Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 01:06:49 -0500
Reply-To: Stephen Steele <steeles@HORIZONVIEW.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stephen Steele <steeles@HORIZONVIEW.NET>
Subject: Re: Of Crotchety Knees and Autotranny Conversions
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Mr. Fox:
Whoa big fella, after driving a lot of years in both air cooled and WBXers
with both AT and manual transmissions, I feel I have to respond here by
saying that you are making a whole lot of big generalizations here.
> Why not just trade your van with someone that has an automatic.
Good idea...a lot less work and the outcome is certain.
> Most owners with automatics would rather have a manual so you could probably
> get a van that's a little nicer than yours and call it a fair trade.
MOST ...I don't think so... in my experience, most van owners eventually buy
the van with the transmission that they want, to suit their own preferences.
Most prefer THEIR choice...AT or Manual; as, apparently you have, they find
the transmission that suits their driving style and personal situation.
> Probably save you and someone else that wants an auto tranny a lot of
> work.
Agreed...see above.
> Also realize that top speed in an auto tranny vanagon is around 60
> mph, unless you have big tires or feel comfortable running it over 4000
> RPM. Top speeds on hilly freeways are about half that. Not very
> practical if you ask me, especially considering that gas mileage is less
> than with a manual tranny (16-18 mpg).
Well, that statement is a a leap of faith....with stock tires and wheels I
normally cruise at 68-70mph @4000 rpm and consistently get 18-20 mpg
(non-Westy). I was a little apprehensive about my first AT because I thought
the AT would be sluggish in the hills; but I soon found just the opposite.
When traveling through the Appalachians, during several crossings I have
never had to drop below 55 mph. Never. In my 4 speed manual Westy I am
constantly shifting back and forth between 3rd and 4th to maintain highway
speeds. So....
AT or manual... it's a personal choice.
Just my two cents worth.
--
Stephen Steele*
Chillicothe OH
'91 Caravelle "Hans"...AT
'87 Westy "Franz"....AT
'84 Westfalia "Fritz" on loan to my nephew....4 speed manual
'81 Diesel Rabbit "Ol' Yeller" by PO.....5 speed
'82 Caddy VW Diesel P.U......5 speed
'90 Jetta GL 17 yo Sons' "together" car....5 speed
'74 MGB My first car...yep, I've kept it since '74.....4 speed
'93 Chevy S-10 ......4 speed
*all rights reserved/no portion of this document may be reproduced w/o prior
written permission
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