I can’t believe this car still runs.

One of my customers brought their car in because they hit a deer while n vacation. They drove it back, probably a good five hours on the highway. I had to get the hood open with a pry bar and this is what I found. I think we should probably be worshipping this car because it’s an honest miracle. It still had coolant in it even though the radiator was bent and the serpentine belt was riding on the upper hose. Fans shrouds were all busted up but the fans still worked. Transmission cooler bent. AC condenser bent but it still blows cold. Only one fault code for a broken adaptive headlamp. Stephen King could dream up a machine so hard to kill.

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Oct 9, 2026

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Replies (12)

· 3w

That is amazing! What is the car?

· 3w

It’s a Stupidru…um, I mean Subaru Outback. Can’t fling a dead cat without hitting one around here. I don’t know what vendors they’re using for hoses and serpentine belts but they’re obviously durable. The belt wore five grooves into the hose and didn’t wear through.

· 3w

Electric fans helped save the day here I think. Old time fan on the water pump drive would have sent the fan straight through the radiator I would think. Plastic electric fans have a better shot of folding.

Side note: Deer are dangerous.

· 3w

That’s true. It also shows how durable modern plastic tank radiators are. They can have a pretty good bow to them before they start leaking.

· 3w

The deer are bad enough but we just had a moose hit come in last week.

· 3w

Deer can do damage a moose can kill you.

· 3w

A deer can kill you too if it jumping when you hit it.

· 3w

On my way to Hershey this week I must have passed a 1/2 dozen carcasses on the side of the road.

· 3w

Deer are incredibly dangerous. They can be launched right in to the driver's compartment.

· 3w

Deer are bloody stupid.
I took one out with a 3/4 ton Suburban a few years ago.
If you like hunting and you don't get a deer this season, just drop the insurance coverage on your truck down to liability only. You'll get a nice big buck in no time.

· 3w

I hate deer…except with butter and onions. That’s one of life’s great ironies though. Every year on the second week of November, like clockwork, the deer hits start rolling in to the shop. Then I can sit and freeze my backside off in the woods for countless hours and not see a thing.

· 3w

🤣