Jennifer,

Point by point:

> His main issue (along with lack of power and crappy gas mileage)
Yeah, vanagons are a bit lacking in the pony department.  Ask him how much
'discount' he'll give you if you put a 200+ hp Subi engine in it. ;o) But they
do get between 17 and 25 mpg.  This is not "crappy" gas mileage compared to
other "recreational vehicles".  Ask him what kind of mileage you can expect to
get if you instead purchase a 'Class A' motorhome.

> was safety and design.  He said Vanagons just fold up like an accordion when hit.

You want me to send you/him the vanagon vs volvo pictures?  They are NOT
pretty!  In the vanagon, one would possible break legs. In the Volvo, one
would die. I suppose that this is the reason for his position.  Burying
someone is cheap compared to repairing a broken leg. (Ask me how I know.)

> He specifically mentioned
> the how everything was run by cables that run underneath the car, and that
> these are susceptible to corrosion, etc.

Not since 1979.  The Vanagon clutch is hydraulically controlled.  And not
since about 1952, have the brakes been cable controlled (any vintagebussers
care to correct me?) The parking brake system is cable controlled on the vast
majority of cars on the road today. (Including his beloved sh*tbox.)

I suspect that you/he will find that the underwriter will love to insure the
vanagon.  He (the agent) is full of it!

Jim Arnott
WetWesties
Union, OR