Respectfully, I would say that depends on how you define "long grades,"
and also how you define "handle it fine."  My 2.1 camper handles long
grades fine, but I drive slowly relative to other traffic, and it drops
speed on long grades.  I do have to downshift.  It is well tuned.   A
long grade in one part of the country may be a mile of 3%, but no one
who drives in truly mountainous country would consider it so.  If you
drive a 2.1 in the mountains, you will drive slowly relative to ordinary
traffic, or you won't drive.

David McNeely

On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 6:49 PM, Peter DiFalco wrote:

> A 1982 1.6L diesel will be slow pulling grades. Maybe slower than your
> Peregrine. But a 2.1L 86-91 Vanagon if well-tuned will handle it fine,
> not at 80 MPH but also not at 25 MPH in 3rd gear. Take it from a
> recent Bus -> Vanagon convert, it's love all over again. Of course, I
> haven't had time yet to practice garage profanity on my Vanagon like I
> did on my bus so ask me again when I've got an eyeful of some leaking
> fluid and I'm up to my britches in parts that don't seem to fit right
> when I try to put them back together...
>
> Best,
> Peter
>
> On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 4:01 PM, Mark Hineline  wrote:
>> Okay, a couple of points to consider.
>>
>> First, I had a '76 bus named Peregrine. Greg mentioned my trials and
>> tribulations with Peregrine.
>>
>> Second, and this is really the kicker, my number one destination is
>> the Colorado Plateau -- Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Cedar Mesa. From San
>> Diego thats' 500 to 600 miles and an 8000 foot gain in elevation. In
>> my GTI I can do it in 7 hours. I'm guessing that in a watercooled
>> Vanagon I'm looking at 10 to 12 hours for the same trip.
>>
>> Sound right? Are Vanagons slow pulling long grades?
>>
>> Mark
>>
>>
>> On Nov 19, 2009, at 3:52 PM, neil n wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> I was about to ask what your wants and needs were in a van. (in part
>>> involving a possible SO) But since that's not a factor.....
>>