Not sure if this belongs in here but hey, So basically i just wanted peoples opinions on the 1600 air cooled engine. Its been a few months now of owning our camper and i still cant get used to it. The engine to me seems very weak and unresponsive from standstill. isn't to bad once up to speed, but from stand still unless the rev's are super high then it feels like its going to stall. Is this normal/ do i just have to get used to it? The engine has recently been serviced,eleccy ignition fitted and re timed/tuned, and is recon just a few years old. Incidentally the camper used to have the 1900 (?) lump in, not sure why exactly PO decided to change. Thanks in advancce
It depends what you compare it with.... about 25HP per ton of camper is not a high power to weight ratio.
Admittedly they're never going to set any speed records but it certainly shouldnt feel like it's going to stall when you're accelerating. A well running 1600 is fine.
A well sorted 1600 is fine. Not a ball of fire, but quite zoomy around town. I'd get yours serviced properly by someone who knows VW engines. The behaviour of your engine isn't "normal".
Is there anyone near you who'd let you have a go in theirs or let them drive yours to see if they feel much different. I've had mine on the road for a week now,first camper/air cooled vehicle,love the way it drives but i've driven hundreds of different vehicles over the years,cars, vans, trucks,vintage and classic sports cars and they're all unique , possibly none more so than these though very different from any modern computer assisted engine.
Cant say I know of anyone to use for comparisons, new to all this V-dub air-cooled lark ha ha. Yeah I've drove a few older vehicles to, mostly land rovers, thought they were slow and gutless but on paper they are quite a bit more powerful than a bay, that said not sure how much a bay weights, 2 tonne maybe? Like your thinking though when i find someone local i shall ask if they don't mind driving and see what they think. Got plenty of jobs to crack on with now before i start thinking about anything drastic power wise.
