~ Friday, August 9. 1991 - North Snore News

Ph ee we ns

VW Westtialia

Economical van fine for city driving

WHE THE redesigned 1992
front-wheel-drive Volkswagen van
arrives this fat the enduring
rear-engined van will finally pass
into the histers books. Though
the new van is likely to be mare
space-efficient, lighter and = mare
economical, the current Vanagon
is st a very practical and roomy
vehicle, its basic design pre-dating
tnodern inini-vans by decades.

Volkswagen offers three ver-
sions of the Vanagon: a seven-
passenger van, a semi-camperized
Multivan with a pop-up roof, and
the fully-camperized Westfalia
which. has just about eversthing
including the kitchen sink.

On a recent camping trip in a
Westfalia, Jo discovered that this
san offers a good combination of
driveability and = campabitity .
up Mountain passes, or on nar-
row, twisty roads. At the same
time it is large enough to accom.
modate two adults and two
children on an exrended holiday.

Vanagons ure often criticized

“Fechinical. data

Price as tested $29, £35
Base price $25 888
Type four pas ager camper san

jor being underpowered, and ad-
nvittzdly, 90-borsepower is not a
fou of horsepower to pall a 1.643
ke. caniper.

Haweser, first and second gears
ure geared sery low for serious
hill-climbing., while fourth is
geared for highway cruising, the
flat) four-cylinder engine running
along happily ac 3500 rpm at
about 100 kmeh. AO three-speed
autematic transmission is also
available, but ft woulda’: recom-
mend it for this type of vehicle.

Though strong side-winds will
buffet the van, steering is man-
ageabie and controllable. Han-
dling is also stable, providing that
corners are nat taken too quickly.
Being a window van, Jane chang-
ing and passing is relatively casy.
and the vin's tall height enables
the driver to see over the cars in
front. Getting in and our of the
van requires some body gym-
nasties. though,

The Westfatia has seating and
Meeping capacity for four adults,

Horsepower 90 we 4800 rpm
on

Parque Fi? f-lbs @ 3200 cpm
Arassnission four specd manual

yout tear engine tear wheel hree specd automnatich

drive

Engine 2169 co fout-eytinder hort
dontally opposed. clectronie Dina
fant fuel injection

Vires PSS RIA Continental raaiials
Gurb weight [643 ky. 2622 tbs
Wheelbase 2460 min 9609 tn.
hength 470mm. 179.9 on,

oe:

NEWS photo Neil Lucente

: “San
TEST DRIVE
a Iwo-burner propane stove, sink
with electric water pump, three-
way (battery/AC current/propane)
Tridge, tots of cleverly designed
cupboard space, a fold-away

See Camper pave 22

Width (848 ian 72.6 in.

Ueight 2060 mine Si. in,

Fuel econems Cin E3.b Fb 180
Am. 21h6 qmpe: Hwy PE p10
km, 28 mpy

Warrants Comploic 30 sis. 60,000
hans