In a message dated 98-05-06 15:06:10 EDT, vwvanagon@YAHOO.COM writes:

<< I'm not selling mine, but I can tell you what it's like. The automatic
 transmissions in the Wasserboxer models are more reliable than the
 ones in the air-cooled models (which I'm sure the wife wouldn't want
 anyway) and they're also more reliable than the Wasserboxer manuals,
 as well. My auto is as fast as a stick-trust me-but it likes to
 upshift quickly, and you have to manually gear down, because
 otherwise, it's impossible to toe-tap downshift without floorboarding
 the gas. Autos are nice to drive, and there's no clutch to mess with,
 either. :)
  >>

I'll second that opinion.  i wouldn't own a manual trans vanagon as my own
personal van (well, maybe a syncro doublecab.. :<)
the automatics in the waterboxers are just about the same performance wise, as
a 4spd. plus the automatic is FAR more reliable.
plus i'm just too lazy to shift the gears.. ;<)  (real reason LOL)

Seriously tho, automatics in vw vans have come full circle...
the automatic trans was introduced on the '73 bus. that AT was used '73-'75.
then they changed it again for '76-'79.  i WOULDN'T own an automatic trans
Bus.  they are very trouble prone, plus very slow. i have a friend w/ a '75
westy w/ automatic, and its been rebuilt before, and now it's slipping again.
Manual trans in a Bus very seldom go bad.
Now it's the other way around with the waterboxer vanagon, the automatic is
more reliable than the manual trans..
there was a writeup in Hot VW's as to the reason why this is, they changed the
trans in '83.5 for the waterboxer, and that's when they messed up...i'll have
to dig up that article again, it explained the reason for the problem..

chris