This is my only complaint really, I've only had the car a week and just passed 600 miles but it takes ages to warm up, 4-5 miles to get to 90 degrees - my Beemer can take as little as 2. I don't do short journeys usually but there are occasions when I'll do a couple of miles, stop at a shop and then continue.

I take it this is common/normal? Is it perhaps a result of where the sensor is positioned? ie Maybe the Beemer's sensor is on the block near the thermostat whereas the VRS' is on the radiator?

Same on mine, in fact if you display the oil temp as well (maxidot only I think) you will often see that the coolant is up to temp but the oil hasn't reached the 50degree point, or on other days the oil can warm up before the coolant. Seems to depend on how cold the engine block was at start-up and how cold the weather is as to which reaches temp first.

Many recommend that you don't hammer it until the oil is at least 50deg.

I am close to the motorway, so very quickly the engine is running in an efficient mode (constant speed, 6th gear), so takes even longer to warm up as there is less wasted heat generated (plus the cooling effect of the air).

I read on here that heat is an unwanted by-product of the combustion process which is therefore a waste of energy i.e. fuel.

As modern diesels are much more thermally efficient (i.e. less heat is generated) and therefore use less fuel a side effect is that it takes them longer (especially when it's cold) to heat up the coolant enough to feed the heater matrix and warm the interior.

So, it's a trade-off, better MPG means a colder interior for longer?

If you want a warm interior quicker buy a less efficient engine. Is that right?

I read on here that heat is an unwanted by-product of the combustion process which is therefore a waste of energy i.e. fuel.

As modern diesels are much more thermally efficient (i.e. less heat is generated) and therefore use less fuel a side effect is that it takes them longer (especially when it's cold) to heat up the coolant enough to feed the heater matrix and warm the interior.

So, it's a trade-off, better MPG means a colder interior for longer?

If you want a warm interior quicker buy a less efficient engine. Is that right?

Which is fine but most engine wear occurs when the engine isn't up to optimum running temperature :S otherwise you wouldn't need a thermostat...

I believe 2/3rds of actual power produced is heat ie the Veyron produces ITRO 3,000hp but 2,000 is wasted heat energy which has to be cooled (Discovery HD)...