Do you prefer manual or automatic kombis? Why?

Nothing like a manual ... its just cool being able to shift gears useing the biggest gear stick ever known to man

Actually this post may lead onto some graphical symbolism that isn't really needed ppl pls don't go down this track

Nah.... i thought that too once.

Manual for hard pulling beetles!

Auto for cruising in the kombi!
For city driving i love that old 3 speed.
If you have never driven one, have a go - that are great!!

Get a manual, alot cheaper to fix than an auto box

mmmm...... 2L auto are VERY strong.

Dont need clutch replacement

Depends on your engine, I have a factory 3 speed auto in the kombi behind my subie ej20 and it is really cruzy and lazy and i absoloutely love it , but in hindsite (which is always 20/20) i should have gone for either a manual or a V6.

Basically the subie motor is really revy (the dohc ej20 redlines at 7k, ) but the type 4 vw engine is torqy not revy, as a result my auto kicks down at 2500 rpm at full throttle, whereas the subie motor just starts to get interesting at 3500- and the variable manifold butterflies done even open until 5000-,
I drove Dans kombi last month (Blue ej20 powered kombi - manual) and was amazed at the extra power my engine has that isn't used in my car.

Humpty sent me some info on changing the shift point on the later caravelle auto's but mine is different, and when they do change the shiftpoint the auto works harder and needs additional cooling (and prob wears out faster too).

I reckon a nice big V6 like wacked1 is setting in his bus (3.8 Holden)-or even better still an all alloy v6 like Wes's or a Volvo engine) is what is needed behind the Kombi auto. V6's have lots of torque at low engine revs.

For all those running standard engine's my comments are pretty irrelevant, but this is something that has been running through my mind lately as I have been using the bus a bit more and and geting to know it a little better

Anyone feel free to comment (Wes?)

I go the manual in any car. so much more control.

Well, I have only driven manuals, but think an auto would match the relaxed driving of the kombi
I'd say an auto unless you plan a lot of hard driving/towing.
:thumb

have had both - far prefer the Auto, especially round town both the 1800 & 2L auto's are strong
only disadvantage has been lack of third gear to maintain speed up a hill,

I have an auto notch <<<< And It really drives nice. being in trafic all the time, I find a lot nicer than changing gears all the time. But having said that, The bug is manual, and I wouldnt have it any other way!

N!

I'm going with a 2L auto for the Astrum buggy I'm putting together soon, with a Mazda V6 bolted up to it (same as Wes's).

The idea is heaps of usable torque going slow in sand while being nice and smooth on the road as well (can you imagine the wheelstands at the lights with a V6 manual buggy?).

Mind you, I love the manual in my Supa Sport buggy with it's 1600TP. 90 in 2nd gear, 130 in 3rd, buggered if I know in 4th... And it's still able to smoke the 31x10.5 tyres on take off in 1st.

All depends on personal preferance and what you're using the car for.

I've currently driving my 2nd manual kombi, with a fresh 1800. Whilst I am more than happy with it, I have had yearnings for the luxury of an auto. I've spoken to lots of people about them and even went out and bought a 2L auto with most of the parts I need for the conversion.

My reservations about the auto are that they are evidently not suitable for towing or heavy loads. I have spoken to a local auto transmission specialist who believes that he can beef up the clutches on first gear (he says they are similar in design to a C4), but I also want to run a tranny fluid cooler on it, because I do carry a lot of heavy loads and tow trailers quite regularly. I haven't yet had a close enough look at it to work out whether I can tap into the case in a suitable location to run the cooler.

I'm not in any desperate hurry, but ultimately I want to be able to drive around with my stereo turned up loud enough to hear it, and not have to keep an eye on the tacho to avoid stalling in traffic.

I think either way, you will be stuck with a compromise; a nice reliable manual, or a cruisy auto susceptible to overheating if abused.

No Col

Its easy!

Buy a T3/2.5 Caravelle auto and have the best of bouth worlds!

Very interesting!! :thumb

yes very interesting indeed, the 010 is the same one as mine with the mechanical kickdown isn't it??

does anyone know what differences are between the early 010 auto's and the caravelle auto (post 83 models i think are right)?

did they have an external oil cooler in the radiator?

col