I am currently on a large trip, Newfoundland to Rock Valley, Iowa and
return.  Right now in Kalamazoo, Mich.  on the return leg. I have a
1982 Westy, former diesel with an 86 Jetta GLI 8V transplant. Have a
rebuilt trans from Todd Hill from an aircooled early 80s van.  On the
outward trek, I was moving fast to get time with my parents before a
family reunion, and was often crusing between 75 & 80.  The lowest mpg
I recorded was about 19.  On the return, after having an encounter
with the Iowa Hiway patrol in my dad's Taurus SHO, and realizing they
are lurking around every corner with their radar, I was right on the
speed limit going east.  This was 55-58 mph on the first 120 miles,
and 65 thereafter. On that first tank I got nearly 23 mpg, and
successive ones to Kalamazoo between 20 and 21 mpg, the speed limit
went up to 70 in Illinois.  This is with just one person but Westy
with a lot of stuff I a bringing back to Boston for my sister.  By the
way I love the I-4 transplant, a really sweet engine. Have now driven
3500 miles from the fresh oil change on departure, and not down enough
to add.  This is an engine with over 90K on it when transplanted in
'94 and I have put another 35k on it since.  With the higher final
drive ratio and the high revving GLI engine, I can take it up to 75
mph in 3rd gear without hitting redline, so on long hard hills just
drop down to stay with traffic.  No cooling probs so far, but no 100
degree weather yet either (I hope none before I get home).

Cheers,

Ted Hoekman