Date:         Wed, 18 Apr 2007 09:43:54 -0700
Reply-To:     Matthias Kuster <matthiaskuster@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Matthias Kuster <matthiaskuster@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Subie Power
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

Ok, so I finally jump in here also, and here is what I have to say (I
have 2 SubieVanagon, one Wolfy and one Westy, both 84s, manual tranny:

Subaru's EJ22 absolutely rocks in terms of simplicity, reliability,
design, power and sound. As for the 2.5 DOHC, might be better to stay
away, the 2.5 SOHC again seems to be bulletproof. Mind you  however
that it is a lot of work and fiddling with variables and unknowns, no
matter what. That's why they are expensive, yet cheap in the long run.
Even so I did blow a rod bearing on my first install, at 180000
miles, partly maybe because I had overlooked the o-ring on oil pick
up tube, and it was burning oil the whole time. Still lasted 20k
miles before it went. This first EJ22 also was an 89, which are
rumored to have oil control ring issues. Still this is a used engine
of unknown origin, me regularly going 80mph and loaded up. Then had
to go to the junkyard, find a donor, do compression test, and swap
out long block, which took about 3 days (with experience). I'm good
to go again with a resealed engine that has 115k miles on it.
I don't agree with the Subie being quieter: At idle yes, tooling
around town it is definitely louder, and I have the VW WBX exhaust
setup. At freeway travelling speeds it's about the same. The rumble
is very "boxer", and sounds even better than a WBX (as well as WRX)
me thinks. Mine are also louder because I opened up the intake. I
have done a lot of soundproofing on the Westy and it is quieter now
than any Vanagon I have ever driven. Will set off car alarms when
accelerating, easily.
Bottom line is: If you can stick to the original WBXers and get them
reliable, my hat is off to you. I went through 2 years of absolute
nightmares with my 1.9l, two different shops, both recommended on
this list at the time, my Wolfy was in the shop constantly, and they
both claimed everytime this time it was fixed (under warranty, which
means you have to let the same deadbeats get their hands on it
again). It sucked. One shop I sued and they ended up selling the shop
before I could collect on a possible judgement. Absolute deadbeats,
both of them.
European mechanics, and especially German ones, are better trained
than mechanics here in the states, by far. They have to be. (I know
this is a generalization, and there certainly are exceptions). Add to
that a finicky design by Oettinger, which slapped plumbing on an
aircooled engine and added rubber gaskets, for chrissake, and you
have your work cut out for yourself.
The Vanagon is an amazing piece of automobile, from the days when
Volkswagen still had a spic left of imagination and innovation.
Thesedays VW only has those qualities regarding marketing. Their
products have been inferior since at least the mid 90s, and Toyota
and Honda (especially) whoop their bums. The Honda Element or Toyota
Prius are cars VW might have come up with in their glory days,
certainly now they seem lost with all their involvement in Bugatti,
Bentley. They lost touch with their roots. Maybe Porsche can sort
them out, but I doubt they will ever be what they once were again. I
doubt there will ever be a book "How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive"
again. Tons of internal company memos however, without a doubt, will
bear that title in the next couple years.
So for you die hard Vanagonauts, keep up the good work. After all our
Vanagons are from a time   worth remembering, and keeping them
original makes sense also.

UNITY - RESPECT

Matthias