--- Fredrich Hesterberg <FredsVW@WEBTV.NET> wrote:
> The trouble with the Vanagon comes from is it's
> horsepower to weight
> ratio which is not good and very low.
> The engine's not efficiant for what it is expected
> to do and at normal
> highway speed and is at three quarters of it maxium
> RPM at 65 MPH.
> This is big problem and I am not sure how they last
> as long as they do.

You said it. Most engines cruise at HALF the RPM that
the bus engines do. That includes all the DOHC Honda
and Nissan engines that rev happily to 7K. The thought
of any pushrod engine cruising at 4000+ RPM is
frightening, especially when the redline is 5K.

Basically, the WBX and Type IV spin roughly twice as
fast as most cars' engines. Therefore, for every 100K
miles your bus has, the engine has 200K worth of wear
and tear on it. With that in mind, the maintenance and
repairs that the WBX and Type IV reqire make perfect
sense, and in fact the WBX comes off looking like a
tank. With the diesel tranny's gearing, just imagine
what the diesel has to do.

This is why I really don't try to haul ass in a Bus.
It's just not worth it. You don't feel much speed in
one when you do get rolling, anyway. Just have fun and
enjoy your Bus time. :)

Sam

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