Laura,

Looking at this from an outside perspective I have to say that one, at first I thought, “well, he can’t get around starting his car and letting run if the weather is cold.” However, then you said you live in warm climate, so then it doesn’t make sense, but then I thought, “perhaps it is an older model and needs to run for a while before it can get going.” I say this because my step dad has an older truck, like a 2000 model, and while in good condition, if you do not let it run for at least 5 minutes it will start shaking. They had lots of work done on that truck but it is a problem that persists. Quite honestly, if it is that, then there’s nothing that you can do. He is not going to simply go out and replace his vehicle. It is simply something that you will have to put up with.

At least your neighbor does it only at a certain time. My neighbor on the other hand, will blast the music in his car at max volume at least once a day. It is terrible because he must have some of those added speakers with bass because you can literally feel the music reverberate off of the walls. I’ll be in the living room, or the kitchen and I can clearly hear the sound of his music. It even makes the door and some decorations on the walls shake. Which means it is definitely loud. I live in a duplex, and there is a neighbor in between us. I can’t imagine how my other neighbors deal with it. It is intolerable. Sometimes you just need peace and quiet, but no. He has no consideration. It causes me headaches sometimes. He’ll do it at noon, at 3 pm, at 5pm, at 8 pm. Clearly, he doesn’t care. You should see the way he and his wife treat each other. They don’t care who sees or hears them, they argue and cuss each other out. Imagine what he’d say to me, if that’s how he treats his wife.

I had considered reporting him and getting police involved. However, it would require me to testify against him in court. I don’t want to make things worse, so I put up with it. I always tell myself that things could get worse. I tell myself, just one or two more years of this and I’m gone, or hopefully he’ll move out. Otherwise I just try and spend time in the rest of the house, or I put on my music (not anywhere near as loud as his). Think happy thoughts and think that the problem is only temporary.

Try to adjust your sleeping schedule around the time he starts his car. Sleep earlier, wake up earlier. Spend that time doing some relaxing things. I know it is not fair for you to have to adjust your life to avoid the issue, but I am afraid there is nothing else you can do, other than move out, or get everyone around your apartment involved. If they are willing to also call the police or testify then perhaps you can make the issue go away. Otherwise, hang in there, and remember, it could always be worse.