Ken:
   I agree with most of your points regarding Auto vs manuals, with the
exception of the gas mileage and (somewhat) the acceleration comparison.  I
don't think its fair to compare a 2.1l auto Carat with a 1.9l '85 stickshift
because of the power difference.  Your Carat should accelerate at least as
fast as a 1.9l.  I have owned '85 vanagons with both types of trannys: the
automatic accelerated about the same as the stick because it wasn't burdened
with a crappy shifter, but definitely had worse gas mileage because of the
inherent slippage and lack of an overdrive gear.  Manual-trannied vans tach at
about 100-200 RPMs less at 70MPH than automatics.  Of course, comparing two
"identical" engines is problematic.

Cary

KENWILFY@AOL.COM wrote:
In a message dated 11/11/99 8:48:23 PM Eastern Standard Time,
lindgre@ONLINE.NO writes:

<< Why shift manually? Heck, that's easy! Because its BORING to drive an
 automatic!!! The Autotranny was invented for people too lazy to shift for
 themselves, or those that cant shift for themselves, but that's a
whole'nother
 matter.
  >>
I used to say the exact same thing until I got my automatic Carat Vanagon
after driving my '85 manual Vanagon.  My opinion is that the manual Vanagon
is no fun to shift but actually a chore that can be very annoying and even
exhausting in heavy traffic (just sit in Philly traffic for two hours with a
manual anything and you will be praying for an automatic).
I have a manual '81 Jetta that I actually enjoy driving (and shifting).  The
three advantages of the manual transmission: long life, more fuel mileage,
and quicker acceleration don't apply to the Vanagon as far as I'm concerned.
Automatic trannys last longer than manuals (on the average), I get the same
fuel mileage with my autobox as I did with the manual (19 town/22 highway),
and how can you really take off any faster with the first gear on the manual
transmission being so low?
Sorry for the rambling.  This is only my opinion after all.

Thanks,
Ken Wilford
http://www.vanagain.com
John 3:16
Office (856)-765-1583
Shop (856)-327-0027
Fax   (856)-327-2242

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