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Article #333: Whatever Happened to Simplicity?

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Those of us who are in classic car clubs, the industry norm. Have we as a society
regardless of model or make, decide to evolved into such a lazy species that we
become members for any given number of are incapable of rolling a window down or
reasons. Perhaps we owned a particular pushing in a lock? If a power window
car in our youth that brings back fond fails, you're looking at a repair that
memories of cruising the streets on will cost around $400. Maunal seats have
Friday nights. Maybe we remember going to given way to 8-way adjustable power
Drive-in movies with our date's head seats. Is this really necessary?
resting on our shoulder. Perhaps it was Hand-operated levers work fine for a
simply the sound of our particular car's fraction of the cost. While we're on the
engine, which could range from anything subject of seats, what's up with heated
to a soft purr or a horsepower-laden seats? My solution? Wear a coat.
monsterous growl as we rolled down the Cruise control is a nice feature to have
highway. Perhaps some of us are too young if you travel frequently on desolate
to have experienced the era in which stretches of Interstate somewhere such as
these cars roamed the earth, but we have the Dakotas or Montana, but it's
nevertheless been influenced by our impractical in heavy traffic, which is
elders and appreciate what once was. increasing as each day goes by. I can't
Whatever the reasons may be, there is count the number of times I've had to hit
nothing quite like finding others who the "cancel" button as I gain rapidly on
share these feelings and enjoy the somebody in a Buick Lesabre who has been
cameraderie and rewarding experiences in bifocals since the Kennedy
that are all part of being in such a Administration going fifty miles an hour.
group. I can live without it.
My particular love is old Volkswagen Perhaps the most pretentious feature to
Beetles. I have been a member of the ever come along in today's cars is the
Chippewa Valley Volkswagen Club, based in Satellite Navigation System. If you want
Eau Claire, Wisconsin, for over three to save thousands of dollars, I have some
years. We go on many cruises, other suggestions. A)If you feel the need to
outings, and hold our own show annually. know what direction you are going, go to
During the original Beetle's lifespan, Wal-Mart and buy a compass for six
which ran from it's infancy in 1938 Nazi dollars. B) Look out your window and note
Germany up until 2003, when the very last the location of the sun. Unless you live
"Bug," as it was lovingly called, rolled on the planet Venus, it rises in the east
off the assembly line in Puebla, Mexico, and sets in the west. Now look at your
over 21.5 million were produced. As a watch. C) On cloudy days, try reading
result, there are still thousands of them highway signs. They will tell you whether
on roads today, and clubs such as mine you're going east, west, north, or south.
are dedicated to the preservation of Come to think of it, this works on sunny
these unique cars. We also support other days as well. D) Go to a gas station or,
clubs throughout the states of Wisconsin more likely in this day and age, a food
and Minnesota. mart, and buy a map. This will cost about
The Volkswagen Beetle defined simplicity, five dollars. If you're lost, ask the
something that is quite lacking in attendant how to get back on track to
today's cars, regardless of model. There wherever you're going. Chances are that
is no question that certain items such as they'll steer you in the right direction.
airbags and side-impact crumple zones If he or she can't, find someone who can.
have acomplished much in the way of Trust me. You don't need to rely on a
saving lives,but let's go back forty satellite in orbit hundreds of miles
years for a few moments. Air-conditioning above.
was considered a luxury in those days, No-frills cars should still be available
and only select cars were equipped with as an option for those who share my
it. Nearly every car manufactured today sentiment. There are undoubtedly many
has air-conditioning as standard drivers who have become accustomed to the
equipment. In Wisconsin,I use it in my above-mentioned features. In fact, there
1996 Volkswagen Golf maybe ten days out are people who couldn't imagine driving
of the year. While someone in, say, without them, but should they ever
Phoenix or Miami would beg to differ, I question why cars of today cost ten times
pose the following question: Does as much as those of a few decades ago, I
somebody in Fairbanks, Alaska really need have put in my two cent's worth. Or
it? rather, twenty cents...
Power windows and locks have also become






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