What the hell is 70mph in a vanagon, is it WARP speed.
Also, can a vanagon reach 4000 RPM in fourth gear, is it possible, maybe
down hill with me pushing in the back, I will try tomorrow...(I have to
admit that I never tried)

Well, if all you guys are going faster than 60/65, no wonder that you get a
poor fuel consumption, overheating and parts falling behind!!! That is
maybe why I do 320miles with one full tank and have almost no oil
consumption (3000miles) driving at 55/60. I would never go higher than
3500rpm, never.

I have a good one; the other day coming back from a long weekend, a 70/79
VW bus pass me by, I was going 60 and I clearly heard the flat-4. I said to
my girl; well that evolution, we have an 87 that does not like to run
higher than 60/65 and a old fart VW bus is going 70!!!!!! 30 miles later I
see a yellow things full of smoke on the side of the road!!! Well it was
the bus! I stop, and ask if I can help! 2 very nice ladies (about 25 and
real pretty) dress like hippies get out of the bus and said; I don't know
what happen, everything was going great and suddenly::: BANG, so we stop.
The AC flat-4 was missing part of the crankcase!!! I said, do you have a
gauge for temperature? She said, what's that! ?%$/%&$/?*%/ to myself!!!! I
ask at what speed and for how long were you driving the van like that? She
replies, for 3 hours with the pedal on the floor!!!!!!!!!! Women!!! (Joke
of course). She finally said that they where late and the bus was too slow
at 70!!!!
The bus was in top shape. New engine and a very nice new paint job, the
interior was amazing, the bus was a gift from her dad!!!!

The conclusion; most VW bus/vanagon driver don't know, don't care about
"Driving intelligently" with a somewhat fragile vehicle.

Ben
http://www3.sympatico.ca/huotx/engine1.htm
http://www.vwvans.com/