I've owned both as well, both '84's. My first '84 was an Ebay purchase, it
was an automatic, and I didn't know until I picked it up from the seller in
Lancaster Ohio, that he had rebuilt the automatic trans himself-now that
was scary, because he even admitted he was no mechanic, although he did say
a mechanic friend helped him do it. I drove it home very carefully,
expecting the trans to fail, but it never did. Now my current '84 is a 4
speed, and I also just recently put a 2.1 in it. I don't know how much
difference the 2.1 makes over the 1.9, and it's been a while since I sold
the '84 automatic, but the acceleration on the 4 speed is far better than I
remember from the automatic. The 4 speed is also equipped with a trailer
hitch that the PO obviously used, to tow what I have no idea. Since it has
110,000 miles on it, and from everything I've read the 3-4 gear problems
usually show up at around 70-80K miles, I'm hoping mine has already had
this problem fixed. But, since the PO is deceased, I doubt I'll ever know
for sure-unless mine fails.      Jeff

Jeff Stewart
fonman4277@earthlink.net
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vwcampersmidatlantic/