Honestly the biggest appeal of the subi swap is budget. My old 1600 DP just wasnt cutting it on my daily commute to have enough power to navigate mountain passes and Bay Area traffic in a practical manner. Something in the 2 liter variety is perfect for my needs. A subi fits my budget as a properly built aircooled would be too much right now. If i had to do a 2276, id probably have to move my bus to project status and get a beater while i save for the swap. and i got my bus to drive and enjoy not stare at in the garage. More time in my bus is always a win for me.
I totally get the appeal of aircooled, maintaining the heritage and original feel as well as supporting the people and businesses that keep those motors going, but money is the factor for me and if a subi keeps my bus as my daily then thats route im headed.
The reliability and time spent maintaining an original motor is a secondary factor for me. I like wrenching. Havent daily driven anything newer that ‘72 for the 15 years now (unless it breaks down and i need to borrow a car haha). Even after doing 12 hour shifts 3-4 days a week repairing cars, i still get excited to get my hands dirty doing stuff on my bus. Lately though i’ve been wanting to do just fun stuff and not so much the “keep it on the road so i make it to work tomorrow” stuff lol
I dunno; just some thoughts i went through that might be helpful to anyone debating in doing a swap.
