I have an 02 Accord V6 EX Coupe, and work about 3 minute drive from work. I've walked it numerous times, with various different paths, but the walk is not a pleasant one due to the lack of sidewalks, crazy traffic, intersections, etc.

Just how bad is it to make constant short trips like this? I know it's pretty bad for the exhaust, but what else?

I generally take the car out and drive it pretty hard a few times a week, and change my oil more frequently than probably necessary, but is this enough to offset the downsides of so many short trips?

EDIT: My mountain bike got jacked about a year ago and I'm planning replacing it, but I'm not going to buy a POS, and don't have $500+ to blow on a bike...

 

Bueller?

 

thoughts: the reason it's "bad" is you're not getting to full operating temp before cutting the car off. on the other hand, you're not putting much mileage on the car.

your wear and tear/mile is worse, but consider if you drove 30 min. to work... you would still be driving for that first three minutes under the same conditions.

keep up with the maintanence like it seems you are and you should be ok.

BTW: i'm not sure that driving differently on the weekend really offsets the wear and tear. maybe it improves the /mile, but it's still just more mileage.

 

Allow the car time to warm up in the morning before leaving. That should negate a majority of the issues.

 

short trips doesnt allow the vapors in oil to evaporate which will slowly lead to sludge but shouldnt be an issue since you change oil frequently.