I didn't expect that! / myLot

United Kingdom

April 2, 2026 3:24pm CST

I mentioned a while ago that I was teaching Big One to drive, and that I had a few magnetic ‘L’ plates ready to stick on the car when she was driving. Well we have recently been forced to get a different car (a very long story!) so now she has to get used to this one. For her first try I picked her up the other day and we drove to a nearby industrial estate after closing time so it would be a nice quiet place to try it out. We both hopped out and went to stick the ‘L’ plates on the front and back as usual – and they just fell off! Turns out the bonnet and the rear door of this car are somehow not magnetic! How is that possible? I didn’t think they were just plastic, or are they? The sides of the car seem to be metal because the ‘L’ plates will stick there but that’s no use! We need to be able to take them on and off so we’ll have to stick them in the windows or something instead. I certainly didn’t expect that! All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2026.

8 people like this

8 responses

@DaddyEvil (171078)

• United States

11h

I bet your car has aluminum for the hood and trunk. Doors and sides are still made from steel. At least cars here are.

3 people like this

Heather Echola

@GardenGerty (168373)

• United States

11h

Oh, that makes sense. I only thought of fiberglass.

3 people like this

Fleur

@Fleura (34469)

• United Kingdom

11h

I'd be surprised because I thought it would have to be thicker to make it strong enough, and that would make it heavy. But you could be right. Some vehicles used to have an aluminium body - like old Land Rovers - because when they get dented you can just bash them back into shape again.

2 people like this

@DaddyEvil (171078)

• United States

@Fleura But they still charge as if the whole car is made of the finest steel if you have to get it repaired.