I read that for modern cars you don't have to start up the engine when its freezing cold before you drive it...

I read that for modern cars you don't have to start up the engine when its freezing cold before you drive it, and it may actually harm the engine. What's the truth Veeky Forums?

start the car, put on seatbelt, mess with the heater/radio, drive away normally. Just don't rev the fuck out of it until it's warm.

this tbqh

My method is to start the engine, de-ice the car if needed (enough to see out properly) while running the heater full blast and both heated windscreens, get in, turn down the heater so I can hear myself think, drive off, and turn the heated screens off when they aren't needed.
If it's cold enough for ice, it's cold enough for the engine to need a warmup of a couple of minutes.

Actually all modern cars can indeed just drive in anything up to I think like -20. The reason the whole let your car warm up myth was made is from the 50s when the blocks, heads and pistons were all made from shit metal that would crack if any stress was put on it cold. Couple that with the multiple types of metallurgy they had with different heat absorption rates and it wasn't uncommon to break shit just starting the motor. Now sometime in the 60s they were smart enough to refine casting and fix the issues older motors had with cold starting. The worst that happens now is wear on startup and fucked valves from not letting the oil run through for a good coating before revving the motor.

This. Leaving the engine to idle in the cold isnt good at all.

Also as far as hurting a modern motor letting it warm up is kinda bs. The worst that happens is cat doesn't get hot enough and burns out quicker at idle which again modern post 1996 car has fixed and wasted gas. That's about all that happens if you let your car sit nowadays is wasted gas. But depending where you live that heater may have you say fuck saving a few drops of had for warmth. So at the end of the day it's just personal preference now.

I let all my cars idle for a minute or two while i get comfy in the drivers seat and make sure i have everything (phone, wallet, etc).
I know the oil gets cycled fairly quickly (less than 30? seconds) but the extra minute is for my peace of mind.

Isn't it different for turbo engines? I read up somewhere you have to wait an extra few minutes for it to warm up, letting it idle. You also can't boost when its warming up, and for a few minutes after its done warming up.

Kinda worried because I drive a Mazdaspeed 3 and a Mazdaspeed 6

The only difference be it turbo, sc or na is a rotory engine, you need to let them warm up fully because of the design but a piston is pretty much drive on startup