Date:         Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:21:49 -0800
Reply-To:     Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Stop the presses!  +2 MPG (longish trip report)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Too late for the mileage survey in which I submitted
17.25 as my only trustworthy measurement made when the
odometer worked for one whole tank, I made a pleasant
discovery last week during a trip to the Smokies.
With the odometer mysteriously operational I recorded
four consecutive tanks in excess of 19 MPG with the
average being 19.53 and I am very puzzled but will
happily accept this.  For over 30 tanks since we
bought the Westy I’ve not reliably known how far I can
go on a fill up

The PO reckoned about 17 MPG for the time she had it
and I’ve never felt it to be much different and
wondered at the figures mentioned in the survey.
Everyone wants better gas economy, right?  The survey
results so diligently compiled by Brother Squirrel,
and his own mileage battle, made me wonder if
improvement is possible.  The only thing I can say for
sure is that I drove slower (60 and under) this trip
but that must have been offset by numerous and lengthy
2nd and 3rd gear slogs in the mountains.  Whatever the
case, I love it.

And that is all the Vanagon activity to report in more
than 1,200 miles of driving.  I saw a T5 Multivan in
Gatlinburg and no other VW vans on the road, so was
delighted when we passed Asheville Vee-Dubs TG night
and saw their yard hosting a split, several bays and
Vanagons, too.  That made the week.  One young guy in
Pigeon Forge being dragged by his parents into a
Christmas store said, “Man, I love your van.  The
thing is freaking awesome.”  So it seems that we can
have faith in the next generation.

Three mods done for the trip were the GoWesty
headlight upgrade kit, memory foam mattress pads, and
a little electric heater with fan.  The better lights
were great and necessary.  Karen sewed some slipcovers
for the pads we cut from a 70” X 80” 2-inch thick pad
and they were much more comfy than the eggcrate foam
pads we were using but surprisingly they take much
longer to warm up.  We needed the heater the two
nights we had shore power and could leave it on all
night, which we are reluctant to do with the propane
Mr. Heater.

The rest of the trip was fine.  Fall colors, purty
mountain views, good barbecue along the way and a week
off.  What more do you need?

Stephen





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