Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:00:55 -0500
Reply-To: Jim Akiba <syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Akiba <syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM>
Subject: Re: Diesel vs Gas Vanagons?
In-Reply-To: <004e01c8549d$7ad75470$6601a8c0@TOSHIBALAP>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Oh BTW Scott,
Have you been to our support development website? There are 10 or so
right there.. which is almost 20% of the owner base:
http://bostig.net/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=44&board=7.0
but no worries I'm working on getting customer feedback... what we've
learned though is that we don't take it personally when they don't
call us anymore... but we do love to hear from everyone.. it's the
only thing that comes close to sending a kid off to school for me..
when that conversion leaves home... or even when a Core kit gets fired
up(like the one from earlier today) and another one comes to life.
Actually I just got off the phone with John our first supercharged
customer while writing this response, and read him your post Scott,
and his response was "I love my vanagon, but I don't love writing
about it... I'd rather spend the time driving it somewhere with my
family than emailing someone about how much I like it and how much you
guys rock. Most guys aren't online all the time unless they have a
problem or unless they like vansterbating... this conversion isn't a
trophy, I bought it to use it and drive the **it out of it" ha John is
awesome... actually all our customers are awesome... I think the most
interesting and important part of bostig is our customers, not just
because they enable us, but because they have the same driving spirit
we do, and it ends up in a big feedback loop and grows.
Anyhow Scott, I think you have a very good point in terms of making
sure people know that far from being vaporware and mythology, we're
guys "on a mission from gahd"... ala elwood blues. Even though we
aren't the blue brothers, nor are we really on a mission from god...
but you get my drift ha
Jim Akiba
On 1/11/08, Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
> Hi Dave, I'm willing to agree that the Zetec might be a great conversion
> package, and probably is.
>
> I'm just wondering what do you base your 'head and shoulders above' all
> the rest comment on. Personal experience, or hearsay , or ?
>
> What I wonder..........I've been aware of Zetec conversions for a year or
> two. I have yet to see any owner raving about it.
> I'm sure they're satisfied, but I also get the impression there are
> very few of them. But why have I not seen ONE Zetec owner raving about how
> smooth it is, how reliable, how powerful etc. And I am all over the
> internet too. Surely there have been some, but I sure haven't noticed any.
> And I see other engine conversion owners waxing ecstatic all the time over
> their conversion they just got running. What's up with that anyway ????
> Just take this list, it's a bit anti-conversion sometimes, but there are
> all kinds of vanagon people on here, diesel ones, soobie ones, tdi ones
> some........( I prefer not to mention tiico's .....an embarrassment to the
> vanagon community as far as I'm concerned, particularity the attitude of the
> head guy ) .......but how come no Zetec fanatics carrying on ???
>
> That one thing would really lend credence to Zetec conversions. They are
> 'almost' a myth to me, since I only hear from the creator/founder about
> them, and not any owners ever. And you know they have to be hard core
> vanagon fanatics and you'd think part of this community.
>
> Anyway.........it's all fun and we are so lucky we even get to play like
> this !
> scott
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Dave Mari
> Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 11:54 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Diesel vs Gas Vanagons?
>
> The diesel option sounded real good to me until I looked into all of the
> cost; such as diesel fuels is 15 to 20% higher than gas in the NE, and the
> TDI are 10 time the cost of a Zetec and E85 is more available than Bio and
> becoming more so in this area.
>
> Then it was a choice between and higher milage non turn key oprtion such as
> a Subie or the very questionable Tico kit, until the Bostig kit came out
> which is head an shoulders above the other options.
>
> GO PATS!
> Dave
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Gary Bawden <goldfieldgary@GMAIL.COM>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 11:07:51 AM
> Subject: Diesel vs Gas Vanagons?
>
> Hi Phil,
>
> The Diesel vanagon is a great machine, but there are a few caveats:
>
> Fuel mileage: Most people get around 28 mpg. If you don't mind driving at 52
> - 55 mph (recommended anyway, as you will substantially reduce the life
> expectancy of the engine by trying to keep up with normal traffic flow), you
> can get around 32 mpg. I should mention, these numbers are for the passenger
> van models (which I have), and not the Westy, which has more frontal surface
> area.
>
> To really enjoy your new lifestyle, you must already be accustomed to "life
> in the slow lane". If you've ever driven a splittie, it's not a whole lot
> different, except with a gas engine you can get a pretty good run at the
> hills. Don't try it with a Diesel, 60 to 62 max for short periods only.
>
> On hills, you will really enjoy the subtle nuances of the scenery. I like to
> tell people, I only stop to pick up tools laying on the side of the
> road when I can clearly see that it is a Snap-On, or maybe a Proto!
>
> As for parts availability, there are so many diesel Jettas and Rabbits, with
> almost all the same engine parts, it's not a big problem. What is a problem
> is the reduced sulfur fuel now available, which shortens the life of
> critical, big-ticket items such as the injector pump. You must now add a
> quality Diesel fuel additive every time you put fuel in the tank. This adds
> a few cents per gallon to your fuel cost.
>
> Also, be aware that Diesel-grade engine oil is not the same as the stuff you
> get off the shelf at your local FLAPS. Only use a good-grade Diesel engine
> oil - - I use Shell Rotella-T, because I can buy it at any truck stop across
> the country. Other good contenders are Chevron Delo 400, and the Mobil
> synthetic one, can't remember what it' called.
>
> Also, I should mention they really do best in flatter locations, although if
> you don't mind using your gearbox and finding the proper, relaxed speed for
> each gear, you'll get there eventually. I pulled Tioga Pass (the one over
> the Sierra Nevadas going into Yosemite National Park) comfortably in second
> gear.
>
> Some will say that they are unsafe on today's roads - - I think that a
> defensive driving attitude will go a long way to mitigate this, that and
> some of the red-and-white reflective tape applied across the back of the
> vehicle.
>
> Hope you find this helpful, and I just KNOW there's going to be dissenting
> opinions. That's mine, and I'm sticking to it. :o)
>
> Gary
>
>
>
>
>
> > Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:57:26 -0800
> > From: Phil Cappellini <philcappellini@HOTMAIL.COM>
> > Subject: Diesel vs Gas Vanagons?
> >
> > Hello,
> > =20
> > With high and even higher anticipated gas prices, I am considering getting
> > =
> > a diesel vanagon. The loss of going to a sluggish 1.6L diesel motor
> > compare=
> > d to my peppy 2.1L gas motor doesn't bother me....... that much. But I do
> > h=
> > ave several concerns:
> > =20
> > 1. The availability of diesel vanagons - There aren't many of them around
> > a=
> > nd the ones that are around are Westy's. I love Westy's but as a daily
> > driv=
> > er, over the long-run, I find them tiresome. The seven seater version
> > seems=
> > to be very rare.
> > =20
> > 2. The availability of parts - Since there aren't many diesel vanagon's I
> > a=
> > m led to believe that parts are scarce; thus very expensive.=20
> > =20
> > Any comments supporting or refuting my concerns are appreciated?
> > =20
> > =20
> > Anyone in the Vancouver BC area know of any for sale?
> > =20
> > Thanks, Phil.
> > _________________________________________________________________
> >
>
>
>
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