i hope i wasn't too heavy about it...i've just done the rumination that
led me to my own decision to go with the subie, and even to install it
myself (well, with subaruvanagon@yahoogroups list help, of  course!).

best,
bill

On Friday, August 16, 2002, at 02:34 PM, Laurence Smith wrote:

> your main point and theme...
>
>  "...and though there may be problems they'd be different, not
> necessarily worse,
> than those encountered with a wbx (or an I4, for that matter)"...
>
> ...is well taken.  I learned something and I agree.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Laurence Smith
> Hamilton, ON
> 90 Westy (fanumbos) / 2.2 Subie - real soon now
>
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List
>> [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
>> Of Bill Kasper
>> Sent: Friday, August 16, 2002 5:24 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: Need advice with buying a westy. have a couple
>> in mind (new
>> to list)
>>
>>
>> i dunno, laurence.
>>
>> my subaru engine and harness are in two crates in the
>> galley of my van,
>> so i may not be as qualified as others to comment, but i
>> don't see that
>> the points you raise are any different than life with a wasserboxer.
>> to wit:
>>
>> On Friday, August 16, 2002, at 01:54 PM, Laurence Smith wrote:
>>> A local mechanic would have to go through a unique learning
>>> curve every time you need service - and this would be expensive.
>>
>> depending upon where you live, this could/would be the same with the
>> wbx.  and if the horror stories of vw dealers are true (i know, they
>> are), i can't imagine a subaru mechanic/dealer would be much worse.
>> remember, the 2.2l engines are pretty simple, even for an advanced
>> engine.
>>
>>> Examples:
>>> * timing belt replacement - needs mechanical aptitude
>> (eg. the custom
>>> cooling system may be in the way)
>>
>> true about the cooling system, but any competent mechanic
>> ought to be
>> able to do this pretty simply.  yes, the cost of the parts is there,
>> too, but what do you pay when the wbx hall sender goes bad?  or the
>> ecu?  or the icu?
>>
>>> * custom cooling system - not easy to bleed the system, (eg.
>>> thermostat sometimes needs a little wee hole drilled in
>> it, the custom
>>> heater lines may need TLC at some point)
>>
>> well, having experience with the vanagon cooling system, i
>> can say it's
>> just about the most complex thing i've ever encountered to cool an
>> engine.  the subaru system (custom though it may be) is
>> much simpler;
>> i've looked at a number of solutions to this and unless it
>> was hacked,
>> it's an easier system to troubleshoot than that of the
>> vanagon.  many
>> fewer connections, for one thing.  and tell me, just how
>> easy is it to
>> bleed a vanagon, anyway?
>>
>>> * custom wiring - makes electrical / computer problems harder to
>>> diagnose (eg. fuel pump and ignition relays are from
>> Subaru,  there
>>> are more use of shielded wires - which is voodoo to lots
>> of people)
>>
>> this is the worst of it, i think.  if the PO gives you the wiring
>> information and the schematics, then a good auto electrical mechanic
>> ought to be able to straighten things out...if not, then the subaru
>> dealer (it's reading fully subaru for the error codes, for example).
>>
>>> * custom exhaust system - may eventually wear out, custom
>> hangers are
>>> needed (muffler shop will make you bend over)
>>
>> i believe all these are available from smallcar.com.  and
>> again, given
>> the system on the vanagon, they can't be any *worse*, can
>> they?  i saw
>> gary trovinger's subaru'd syncro westy last week, and i believe his
>> muffler mounts were stainless, anyway.
>>
>>> * custom air intake system - need to remember to buy certain air
>>> filters
>>
>> well, if one writes down the necessary information in the owner's
>> manual, mileage book, or somewhere easily found, you don't have to
>> remember any more than for the wbx.  and if you get a k&n
>> filter, you
>> have to remember *much* less frequently.
>>
>>> If you are not into mechanics so that you can take care
>> of the above
>>> yourself then I think the conversion would be painfull
>> and costly in
>>> the long run.
>>
>> i don't believe the original poster is doing the
>> conversion.  i believe
>> it's completed, and it's a question of which would be less
>> of a problem
>> for the non-mechanically inclined.  i believe the subaru
>> isn't as bad
>> as you've made it out to be, and though there may be
>> problems they'd be
>> different, not necessarily worse, than those encountered
>> with a wbx (or
>> an I4, for that matter).
>>
>> best,
>> bill kasper
>> '87 syncro westfalia
>> soon to be subaru'd
>>
>
>