He said '1.8' .....which would be a 100 hp 8 valve 'ordinary/common' 1.8 gas
rabbit/jetta engine .....they're smooth, and go nicely on the level.....
And can't be expected to move a vanagon very well on places like Donner
Pass, Ca...which tops out at about 7,000 feet, and from the east side is
about a 7 mile grade.

The 1.8T would be quite nice there all right, but that's not what he was
talking about . And you're darn right a proper syncro with decent tdi power
would blow right on by the typical 'California suv' driver in a snowstorm on
Donner Pass.   I don't even count those people as very skilled snow drivers,
or the vehicles even that good most of the time in snow.  'locking
differential ? - what's that ? " 

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Karl Mullendore
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 8:12 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: The New Rear-Engined VW UP!

Maybe you haven't actually driven a van with a 1.8T (1.8 TURBO, ya know
what it IS, right? 180 hp stock). Double the HP and torque of the
waterboxer. Gotta drive before you make such a statement as your last.

I've driven Donner pass in a snowstorm, passing people in SUV's,
laughing at them!

Karl
TDI Syncro Westy :-)

Jeff Clayman wrote:
> I have a Stuart Mk I I want to pull with it.  1.8 can't pull squat at 70
> mph down the highway and over passes.  Maybe if you're okay going 35 mph
> up Donner pass in the breakdown lane. With flashers on. With everybody
> laughing at you.