The Official CarSPIN Bad Parking Hall of Shame.

[cawimmer430]

Yes? Glow plugs and block heaters?

Block heaters?

Let me check with Google real quick...

[Madman]

This one really takes the cake.  The stupid old cow driving this Toyota Highlander actually parked on the WALKWAY in front of the entrance to this office building!

Note the sign on the window which would have been staring her right in the face as she parked.....




Here's a close-up of the sign.  You'd have to be blind to miss it!!!! 

[Rupert]

Sooo... Was she towed?

[Madman]

Sooo... Was she towed?

Sadly, no.  Just after snapping these pics, I saw the old blue-hair come out the building and drive away.

[ifcar]

[cawimmer430]

$ 10 the Crown Victoria parked in front of it are COPS/FBI/CIA etc.! This guy is soooo dead! 

[Mustangfan2003]

Block heaters?

Let me check with Google real quick...

My Mercedes has a block heater.  If you leave your car outside during cold winter days there is an electrical cord under the hood that you can plug into an electrical socket and it keeps the engine warm so it starts easier. 

[hotrodalex]

My dad's old Cherokee had one and it wasn't even a diesel.

[Cookie Monster]

My dad's old Cherokee had one and it wasn't even a diesel.

I know Run Away's Prelude (or one of them, anyways) had a block heater on it.

[Rupert]

Meh, it's not in anyone's way.

[hotrodalex]

Should have taken a picture of the El Camino yesterday when I moved it. I'm used to parking my lil' Saturn, so the passenger side was in the grass.

[cawimmer430]

My Mercedes has a block heater.  If you leave your car outside during cold winter days there is an electrical cord under the hood that you can plug into an electrical socket and it keeps the engine warm so it starts easier. 

AFAIK we never used those over here. Most older MB diesels started after awhile in the winter.

It's in places where it gets really, really cold, that this might be very useful. 

[Rupert]

There are places in the U.S. where it gets really really cold. It's also nice to have your heat be warm right away.

[cawimmer430]

There are places in the U.S. where it gets really really cold. It's also nice to have your heat be warm right away.

Yeah, like this morning! I had to drive somewhere and the 118i takes "forever" to get warm. The heated seats were a nice option and work right away but the heater itself requires a warm engine and that's the problem with the 118i - takes forever to get warm, even in traffic.

Is it me, or do 6- and 8-cylinder engines get warmer faster than 4-cylinders? Based on my experiences I'd say they do!

[mzziaz]

Block heaters are pretty common here.

[Madman]

Is it me, or do 6- and 8-cylinder engines get warmer faster than 4-cylinders? Based on my experiences I'd say they do!

All of my four cylinder Volvos had heaters capable of warming a small house.  Leave it to people who live in a country that straddles the Arctic Circle to make a kick-arse car heater!  Mind you, their air conditioning systems are a joke.  I've had the one in the 740 rebuilt four times!

[The Pirate]

Yeah, like this morning! I had to drive somewhere and the 118i takes "forever" to get warm. The heated seats were a nice option and work right away but the heater itself requires a warm engine and that's the problem with the 118i - takes forever to get warm, even in traffic.

Is it me, or do 6- and 8-cylinder engines get warmer faster than 4-cylinders? Based on my experiences I'd say they do!

Interesting question.  Of the 4 cars I've owned (two 4-bangers and two V6s), the 4-cylinder engines warmed up significantly faster.  My Mazda warms up very quickly, and the heater will positively cook you.

[Mustangfan2003]

I'm not sure if the block heater works on my Benz.  It's been in the shop all winter and now it's gotten warmer outside. 

[hotrodalex]

Yeah, like this morning! I had to drive somewhere and the 118i takes "forever" to get warm. The heated seats were a nice option and work right away but the heater itself requires a warm engine and that's the problem with the 118i - takes forever to get warm, even in traffic.

Is it me, or do 6- and 8-cylinder engines get warmer faster than 4-cylinders? Based on my experiences I'd say they do!

It warms up faster if you don't turn the heat on until it's warmed up.

[cawimmer430]

Thanks for the insight regarding the heaters and engine warm-up. I always felt that 6-cylinders+ warmed-up much quicker than 4-cylinders. I've never really timed how long it takes for the 118i to warm up though (doesn't have an engine temperature gauge - was an optional feature ).

This isn't a bad parking job (after all this is me parking!!!) but man, this garage was TIGHT (as in cramped as fuck). How the hell did the guy with the W210 MB E-Class manage to park in there? I couldn't even park comfortably with a friggin BMW 118i! 








This was a parking garage in downtown Munich. TIGHT. And GM wants to know why nobody buys an Escalade here... 

[The Pirate]

It warms up faster if you don't turn the heat on until it's warmed up.

I've read/heard this before, and have tried it.  Makes no difference in my car. 

[Rupert]

I dunno. I think without stringent controls on other variables, it would be hard to come to a conclusion with regard to the engine-heating rate.

[The Pirate]

I dunno. I think without stringent controls on other variables, it would be hard to come to a conclusion with regard to the engine-heating rate.

Oh, absolutely.  And is it even worth it?  I tried it a few times as a matter of curiosity, but I'm not losing sleep wondering why or why not.

[93JC]

My dad's old Cherokee had one and it wasn't even a diesel.

Mine too, and it came stock.

I know Run Away's Prelude (or one of them, anyways) had a block heater on it.

I've never seen a car in Canada without a block heater.

[Rupert]

Oh, absolutely.  And is it even worth it?  I tried it a few times as a matter of curiosity, but I'm not losing sleep wondering why or why not.

Of course not. I'm just fucking around.

[cawimmer430]

PEOPLE IN M?HLDORF CAN'T PARK!

[Mustangfan2003]

French cars think they are better than everyone else. 

[The Pirate]

This doesn't really count, as he's not blocking a spot.  Car is pulled off, almost up to the tree.  Probably just wants more of a buffer so he doesn't get door dings from careless people.

[Rupert]

Maybe the passenger was in a wheelchair, and all the disabled spots were taken.

[Payman]

Mine too, and it came stock.

I've never seen a car in Canada without a block heater.

Ever been outside the prairies? Not many cars in southern BC, southern Ontario or the Atlantic Provinces have them. I've never owned a car with one.