For me - the most important benefit of the TDI transplant is the greatly
increased RANGE the vehicle will have.

The ability to go the distance - can, at a critical time - be so much more
important than the difference in consumption costs.

Those of you who travel high up in Northern Canada or perhaps deep into the
Aussie outback - or maybe Mexico - will know exactly what I mean.

Of course - the drivability improvements are good too!

Marshall Ruskin
84 Westy

>Good listing of stats and it all looks very impressive!  My only thing
>would be what you are doing is VERY expensive and is above the average and
>even the fanatical Vanagon owner.  It is going to take a lot of savings at
>the pump to break even after you finish paying for the transplant.  TDIs
>are wonderful engines but I personally wonder if they are worth the hassle
>and expence to get installed.
>
>If I had $5000 US to play with, I would be installing a 2.8L VR6 in the
>back of my Vanagon.  172hp @ 5,800 RPM and 173 ft-lb @ 4200 RPM.  The
>installation of the VR6 is not nearly as complicated as the 100% "drive by
>wire" TDI and there is more than enough power in both engines to totally
>destroy your transmission in under six months!  There is also the
>"de-tuned" VR6 that is found in the Eurovan - something like 153hp but a
>*heck* of a lot more torque at the bottom end!  Yes, the TDI does beat the
>VR6 on bottom end torque, but I am not complaining about the get up and go
>of my 2.0L equipped Syncro.
>
>Please don't take offence to this... just stating my $0.02 worth!  Good
>luck with the project - it sounds like lots of fun!
>
>At 09:10 PM 19/01/2000 -0500, Michael J. Sullivan wrote:
>>Dear List,
>>
>>I have created a quickie website explaining, in spreadsheet form, the
>>reasons why a TDI makes so much sense for my Van. I truly believe this
will
>>indeed be the ultimate engine for my Vanagon -- both off and on road.
>>
>>The URL is:
>>
>>  http://www.hsdesign.com/vanagon/why_tdi.html
>>
>>Comments please!
>>
>>Cheers,
>>
>>
>>
>>Michael J. Sullivan
>>IPS "SWATteam" Architect
>>Open Market, Inc.
>>
>>*********************************************
>>     phone: 781.359.7624
>>      work: http://www.openmarket.com
>> scan tips: http://www.hsdesign.com/scanning
>>   vanagon: http://www.hsdesign.com/vanagon
>>*********************************************
>>
>
>--   David Marshall -                    - Quesnel, BC, Canada   --
>--    78 VW Rabbit, 80 VW Caddy, 84 VW Westie, 85 VW Cabriolet   --
>--       87 Audi 5000 Quattro, 88 2.0L VW Syncro Double Cab      --
>-- David's Volkswagen Home Page        http://www.volkswagen.org --
>-- Fast Forward Autobahn Sport Tuning  http://www.fastforward.ca --
>-- david@volkswagen.org (pmail) or vanagon@volkswagen.org (list) --
>