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Because they have heaters I don’t, but I see many people wearing coats in cars even on long journeys and find that odd that you could even be comfortable in a car seat with a big overcoat on.
Am I missing something? What’s the STW wisdom on this?
I don't even like driving with long sleeves on, would rather freeze for the first couple of minutes. Tried driving with a hoodie on but that's a big no, feels like your peripheral vision has been massively reduced.
How do you know they are on a long journey?
My van takes about 15 mins for any heat to come out of the blower and then at least another 5 before it's warm inside. Coat on!
Doesn't bother me. Fine for a short journey. Saves hassle when you get where you are going. I'm used to driving classics and that often involves wearing a hat and gloves too.
Depends...
Dogs in the car - heat off, coat on (they over heat more easily than me)
On my own - heat on, coat off
Going to need fuel early in the journey - start with coat on, switch after filling.
Its good to mix things up 😉
What Yak said for me too.
For the 20 min drive to work this morning I wore a down jacket, wooly hat and gloves😀
I also hate wearing a coat or sleeves in the car, if it's below freezing I'll wear a lightweight down jacket for the commute, mostly though, just a gilet.
Am I missing something?
You're not missing enough 🙂
I lack the ability to know how far someone is driving by looking at them so I can’t comment for them. For me I’ll usually take my coat off if it’s a long journey. Unless it’s a really cold day.
How do you know they are on a long journey?
Back in the day when we used to gather in an office from time to time, some of my colleagues would arrive from all over the country having spent several hours in a car, in a coat. I know of friends that do the same.
I don't wear a coat in the car. But I do take the car with heated seats on a cold day 😎
Unless it's a really short journey I'm with joneseyboy on this. Half naked.
No thanks. Wouldn’t wear a coat inside a house, nor would I wear one in a car.
as the OP says, cars have heaters. And as other family members like it about 24C in the car a coat on top of that would be a bit too much.
question is, where do you put your coat? In the back? Or in the boot? I tend to go for putting it in the boot for neatness.
Coat in a truck, a van, or a land rover tends to work OK though.
After swimming at the moment it's a woolly hat, massive insulated jacket and over trousers.
Longer journeys I tend to not bother with a jacket
At most I'll wear a fleece. I find it too bulky in a proper coat.
Heated seats are lovely though, I thought they were a bit unnecessary until I bought a car that has them.
I don't care about people wearing coats in cars for any length of journey, I do try to steer clear of drivers that wear hats in the summer though,usually wrong uns 🙂
Our car doesn’t warm up until we get to the shop. I can’t drive in a coat so have just purchased a gilet.
On the flip , do you drive in flip flops when it’s hot? Can’t and won’t.
I drive a Land Rover, and as my ‘proper car’ is off the road at the moment it’s currently my daily driver. I’d like to see you try to drive it without a coat on 😀.
No coat for me unless it's a super short journey, then I'll walk. The idea of wearing a coat, then filling up, then continuing without coat is a good idea though.
I’d like to see you try to drive it without a coat on
Especially as it’ll spend half the time broken.
Back in the day when we used to gather in an office from time to time, some of my colleagues would arrive from all over the country having spent several hours in a car,
Maybe they put their coat on when they got out of the car?
Gilet and hat in the van for me
@drac to be fair it does go wrong a lot, but the difference is it can usually be fixed with a deft application of the ‘tapometer’, unlike the BMW which has been languishing in the dealers for over a week now...
I can’t wear my big coat for driving but if I’m in a shirt and a thin quilted type jacket then I’ll wear it for a short journey. This is new for me as I was distinctly in the no coat camp until a few weeks ago.
More importantly - do their sunglasses match their car?
I don't like driving with the heat on too much so set the temp for no more than 19C, Friday's 200 miles meant fleece and gilet, and Saturday's 200 miles a heavyweight sweatshirt.
You'll see more and more people in coats in cars on long journeys. Between wearing a ski jacket with the heater on just enough to keep the screen clear and heater set at 20°C there's about 30km difference in range in the Zoé at 0°C outside.
Tried driving with a hoodie on but that’s a big no, feels like your peripheral vision has been massively reduced.
