Date: Wed, 10 Dec 1997 12:32:55 -0800
Reply-To: "McDonell,Scott" <ScottMcDonell@SOTA.COM>
Sender: Vanagon mailing list <Vanagon@Gerry.SDSC.EDU>
From: "McDonell,Scott" <ScottMcDonell@SOTA.COM>
Subject: Eurovan Engine Ignorance
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> Sam Scholten wrote, in part...
>> What about the 5-cylinder motors in the South African T3's? These
>> aren't the same as the dreaded, piston-slapping 5-cylinder motors
>> as in the early Eurovans, are they?
>
>Back when VW was nearing introduction of the Eurovan (1992?), I received a
>video and several letters from VWoA about the new van, obviously encouraging
>me as a registered Vanagon owner to check it out. Just so happened that we
>were in the mood for something that would make the climb up to Park City
>better than our automatic 83.5 GL, so I went by to look over the Eurovan. It
>was cool and I really liked the interior layout and feel. But.... That
>motor was incredibly noisy and the whole thing shook and rattled at idle. I
>remember thinking that VW had no chance of winning over Vanagon people with
>the EV with that motor, even if it didn't spring H2O leaks at will. We
>eventually bought a Mercury Villager which is still going strong and drives
>like a dream. Too bad it's so tiny and cramped compared to my Syncro, which
>remains my primary driver.
>
>Anyway, I haven't kept up with the EVs and have, quite frankly -- and please
>excuse my ignorance, been slightly amazed that folks on the mailing list
>actually own and enjoy them. So, my question is -- especially in light of
>Sam's comments -- Did only the first-generation EVs have the rough-running,
>piston-slapping Audi truck motors, and at some point in the EV's history have
>they been given a different engine? Did VW simply smooth out the previously
>rough engine? If I were looking for an EV, which year is best and what model
>years should be avoided? Is VWoA still selling new Eurovans, and is the VR6
>available? (Oh, how I miss my Jetta GLX.....)
>
>PS: I still have the video. It was quite a good piece of advertising. The
>part with the guy swinging from the "forged hinged" doors is notable.
>
>Scott McDonell
>Ogden, Utah
>'86 Syncro GL
>'83.5 GL [sold]
>'59 Splittie [high-school ride / sold]
>'96 Jetta GLX [sold]
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