Hello Volks, I believe that VW stayed with the boxer engine in the Vanagon is the following: A boxer engine is naturally balanced, i.e., it has no harmonic vibration at any given RPM. In a big box like the Vanagon this makes a big differance. I honestly think it has nothing to do with saving development costs. An inline four cylinder, diesel or gas has an imbalance at the speed we travel on the highway. I had a diesel Vanagon at one time and that resonance was unbearable for any length of time. Yes, the motor mounts were new. My diesel Golf has the same thing but because it is not a big box it is bearable. My VR6 Passat is smooth as silk. I believe some have mentioned the same problem with the Eurospec conversions. An inline four cylinder is the worst choice for the Vanagon because of this. So for the Vanagon the flat four, inline five or six or V6, or V8 are the best choices for the big box. Especially at the speeds we travel at on the highway. John Wessels |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.