Date: Wed, 31 Jul 2002 10:36:16 -0400
Reply-To: Vanagon man <vgonman@MSN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Vanagon man <vgonman@MSN.COM>
Subject: Re: WBX Whining
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I must chime in here, for I own one of each a WBX and an aircooled Vanagon,
as well as many other aircooled vw's. Both have their merits.
I prefer aircooled for the simplicity and availiability of cheap parts.
My WBX is a great car too, but I can say for the most part all of its
problems i fixed after I bought it were totally do to lack of maintenance
and crappy mechanics over its life. I have seen several WBX one owner cars
that had exclusively dealer servicing that were in great shape...........the
problem is most of the Po's of these cars did not give the underpowered
beasts the respect they needed.............The Vanagon has a very unique
passenger compartment, and is avery comfortable ride.........but in stock,
the power is marginal under optimal conditions. People that want to fly
down the highway and up hills, etc., break down and put a toll on these
cars. now those of us on the list that have been here a while have learned
more than our share of tricks to resurrect them. I even rebuilt my own 2.1L
in the last 6 months with great results.
Adam P
81 Westy "The Brick "
70 Single Cab "Whitey"
74 Beetle "Ol Yeller"
73 Transporter (STILL at paint shop)
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg
75 Campmobile "for sale'
Used Vanagon Parts for sale (mostly aircooled)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ben T" <BenTbtstr8@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2002 10:18 AM
Subject: Re: WBX Whining
> Stanthule, you list troll. See what you started? I have multiples of
various
> cars. But no more than three in each configuration. Oh yeah, I am not a
car
> dealer. Though I may have enough project cars to qualify as a junkyard
> operator.
>
> Anyway, my WBX has more than 200,000 miles on it's original heads and head
> gaskets. Drives well but it could never be mistaken for anything but a VW
> van. Old splitties and loaf vans have personality but I could never get
past
> the idea of adjusting valve and expecting to have my engine rebuilt every
> 60,000 miles. That was the service life being quoted by most VW related
> publications back in the 70's. All VW vans are evil handlers no matter
what
> any of you say. Those who think otherwise are not THINKING. Personality
they
> have. Handling is a joke. If you want real handling, drive a sportscar of
> some sort. If you like VW vans, enjoy it for what it is. Stop all this
> fantasizing & bickering. I have an 87 Vanagon GL w/ lowered H & R springs.
> 15" X 8" Porsche alloys with speed rated tires (for sidewall strength and
not
> speed -- lol). WBX 2.1. I love driving it even better than my Ruf prepared
> 911 SC. It is definitely a different driving experience. Get out of your
bus
> closets and enjoy then for what they are.
>
> As for spare parts, I carry them when I go out of town for fear that
breaking
> down somewhere will be a parts hunting nightmare. I had this same problem
> with my old gray market 928. Most of the time I just make sure my AAA dues
> are paid and a pocket full of cash. I did this even when driving my old
> Toyota Previa.
>
> BenT
> 87 GL WBX 2.1
> 89 16" Syncro 1.6td Double Cab
> 82 GL w/ 1.8 I-4 conversion
> plus various Porches, BMW's and MBZ's none of which has for sale signs on
> them.
>
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