I have a 46 mile round-trip commute 5 days a week. I've driven this commute
for the last year. About 130,000 miles on an '87 GL Syncro Weekender.
Relatively reliable, but if I were you I wouldn't expect it to be like an
eastern import where you check the oil and fill the gas with no worries
(well, fewer worries). Make sure you read all the info on the head leak
problem at http://www.vanagon.com/problems/

Good luck!
Mack