Thanks, Dennis & Roger for posting information about the automatic
transmissions. I have heard that they are quite reliable, though I must
say that when I was attempting to get Mellow Yellow up that 4WD road
that I finally gave up on, I wished I had a manual. I like the more
direct control manuals provide. I have heard that the Vanagon manual is
less reliable, but I sure missed having a clutch on that road. Just
stepping on the gas and hearing the engine's rpms go lower and lower
while the van slowly clambered up, and kind of stopped here and there,
wasn't fun. At one point I know I smelled hot transmission or torque
converter. That, too, was unnerving. Though I bet I would have smelled
clutch there, too.

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR