I just drove through blowing snow for the first time this winter. I was driving a rental – a 2015 Nissan Sentra – and was appalled at how bad the headlights were. The headlights of my own car, a 2013 Mercedes C-Class do not create as much glare. I found this to be dangerous and want to know how the lights on that Nissan are able to meet regulations. – Jean, Saguenay, Que.
The lights on that Nissan are not only legal, they represent the vast majority of headlights on the road today. You have become accustomed to and spoiled by a newer generation of headlight and the difference is remarkable. The older, and common, light design usually uses a halogen bulb as a light source, which is reflected off the curved surface of the back of the lens and then reflected out through the front of the lens.
There is little effort to properly aim that light, with the result of much of it being wasted well above the road and area of interest – into the rain, snow, fog, etc. The lights on your personal vehicle and a growing number of others, use a Xenon, or more recently, LED bulb for a light source that is not only self-leveling, but carefully gathered and aimed in a manner that restricts light to a given height, roughly waist-high, preventing scatter and reflection off the rain, fog and snow.
Barn find
My grandfather in Victoria, B.C., passed away recently and left me his 1971 Plymouth Valiant. It's not an interesting car other than the sentimental factor. I suspect it has low mileage because he had been house-ridden for many years and it used to be kept in the garage attached to his house, and is likely still there. How can I tell if it is worth the expense/effort to fly out west to claim it? – Phil, Mississauga, Ont.
You have two choices – fix it or sell it as is, where it is. If you can get someone in British Columbia to take pictures and give you a general sense of condition, mileage, etc., that would help. You could sell it on site, as is, for a few thousand dollars if it is a runner and relatively rust-free.
The fix-it scenario is pretty involved and would take more work and money than you would likely net if sold afterward. You could get an auto transport company to bring it east for far less than the cost of that airline ticket and subsequent trip back, likely having to tow the Valiant.
Before taking that step, however, locate a spot to keep it – the climate in your area will be much more conducive to rust than in Victoria – and someone to do the necessary work to ensure it is safe and road worthy. If the car has not run for many years, that work can be extensive and expensive.
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