Have a 86 scirocco that had PS.  The car ran the 1/8 in 11.3 sec.  Took the
PS belt off and ran a 10.9 that same night.  4/10 sec in the 1/8 is
substantial.  Sorry, this doesn't answer your question, but thought might be
interesting.

-----Original Message-----
From: Max/Joyce Wellhouse <maxjoyce@IPA.NET>
To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Date: Saturday, April 25, 1998 12:19 PM
Subject: Re: Retrofitting power steering-is it worth it?

>Curious question for the masses.  How much power does the PS pump steal
>from the 2.1 WB?  I've not bothered replacingthe AC stuff because I don't
>want to give up the power loss.  If anyone has figures, I'd like to know.
>
>Dimwitted Moose and Flying Squirrel.
>----------
>> From: ROGunter <ROGunter@AOL.COM>
>> To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: Retrofitting power steering-is it worth it?
>> Date: Saturday, April 25, 1998 10:51 AM
>>
>> I bought an new '85 Vanagon with power steering.  Liked it.  It went out
>a few
>> miles after the warranty expired.  VW wanted $600.00 to replace the rack
>and
>> pinion  (all the seals were blown).  I went to a junk yard and bought a
>manual
>> rack and pinion for $150.00 and changed it over.  The most noticable
>> difference is when turning sharp corners at low speed.  On the open road,
>no
>> real difference except more power since the little 1.9L engine is not
>spinning
>> a power steering pump anymore.
>>
>>    I found if I keep sufficient air in the front tires, I never miss the
>power
>> steering; neither does the little missus.  If the air is low in the front
>> tires, though, it is a bugger to steer.  To my mind, power steering is
>like
>> power door locks, just something else to go wrong and cost money.
>>
>> Russell Gunter