Did you try it with the hood down? 😉
Some people don't understand climate control and still use the heater in their cars like a two-bar electric fire, just turning the fan on and off from time to time while it's set to maximum temperature.
Probably the same people you see on the motorway with the recirculation on and windows simulating dense fog.
I'm wondering if there is a correlation between coat wearers and those who spend the winter in steamed up cars as they don't understand the ventilation controls?
Tend to wear a gilet when on on the long commute.
But it’s take a good 15 mins for my car to warm up, as the first few miles are downhill so the car isn’t under load much. Do tend to wear a down jacket too
What brand of coat? Could it be more of a fashion statement? Can’t believe you haven’t considered that 😉
I only really use the car for work occasionally or longer journeys. If for work it means I’ve just got out of a really warm shower so still pretty warm. This means t-shirt, possibly a jumper if it’s really cold. Don’t think I’ve ever worn a coat in the car. Some people get cold easier than others.
Back in the old days when there were people in the office other than me some would sit in coats most of the day. They’d be complaining how cold it was whilst I sat in a t-shirt feeling like I was being baked at gas mark five.
Suddenly those saying they can't drive a car without a heated steering wheel makes sense.
No wonder when they make such claims as I can't drive with sleeves on.
Snowflake central.
That said should not drive in puffa jackets as it makes the seatbelt less effective even if it does make your electric car more efficient.
Don't like wearing bulky outer clothes a it restricts movement too much, and it's just uncomfy What other people do is their issue, and no of my business.
I have to wear a coat the heater in the testarossa mk1 mini is shocking.
as other family members like it about 24C in the car a coat on top of that would be a bit too much.
This for me. My Mrs likes the heater on high so I have to drive in minimal layers to avoid overheating.
As I do not own/possess an overcoat this one is easy....
However as I live in the frozen north I frequently have to deal with, well, the frozen north. I pretty much always wear a jacket of some description as the heat is being directed up on the windscreen to keep it clear 🤪🤣
Strange that of all the burning issues in the world today what other people wear in their vehicles, man, I sure wish my world was that free of problems that this is what was consuming my time...
And restricted movement in a car, seriously, reaching for the parking brake is soooo difficult with all these constrictions I think trail rat has it.
This doesn’t even rate as a first world problem. It’s more a daddies little princess problem... 🧚🏼♀️
If you are wearing your coat whilst driving and need to take it off when you get too hot, pull it over your head like a jumper. Much easier than getting tangled up trying to unzip and take it off like a jacket.
Only when going to work in cold weather because my shirt is thin (work is usualy very warm). But only a shorter jacket type with ribbed cuffs because I hate it when sleeves catch on the steering wheel and when a long tail creases up on the seat.
When on family outings, I wear shorts and T shirt as Mrs Sims likes to recreate the Sahara in the car.
No coat.
Maybe a hat if the top's down.
If you're wearing a down top it's no wonder you don't need a coat.
No coat or jacket or hoody. Get in fire up the volvo. Fan off, heated seats on. Windows up and down a couple of times to clear condescencation. Flick the heated mirrors on if they are fugged
Drive 5 mins, heat off on seats fan on as blasting cold air makes you feel colder.
on older derv cars there is no aux cabin heater webasto thingy so takes time to clear
If its misted tho, volvo special button for dry air full pelt at screen.
Educator makes a very good point I feel. Presumably the same is true of aircon. So the manufacturers will really have to do something about the efficiency of heaters and aircon.
First world problem or not I’m finding this thread v interesting. Hi
But with a plug in cant you pre heat the cabin with a timer set the night before
Surely this usese charging voltage to pre heat so range less affected by temps, and iirc only teslas uses heated batteries so more likely the cold will kill range with stiffer grease in bearings and low ambients
I have to wear a coat the heater in the
testarossamk1 mini is shocking.
same with the TR7Diablo
also empty all pockets.
If you’re wearing a down top it’s no wonder you don’t need a coat.
🙂
Fleece gilet until needs taking off.
Ideal in all situations (possibly excepting weddings and funerals)
Having started motoring in the late 60s I was aware of advertising for items like this as well as string backed driving gloves.
