probably have a phone plugged in.

[craigville beach]

their vehicle may be a hot spot

[nate_sf]

Just a theory, but I think people have become accustomed to having their car windows up all the time, since pretty much every car now has filtered a/c. When I was younger I used to drive around with windows rolled down on a nice day, but now like everyone else I keep them rolled up with a/c on all the time. The thought of rolling down windows to sit in a parked car maybe just doesn’t come to mind.

 

But I think the explanations offered by @sniper and @craigville beach are probably the more likely explanations. Or if there is a pet in the car.

[+ Hoover42]

I prefer driving with the windows down if it's between 60-83F, but my car complains about it when I do.

 

There's actually an alert that pops up informing me that the car's fuel efficiency is suffering whenever I do that, and that I really should raise the windows.

[rvwnsd]

My guess is they have the AC running.

 

I prefer driving with the windows down if it's between 60-83F, but my car complains about it when I do....

I prefer to open the windows when the temperature is in that range unless I am on the freeway. The dust and noise can be annoying.

[mike carey]

For the fuel efficiency reason, and because it's uncomfortable to have open windows at speed, I drive with the windows up on the open road. I sometimes wind* them down when the speed limit is 50 or 60 km/h. Today I was driving from Melbourne to my small home town, about seven hours, and when I stopped for a sandwich and coffee I wound both front windows down while I was parked and eating. I didn't have the engine running, just the key* in the ignition turned to the first stop so the radio worked.

 

* Yes, I know they are electric, so I don't actually 'wind' them down.

* None of this new fangled proximity 'key' stuff in my 10 year old car.