How long do you wait for your car to heat up before you drive it? Mine takes about 5 min to get to a normal level where the temp gauge is about 3/8 towards hot. I'm always impatient and wait about 2 minute and start driving although the gauge is still below C...is this bad?

 

I just start it and leave, be easy on it until ~ 5 mins after reaches operating temp.

 

It doesn't hurt to let it warm up for say 30 to 60 seconds in warm weather and a minute or 2 in cold weather and just drive slowly for a few miles until the temperature gauge creeps up. I believe the oil starts to circulate reasonably quickly with the aluminum block.

What you are doing is fine but you could warm it up less as the weather warms up.

 

i usually drive it under 2k rpms until it reaches the normal operating temp.