My Sprinter has a tiptronic and a Bus feind teased me the day I bought it
'cause it didn't have a real stick.  I suppose I might like the tip in a
smaller van but Moby is 600cf inside and 25' long so it's still like
navigating a ship and I sure my me Westy and its stick!

On Fri, Mar 12, 2010 at 6:45 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

> I will say that a 'good' automatic is a joy to drive.
> More than a 3 speed slush box like vanagons have.
> I am way satisfied with the 4 speed auto in my turbo volvo sedan, with
> electric button shifting in and out of overdrive top gear.
>
> my personal vanagon for a while was an automatic  trans 85 Weekender.
> It was 'ok' ......worst thing was it drank a lot of fuel.  16.5 mpg on the
> highway.
> Otherwise pretty nice.
>
> my current personal van is a 4 speed...
> while one has to shift it ..
> advantages are  better fuel economy, you can push start it if you have to
> ( did that a few times recently when an IMI gear reduction starter deciced
> not to cooperate ) ....and more precise control on slippery surfaces,
> wieghs
> less too.
>
> and one of these days .........I have a plan to make a button controlled
> vaccum operated clutch release sysem, using VW parts....
> starting out from a stop will be normal, with a clutch pedal, but once
> moving, clutch release is by button on the shifter - and just coordiante
> throttle and engine rpm.
>
> I also have a plan for an 'automatic stick shift' trans....there are two in
> rear engine german cars that can work.
> The 3 speed from about a 69 bug, and better, a 4 speed from a 69 or 70
> Porshce 911.
> Those are a normal manual gear box, and there are two 'clutches sort of'
> ......
> one is a conventional clutch operated by a large vacuum servo  ( got that
> part already ) , and in addition to that clutch is a torque converter.
> The way it works is ....if you are 'touching' the shift lever ...
> a micro switch in the shifter switches a vaccum valve ( got that part too )
> that disengaes the conventional clutch. Then you put it in first gear.
> Then you remvoe your hand from the shifter, it goes 'clunk' being in gear,
> but it doesn't move yet, if your foot is on the brake ...
> due to the torque converter.
> Release the brake, give it a little gas ....and away you go.
> when it's time to hit second, you just grab the shifter lever, pull it into
> 2nd, and let go.
> and so on.
> Gives you a manual transission with no clutch pedal.
> It's not a lock-up torque converter so there is probably always some
> power/effeciency loss there......but it is an early version of a clutch
> pedal-less manual trans.
> Somebody is gonna make a padel shifter vanagon one of these days too.
> Tiptronic.
> Mabye someone already has  !
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Annie" <lsandrsn@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 5:00 PM
> Subject: Re: .................... and vanagons
>
>
>  I prefer a stick shift but due to a back injury that causes my legs, and
>> especially my left leg, to fall asleep, I no longer drive one and now have
>> an automatic.
>>
>> ~Annie
>>
>> On Fri, Mar 12, 2010 at 4:23 PM, Donna Skarloken
>> <dskarloken@gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>  As middle age descends upon me, I find in traffic I do prefer an
>>> automatic.
>>> But my commute car is a stick shift (as of course is the Syncro) so I
>>> just
>>> deal with it.
>>>
>>> Happy Friday,
>>> Donna, Syncro 1987
>>>
>>> On Fri, Mar 12, 2010 at 3:54 PM, Mike South <msouth@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> > On Fri, Mar 12, 2010 at 5:40 PM, Robert Fisher
>>> > <garciasghostvw@gmail.com
>>> > >wrote:
>>> >
>>> > > --snip--
>>> > > I can't imagine owning an auto tx in a Vanagon
>>> > > --snip--
>>> > >
>>> > > Why not?
>>> > >
>>> >
>>> > Love of adventure--the thrill of waiting for that 3-4 slider to
>>> > disintegrate, etc.
>>> >
>>> > :)
>>> >
>>> > mike
>>> >
>>> > >
>>> > > Cya,
>>> > > Robert
>>> > >
>>> >
>>>
>>>

--
Neil2
'82 Diesel Westfalia (USS Tinosa)
'86 Vanagon/Westfalia Wannabe (SaVannah)
Nunquam Pendite Divendium