Date:         Thu, 9 Aug 2001 16:27:43 +1000
Reply-To:     kelian <kelian@IPRIMUS.COM.AU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         kelian <kelian@IPRIMUS.COM.AU>
Subject:      Re: auto
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi all,

I currently have an auto,a '90 Caravelle.
Purchased originally for city work, it now does a mix of
town + country.

All T3's lack power, but the addition of an auto creates the
ultimate cruise mobile. One you can sleep in! Just relax,
enjoy the scenery and let the van do all the work. The feel
of the wasserboxer suits the auto, and in city traffic it is
quite perky (compared with other 2 tonne converted
commercial vehicles!)
The only difference in performance I have noticed compared
with the manual is acceleration above around 75km/h, when I
really miss that extra gear. Overtaking on any sort of
incline requires a lot of road.

A relaxed attitude helps the fuel consumption too.

Now if only they made a syncro auto....

I had my syncro at a 30 degree sideways angle, and although
it looked fine and ran fine, I was extremely uncomfortable
inside it! In fact I was terrified. Funnily, the same angle
forwards and backwards feels fine.
The next time I needed access to that spot I used the
tractor!

Take care + have fun,
Ian
'90 Caravelle auto, Veronika