Date:         Sun, 15 Jan 2006 21:24:15 -0600
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Subject:      Re: New owner with question
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2006011521485688@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Others will surely disagree, but the answer to how fast you should
drive a vanagon is right there on the tach in front of you... keep it
out of the red, which is to say don't drive it over 70, which is about
what the tach says. That's what the VW engineers intended, obviously or
they wouldn't have bothered to label the tach accordingly.

I'm at 202000 and still going strong, never over seventy except for a
few times under favorable conditions. No oil loss between changes.

Jim
On Jan 15, 2006, at 8:41 PM, Pascal Giasson wrote:

> I run my 1.9 at 55 mph (no power steering or air).  141K miles on
> original
> motor and no major repair...yet!  When were on the road it is usually
> full
> of camping gear, two kids, dog and wife, ...and usually a few cold
> ones in
> the fridge for when we "eventually" get to our destination.  Probably
> lots
> of debate about your question.  However, it always puzzles me when I
> read
> about Vanagon with an engine rebuild between 90-125K.  Is it because of
> poor maintenance, over working the engine, poor driving skills, I do
> not
> know but I expect to get alot more miles out of mine before I need a
> rebuild...but only time will tell.
>
> Pascal
> '84 Westy
>