Should you warm up a car before you go? I live in Southern California so the cold temperatures aren't an issue for us. That said, is it beneficial to let a car (we have a 2013 Honda Fit and a 1998 Toyota 4-runner) warm up, or should we just start it and go?
Southern California does so get cold! 68F is frigid and is parka weather, 70F is perfect, and 72F is hot and swimsuit weather. 69F and 71F are grounds for complaining on Twitter. :p
Modern gas cars don't need much warming up. Unless it's really cold (and for you, this situation will never exist), start it, let it idle for 15-30 seconds to get the oil all the places it should be, then drive gently for the first few miles until the temperature comes up. Emissions laws require very aggressive control of startup emissions, so the "go stupid rich for a long while" startup methods of older cars are no longer a thing. You don't have a choke to worry about anymore. :)
A long warmup is just burning gas and not accomplishing much of anything useful with a modern fuel injected vehicle.
Old cars are a different story, but you don't own anything old enough to worry about it. Diesels can also be pretty picky, but if they're cold blooded, they at least come with block heaters. :)
I physically cringe every time I see someone start their car and immediately put it in gear and slam on the gas.
It's worse when you see someone do this to a cold airplane engine. :( They're *expensive* to rebuild!