Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2006 11:01:48 -0800
Reply-To: Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: I'll bite on the diesel---safety and getting flipped off
In-Reply-To: <c803c1a70612141021x770677f9vaf5ade3879bc271c@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
This happens "all the time"....
It's deliberate and dangerous. But I noticed
it's happening more and more. In most cases,
I can anticipate it. People in general are
getting more arrogant with their cars/trucks.
I just try to keep my distance.
But it also happens when I drive a small compact
as well...
--- Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> I know this is slightly off topic but not entirely.
> Do any of you find that
> people pull out in front of you more often when
> driving your van? It happens
> to me repeatedly - it's like I'm invisible. Now I
> know our rigs are
> notoriously slow but I don't think the average
> public really knows that. So
> what is it? I mean in my area I am damn near the
> most noticeable vehicle on
> the road.
>
> On 12/14/06, Raymond Paquette
> <raymondpaquette@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Just to fess up on the road rage issue...
> >
> > I know that I'm certainly more at peace when we
> travel in the van than in
> > my
> > wife's Hyundai.
> >
> > In the Hyundai, everyone is always in my way,
> slowing me down, but the
> > road
> > is always clear in front of the van.
> >
> > Much more relaxed for me.
> >
> > Raymond
> >
> >
> >
> > On 12/13/06, Jon Tromp <tromper@comcast.net>
> wrote:
> > >
> > > I'll nibble on this one just a tetch,
> > >
> > > Living in the aforementioned Washington
> (Pugetropolis area), & having
> > > owned
> > > two different Diesels (not counting a parts van
> or two), with 4
> > different
> > > engines, & three different transmissions I have
> a bit of a diverse
> > > opinion.
> > > I never did use a TDI, I really don't think it's
> worth that kind of
> > money,
> > > but if I came accross a deal on one I'd probably
> do it.
> > >
> > > First- Stock motor. Yup it's slow, both of my
> stock motors wore out
> > > while
> > > I had 'em. The first one was kinda weak, even
> for a stock diesel, the
> > > second was OK for stock diesel but still pretty
> slow from word go. You
> > > learned patience, & planning for all things.
> They both got 25 to about
> > > 30.
> > > I've heard of better but it's hilly country
> around here. I think I got
> > 35
> > > once in the first one (5 spd)when I was on the
> aforementioned WA Oregon
> > > coast (no worries on the bridge, I crossed it
> about 6 times one day
> > while
> > > my
> > > lady used the camera, handling is an issue of
> how ya drive it if you
> > > respect
> > > that you're in an underpowered brick, & don't
> feel the need to do 90 in
> > > high
> > > winds you're fine.
> > >
> > > First "safety" For the most part the tailgators,
> & others didn't bug me
> > > much
> > > cuz though my motor was weak, it was in the back
> if they hit me,& my
> > > brakes
> > > were fine if they tried to play moron games. I
> was generally going to
> > > slow
> > > for them to want to play their little games.
> Being behind me they
> > > abhorred
> > > & tailgating didn't make it any more pleasant.
> They'd rush past me, &
> > > attempt to cut me off to prove themselves, but I
> was generally a bit
> > > sloweer
> > > then they though so by the time they'd do that
> they'd be more then far
> > > 'nuff
> > > ahead so I could react easily if necessary.
> Ergo no "safty" issues from
> > > road ragers. Far as getting flipped off.
> Either ignore 'em if you see
> > > 'em,
> > > or respond by nodding your head (accepting their
> invitation), or hold up
> > > your hand with your forefinger, & thumb about an
> cm or two apart, &
> > shake
> > > your head no. ("sorry too small") It can be
> priceless if they figure out
> > > what you mean.
> > >
> > > Next "safety" issue. Lack of power up hills.
> I'm not sure which pass
> > he
> > > was doing. I was through the cascades on the
> backroads etc. Yup it was
> > > slow. No worries, I was there for the scenery.
> Just stick it in the
> > > truck
> > > lane, & away I go. I acknowledge I don' thave a
> westie so it wasn't the
> > > slowest available but I could keep it over 25.
> > >
> > > If Lance Armstrong wanted to pass me up the
> grade he could, but any
> > > cyclist
> > > not in that league would be hard pressed. I
> salute your wife sir.
> > >
> > > I upgraded the first one to a 1.8 gas digifant
> II setup, around 100
> > horse.
> > > I kept the stock trannie, so it wasn't fast, but
> was a little quick. I
> > > will
> > > admit to having a bit of fun at stop lights. It
> was drivable, quiet, &
> > > got
> > > mileage in the mid 20's to about 30. Same as
> both stock diesels.
> > > When, after many miles of reving cuz of the
> tranny I blew that up, I
> > > picked
> > > up another body shell, cuz my old one was beat.
> That had a stock diesel
> > > that went a bout year after straightening out
> issues from the moron who
> > > owned it before me (I started using his list of
> things he'd done as a
> > > checklist to repair)
> > > A bit stronger then the other one, but
> eventually that motor died, & I
> > > installed my current setup. 1.6 turbo diesel
> with intercooler. I've
> > never
> > > dyno'd it but the specs on those seem to run
> 'round a hundred horse.
> > > roughly the same as the digifant II in that
> respect with a little better
> > > torque. This time I swapped the trans for one
> that was out of an 84,
> > non
> > > westy. It's not quick since it really should
> have the aircooled tranny
> > in
> > > it ,but those are a bit tough to find.
> Nonetheless. Mileage varies
> > from
> > > about 23 if I live on the fuel, & keep it above
> 65 on the highway to 30
> > > (my
> > > lady pulled 32ish once) if I keep it mellow. It
> can do eighty something
> > > in
> > > the flats, & keeps up fine in the passes (sorry
> Lance).
> > >
> > > In conclusion.
> > > Drivabilty. Doubling the HP works just fine, &
> the stock ones are
> > > drivable,
> > > just a different kind of driving.
> > >
> > > "Safety" - my fav 00's buzzword. Bad drivers
> are bad drivers whether
> > it's
> > > road rage (temporary bad driving) or a more
> permant condition. They're
> > an
> > > issue regardless of horse power. If you take
> the time to learn to deal
> > > with
> > > the lower power motor it's not too bad, &
> actually kind of a relief
> > since
> > > you know you can't make up the lost time there's
> no point in trying (a
> > > common cause of "road rage" is being behind &
> trying
=== message truncated ===
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