Date:         Tue, 25 May 2004 22:44:22 -0500
Reply-To:     Joel Walker <jwalker17@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joel Walker <jwalker17@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: [vanagon] Factory sticker estimaged mileage?
Comments: To: vanagon@yahoogroups.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

>Anyone know of a source to find the estimated mpg city/highway that
>was listed on the sticker in the dealership on buses?
>Specifically, I'm interested in my '80 Vanagon, 2.0L, fi w/air (no
>removed), non-California.
>I'd just like to know how things compare today to when it was new.

from a 1980 bus brochure, from vw dealer:

performance:
top speed ................... 75mph
hill climbing capability .... 1st gear: 29.1 % grade
  (with maximum payload) .... 2nd gear: 15.2 % grade
                         .... 3rd gear:  8.7 % grade
                         .... 4th gear:  5.6 % grade
  automatic transmission:
                         .... 27.0 % grade
fuel consumption* ........... 17 estimated mpg
                              25 estimated highway mpg
*1980 EPA estimates. compare these estimates with the "estimated mpg"
of other cars. Mileage varies with speed, weather, and trip length.
Highway mpg will probably be less. 1981 figures not available at time
of printing.

and from some magazine article(put out by vw, of course):
Volkswagen Gas Mileage Figures
Vanagon         .... 49 states ...   .... california .....
4-speed manual  17 EPA est. mpg      16 EPA est. mpg
                25 EPA est hwy mpg   25 EPA est. hwy mpg

3-speed auto    16 EPA est. mpg      16 EPA est. mpg
                23 EPA est. hwy mpg  22 EPA est. hwy mpg

Campmobile
4-speed manual  17                   16
                25 EPA est. hwy mpg  25 EPA est. hwy mpg

3-speed auto    16                   16
                23 EPA est. hwy mpg  22 EPA est. hwy mpg


then from a 1982 brochure:
Performance
                    Gas (manual)    Diesel (manual)
Top speed           75 mph          65 mph
Acceleration
  0-50mph           14.8seconds     21.9seconds

1982 EPA estimates:
49 states
   est. mpg         17              29
   est. hwy mpg     22              29
california
   est. mpg         17              29
   est. hwy mpg     23              29

from Road & Track magazine (April, 1983):
Extended-Use Report:
VW Vanagon at 12,000 miles
(1982 aircooled Vanagon, bought new in May 1982)

"...
Under fuel consumption, we can report our somewhat heavy-footed
driving manners have caused our Vanagon to deliver 18.5 mpg on
average, quite good considering its barnlike frontal area and 3290-lb
curb weight. Compared with our original Vanaogn road test results
(July 1980), the present long-term testing has yielded a 2.0-mpg
improvement. It might be that this engine is benefiting from being
fully broken-in; anyway, the total fuel bill comes to $942."

<for those of you without calculators, that's 12,000 miles at 18.5mpg
equals a total of 649 gallons for $942 or $1.45/gallon. and that was
1981 ... so in 13 years, gas prices for regular unleaded really
haven't gone up THAT much. :) >

and later, in their
VW Vanagon at 24,000 miles
"...
At an overall average of 19.1 mpg, we spent nearly $1700 for
gasoline."

and that's the rest of the story. ;)

unca joel