Aunt Desiree's Beretta

[BerettaLove32]

More specifically the "Auto shifters" portion of the article.

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/5-unnecessa ... 45512.html

[GTZfan]

I like that article... and anyways, the only way to go is manual...

[Rettax3]

Amusing article.

A. My '97 Z-24 Turbo Cavvy has FUNCTIONAL fender-vents -are they necessary? Probably not, but they still work, and no, they are not fiber-glass fenders or plastic inserts either... The 'air extractor vents' in the lower fenders of my "old" '88 Camaro are functional too, yet likewise probably unnecessary.
B. Column-shift autos kind of annoy me, especially since I like to shift the auto (drop it down into '2' to help slow down, etc) -ever hit a bump while trying to down-shift a notchy auto column-shifter? But, they do have uses -my ex-girlfriend sold me her '90 Beretta (my Turbo 'T-Type') back then because her arthritis was so bad that shifting the Beretta's manual tranny was getting painful, and she couldn't push in the thumb-button on most console-shifters either, so she bought a column-shift Lumina instead. I'm not sold on push-button driving either, although THAT has been around a lot longer than most people think -ask DTM Ace about that '50s or '60s car he shared photos of. Yes, IMO, manual transmissions are best. I've converted enough of my cars to manual to prove that is my view-point. Anyone need a politely-shifted mid-mileage automatic tranny? I have several.
C. The first time I saw a Chrysler 300C, I stopped cold in my tracks and said, "Yuck." What were they thinking? Saw too many showings of the movie 'The Car', I guess...
D. Hey, I'm still waiting until I have the money for Euro Tail-lights the same time I have an opportunity to buy them... I also want a set of Toyota Cavalier (yes, 'Toyota' Cavalier, google it...) tails for my Z-24. Until then, I am working on a set of custom 'frenched' LED tails that will eventually have amber turn-signals.
E. I hate automated $#!t in my cars. My Z-24 is the only car I own with DRLs, I even used to disable the automatic headlights on my old motorcycles by installing 'off' switches. -I turned the headlight ON almost all of the time, of course, but I wanted the option. Automated headlights, automated dash-board illumination, self-parking cars... Seriously, if you can't drive, then DON'T. My most expensive car has no power windows, no power mirrors, no automatic transmission, no automated climate-control or A/C, no power locks, no automatic choke (yes, carbureted), no power brakes, not even power steering. The beast has four pedals, a big steering-wheel, and a pistol-grip 4-speed shifter. You almost need three feet and three hands to drive it around a steeply sloped, busy parking-lot. I absolutely LOVE driving that car...