What’s wrong with headlights?
gallon?
Dear J.C.: Mud guards do not affect fuel economy. And they usually don’t contribute to rust, especially if they are installed properly. They do, however, keep mud off the fenders and sometimes the rocker panels, so you may be less likely to soil your jeans getting out.
Dear Motormouth: In response to the question about transition
(more properly photochromic) windshields. I was a licensed optician for almost 40 years, so I can cite several issues. Transitions always have a slight residual tint. Transitions darken fairly quick, but take about four times longer to lighten. Enter a tunnel and you’d probably be all the way through it before the windshield lightened. They are temperature-sensitive and don’t work as well in hot weather. Not everyone likes transitions. In my experience, most tried them once or twice and then went to a clear pair of eyeglasses and a pair of sunglasses. And finally cost. Transition lenses have millions of silver halide crystals in them. Detroit loves to save pennies, not spend hundreds.
Dear W.G.: Your response to my reader’s question asking why carmakers don’t offer transition windshields is an eye-opener. Here’s another nugget: Mrs. Motormouth is nearsighted in one eye and farsighted in the other. When she asked about transition lenses, the optometrist told her it would not work.
Dear Motormouth: In a recent column, you mentioned the “B” pillars. Methinks your description is the “A” pillars. Or maybe I’ve been wrong for a half-century or more. At any rate, I’ve always thought that the pillar holding the windshield is the “A” pillar. Keep on writin’.
Dear P.C.: I might try making up some excuses, but the only one that holds water is a typo. Otherwise, I may have to go back to kindergarten and relearn my ABCS. The dialog with my readers always keeps me on my toes. Thanks.