Hi Helmut and volks,

Just a note or two on AUDI conversions.  Mine a KX in its short 28 day life,
had excellent torque characteristics at 5mph w 215/75-15 in stump gear.
Would climb a 15% grade at idle.  Not in the mud mind you.  The std WBX has
significantly less torque at 1500RPM than the 2.3l NF AUDI.  Torque is what
Helmut is concerned with in his mud adventures.   The Tiico conversion has
more torque at 1500 than the WBX according to Peter but less of course than
the AUDI NF.  For the sticky going,  the Passat TDI delivers the right stuff
at the right RPM to roll larger tires(215/70-15) and this will be my choice
for the next conversion.

For many of us getting there is half the fun and pottling about in the
crumblies is why you went there.  If the crumblies are in SE Utah and you
live in N. Cal there's a lot of scenic highway (US50) to be covered before
you get crumbly.

It's a trade.  I balance comfortable highway touring with the capability to
do moderate rough stuff.  The TDI would be the ideal for me.  Barring that,
the NF motor is an excellent compromise, a broad torque band, ability to
comfortably operate at 75MPH/22mpg on the way and deal with a bit of
scrabbling when you get there.

The other side of the coin is a smelly, slow, noisy, uncomfortable 5.7L
diesel m116 Unimog.  Does mud well.  Out climbs all but tracked vehicles.
Gets 18mpg on the flats.  Real Babe Magnet for a particular category of
"babes".
No reason to have an expensive audio system, you can only hear it when
you're stopped.  AWO air conditioning. ~18" ground clearance.  Electrically
simple, mechanically robust. Not a westie syncro.

pensioner