Yes, the Audi 5 is a great motor. Reliable, durable, smooth, etc. It is
a little long and a little tall for the Vanagon engine compartment but
they can be shoehorned in. Syncros have more room for them.

Mark Drillock
87 Syncro w/ Audi 5 cyl,  4 years and 50k mostly trouble free miles.

Chris S wrote:

>
> The Audi 2.3L engine is rated at 130HP and 139 ft-lb of torque.  These
> engines came in '88-'92 Audi 5000, Audi 90 and Audi 80 models and are built
> well.  I recently sold my Audi 90 with about 360K miles on the engine.  It's
> engine has had only routine maintenance and ran wonderfully.  I'd get about
> 25 MPG cruising at 80 MPH.  The car would cruise 90+ Mph all day which
> translated to around 4000 RPM - as you see that's about where a 70 MPH
> cruise puts you in the Vanagon.  Considering the power 'requirements' of the
> brick-like Vanagon I'd say the engine's powerband is ideally suited.  The
> inline-5 Audi engines are smooth, torquey and sound great! I think it would
> make sense to put one of these into a Vanagon if one wouldn't have to raise
> the rear decklid.   I've seen entire Audi 5000s go for about $600 due to
> lack of popularity or just get an engine:
>....................