Date: Thu, 4 Jan 2001 13:28:31 -0800
Reply-To: Mark Dorm <mark_hb@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Dorm <mark_hb@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Suburu/Golf debate
Content-Type: text/html
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<P>What kind of horsepower does a suburu legacy motor give you? <BR><BR></P></DIV>
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<DIV></DIV>>From: "Pidcoe, Michael E." <MPIDCOE@US.IMSHEALTH.COM>
<DIV></DIV>>Reply-To: "Pidcoe, Michael E." <MPIDCOE@US.IMSHEALTH.COM>
<DIV></DIV>>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
<DIV></DIV>>Subject: Re: Suburu/Golf debate
<DIV></DIV>>Date: Thu, 4 Jan 2001 12:53:10 -0500
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>I went through this personal debate myself. I have been a VW nut for many
<DIV></DIV>>years and deep in my heart I wished to have an all-german van. In the end I
<DIV></DIV>>used my brain instead.
<DIV></DIV>>I chose the Subaru for several reasons. Bear in mind that these are my
<DIV></DIV>>opinions and I am sure that there will be many folks who disagree.
<DIV></DIV>>1. The engine is what VW should have built in the first place. A fully
<DIV></DIV>>balanced opposed engine that is quiet and smoooooth. Many owners have
<DIV></DIV>>reported the fine experience of not knowing if their van is still running at
<DIV></DIV>>idle. Another phenomenon is the ability to hold quiet conversations with
<DIV></DIV>>passengers who are in the rear seat.
<DIV></DIV>>2. The KEP kit is very nice and requires minimal modifications.
<DIV></DIV>>3. I chose to have someone else to the conversion for me and I found a
<DIV></DIV>>place that has done over a dozen conversions and the customers to whom I
<DIV></DIV>>spoke were delighted.
<DIV></DIV>>4. The inline engines are buzzy.
<DIV></DIV>>5. The Subaru has more STOCK hp and torque. I knew that I could hotrod an
<DIV></DIV>>inline but it was my goal to have a reliable and low-maintenance van.
<DIV></DIV>>6. The support community is fantastic for these conversions. The links
<DIV></DIV>>that Warren supplied will show you that.
<DIV></DIV>>7. Everything fits under the lid with no cutting. The outfit doing my
<DIV></DIV>>conversion uses factory hoses that make the installation look stock.
<DIV></DIV>>8. The engines are inexpensive. You could buy a couple used Subaru engines
<DIV></DIV>>for the price a single quality rebuild of a WBX.
<DIV></DIV>>9. A peak at this address
<DIV></DIV>>http://www.cycoactive.com/urabus/urabus_registry.html will show you just a
<DIV></DIV>>few of the owners and their opinions.
<DIV></DIV>>10. The KEP kit is completely CARB approved so there are no emissions
<DIV></DIV>>hassles.
<DIV></DIV>>There is more but I do not want to waste more bandwidth.
<DIV></DIV>>I know that there are many stories of WBX engines going multiple thousands
<DIV></DIV>>of miles with no problems but these are usually restricted to original
<DIV></DIV>>owners with exceptional maintenance habits. Since most of us are buying
<DIV></DIV>>these vans used, we do not have the luxury of immaculate maintenance. It is
<DIV></DIV>>much easier and less expensive to find a good used '90-'94 2.2 Subaru engine
<DIV></DIV>>than it is to rebuild an 80's WBX.
<DIV></DIV>>My opinion for what its worth,
<DIV></DIV>>Mike Pidcoe
<DIV></DIV><br clear=all><hr>Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at <a href="http://explorer.msn.com">http://explorer.msn.com</a><br></p></html>
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