>> I have found a nice 87 which I might purchase, but it has an automatic >> transmission. Would anyone care to comment on the pros and cons of the >> automatic tranny ? My '85 is an automatic. The Vanagons are legendary for being underpowered. An automatic adds to the problem because _it_ decides when to shift, not you -- and often it shifts before I would -- resulting in not getting extra power from having the engine at higher RPMs. Also, being a 3 speed, you get worse gas mileage on the highway because you don't have overdrive (the 4th gear on a manual). That said, I enjoy my automatic. Having resigned myself to never having tons of power, the auto works just fine. I just put it in gear an go. Very handy in stop and go traffic. Having only owned the van for a month, I can't yet comment on the reliability of the transmission. To get maximum mileage (and the least wear on the engine) accelerate gradually. One of the list members (sorry, I forget who) suggested imagining having an egg between your foot and the accelerator pedal. Accelerate slowly as to not break the egg. In the end, I would have gotten a manual if I had the choice, but as rare as these vans are getting to be, when the right one comes along you have to take what you can get. I got auto and I am happy with it. Scott Semyan '85 Westie
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