> I _wish_ I could pay $500 for a complete working A/C system including
> refrigerant.  I doubt it'll happen.  The refrigerant alone is probably
$200
> these days.

Well, the $500 are for parts only. And often not even in good shape.
Refrigerant is also ca $200.

> I've lived in Germany.  You don't need A/C.  Spend a summer in Alabama and
then
> we're talking "need."

We already had 38�C this summer. That�s enough to use the AC.

However, many people want AC to raise the value of their Vanagon. T3s with
uncommon, exclusive interieur are still quite worthy here in Germany and can
be sold for much more than what the official lists state.
And it is something special here in Germany. Like having a doublecab in the
States (here crewcabs are sold everywhere for $1500 or less)...

Some time ago a listee cleaned up his garden and threw away the AC ducts
because nobody wanted them. A new complete AC housing costs over $3000  from
VW-Germany.
These parts are so damn expensive here, you can almost double the price of
an old Vanagon when it is equipped with AC. What I heard is that in the
states AC hardly raises the value of a Vanagon.

Raimund