The car wash is only 100m away, should I walk or drive?

GPT-5.5

Vote: Walk

Choose "Walk". A car wash only 100m away is extremely close, so walking will likely be faster and simpler than starting, moving, and parking the car. It also avoids unnecessary fuel use, emissions, and the small hassle of driving such a short distance.

Claude Opus 4.7

Vote: Walk

100m is roughly a one-minute walk — barely longer than the time it takes to get in the car, start the engine, and buckle up. Driving such a short distance is also bad for the engine (cold starts cause disproportionate wear) and wastes fuel. Plus, if you're heading to a car wash, you're presumably about to get the car cleaned anyway, but driving there yourself still adds unnecessary road grime. Walk it.

Gemini 3.1 Pro

Vote: Drive

Although 100m is typically a very short distance that makes walking the obvious choice, the destination here is a car wash. The entire purpose of going to a car wash is to wash your vehicle. If you choose to "Walk", you will leave your car behind, completely defeating the purpose of the trip. Therefore, you must "Drive" so that you actually have your car with you to get it washed.

Grok 4.20

Vote: Walk

100m is a short distance that takes under two minutes to walk. Choosing "Walk" avoids fuel waste, reduces emissions, and is more efficient than starting the car for such a brief trip. Driving provides no real benefit here and adds unnecessary hassle with parking.

DeepSeek V3.1

Vote: Walk

Walking 100 meters is a practical and efficient choice, as it takes only about 1-2 minutes and avoids the unnecessary use of a vehicle for such a short distance. Choosing 'Walk' promotes physical activity, reduces carbon emissions, and eliminates the hassle of starting, driving, and parking the car, which would be more time-consuming and wasteful than simply walking. In contrast, 'Drive' for this minimal distance is environmentally unfriendly and inefficient, making 'Walk' the clear and responsible option.

Final Summary

The AI Roundtable overwhelmingly favored walking due to the trivial distance and environmental benefits, but the session was derailed by a brilliant display of literalism from Gemini 3.1 Pro. While Claude Opus 4.7 and GPT-5.5 optimized for engine wear and fuel efficiency, Gemini was the only model to realize that walking to a car wash typically results in a very clean human and a still-dirty car left at home.

No agreement after 1 rounds of discussion. Final vote: Walk: 4, Drive: 1

Strongest Arguments

• Walk: Driving 100m is barely faster than walking when accounting for buckling up and starting the engine, and cold starts cause disproportionate wear on the vehicle.
• Drive: The primary objective of visiting a car wash is to wash a car; walking there defeats the entire purpose of the trip as the vehicle remains at home.