What is

On Tuesday, November 26, 2013 3:32:53 PM UTC-5, JR wrote:
> On Tuesday, November 26, 2013 2:06:24 PM UTC-6, wrote:
>
> > On Tuesday, November 26, 2013 1:44:17 PM UTC-5, JR wrote:
>
> >
>
> > > the reason for those steering wheel locks the auto factories install underneath the steering wheels?
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > the reason why cars have zig-zag automatic transimission shifter plates in modern cars instead of a simple STRAIGHT PRNDL1L2?? On my particular car I am always shifting into Neutral instead of into Drive - something I didn't have to look at when I owned a car with a straight shift.
>
>
>
> Yesterday morning the steering wheel lock in my 1983 Dodge van wouldn't unlock. I worked on it, it won't ever lock again!, I Garantee. Back in the 1970s I owned a 1970 VW van. I was down town getting a haircut, got back in the VW van, the durn steering wheel would't unlock. I could still steer only a little bit, but I managed to get back home to my driveway. Needless to say, I worked on that steering wheel lock too, I never did have any more problems with it.

did the same thing on my '01 dodge van. Also disabled the shift lock which left me stuck 200 miles from my house

on a non important note my van just broke 30k

On Tue, 26 Nov 2013 18:11:06 -1000, dsi1
> wrote:

>On 11/26/2013 5:46 PM, wrote:
>> dsi1 wrote "because I don't have to push no stinkin' button on the lever. OTOH, I am "
>>
>> I guess it's cheaper to manufacture a zig-zag shift than a straight with the button.
>>
>> But it sure sucks having to look down everytime to shift, esp in tight quarters/traffic. I always try to drive away in Neutral! smdh....
>>
>
>Any competent driver who want's to should be able to master one of these
>in short order. You should never look down when shifting. That's a no
>no! What can I say? Your eyes will always mess you up when shifting.
>
>OTOH, I would sometimes shift into R instead of 2nd with the dopey
>English made transmission in my old Capri and I never liked the shift
>pattern in my brother's Porsche. First was a spring loaded push to the
>left and then back. Phooey!

The thread was about automatic shifters and you seem to be talking
about manuals.

On Tuesday, November 26, 2013 4:05:17 PM UTC-5, . wrote:
> "Ashton Crusher" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
> > On Tue, 26 Nov 2013 12:06:24 -0800 (PST),
>
> > wrote:
>
> >
>
> >>On Tuesday, November 26, 2013 1:44:17 PM UTC-5, JR wrote:
>
> >>> the reason for those steering wheel locks the auto factories install
>
> >>> underneath the steering wheels?
>
> >>
>
> >>the reason why cars have zig-zag automatic transimission shifter plates in
>
> >>modern cars instead of a simple STRAIGHT PRNDL1L2?? On my particular car
>
> >>I am always shifting into Neutral instead of into Drive - something I
>
> >>didn't have to look at when I owned a car with a straight shift.
>
> >
>
> > They are not required to be zigzag. My PT has a perfectly straight
>
> > PRNDL shifter. But some automakers make them zigzag for reasons one
>
> > can only guess at. I drove a Jeep Patriot that had one of those
>
> > zigzag shifters and it was impossible to shift the damn thing even for
>
> > something as normal as backing out of a parking space and then leaving
>
> > the lot without looking down at it twice, once to get it in R and then
>
> > a second time to get it into D.
>
>
>
> They're all a form of intelligence test, those that are befuddled
>
> by such "confounded new fangled objects", will probably also
>
> have at least as much trouble with and shouldn't be driving.

I sort of agree. Had a friend drive his wifes rav4 and he had a hell of a time finding reverse, and his driving skills aren't the best either

And another thing:

Those of you who keep saying that people who can't master zig-zag automatics "shouldn't be driving" need to get a clue!

If something ain't broke- straightline automatic - why F__K with it?!

> wrote in message
...
> And another thing:
>
> Those of you who keep saying that people who can't master zig-zag
> automatics "shouldn't be driving" need to get a clue!
>
> If something ain't broke- straightline automatic - why F__K with it?!

Don't like that type of vehicle? Don't drive that type of vehicle.

