RE: Automatics Mike, about the time you were on your trip I was doing a trip with my '90 Westy automatic, heavily loaded, to a location I drive to several times a year. The last 12 miles go from about 2,200 feet to over 6,300 feet on narrow and very winding road, very slow going. I'm down to second gear from the start of the climb and better than half that pull is done in 1st gear on the automatic. And not over revving, max around 3,800 rpm. The automatic does just fine. The Westy warms up, radiator fan on and occasionally on high, what I call 'propeller' mode. Coming back off that mountain is about the same, part in 1st gear, most in second so that I have brakes all the way and still when I hit the bottom. I've never seen any reason to not use the automatic just like I'd use a stick (and I drove this same route many time with a manual in my '85. I understand the feeling about an automatic (am I about to blow a seal?) but I don't like to lug an engine when pulling a grade. I've always figured I'd rather stress a transmission (cheaper to repair) than blow an engine. |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.