I dunno if anybody answered you specifically, but I just did this drive.
From Kingman to Flagstaff it took us maybe an extra half-hour of driving
time over the rental sedan we used for the trip last time (this is in an '87
GL auto).
Speed dropped down to @ 50 in third maybe three or four times in the first
hour or so out of Kingman, and I had to downshift to 2nd (to maintain 45) I
think twice for short periods. The real slow stretch was between Ash Fork
and Flagstaff; I stayed in the low 50s for most of that and had to downshift
to 2nd for a few extended periods, including one longer stretch of more than
10 minutes. Fortunately the road opened to three lanes right at that point
so we could move around the trucks without blocking traffic. I never had any
heating issues (this was in the afternoon and the temps were dropping quite
a bit), but I did feel like the van was working harder at the higher
elevations.

The trip from our place to Laughlin takes slightly longer than it does in
other vehicles, but for the entire trip from Ridgecrest to where my Dad
lives in AZ we allowed maybe an extra hour, and that's about how it worked
out. I'd say my average cruising speed on more level ground was @ 68. I
don't feel any pain from the difference.

Cya,
Robert

On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 4:01 PM, Mark Hineline <hineline@helix.ucsd.edu>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.....
>>
>