Vanagons are truly best to traverse forest roads where you can't go
faster than 50 MPH anyway. It's not really off road but the roads are
sometimes unpaved. You actually can do better than most cars because
the ground clearance of Vanagons are much higher. Well, ask those
Syncro owners about this. Both of my Vanagons are not Syncro but I drove
them like one. And of course I nearly got stuck on the road a few times.
Fuel economy for Vanagons on forest road is unbeatable. The WBX engine
has all the power it needs, not too much not less, for forest roads.
The 3rd gear of Vanagon manual trans is so wonderful.

David

--- Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM> wrote:

> For vehicles (such as stock Vanagons) where the engine power is
> marginal, you may also find that you can take a grade at 75mph (due to
> the better torque available at that rpm), but at 55mph, you can't make
> the grade without shifting down to 3rd gear.
>
> There are many trade offs, not just fuel economy, when you are
> traveling at a slower speed.
>
> Personally, if I'm exploratory mode, I'm off on side roads, where the
> speed limits are slower anyway. Many old US routes are nearly
> abandoned by the hoards that stick to Interstate highways. Traveling
> on US 50 can take you to fascinating sight seeing areas that are hours
> from the Interstates. I actually found crossing Eastern Colorado and
> Western Kansas much more relaxing and entertaining when traveling on
> US 50, instead of I-70.
>