On 11/27/2013 02:22 AM, m6onz5a wrote:
> On Tuesday, November 26, 2013 4:05:17 PM UTC-5, . wrote:
>> "Ashton Crusher" > wrote in message
>>
>> ...
>>
>>> On Tue, 26 Nov 2013 12:06:24 -0800 (PST),
>>
>>> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>
>>>> On Tuesday, November 26, 2013 1:44:17 PM UTC-5, JR wrote:
>>
>>>>> the reason for those steering wheel locks the auto factories
>>>>> install
>>
>>>>> underneath the steering wheels?
>>
>>>>
>>
>>>> the reason why cars have zig-zag automatic transimission
>>>> shifter plates in
>>
>>>> modern cars instead of a simple STRAIGHT PRNDL1L2?? On my
>>>> particular car
>>
>>>> I am always shifting into Neutral instead of into Drive -
>>>> something I
>>
>>>> didn't have to look at when I owned a car with a straight
>>>> shift.
>>
>>>
>>
>>> They are not required to be zigzag. My PT has a perfectly
>>> straight
>>
>>> PRNDL shifter. But some automakers make them zigzag for reasons
>>> one
>>
>>> can only guess at. I drove a Jeep Patriot that had one of those
>>
>>> zigzag shifters and it was impossible to shift the damn thing
>>> even for
>>
>>> something as normal as backing out of a parking space and then
>>> leaving
>>
>>> the lot without looking down at it twice, once to get it in R and
>>> then
>>
>>> a second time to get it into D.
>>
>>
>>
>> They're all a form of intelligence test, those that are befuddled
>>
>> by such "confounded new fangled objects", will probably also
>>
>> have at least as much trouble with and shouldn't be driving.
>
> I sort of agree. Had a friend drive his wifes rav4 and he had a hell
> of a time finding reverse, and his driving skills aren't the best
> either
>

Hah, that reminds me of when I was a little kid... my dad's old Cutlass
went to the Big Parking Lot In The Sky because of terminal frame rust
(if I knew then what I knew today I would have begged him to stash it in
my grandpa's barn until I turned 16 and learned how to weld, because it
was a '67 which was the penultimate iteration of the classic small RWD
American hardtop... IMHO better looking than the 68-72 although the
latter was probably more technically advanced... then it was all over
after that, but I digress) and bought a used Ford Pinto because my mom
was racking up a lot of miles teaching at a school close to 30 miles
away from the house and he figured something smaller and lighter would
save money on fuel.

Well, my mom was and is still a good driver, she's one of a handful of
people that I feel comfortable riding with as a passenger, although
she's always had an annoying habit of strictly obeying the speed limit
at all times (in the right lane of the freeway, fortunately.) But what
this thread reminded me of was that my dad brought the Pinto home and
parked it in the garage nose-in, and then left to go somewhere driving
his old pickup truck, leaving my mom with the Pinto. She wanted to go
somewhere as well, but could not find reverse, so we couldn't leave!

It turns out that while both my parents had driven stickshifts most of
their lives save for a few vehicles, apparently all of the cars my mom
had had were old school three speeds, and the Pinto was a four speed...
not really a huge problem in and of itself, as the shift pattern was
engraved right there on the knob. However, if you remember, the old
three speeds never had a reverse lockout, but the Pinto *did* - you had
to push down on the knob to get the lever into the reverse gate. Keep
in mind that I was a little kid at the time and while I *had* actually
driven a manual transmission vehicle, a Farmall tractor doesn't have
these kinds of safety features, so I wasn't any help! (hope she's not
reading this...)

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

On Wednesday, November 27, 2013 2:18:30 AM UTC-5, Ashton Crusher wrote:
> On Tue, 26 Nov 2013 18:11:06 -1000, dsi1
>
> <dsi1@> >> dsi1 wrote "because I don't have to push no stinkin' button on the lever. OTOH, I am "
>
> >>
>
> >> I guess it's cheaper to manufacture a zig-zag shift than a straight with the button.
>
> >>
>
> >> But it sure sucks having to look down everytime to shift, esp in tight quarters/traffic. I always try to drive away in Neutral! smdh....
>
> >>
>
> >
>
> >Any competent driver who want's to should be able to master one of these
>
> >in short order. You should never look down when shifting. That's a no
>
> >no! What can I say? Your eyes will always mess you up when shifting.
>
> >
>
> >OTOH, I would sometimes shift into R instead of 2nd with the dopey
>
> >English made transmission in my old Capri and I never liked the shift
>
> >pattern in my brother's Porsche. First was a spring loaded push to the
>
> >left and then back. Phooey!
>
>
>
> The thread was about automatic shifters and you seem to be talking
>
> about manuals.
_________________

Yeah folks I did stipulate automatic in my original "what is" contribution.

Let's get that "straight".

