Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 00:51:17 -0400
Reply-To: James Adams <james_adams@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: James Adams <james_adams@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: What is this Vanagon with TiiCo engine worth ?
On Wed, 28 May 2003 01:19:40 +0000, Randy Charrette
<rcharrette@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
> I hate to say it, but I think your hosed! I put a Tiico in my van as well
> (very happy with it), and one thing that is very clear is once you make
> that comitment it is yours for the long haul because you will NEVER get
> that money back in a sale. Sorry, good luck.
> Randy
> 87 Syncro (Tiico)
Yes I thought I was in this for the long haul, but the engine just isn't
what it's advertised to be and I'm thinking I should cut my losses now
before I have to endure many more headaches and wallet reductions. It's
been in the shop more in the last year (8 months actually since it was
parked for 4 months while I was overseas recently) than it was the entire
first 4 years I had it with its old rebuilt waterbox engine. The ECU was a
bear to program correctly (the first mechanic who installed it could never
get it right, and he frequently installs TiiCo's in Boulder), and now I am
again sidelined with a yet-to-be-determined fuel injection/timing problem.
The engine has much more noise and vibration than the original waterbox.
And most disturbing is the fact that a mechanic did a search of some common
parts from the parts list on the tiico.com site and couldn't find a single
one. So once something goes south I will be dependent on TiiCo to get me
the parts I need from South Africa, meaning I could be out of commission
for weeks, especially given TiiCo's reputation for being slow to respond to
customer/mechanic attempts to contact them (let me qualify that by saying
that Peter is a very nice guy and really *tries* to help when you do
finally get his attention). Most mechanics I've found don't want to fool
with this customized vehicle - before I got the engine I was ignorant
enough to think that since the engine is originally from VW it would be
more or less straight-forward for any VW mechanic to work on. The fuel
economy is no better than the original 2.1L engine. The only thing
positive I can say about it is that it has more power than the original
engine, but with this comes the fact that it drives and sounds like a hot
rod (you need a lead foot), not what I bargained for at all. In the end
the engine is just not as advertised, and has given me more headaches than
smiles. Perhaps if you like tinkering with things, having a project to
work on, or paying a mechanic through the nose, often, then maybe it is a
good choice. Plenty of folks seem to have done just that, have worked out
the kinks, and love their TiiCo. I haven't been as fortunate or
persistent. And for what I paid I shouldn't have to be. I thought I was
increasing the reliability factor by going with the TiiCo, but the inverse
actually seems to be the case. Perhaps I just got the odd lemon, or maybe
I have a karmic debt which has finally come due. ;) At this point I'm
thinking to just cut my losses and give up the benefits (and fun) of a
Vanagon for a lower maintenance vehicle.
On a separate topic -
Thanks again to all of the people who have emailed me their two cents (and
keep it coming if you have more to add). The participants of this list are
exemplary and have been quite supportive every time I've used it to ask
questions. Gracias !
-James
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