Got one.  Love it.  I lose a little in fuel economy (16-17 mpg in town and
20-21 highway) and it accelerates from stops at a more leasurely pace than a
manual (still faster than most diesels).  RPM at highway speeds is the same
as manuals.  Don't have to worry about the clutch and associated hydraulics
and don't have to worry about that 3-4 slider problem that crops up in the
manuals plus you have to try real hard to over rev the engine with the
automatic.  Rumor has it the automatics in the Vanagons are very tough and
have a pretty long lifespan. You do need to be religious with fluid and
filter changes but that is part of good maintenance with any vehicle.

Chuck
'85 Wolfsburg Westy - 'Roland the Road Buffalo'

In a message dated 8/23/02 9:42:35 PM, LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

>
>Date:    Fri, 23 Aug 2002 14:34:22 -0700
>From:    gordy jones <westyutah@YAHOO.COM>
>Subject: automatic transmission
>
>Has anyone ever owned a vanagon with automatic transmission? If you were
>looking at buying a westy and everything about it seemed to be in great
>shape would you decide not to get it strictly because it was an automatic
>trans? Just wondering. i guess at least I wouldn't have to get a new clutch.
>