I must say before I bought my '85 Westy two years ago and found this list,
I had no idea the WBX engines were so terrible!  I bought an '86 GL new in
July of 1986.  I put 140,000+ miles on it before I sold it, just after I
bought the '85.   Other than a power steering rack, I had no major
expenses.  The engine was never out.  Original clutch.  The antifreeze was
changed every three years or so--Prestone, no less--and the oil was changed
every 3500 miles.  It still had the original front brake rotors on it when
I sold it.  As a matter of fact, it went up and down Mt. Washington the
summer before I sold it.   I never worried about catastrophic coolant loss,
P-rated tires or Vanagon syndrome until I got on these lists!  Ignorance is
bliss.  My '85 has over 125,000 miles on it and it wasn't taken care of
very well.  It does appear to have the original heads and has not been
apart.  I have put about 5,000 miles on it since I bought it about 2 years
ago and I may be able to get another two years out of it.
They're not fast, but with proper care, will last a long time.
I guess the we rarely hear about the good ones--much as in real life.

                                   Jay '85 Westy (The Hindenburg)