A well behaved automatic, with good suspension and motor is a  joy. My 90
Automatic GL is very smooth. A very sporty driving experience that puts a
smile on your face. The highway revs are a little high in that third gear,
but this is only troubling at lower elevations (I live and play at 7000 and
above.) It's the perfect ride and a superior design, in my opinion.
Miguel

On Sat, May 26, 2012 at 10:50 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:

> I have been driving VWs (legally) since 1976. Back in the air cooled days
> we had to repair or replace engines, especially in the busses. It was
> around 1989 that I realized I had to learn to repair Vanagon transmissions
> as failures were becoming common. I do many more tranny repairs than head
> gaskets or engines. The automatics when maintained are remarkably reliable
> and normal overhauls are quite easy.  The loss of economy is not much, less
> than a Syncro.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Chris S.
> Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2012 12:21 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Automatic vs Manual
>
> Most problems with an automatic are fixed by replacing them with a manual.
> Most problems with a manual are fixed by replacing the driver.
>
> I have been driving manual Vanagons for 12 years with none of the problems
> you mentioned.
>
> Chris.
>
> Wysłane z iPhone'a
>
> Dnia May 26, 2012 o godz. 11:01 Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
> napisał(a):
>
> > RE: Auto vs Stick and Gas Milage
> > I've seen some comments in this thread on gas mileage with an
> > automatic that puzzle me based on my personal experience.  I drove an
> > '85 Westy stick for about seven years, many long trips, about 60 k
> > miles.  During that time it cost me a tranny rebuild, two clutches,
> > slave cylinder and eventually an engine.  (Though the engine
> > replacement had noting to do with the type of tranny I was driving.)
> > That '85 Westy, on the highway, gave 18 to 21 MPG depending on how I
> > drove.  For the last ten years I've been driving a '90 Westy with
> > automatic.  Not a cent spent on clutches or tranny except for routine
> > service.  Just over 70K miles now, many long trips.  And I get from
> > 17 to 20 MPG, again depending on how and where I'm driving.  The
> > automatic in town?  13 to 15 MPG.  BUT my left knee remains intact after
> driving in
> > heavy city traffic!   Note the numbers, just a mile per gallon less with
> > the automatic based on real world experience with two Westies and
> > driven with virtually identical loads and several times a year the
> identical trip.
> > On the highway/freeway this is driving at around 60 MPH or a little less.
> > If I run at 65 or higher then milaege will drop to 16 to 17 MPG.  And
> > the best mileage I get is usually on driving segments in the
> > mountains, winding and twisty up and down roads.  Go figure on that.
> > BTW, I'm at just under
> > 170,000 miles on this original tranny and the original 2.1L WBX.  That
> > means that both are going to need serious attention in the near future.
> > The tranny will cost me half to a third of the cost of a rebuild on a
> > manual.
>