For some reason I managed to avoid both. And sheepskin coats and trilbys.
https://uk.burberry.com/double-faced-check-wool-car-coat-p80358681
That said should not drive in puffa jackets as it makes the seatbelt less effective even if it does make your electric car more efficient.
Needs a link to scientific evidence to be a true STW FACT.
Needs a link to scientific evidence to be a true STW FACT.
Does common sense and advice safety campaigners count?
I think it's more of an issue for children as the coat creates too much of a gap for them to be restrained properly.
I guess the same can be said for adults.
Needs a link to scientific evidence to be a true STW FACT.
Go have a look if it bothers you .
I'm not googling it for you.
Presumably the same is true of aircon.
The air-con doesn't have the same impact as the heater, my guess would be about a third, and it's generally used when everything else is in favour of best range. The worst combination is:
cold which reduces battery capacity and enforces use of the heater if only to keep the screen clear
wet roads which increase rolling resistance and add the wipers
dark so all the lights are on
Jesus Christ, it was a tongue in cheek comment. Did you (trail rat) and Drac get out of the wrong side of bed this morning? This place is truly amazing for its belligerent sensitivity and ability to turn something lighthearted into an argument.
Have a nice day, I’m off to enjoy my Sunday afternoon.
I quite often drive naked from the waist down, I drive an Avensis so needs must.
It'll be up for sale soon if anyone's interested.
I quite often drive naked from the waist down, I drive an Avensis so needs must.
It’ll be up for sale soon if anyone’s interested
Fabric or vinyl seats?
Fabric or vinyl seats?
Wipe clean.
Fabric what do you take me for some kind of fetishist!?!?
If it means they don't have to sit outside the school for 20 mins with their engine running so they don't get chilly, I'm fine with it.
sit ............................. with their engine running
It's time this became a finable offence for all cars that are 'pulled over' or parked.
The school run mums usually have big parkas and big bobly hats on with their engine running. If they cba then fine them. If it's too much thinking they shouldn't be allowed to drive a dangerous machine.
I drive naked. Always. I tried wearing clothes, but just lost any feel for the controls.
I reckon in about 18 months I'll be inheriting my dad's sheepskin car coat, I'll make sure to check with kryton57 to find what car I'll need to drive with it.
If only I hadn't turned down his Loden cape.
At this time of the year I wear a Buffalo Special 6 with a Helly Lifa underneath for work. It gets put on indoors, and taken off indoors, at home. No way am I going to fanny around dragging the thing on in the car park at work, at around freezing or pissing with rain.
I don’t have heated seats, they’re cloth, inherently warmer than leather, but the heater warms quicker than the Octavia, and I just turn it down a few degrees once it’s warmed up.
It’s a twenty - twenty-five minute drive to work, so not even worth thinking about it.
Hats in cars, on the other hand...
Does the coat match your sunglasses?
(I doubt I'm the first but I n r a t s )
I particularly enjoyed cycling to work in the fog last week seeing the guy in a hi viz coat on in his car with no lights on
seeing the guy in a hi viz coat on in his car with no lights on
Has to have been someone from the bright clothes are better than lights thread.
Had a couple of VW caddy vans that took forever to warm up and when they did, the climate control would alternate between ice cold and surface of the sun whilst trying to get to 20 degrees c.
Was more comfortable to turn it down and wear a hat and coat.
don't like wearing a coat in a car. Just uncomfortable, same with a suit jacket. All there is always a point where I will want to take it off and life is too short to pull over and to take your coat off. I'd rather sit there cold until the engine warms up and start getting hot air. But heated seats are a revelation. Always though they were a bit of a gimmick, but quickly becoming my favourite and most useful car gadget. I'd go as far to say you don't really need the heater so much with heated seats. As people say on the usual home heating threats "heat the person not the room" the same seems to go with heated seats. Heated seat plus heated steering wheel must be a winning combo.
The wife never wears a coat int he car either. But she says its because she 'wants to feel the benefit of the coat' when she gets out of the car! I've given up on that one.
After swimming at the moment it’s a woolly hat, massive insulated jacket and over trousers.
Your swimming choice is a bit odd to say the least!
