to get around the shift difficulty of the 5 speed,
you use 2nd as a slightly tall starting out gear.

and save 1st as a 'half granny' for starting on hills, slow going etc.

the beauty of the 5 speed is ..
it gives you a whole lot better selection of rations between about 30 and 75
mph.

if a 4 speed, that's two gears essentially, 3rd and 4th.
with the five speed you have 3 ratios to play with in that speed range.

the US model diesel 5 speed still seems a bit undergreared to me..
but a euro gas 5 speed..
man ..
when did you ever get to downshift out of top gear at 65 mph going into a
long hill ?
that is SO nice.
in a 4 spd with marginal power, you fly into the big long hill at 70 , even
75 ..watching speedo ..
and when your down to about 55 you hit 3rd, hoping you can pull the hill at
55 or so in 3rd.

with the 5 speed....you're nicely in the power band in 4th around 60 to 65.
Not so much in the US model diesel 5 speed, but euro gas 5 speeed...very
nice.

that's where they really are better...35 mph or so and up ..
cause you have 3 ratios there.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dylan Friedman" <insyncro@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 4:43 PM
Subject: Re: 5 SPEED TRANSMISSIONS FOR SALE ON THE SAMBA

> Cool
> Two recent posts on the samba by owners who converted both complained
> about the shifting.
> I have had two clients who wanted the 5s replaced with 4s for the same
> reason.
> To each his own.
>
>
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:         Jeff Schwaia <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM>
> Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
> Date:         Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:20:09
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Reply-To:     Jeff Schwaia <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: 5 SPEED TRANSMISSIONS FOR SALE ON THE SAMBA
>
> I disagree.
>
> All Vanagons should have come with a 5 speed (as most European models
> did).
>
>
> Once I got used to the shift pattern, the 5 speed in my Tristar (stock
> 2.1l)
> quickly became my tranny o' choice.  I love the ability to shift down to
> 4th
> gear at 60-65 MPH.  The ratios and spread between the gears are much more
> drivable than the US 4 speeds.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Dylan Friedman
> Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 1:44 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: 5 SPEED TRANSMISSIONS FOR SALE ON THE SAMBA
>
> Add another zero to the rebuilt units price.
>
> Many are finding out the 5 speed isn't all it is cracked up to be. A
> regeared 4 speed is a better option for most applications.
>
>
> ------Original Message------
> From: David Clarkson
> Sender: Vanagon Mailing List
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> ReplyTo: dvdclarksn@AOL.COM
> Subject: 5 SPEED TRANSMISSIONS FOR SALE ON THE SAMBA
> Sent: Aug 10, 2010 4:09 PM
>
> There is one used one for $350.00 in GA (okay I'll bite-whats the catch?)
> and another rebuilt one in the box for a make offer/I need money price.
> Very
> tempting.
> ?
> David Clarkson
> 90 Westy
>
>
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
>