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Date:         Sat, 26 May 2012 11:01:32 -0500
Reply-To:     JRodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         JRodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Automatic vs Manual
Comments: To: Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <CAH32RNZjmdb7dmYcbBys3-2wkhaoXbk+t3E7wL_46CbYNFGn4g@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed

Some of my issues regarding auto vs stick is that I now live in town, lots of uphill, downhill in heavy trafficn (Birmingham is in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains), I have had one knee surgery, and as the 'Lil Boy sez - I'm 72 and I ain't getting any younger. So I am having to make some decisions about this. All the input from the List members really helps.

John

On 5/26/2012 10:01 AM, Loren Busch wrote: > RE: Auto vs Stick and Gas Milage > I've seen some comments in this thread on gas mileage with an automatic > that puzzle me based on my personal experience. I drove an '85 Westy stick > for about seven years, many long trips, about 60 k miles. During that time > it cost me a tranny rebuild, two clutches, slave cylinder and eventually an > engine. (Though the engine replacement had noting to do with the type of > tranny I was driving.) That '85 Westy, on the highway, gave 18 to 21 MPG > depending on how I drove. For the last ten years I've been driving a '90 > Westy with automatic. Not a cent spent on clutches or tranny except for > routine service. Just over 70K miles now, many long trips. And I get from > 17 to 20 MPG, again depending on how and where I'm driving. The automatic > in town? 13 to 15 MPG. BUT my left knee remains intact after driving in > heavy city traffic! Note the numbers, just a mile per gallon less with > the automatic based on real world experience with two Westies and driven > with virtually identical loads and several times a year the identical trip. > On the highway/freeway this is driving at around 60 MPH or a little less. > If I run at 65 or higher then milaege will drop to 16 to 17 MPG. And the > best mileage I get is usually on driving segments in the mountains, winding > and twisty up and down roads. Go figure on that. BTW, I'm at just under > 170,000 miles on this original tranny and the original 2.1L WBX. That > means that both are going to need serious attention in the near future. > The tranny will cost me half to a third of the cost of a rebuild on a > manual. >


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