On Wednesday, November 27, 2013 8:50:54 AM UTC-5, Nate Nagel wrote:
> On 11/27/2013 02:22 AM, m6onz5a wrote:
>
> > On Tuesday, November 26, 2013 4:05:17 PM UTC-5, . wrote:
>
> >> "Ashton wrote in message
>
> >>
>
> >> news:.com...
>
> >>
>
> >>> On Tue, 26 Nov 2013 12:06:24 -0800 (PSTgmail.com
>
> >>
>
> >>> wrote:
>
> >>
>
> >>>
>
> >>
>
> >>>> On Tuesday, November 26, 2013 1:44:17 PM UTC-5, JR wrote:
>
> >>
>
> >>>>> the reason for those steering wheel locks the auto factories
>
> >>>>> install
>
> >>
>
> >>>>> underneath the steering wheels?
>
> >>
>
> >>>>
>
> >>
>
> >>>> the reason why cars have zig-zag automatic transimission
>
> >>>> shifter plates in
>
> >>
>
> >>>> modern cars instead of a simple STRAIGHT PRNDL1L2?? On my
>
> >>>> particular car
>
> >>
>
> >>>> I am always shifting into Neutral instead of into Drive -
>
> >>>> something I
>
> >>
>
> >>>> didn't have to look at when I owned a car with a straight
>
> >>>> shift.
>
> >>
>
> >>>
>
> >>
>
> >>> They are not required to be zigzag. My PT has a perfectly
>
> >>> straight
>
> >>
>
> >>> PRNDL shifter. But some automakers make them zigzag for reasons
>
> >>> one
>
> >>
>
> >>> can only guess at. I drove a Jeep Patriot that had one of those
>
> >>
>
> >>> zigzag shifters and it was impossible to shift the damn thing
>
> >>> even for
>
> >>
>
> >>> something as normal as backing out of a parking space and then
>
> >>> leaving
>
> >>
>
> >>> the lot without looking down at it twice, once to get it in R and
>
> >>> then
>
> >>
>
> >>> a second time to get it into D.
>
> >>
>
> >>
>
> >>
>
> >> They're all a form of intelligence test, those that are befuddled
>
> >>
>
> >> by such "confounded new fangled objects", will probably also
>
> >>
>
> >> have at least as much trouble with and shouldn't be driving.
>
> >
>
> > I sort of agree. Had a friend drive his wifes rav4 and he had a hell
>
> > of a time finding reverse, and his driving skills aren't the best
>
> > either
>
> >
>
>
>
> Hah, that reminds me of when I was a little kid... my dad's old Cutlass
>
> went to the Big Parking Lot In The Sky because of terminal frame rust
>
> (if I knew then what I knew today I would have begged him to stash it in
>
> my grandpa's barn until I turned 16 and learned how to weld, because it
>
> was a '67 which was the penultimate iteration of the classic small RWD
>
> American hardtop... IMHO better looking than the 68-72 although the
>
> latter was probably more technically advanced... then it was all over
>
> after that, but I digress) and bought a used Ford Pinto because my mom
>
> was racking up a lot of miles teaching at a school close to 30 miles
>
> away from the house and he figured something smaller and lighter would
>
> save money on fuel.
>
>
>
> Well, my mom was and is still a good driver, she's one of a handful of
>
> people that I feel comfortable riding with as a passenger, although
>
> she's always had an annoying habit of strictly obeying the speed limit
>
> at all times (in the right lane of the freeway, fortunately.) But what
>
> this thread reminded me of was that my dad brought the Pinto home and
>
> parked it in the garage nose-in, and then left to go somewhere driving
>
> his old pickup truck, leaving my mom with the Pinto. She wanted to go
>
> somewhere as well, but could not find reverse, so we couldn't leave!
>
>
>
> It turns out that while both my parents had driven stickshifts most of
>
> their lives save for a few vehicles, apparently all of the cars my mom
>
> had had were old school three speeds, and the Pinto was a four speed...
>
> not really a huge problem in and of itself, as the shift pattern was
>
> engraved right there on the knob. However, if you remember, the old
>
> three speeds never had a reverse lockout, but the Pinto *did* - you had
>
> to push down on the knob to get the lever into the reverse gate. Keep
>
> in mind that I was a little kid at the time and while I *had* actually
>
> driven a manual transmission vehicle, a Farmall tractor doesn't have
>
> these kinds of safety features, so I wasn't any help! (hope she's not
>
> reading this...)
>
>
>
> nate
>
>
>
> --
>
> replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
>
> http://members.cox.net/njnagel
______________________

Good read, but please let us keep it http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjAwWDgwMA==/z/dvcAAOxy3lFRCo9A/$(KGrHqFHJEgFD26fcvcLBRCo9!BbGg~~60_1.JPG?set_id=8 80000500F VS http://www.eylerautocenter.com/family/3/13.jpg

Thanks!

On Wednesday, November 27, 2013 8:02:04 AM UTC-5, . wrote:
> <> > And another thing:
>
> >
>
> > Those of you who keep saying that people who can't master zig-zag
>
> > automatics "shouldn't be driving" need to get a clue!
>
> >
>
> > If something ain't broke- straightline automatic - why F__K with it?!
>
>
>
> Don't like that type of vehicle? Don't drive that type of vehicle.

Gettin' kinda hard to do, None. As new model years pass, the retar- uhh- zig-zag automatic console shifter is becoming the norm.

----- Original Message -----
From: >
Newsgroups: rec.autos.tech
Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2013 9:30 AM
Subject: What is

> On Wednesday, November 27, 2013 8:02:04 AM UTC-5, . wrote:
>> <> > And another thing:
>
>> > Those of you who keep saying that people who can't master zig-zag
>
>> > automatics "shouldn't be driving" need to get a clue!
>
>> > If something ain't broke- straightline automatic - why F__K with it?!
>
>> Don't like that type of vehicle? Don't drive that type of vehicle.
>
> Gettin' kinda hard to do, None. As new model years pass, the retar- uhh-
> zig-zag automatic console shifter is becoming the norm.

No, it demonstrably is not. And even if it were, the driver that
can't easily and quickly master such simplicity shouldn't be driving.