system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Is it better in the long term for a car to be "warmed up" in cold weather before using it?

If not, at what temperature does warming it up become necessary? This question comes from a friend in Michigan.
gpt
Michigan native, automotive engineer (mechanical) and general gearhead here.  To expand on what botanist said:

Start the engine and give it 30 seconds of running to build oil pressure.  It will build faster than that, but it's fine.  If your car is covered in snow/ice, take the 5 minutes to get it all off.

Drive away, but be gentle on the gas pedal.  Try not to rev beyond 2,000rpm until the temperature gauge is in the 'normal' range.  This means just up off of 'cold'.

After that, drive normally.

If you idle for extended periods, you're getting 0mpg.  Idling doesn't generate as much heat as driving down the road, so your car warms faster while underway.  Also, modern cars have EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) for emissions purposes.  Idling an EGR-equipped engine extensively will foul up your oil with combustion byproducts and acidify the oil prematurely.  So really there's no reason to leave your car idling longer than 5 minutes or so.