In a message dated 1/18/00 9:11:34 PM Eastern Standard Time,
yeff@EARTHLINK.NET writes:

<< I am new to the list & I am looking at purchasing a 86 westfalia, pop-top
tomorrow or thursday. It is an automatic, would anyone with auto's please let
me know how you like them? what experiences you have had? What driving speed
you do on freeways, do auto's run hotter than sticks, gas mileage etc?
  >>

fyi, the auto trans is more reliable than the manual trans.  manual trans
vanagons are prone to the "3-4 gear slider hub crack syndrome", necessitating
a costly rebuild.

chris