Date:         Sun, 30 Oct 2005 12:50:20 EST
Reply-To:     Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeff Oxroad <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: 85 Steering wheel
Comments: To: Greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 10/30/2005 7:20:04 AM Pacific Standard Time,
Greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA writes:

>>But what in God's
>>Name were they thinking when the  blocked the view of the speedo with
>>a smaller steering  wheel?


I agree this is annoying. I had a smaller wheel in my bus for about a week
and found the blocked tach to be the most annoying feature. Made me wonder if
that's why VW incorporated the large green "triangle" in the tachometer so
when  you couldn't see the RPM incruments in that range you could use the color
scheme to help out. Kind of a weak fix in my opinion.

But I agree, dumb, dumb, dumb.

I have the larger diameter wheel and no power steering. And the view to the
tach is much better. You can dress up the older style wheel with a later model
 padded horn button. The stock unpadded horn on the larger wheel screams '81
plastic Rabbit. While I also have one of those wraps on the steering wheels
from  the 70s-80s (you can get at any FLAPS) that looks like leather and is
held on  by wrappin it with a cord I understand "Wheelskins" are a nice addtion
as  well I understand. Because the bigger wheel has less paddng and is less
rubberized on the grip if I'm not mistaken.

And I do have the raised Westy seat platforms and I'm about 6'.

Best,
Jeff
83.5 Westy
LA,CA