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Date:         Sat, 26 May 2012 12:06:02 -0600
Reply-To:     miguel pacheco <mundopacheco@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         miguel pacheco <mundopacheco@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Automatic vs Manual
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY152-ds6CEA8FDBBDEC724C4114AA0060@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

A well behaved automatic, with good suspension and motor is a joy. My 90 Automatic GL is very smooth. A very sporty driving experience that puts a smile on your face. The highway revs are a little high in that third gear, but this is only troubling at lower elevations (I live and play at 7000 and above.) It's the perfect ride and a superior design, in my opinion. Miguel

On Sat, May 26, 2012 at 10:50 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:

> I have been driving VWs (legally) since 1976. Back in the air cooled days > we had to repair or replace engines, especially in the busses. It was > around 1989 that I realized I had to learn to repair Vanagon transmissions > as failures were becoming common. I do many more tranny repairs than head > gaskets or engines. The automatics when maintained are remarkably reliable > and normal overhauls are quite easy. The loss of economy is not much, less > than a Syncro. > > Dennis > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf > Of Chris S. > Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2012 12:21 PM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Re: Automatic vs Manual > > Most problems with an automatic are fixed by replacing them with a manual. > Most problems with a manual are fixed by replacing the driver. > > I have been driving manual Vanagons for 12 years with none of the problems > you mentioned. > > Chris. > > Wysłane z iPhone'a > > Dnia May 26, 2012 o godz. 11:01 Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM> > napisał(a): > > > 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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