Date: Tue, 19 Sep 95 14:38:33 CDT From: Dave Kautz VW Bus Highway Performance Index The idea for this index originated at the Wailaki campout, where Bradley asserted that Martha's 2 liter Vanagon Westy was less responsive on the highway than his '66 with a 1600. Al Hubbard pointed out that the Vanagon had much "longer" gears and was capable of top speeds in excess of 80 mph. This aroused my curiosity as to what "ought" to be true, and with help from the ever-generous Joel Walker and his outstanding library, this index was concocted. The index is an arithmetic model of highway driving. It is the sum of: Peak torque at the rear wheels in 4th gear plus peak horsepower at the rear wheels in third gear . This sum is divided by vehicle weight. As this yields a number below one in all cases considered, each result is multiplied by 100 to give numbers that appear more tangible. There are no units associated with the index, the values are useful for comparison purposes only. Just so you don't all rush out to buy 1500cc microbuses based on the index, I've also included the engine rpm at 60 mph to give you an idea of the upper end of the performance envelope. I had entertained the thought of factoring the top speed of the vehicle into the index but decided against it after realizing that many listmembers don't give a second thought to cruising down the road at 4000 rpm plus - which will allow any of the buses in the index to, at least, approach the national speed limit. I think we can all agree that it is a given that the newer a bus is, the more relaxed "gait" it will have at highway speeds. Dave Kautz Bus Type Performance Index RPM @ 60 mph 1200 Micro 64.5 3719 1500 Micro 67.0 3575 1500 Micro Westfalia 59.7 3575 1600 Breadloaf 62.7 3484 1600 'loaf Westfalia 56.4 3484 1700 'loaf 70.9 3484 1700 'loaf Westfalia 64.1 3484 1800 'loaf 72.9 3416 1800 'loaf Westfalia 65.0 3416 2000 'loaf 72.2 3181 2000 'loaf Westfalia 64.4 3181 2000 Vanagon 66.9 3072 2000 Vanagon Westy 59.4 3072 1.9 Vanagon Wasserboxer 79.1 3267 1.9 Vanagon Westy 70.3 3267 1.6 Vanagon Diesel 52.3 3650 1.6 Vanagon Diesel Westy 46.7 3650 2.1 Vanagon 81.4 3072 2.1 Vanagon Westy 72.3 3072 and, sorted by Performance Index ... Bus Type Performance Index RPM @ 60 mph 1.6 Vanagon Diesel Westy 46.7 3650 1.6 Vanagon Diesel 52.3 3650 1600 'loaf Westfalia 56.4 3484 2000 Vanagon Westy 59.4 3072 1500 Micro Westfalia 59.7 3575 1600 Breadloaf 62.7 3484 1700 'loaf Westfalia 64.1 3484 2000 'loaf Westfalia 64.4 3181 1200 Micro 64.5 3719 1800 'loaf Westfalia 65.0 3416 2000 Vanagon 66.9 3072 1500 Micro 67.0 3575 1.9 Vanagon Westy 70.3 3267 1700 'loaf 70.9 3484 2000 'loaf 72.2 3181 2.1 Vanagon Westy 72.3 3072 1800 'loaf 72.9 3416 1.9 Vanagon Wasserboxer 79.1 3267 2.1 Vanagon 81.4 3072