Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 05:17:57 -0800
Reply-To: Cary Chiang <cchiang1@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Cary Chiang <cchiang1@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Comment on 2.1 WBx vs. 2.2 Sub vs. Tiico (was The problem
with TIICO) <F>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Frank:
I'm glad you have actually driven a Subaru-converted Vanagon; I was misled by your previous statement "So, I've only driven 2.2L cars".
I have driven an early '90s Subaru Legacy rental car for a week in AK, and was not overly impressed with the engine performance (I was not driving up steep CO mountains, or dealing with high altitude power losses, both of which you chose to base your opinions). I can assure you that this same model engine in my Vanagon acts quite differently! Perhaps the auto transmission and all-wheel drive system in the cars greatly affects the driveability of the engines?
Your comparison between the Subaru van you test drove and your 1.8 conversion is flawed! Comparing the Subievan equipped with a waterboxer-geared tranny to your van with DZ (higher ratio, diesel-geared) tranny is hardly fair. I strongly suspect that if the Subievan had the same gearing, it would be at least as fast and quick as your van, and you would not of had to "Rev it up, slip the clutch, use the trans, etc." as much as you claim. After all, your previous statements indicate that both of these engines make their power at a similar high RPM range, and your data indicates the Subie 2.2 makes more peak torque than the VW 1.8, right? (I can supply your exact quotes and numbers from your earlier posts, if necessary). All those posts you made last year about how you had the optimum (DZ) gearing in your van, and yet you have no qualms about gloating about how it "out-performs" a Subaru van with a broken exhaust manifold and lower ratio transmission! Seems like you are speaking *Religion*, too! How about sticking to what you like to talk about (Data! Numbers! Facts!), and calculate how the two vans would have performed with EQUAL gearing?
Finally, as has already been pointed out, in the Real World, POWER is POWER. Calculating the brake mean effective pressure and brake specific fuel consumption (BMEP & BSFC) of different engines is just an engineering exercise, and that's all. BMEP to quantify mechanical efficiency / manufacturer's engineering prowess? Who cares! Subie engines make more power than, and are just as reliable as, a VW I4, period. BSFC? VW I4's get MPG in the low 20s, Subie 2.2's usually get 17-20 MPG, period. Both engines work fine as replacements for Waterboxers. Subaru may never make their torque and HP curves public, so stop whining and get over it! I hope I'm done here......
Cary
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