Date:         Fri, 29 Mar 2002 22:58:38 EST
Reply-To:     FrankGRUN@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Frank Grunthaner <FrankGRUN@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Comment on 2.1 WBx vs. 2.2 Sub (religion and political
              correctness)
Comments: To: mjgarske@ATTBI.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 3/29/02 5:04:23 PM, mjgarske@ATTBI.COM writes:

<< Being an actual owner of a Subie converted syncro here is my 2 cents.

Dutifully noted, admission paid.

1. This conversion kicks the pants off of the wbx engine, low or high speed.

Religion! Just a little larger than the one that got away. Numbers! Data!
Just takes discipline, planning then real numbers. Numbers are good. Like
Subaru torque curves, brake specific fuel consumption - oops, slipped into
fantasy again.

2 In 20k miles I have had no problems after I removed my imbalanced
drive line which was cracking
header pipes.  (I'm about to reinstall a balanced one with new
transmission mounts).

Good, glad to hear. But no badge. I've got more than 100K on mine, nothing
wrong except for early muffler crystallization problems.

3. It drives and accelerates very similarly to many small cars I have driven.

Yawn, I prefer the color of purple.

4. I can keep a consistent 65 mph up Snoqualmie pass at under 5000
rpm's, redline is 6500.

Never been there. In my vehicle 65 mph defines a specific rpm. My readline is
7000.

5. Whomever said that Subaru cars are 'dogs' must have driven highly
restricted rental cars.  I have owned 2 legacy wagons and they are very
quick cars with high top end speeds.

Religion! Yellow is brighter than orange. I drove them, they were dogs. All
automatic little piggies. Never drove a 2.5 or 3.3 but I do believe the
displacements are larger than the 2.2. Of course the available numbers show
that the technology of the 3.3 is identical to the Phase I 2.5. Phase II
clearly superior. Numbers are good.

6. The 2.2 Subie boxer engine is a highly advanced piece of engineering.
 Many components utilized are unique to these particular engines!

True, but not as advanced as the VW  I4 1.8L engines from 1988 on. See the
numbers Brake mean effective pressure. No religion, just facts.

7. Pipe down unless you have owned said engine and have the knowledge of
them to rant one way or the other.

IMVHO I think I understand the problem and issues more than well enough to
form an opinion. Just not well enough to be mesmerized by the acolytes.


  Mike Garske
 >>

Frank Grunthaner