Notices thread on STW with link to cars.
Scans for big hitters.
Notices Trail Rat providing the definitive final word on the subject.
Leaves thread safe in the knowledge that the plebs have been educated by the self declared master.
1. If you're on a short journey, wear what you would wear if you started at your destination.
2. Long journey, wear what's comfortable for a long journey. (put clothes for destination on adjacent seat, or boot if more than one passenger)
3. If the above options are confusing, ask your Mum.
4. If you can't drive.. see point 3.
5. if you try and post a sensible answer. Get a life.
Dear god, I hope OP was having a laugh
If you didn’t enjoy ‘Snakes on a Plane’ you should probably avoid coats in a car
What if it is raining or likely to be raining at your destination? that's the main time I wear a coat - because (a) I quite like to be cold (b) I don't usually want to get soaked getting into or out of the car.
It’s time this became a finable offence for all cars that are ‘pulled over’ or parked.
It is.
Not read all this but EVs change this a little. In a fossil fuel car you're chucking a huge amount of energy into the atmosphere as heat, so to keep hold of a little bit of that has little/no extra impact. With electric you're not, so you either use some extra energy or stick a jumper on.
Yes you can preheat while plugged in, which pretty much does the job. But you're not always plugged in, and I rarely preheat if I'm not. Notable that you can get a lot more benefit in terms of feeling warmer per unit of energy in from heated seats than blown air. For me all the heated seats I've tried are too hot though, even on low, and I dislike feeling like I've pissed myself, so I only turn them on if what I've been doing outside has got me really cold.
That said none of this bothers me - I feel the cold less than many, so no coat for me but others might want one of they were in my car.
I imagine Alan Partridge using this as opening gambit to some BBC bods in the hotel bar.
"So lads, wearing a coat in the car...what's the consensus?"
Can't decide which is worse coat in a car, boots in the bath, mittens on a moped or tiara on trampoline. Bastards the lot of them.
Am I missing something? What’s the STW wisdom on this?
I'm with the OP on this.
I could accept it years ago when cars heaters failed quite regularly, but beyond me now. For the last few years I've commuted tp/around Edinburgh and on the bypass you'd see far more folk with them on rather than off - and if you're on the bypass it's not a 15 mins journey.
Going back in time I worked in Hull in the 80's and the biggest taxi company ran Lada's (imported into there) - in winter you always wanted a Lada taxi, stunning heaters 🙂
I imagine Alan Partridge using this as opening gambit
So did I. Think it’s time for me to accept that subtle satire is wasted here in 2020!
I bought a car that has glass things that you can wind down.
It's even got one in the roof.
Can't say it's something I give much thought to but I guess I do drive in a coat if I'm wearing one anyway. Wouldn't take it off when getting in the car, wouldn't put one on to drive in.
As for EV's, turning up the heat on my i3 does bash the range on a cold day but only if you want it really hot, which I don't. Leaving it around 22 means the range isn't really affected. AC doesn't seem to make much difference tbh although I got the aux heater thing with it so assume that helps a bit?
So the manufacturers will really have to do something about the efficiency of heaters and aircon.
Electric heater is 100% efficient. Not sure what you're gonna do with that.
Aircon is a heat pump that is also very efficient (moves more energy than it takes to run) but you need to take the energy to run it from somewhere. I'd suggest better insulation would be the way to go. And forget panoramic sunroofs (extra weight and poorly insulated).
Yes. No. Sometimes, but not other times.
The one thing I do insist on is, if the weather is not 'warm sunny day' I will at least fling a coat/jacket in the car. After our old Shitroen broke down on the drive back from the dealers and I had to stand on the side of the A14 slip road in 6 degree heavy drizzle & high wind waiting for them to come & sort it out I was very grateful for the thin waterproof I had flung in the boot of my Wife's car that I remembered to retrieve before she went on her merry way.
Yes, I could have sat in the car but the close proximity of passing HGVs on the slip road (there was no hard shoulder; they had to go around the car) convinced me I was safer getting a bit chilly out of the car, than potentially getting a bit hospitalised staying in it.
Older drivers dress for the outdoors when driving because cars didn't have heaters when they learned to drive.