Espar vs. Webasto

Which one do you prefer?
Can I use the timer to start it automaticaly lets say mon-fri at 3pm?
Can I run them for longer period of time?
Can I buy them without installation?
I preffer to install it myself.
Webasto can be ordered with jetta specific installation kit. What is included in that kit?
Espar comes with basic installation kit. What is included in that kit?
I am in Ottawa, Ontario.
Is there someone beside dealers listed for each manufacturer, selling it in Ottawa?
Prices? I understand tha Webasto is more expensive. Is it worth extra money because of vw specific installation kit?
Is it easier to install?

Thanks for your help in advance.

Marek

Why not get a TDIHeater? Unless of course you're not able to plug your car in. I've heard good things about webasto's in trucks, but I've never even heard of espar. If webasto has a jetta-specific installation kit, then perhaps it is the better choice. Just curious, but what is the cost on it?

I already have Zerostart installed. Works great at home, but at work there is no outlet to plug it in.
Espar is american branch of Ebershpaher. They were popular in older vw buses. Here is the one I am thinking about: http://www.espar.com/htm/Specs/water/D4Wspec.htm
The price is arround $1000CAD for Espar and 2K for Webasto.
Can anyone verify that?
What did you pay for your Espar or Webasto in Canada?
Thank you.

Marek

I believe tongsli has the Webasto... very pricey...but iirc... according to him-- it's worth every penny

The espar seems to be a better unit than the webasto. I was looking for these things in the past, since they would allow me to save around $300/year since I could park in a different lot at the university (no plug-ins), but I decided to just get a circulating heater instead.

I wonder where you would install something like this though. I suppose you could connect it in line with the zerostart, and hopefully it has a flow-through design, so it offers no resistance to coolant flow when it's not operating. If this is the case, then it shouldn't be too hard to install.

Anyhoo, back on topic

I would personally go with the Espar, and it is definately a good idea if you don't have the ability to plug your car in sometimes. The only other thing to remember, is every hour, it will use 0.4L of fuel, and start running your battery down. This could be a big problem in the dead of winter. I don't know how long it needs to run for before you start up your car, but I wouldn't run either the Espar or the Webasto for more than 1 hour.

When I looked into the webasto, it was $1600CDN installed, and there was a place in Calgary that could do it. I think the equipment alone was ~$1300 or $1200. Personally I'd say get the Espar, and install it yourself. You could probably tap off of one of the under-hood diesel lines, running power is super-easy, and just put it in-line, before your zerostart heater.

See Greg about getting a heater and Lube specialists. He does them for the trucks so should have access to them for us.

keep in mind, the webasto differs than the Espar because the Webasto, in addition to heating the coolant, it operators the fan to warm up the interior also.

The Espar also has a fuel pump built into it, so it doesn't need wires run to the fuel pickup under the passenger side rear seat.

Webasto dealer here quoted me 8-10 hours at $60 per hour to install it. I'd rather do it myself as well.

Radman in the Quebec forum has a line on Espars and may be able to get good pricing on it.

Do we have a current source for these? I don't think Dan @ Hillside is bringing them over any more.

I have a Webasto in my car. It costs $1500 installed.

The unit works great, has an easy to use timer, allowing your car to be toasty warm when you get in to goto work. It also has a remote that works pretty good. When you click the remote the unit comes on and in 10 minutes it's nice and warm.

The unit will only run for about 1 hour before it shuts off, but in my tests it gets the coolant to operating temperature in about ten minutes.

You can also run the unit while driving, to get up to 190 degress faster.

This took a fairly competant mechanic in a fully equipped shop about half a day to install. I do not believe that you can buy one without installation. Nor would I recommend it.

It's really nice to get into a nice warm car in the middle of winter. If you leave the defoster on, a lot less scraping before you can drive.