Topic: Interesting things seen on the way to work thread

[Firm]

Why are guys turning off the auto headlights for a tire changeover? I never did back when I was in the shop....Weird thing to mess with. First thing I'd do is shut off the radio, or at least flip the station....not going to listen to one second of Michael Buble's Christmas album.

[Fobroader]

Why are guys turning off the auto headlights for a tire changeover? I never did back when I was in the shop....Weird thing to mess with. First thing I'd do is shut off the radio, or at least flip the station....not going to listen to one second of Michael Buble's Christmas album.

I don't get it either, like why is shutting off the headlights an SOP, what do they have to do with the headlights?!?! I get moving the seat if the owner is part of the lollipop guild, but headlights, no touchy!!

[valuator]

Why are guys turning off the auto headlights for a tire changeover? I never did back when I was in the shop....Weird thing to mess with. First thing I'd do is shut off the radio, or at least flip the station....not going to listen to one second of Michael Buble's Christmas album.

My shop does this too, and I don't understand it. 

[Blueprint]

With the December 1st legal deadline looming, tons of people are having their tires swapped at shops all over the place, and all at once. Every year it never gets old: what does a mechanic do first when a car rolls in? Turn off the auto headlights. What will the customer never do? Turn them back on  So many cars driving around on with the lights off...

So about a week after getting the van ziebarted, I take it out for an evening errand - first time I drove it after it came back from the shop - and realize something was off. Turns out what was off were the headlights 

[PJungnitsch]

With the December 1st legal deadline looming, tons of people are having their tires swapped at shops all over the place, and all at once. Every year it never gets old: what does a mechanic do first when a car rolls in? Turn off the auto headlights. What will the customer never do? Turn them back on  So many cars driving around on with the lights off...

Interestingly if the headlights are shut off on the Crosstrek, they reset themselves to auto at next startup!

[EV Dan]

EQS 580 SUV, like this but in dark blue. It was massive in person and had that weird ass rear wheel steering. 160k CAD. I can think of many beautiful cars I'd buy before this minivanish thing.... 

[Blueprint]

Merkur XR4Ti on snow tires... It's been awhile since I last saw one ... but to use one in winter?

[TheHire]

Merkur XR4Ti on snow tires... It's been awhile since I last saw one ... but to use one in winter?

I actually saw something "similar" today - a Dodge Stealth R/T blasting down the QEW!

[Blueprint]

Merkur XR4Ti on snow tires... It's been awhile since I last saw one ... but to use one in winter?

I actually saw something "similar" today - a Dodge Stealth R/T blasting down the QEW!

A study in wings these two!

[Blueprint]

After another snowfall our roads look the bottom of an overcooked batch of mashed potatoes, yet I spotted a commuter in a white BMW Z4, and a street-parked Solstice - on winter steelies - near my office. On our local streets commuting back, spotted a minty, late-production Pontiac 6000, also street-parked.

[Blueprint]

Two cars on Victoria bridge ahead of me on the way to MTL yesterday morning - both Ioniq5's. Sometimes I sit at a light and all the cars around me are EV's.

[OliverD]

Saw an Acura ZDX, a fairly clean early 90s Cavalier Z24, and a Kia Stinger yesterday. Not exactly common sights.

[JohnnyMac]

Saw an Acura ZDX, a fairly clean early 90s Cavalier Z24, and a Kia Stinger yesterday. Not exactly common sights.

There is a ZDX in our neck of the woods.  Walk the pups by it every day.  The owner used to have a second gen TL (the best gen in my mind) prior to getting the ZDX.  I find it has actually aged rather well.

[Fobroader]

Saw a Lada Niva this morning, that was quite shocking to see one of those.

[Blueprint]

Saw a Lada Niva this morning, that was quite shocking to see one of those.

Even when current it was shocking to see one functional. The first Samara I saw - their last model sold here - was hooked to a tow truck. The cars were so poorly assembled that people laughed getting out of them at the auto show in Montreal.

[Arthur Dent]

The Nivas and the rwd sedans were pretty robust. The interiors were of poor quality but mechanicals bits were solid. The fwd Samaras (and Sonoras) were not as well built.

There are still a few but most seem to live in northern Alberta or BC these days.

[Arthur Dent]

New school Cadillac with old school hub caps

[blur911]

Saw a Lada Niva this morning, that was quite shocking to see one of those.

Even when current it was shocking to see one functional. The first Samara I saw - their last model sold here - was hooked to a tow truck. The cars were so poorly assembled that people laughed getting out of them at the auto show in Montreal.

Saw one at an auto show as well, it had visible rust bubbling up through the paint.

[Firm]

New school Cadillac with old school hub caps

Not a fan of the wheels, but someone loves that thing. Fresh fog lamps, clean headlights and the grille badge isn't faded. Still has rocker panels too, though the running boards are gone.

[Blueprint]

^^ What's jutting out of the rear fender? Post feeler?