Good, Ja!
What do people DO? Got an '85 Westy with over 190K miles on original motor,
heads, gaskets, etc. Previous owner drove it hard and fast. Granted, Kansas
is as flat as a pancake, but driving at 70+ MPH into a 30+ MPH headwind -
if you have the gas pedal to the floor it doesn't matter if you are going
up hills or not. It's not the fastest thing around, but speed isn't what
I'm after. I'm happy going 65 in a 70 zone and being able to look around.
For me the trip is half the adventure, almost as fun as the destination.
All this talk about AC, increased power, etc. - maybe you don't want a
Volkswagen. Just got back from the lake about 30 min away from here. It's
almost 100 degrees out here, but I drove out there in the Westy which has a
broken AC system. Other option was to drive in my other car, a 93 Caddy
DeVille with a fast 4.9L V8 and AC so cool you need a sweater. But, I was
in no rush and have more fun driving the Westy around as I can just poke
along - often without even the stereo on - just listening to the Bzzzzzzzzz
of the engine and watching the scenery go by.

Hate to point fingers here, but maybe motor life is more a function of
owner than engine? How often do you change your oil? Change your coolant?
Check your coolant so you never let air in . . .? Do you drive 70+ on the
highway with the AC on then pull into a rest area and instantly turn off
the engine?

Now having said it's not the engine, watch it throw a rod on the way to the
Library . . . .