1989 Chevrolet Beretta review from North America

The car was bought with a rebuilt 3-speed automatic transmission... how long before I bought it it was done I do not know.

Shortly after I first purchased my Beretta, I replaced the engine and transmission mounts. I did not like the way the engine and transmission jerked. The mounts were weak and I felt it better to be safe than sorry. Why this was not done with the transmission replacement I will never understand.

I have replaced the fuel pump twice. These cars don't like to have the fuel level down below the quarter tank mark too much. The 1990 Lumina sedans are the same with these pumps.

The alternator has been replaced twice, the second time is due to the fact I didn't replace the battery with the first alternator.

The body was in fairly good shape when I bought the car. Unfortunately I was unable to have it oil sprayed every year and now the rocker panels are rotting away, as is the door post on the driver's side.

The exhaust was replaced from the catalytic to the tail pipe after my 1st year of ownership. Midas has stood behind their warranty and I will be replacing the muffler for the 2nd time very soon.

Also in the first year of ownership I had to replace the rack. The seals had let go and everything was dry and beginning to show signs of failing.

Aside from the above, I have only had to odds and ends since. For instance, my Beretta recently "coughed up" the back, middle spark plug twice. This was taken care of by having a kit installed to take up the extra space and allow the plug to thread in. Apparently this is a common occurrence with these engines and their aluminum heads.

Although I dubbed my Beretta "The Money Pit" and put a label on the instrument cluster to say so, this car has been quite reliable.

I have never been stranded on a highway. Even when the alternator failed and the fuel pump, I was usually within coasting or pushing distance of a parking lot or my own driveway!

Even with 300,000 kms on the dial this car, plain jane though it is, with it's sagging liner and warped dash, my lil Beretty still goes like stink!

My son can't wait to get it. "Mom, can I borrow the car for my driving test?"

If I had the resources I would consider putting her back to mint shape. For all that I have sunk into her, she owes me nothing.

Fuel economy has gone down in the past couple of years, but is still decent. We have done a lot of travelling, me and my car.

While I cannot wait to get my olds on the road, I still dread the day I retire or hand over my Beretta to my son. Even though Chevrolet's biggest design error was the lack of cup holders.

:)