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<P>Unless you find yourself a bargain AT, you'll be happier with a manual, especially in the mountains.&nbsp; The only problem is that I hear a lot about repairing and replacing manual trannies.&nbsp; My AT runs great at 215k, but it still holds me back in the mountains.&nbsp; (held back in a vanagon-sort-of-way).&nbsp; If you are handy, buy a AT westy at low cost, then buy a blown engine rusted out vanagon with a decent manual and do a swap.&nbsp; It's no coincidence there are a lot of westies on the market with AT's,&nbsp;&nbsp;folks don't let go of their manuals!</P>
<P>Good Luck, </P>
<P>Brian Cochran</P>
<P>84 westy</P>
<P><BR>I've been browsing ads for westys recently and have ran across many with<BR>automatic transmissions. My only experience with a VW autotrans was a 71 type 3<BR>which actually ran quite well (in flat areas). I live in a relatively<BR>mountainous part of the country and shiver at the thought of an underpowered<BR>vehicle making its way up a mountain with the transmission cycling back and<BR>forth from 2nd to 3rd (like the type3 did)<BR><BR><BR>Eric<BR>71 singlecab<BR><BR><BR></P><BR><BR><BR>
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