OK, i admit it.  There must be something seriously wrong with my van.  My
van is a certified lemon and should not be compared to a Vanagon in tip
top shape.  I should not have made those generalizations about the AT
since they obviously dont apply to all vanagons with auto trannys.

As far as RPM's though, I have never seen another vehicle which cruises on
the highway over 4000 RPM in top gear.  I have heard many Vanagon experts
say that running over 4000 RPMs is really bad for the engine and it
certainly does'nt sound happy at those speeds.

I really do get 16-18 MPG on the freeway and from what i've heard from
many other Westy owners this is about average.  18-20 sounds really good
but the lack of extra weight with a Westy could be the reason some get
higher mileage.

Mine is an 86 Westy with about 200K and has gone thru 2 sets of Head
Gaskets and had the tranny rebuilt once.  The tranny now leaks like a
sive.  Practically every other major part on the vehicle has failed on the
vehicle at least once which is why I consider it a lemon.  Given this I
don't think I should compare it other Vanagon Westys.

Andrew Fox

On Thu, 20 Feb 2003, Jeff Ensing wrote:

> I second that emotion! I have both and would rather drive the auto any day!
> Yes, even at 80mph on the highway. What's the big deal with 4000rpm how many
> of these engines do you see with lower end problems?
>