How hard do you drive your van?

[Zeitgeist 13]

Flogged hard and put away wet and steaming. I've never been much of a fan, but the WBX has earned my grudging respect. These things can take a beatin'
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[joetiger]

When I first put in the Subie motor, I drove it as hard as I possibly could. Once the novelty wore off, I returned to driving it like a Vanagon, which to me means taking it easy and shifting carefully.

The only time I really push it is on the way home from a long trip on the highway, 70/75 MPH between 4000-4200 RPM. I keep my foot in it while wrestling the crosswinds.
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Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present

www.josephtrussell.com

[hippiepilot]

Driven daily here in hot humid Florida, Cruse set at 70 mph on the highway.
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83 air-cooled Westy
91 Carat (daily driver)
http://www.changeisland.com

[Mathew Zelezen]

[j_dirge]

[Zeitgeist 13]

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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[GWTWTLW]

[j_dirge]

[Gobbles]

drove like a madman when I first got the Zetec-80 mph most of the way down to the everglades from NC
now-I like to drive 60-65 and take it easy

[PNWesty]

Very gingerly. And even more so before it warms up to proper temp.

[danfromsyr]

Ooo Ooo we're posting images too..


I'll post this one more time.. (can't say it'll be the last)

Tow'd the 86 full westy with my 80 (1.8l jetta I4) at avg cruising speeds of around 55-60mph 95% of the time in 3rd gear
work it like a machine. pull rpms to 5k on acceleration and hold rpms at 4k~ish for maintaining speed.

outside temps were in the very high 90s'
should have seen the looks as I roll past people on the interstates.. I mean WTF.. how can you drive sooo sloow that a DOUBLE VW passes you on an interstate??? (well it wasn't too many but still more than a couple cars)

awnings were stow'd while underway of course..

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[Blueconundrum]

[syncro2x]

Grew up driving bugs and ghias, so used to under powered rigs. My syncro and Westy are both stock engine wise, pedal to the metal, at least 4 grand usually redline before shifting. Sixty to 75 mph on the highway. These rigs were built to rev all day at 3600 to 4000 rpm. My syncro has 125,000 miles on it, original heads, original clutch and tranny and still going strong. Most of that mileage is on gravel, it take a licking and keeps on ticking.

[madspaniard]

drive mine like a mad Spaniard
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1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD

"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali

[Zeitgeist 13]

[87vanagon]

When I first got mine I drove it like an 80 year old in a Cadillac, now that I see they can handle some RPMs I drive it little rougher. Most of the tough love happens in the city, on the highway the cruise is set at 63 and watch all idiots go by.
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Nick
1987 2.1L Vanagon GL- Daily Driver

[90Doka_Guy]

I always say that I use the gas pedal like an on/off switch. I don't have trouble keeping up with the general flow of traffic that way.
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-'87 Westy
-'90 Tintop
-'90 DOKA

[Zeitgeist 13]

I rarely deviate from the left lane on I-5. I've never had a problem with the van maintaining speed, or leading the pack when needed.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[ALIKA T3]

I was always pushing the limits of my first van a 4 speed 1981 diesel until I did a 180° slide on the exit of a roundabout on 2 wheels.....lucky,it stopped balanced on the side,then went back on its 4 feet

Scared the shit out of me...

I got more fun later in mountains with my powerful modified 1.9TD and 5 speeds,passing people up in the 180° loops.People don't know how to drive in mountains,that's annoying.

I'm a slow driver if nobody's on my way,otherwise,I drive that like a moped,period.That's my only ride since 2002,I know every inch of it,and of my 125CC Honda:very similar .

With the Subaru EJ22 engine now,I've been pushing it hard to see ,but with the bad suspension,speedometer stuck a little after 100 MPH on my private circuit,I'm scared,and I'm not even in 5th gear yet (UN1 transmission)

I always drove the vans hard,but shifting smoothly.When you know very well and maintain correctly every part of your vanagon,they are hard to break.
The last run I did with the 2.1L MV engine,I pushed it hard maxed up at 90 MPH,I didn't care if the engine was going to blow,but wanted to see what it had in its guts :impressive for an old engine.
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Silicone Steering Boots and 930 Cv boots for sale in the classifieds.
Syncro transmission upgrade parts in the Classifieds.
Subaru EJ22+UN1 5 speed transmission
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=416343
Syncro http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...num+gadget

[6984vwvanagon]

It depends on what kind of mood "Horst" is in.
Some times he wants to be babied, sometimes beaten.
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84 Vanagon GL van "Horst"
69 Beetle (sold)
73 Beetle (sold, darn it!)

"Ain't this some beautiful mess." - Dude Watson