Except for torque converter slip the auto in third gear has the same overall gear ratio as a stock 4 speed in 4th. 

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of miguel pacheco
Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2012 2:06 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Automatic vs Manual

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.
>