>one thing to always remember: when you go faster with more power, you
>NEED bigger brakes. move acceleration and momentum means need for more
>stopping power. :( so don't get toooooo power happy. ;)

I'm not too power happy.  After all, i drive a Vanagon!  I just want enough
power to help me merge on the highway in the morning.  My Carat is an
automatic which eats a little power from the Waterboxer.

>the head gasket issue seems, in my opinion, directly related to the
>failure of vw dealers and vwoa to tell owners of Vanagons that they
>NEED to replace the coolant every two years. period.

I knew about the head gasket problem when I bought the van so I have been
good about changing the coolant every year.  I was even considering a new
radiator and hoses for this summer.  Unfortunately, I think the owner before
me had phosphate anti-freeze in the engine which did me in at 120K.  My leak
is so big now I can't get to the end of my driveway!

>the single-head-gasket engines, like the audi and the golf gti engines
>do have a certain appeal, however. only one gasket to worry about. but
>i'd still do the coolant replacement every two years in them as well.
>

I put about 300K on an in-line 4 cyl so the appeal goes deep for me.  I
would like to find someone (a mechanic) who would be willing to do either a
Subaru swap or a used (50K) golf 4 cyl or audi 5 cyl.  Know anyone in Oregon
who wants to make a few bucks?

Thanks,
Alan
Sherwood Oregon
>good luck! have fun in germany! ;)
>joel
>
>