Newbie with an engine question please!

[smudge]

Hello everyone....

Ok, I'm new to the T25 scene although I do know my way around splits and bays having owned several of both over the years, in fact we still have a 67 splitty , which is staying put, the family wouldn't be complete without him...!!

Anyways, we're on the lookout for a good T25 Westy, either a California or Atlantic, as with a family of four we need something with more room and also something more usable on a daily basis. Having spent loads of hours reading all the very useful info on this forum and scouring all my back issues of Camper & Bus mags, I'm slowly getting to grips with the differences between the California and Atlantic, either will do very nicely thankyou!

So we've narrowed it down to a late Westy, and as some of you may already know, there a few dealers out there with some for sale at the moment, but they either have the 1.6TD or the 1.9 petrol engines fitted. However what I would really like to know is how people get on with either their 1.6 TD engines, or the 1.9 Petrol ones?

We intend to do lots of camping, both at VW shows and holidays, and plan to travel all over the UK and even the continent. I appreciate the TD's will be more fuel efficient, but I am slightly worried about their general (power) performance as a daily driver, compared to the 1.9. I'm not a speed freak, but I do like to be able to keep up with modern traffic and cruise comfortably on the motorways. I know from experience that pulling out on a motorway in a LHD splitty with a 1500 engine in can be a challenging experience.... so I'm keen to improve upon that if I can although I fully appreciate that a T25 will be quicker than a split....The T25 will be used as much around town for school runs and the like as it will for holidays, so I want to enjoy driving it!

All opinions and views most welcome

great forum by the way.......

Smudge

[eatcustard]

Both are underpowered
So go for a camper with the best bodywork

To mix with modern traffic you need a 2.1 with LPG

[jason k]

my california is a 2.1 petrol. it handles modern traffic quite well!! they do go well if you open em up a bit but do get thirsty.

i looked into lpg ing mine but the tanks will only go either in the wardrobe ( missus says its a no no!!) or under the r n r bed where i have my webasto so thats a no no too really.

i drove a 1.6 td and found it hard work and sluggish.

grab a 2.1 as long as you can live with the mpg. (23 - 26) driven nicely

[pocolow]

Agreed a 1.6td is never going to be fast (70hp) but it is a more conventional engine to work on and frugal My 1.6td will average 30mpg in town and 35-38mpg on a run. The 1.9 petrol's are only 75hp and mid 20s for fuel economy. Now a 2.1 would be great for power but those I know are lucky to get 22mpg often in the teens. Lpg conversion is good ,but it'll cost you to fit..Cheers Mark

[dsa]

HI i just bought a Westy Atlantic hitop 1.6 td its replaced my 1900cc petrol i really have not noticed much diffrence in power between the two . Only on very steep hills the diesel is a touch slower but its a good bit cheaper to live with for day to day driving. The previous owner had the engine rebuilt and new cylinder head and Turbo fitted and it pulls very well sits very well between 65-70 on motorway. I bought the van on the condition of the bodywork and the fact it has full service history but i am well pleased with the diesel Engine.When i go long distance in the van i try to take it easy on motorway sit about 60-65 max chill and enjoy the drive.

[Big Boris]

Hi,
We too are new to the t25 scene and bought a 1989 California 1.6td a few months ago. Initially i too was worried about engine power vs fuel output and was sceptical of the 1.6td but it has turned out great. Although there is only 2 of us so the load is a bit less than a family of 4 admittedly. Just go and try different engine types and see what you prefer.
Our Boris has his big test soon.....15 nights in France so shall see how he fares under that pressure. We have tailored in a slower journey time and you definitely learn to see the travel there as part of the holiday rather than a means to an end if you go by car or other mode of transport!!

[rainman]

Dunno about splitties but my 2L Aircooled is no quicker than the bay I used to have. I think that's down to the weight of the beast, both the vehicle itself and all the gubbins therein.

[smudge]

Well thankyou for all those useful replies....

As with all things there are pro's and cons, and everyone's preferences/needs are different. The 2.1 sounds good in terms of performance, but the mpg would be a concern for us, unless LPG was already fitted.

The comments by Big Boris and dsa are encouraging though, especially as dsa has a high top which I would assume would make the vehicle a little slower anyway. The mpg on a 1.6TD is much more encouraging for us, and I guess each each engine will only perform as well as it's been serviced. And yes, when I'm going on my hols the drive is all part of the fun, but not when I'm driving to and from work and need to get home!!

As has been discussed with many other threads on the forum, engines are secondary really to bodywork condition, but that said I don't want to spending out my well-earned on engine rebuilds etc if I don't have to. I just want to be out there enjoying it for what it is.

A friend of ours has a 1992 T4 Westy which I've driven and it is without doubt the most gutless vehicle I've ever driven (I'm not sure if it's a 1.9 or a 2.4). It was so bad I thought I'd left the handbrake on when I drove it (I hadn't.....). I guess that's what I'm worrying about really....however good the van looks if it drives like a dog then I know I won't want to go out in it, which defeats the whole issue really.....

Thanks again for all the replies, any more comments?

[jamesc76]

High tops make no difference really to speed or fuel economy, the best advice is go for the best body work and fittings etc engines can soon be swapped out for beeter ones for not a massive amounts either!

[pocolow]

I would suggest you try and test drive vans with different engines, so you know what to expect. a fully laden hightop T25 is nudging Two tons ans so 70-75 hp ain't going to shift it quick. Your other option is a Subaru engine swap, where you get power and economy...but big££££. Mark

[jamesc76]

Your other option is a Subaru engine swap, where you get power and economy...but big££££. Mark

No to expensive if you do it yourself It actually cost me less than a recon engine !