I was considering buying an '83 diesel westy with the original 5 speed in
San Diego about 1 year ago.  I don't know the gear ratios, but I can tell
you my experience in the test drive.  First gear is only useful from a
dead stop till about 5mph.  I say about because I didn't look at the
speedometer, but it felt like I had to shift to second more quickly
than I would in a 4-speed.  Fifth gear does seem to permit a higher
top speed with the diesel motor.  It could do 70 mph pretty comfortably
(though as with all diesels, it takes a while to get up to that speed).
I've driven 4 speed diesels, and I own an '87 vanagon, so I have some
frame of reference.  In sum, I think the 5-speed is nicer with respect to
driving.  I was told at the time that because of its rarity, it might be
hard to get it rebuilt if needed, but I may have been misinformed.

David

On Tue, 8 Feb 2000, Tobin Copley wrote:

> What is the deal with the 094 (5 speed) transmission for early 80s
> vanagons?  My Bentley manual (for 1980-85) has a section on this
> tranny, but offers no info as to which vehicles were spec'd with it.
>
> I had a look at our local insurance agent's book (which has a
> comprehensive list of vehicles and their GVWRs), and there was a
> listing for a 1983 Vanagon L with 5 speed transmission--with the 5
> speed listed only for the diesel motor!  Her book only went back to
> 1983, so could not see what they had for my model year.
>
> Anybody know more about these?  Gear ratios?  What vehicles they were
> spec'd with?  I'd kind of assumed they might have been for a syncro
> or something (4 speed + granny), but maybe it's really a 4 speed +
> overdrive or just closer ratios up to approx the same final top gear
> as the 091 4 speed?
>
> T.
> (Who's diesel *does* sound awfully busy above 60 mph)
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Tobin Copley   Bowen Island, BC, Canada              tobin.copley@ubc.ca
>
> '82 westy 1.6 NA diesel ("Stinky")
> '97 son Russell                                   =============
> '99 daughter Margaret                            /_| |__| |__|:| clatter
> 1995: 'Round US, Mexico, Canada 15,000 mi       O|.           .| clatter!
> 1996: Vancouver to Inuvik, NWT   7,400 km        ~-()-==----()-~
> Previous buses: '76 westy deluxe (Daisy), '76 westy standard (Mango)
>