Simple.  The Vanagon likes the Irish air a lot more.

Really, I think it's the gas.

----- Original Message -----
From: Peter Cassidy <pcassidy@apple.com>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2000 7:54 AM
Subject: Re: VWs in Europe

> >Yes, it's too bad.  Maybe once the gas will reach $4 a gallon folks will
> >take to what is good, economical, fun transportation.  For now, we deal
with
> >SUVs.  It's what sells. Darn.
>
> Hmph! Try $5 a gallon (tho' the gallon is slightly larger).   8-(
>
> Now, here's something I'm finding *very* hard to explain.
>
>      - I have a US (Cal-spec) stock '88 Vanagon Wolfsburg Ed.
>      - I add the MSDS custom air intake and filter. No big deal.
>      - This van gets me 16-18 MPG on mixed urban / freeway driving
>        in Sacramento, CA. Approximately 185 miles per tankful.
>      - I take this exact vehicle & ship it to Ireland where I'm
>        now getting 25 MPG or a range of 250+ miles on a full
>        tank of gas for mixed rural / urban driving.
>      - No modifications have been made to the vehicle - it's the
>        same as it was in the US.
>      - Just *what* is going on here??!!!
>
> Regards,
>
> Pete C
>
> --
> Peter Cassidy,                   pcassidy@apple.com
> Sr. Test Dev. Engineer             +353-21-284316
> WW Operations
> Apple, Cork, Ireland.
>