Apples and oranges. You have to compare Wasserboxer with AT w/ Wasserboxer with AT. I get 22-25mpg on my 2.0 ABA with a 1.8 head behind an AT.

Compare that to my Vanagon with a turbo Subie 2.2 with an AT which only gets 14mpg. But then you would have to take into account that I drive this one at a more brisk pace.

I have a bunch of other manual trans vehicles. The AT is a nice respite from rowing that shifter and exercising the calf. 

BenT

sent from my electronic leash

On Mar 24, 2011, at 11:06 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> On Thu, Mar 24, 2011 at 7:44 AM, Chris S <szpejankowski@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> 13-14 in town????? Holy cow!!! Plus the added strain on the braking system,
>> plus the higher revs on the engine. I guess that's the price you pay for
>> convenience.
>> 
>> Chris.
>> 
>> Wysłane z iPhone'a
>> 
>> 
>  Yeah, Sheesh!
> 
>  So at Today's Gas prices.. Lessee.....say $3.50 per gallon
> 
>   I always get 23mpg with my 5sp inline VW gasser.  Some with WBx manual
> trannys claim similar mpg.    I'd be losing 10 miles per gallon if I swapped
> it to an automatic.
> 
>   I can go appx 350 miles on a tankful if I do the shifting myself.   With
> an auto, I would get just  ~ 210 miles on a full tank..
> 
>  So I would be filling up 150 miles sooner every tankful,  to save myself
> shifting.   I'd need another 11.5 gallons to reach that 350 mile point I'd
> be at if I were driving a manual tranny vannie.  11.5 gallons more would
> cost me an additional  $40.30 cents to go the same distance...
> 
>  Forty extra bucks per tank?   Worthwhile expense?
> 
>  I drive about 20k miles per year in my van.  If I swapped over to auto and
> got the 13mpg.....I'd be spending an extra $2380 per year!  Wow!  Doing the
> numbers is an eye-opener.  I only spend about that, total..gas AND expenses
> (~$2000) for 2 months of travel and camping in the desert SW during the
> winters...
> 
>  That seems a bit expensive. I guess I'll shift for myself.
> 
> Plus, there are only 3 stop signs between where I live and my local city,
> which I visit, but where I do not live and commute.
> 
>  Don Hanson