My first Vanagon as an 85 GL with the 1.9L engine. I drove it all the
way to the 205,000 mile mark - original engine, original tranny. When I
sold it, it was still going strong. Having now owned three vanagons -
the 85 GL and two 88 GL's - my sense of it is that the 85 GL with it's
1.9L engine was the better vehicle. The 1.9L WBX lasted longer than
either of the 2.1L WBX's. One of the 2.1's died when a piston burned
through, the other died early around 160-170,000 miles with symptoms of
old age - low compression, high oil consumption, bad tranny.

Regards

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver (x2)

Wesley Pegden wrote:
> Hi guys,
> I just wanted to thank everybody for all the help I've got from the
> list.  My 1.9l just went over 200000 this past week, on the same trusty
> old engine and (perhaps even more surprisingly) transmission.
>
> I'd have been helpless with the van without all I've learned from the list!
>
>
> -Wes
>
>
>