> If VW thought that rubber 20' of rubber hose was the right answer, they
> would have used it when the Vanagon's were designed and manufactured.

VW's decision to use rigid pipe probably had as much to do with cost and
ease of assembly as anything else. Their tacit endorsement of rigid pipe is
in no way a condemnation of flexible hose. Heck, the heater runs off
unreinforced rubber hose right next to the tubing, so damage due to exposure
obviously wasn't their primary concern. As for cooling, the radiator should
have so much excess cooling capacity that if metal tubing makes any
difference in your temperature, you need to replace your radiator and/or
thermostat. Granted, stainless tubing is the ideal solution; but the cooling
system has no particular needs that require rigid coolant pipes of any
material.

--
John Bange
'90 Vanagon - "Geldsauger"