Matthew:

Here's what I like and don't like about my '93 GL:
LIKE:
-Cavernous interior.  With the middle seat out (no bolts to remove, just
latches.) and the rear bench removed (4 bolts) the floor becomes a dance hall!
 You can lay 4'x8' sheets of plywood flat on the floor.  A full size mattress
and box spring will slide in the back hatch and rest flat on the floor.  A
40"x48" standard wood pallet can be inserted through the sliding door, just
like a Vanagon.  This is an incredible cargo van.
-The 5 cylinder engine has performed excellently for the 150k miles of its
life.  It does consume approximately 1 qt of oil per 2000 miles, but it has
ever since I got it at 50k and I've always used Mobil1 15w-50.  This engine
pulls great and has always had plenty of power (ignore the fact that my other
van is a Diesel Westy ;-o.
-The Front Wheel Drive has been terrific in all weather.
-ABS brakes are the only way to go!  Saved our skin many times.
-The 5 speed manual tranny is fun.
-My wife loves it (her daily driver).

DISLIKE:
-Rust.  Rear hatch, fuel door, and panel seams have a tendency to rust.  PIA.
-Parts are expensive and there are few used part alternatives.  I have found
the Bus Depot to be pretty good and getting VW only stuff, but the price is
still high compared to our Vanagons.
-Service.  Nobody has heard of the beasts, much less had any experience working
on them.  Even some VW dealers seem clueless.  I have found a dealer in MA that
has done good work, but again the price has been high and it is typical for
them to hold the car while they wait for parts.
-The Bentley is two volumes and my son uses it for weight training.
-Tire options are even more limited and expensive than the Vanagon (15" wheel
don't buy you any advantage.)

Please note: my comments are about my '93 GL, 7 passenger, 5 spd, A/C, ABS, 5
cyl gas model.  I hear the V6 engine is terrific.  After '95 they have only
been available in the states with Automatic tranny (blah).  YMMV - yadda,
yadda, etc.

Maynard Southard  OvO '79
'82 Westy Diesel "Reinhardt"
'93 EV GL "Klinger"
'00 Golf GLS TDI "WooHoo"
'84 Jetta GL TD "Donor"

On Wednesday, July 25, 2001 2:08 PM, Matthew Pollard <poll7356@UIDAHO.EDU>
wrote:
> My sister is selling her ford exlopder (perfect shape $6k if you
> want it. IN sacramento CA) and i got him to at least look at VW.  She
> immedialy ruled out the vanagon because of the lack of 'stuff' in front of
> the driver (ie your knees are the crumple zone).  She is THINKING about
> the eurovan instead.  Any comments, complaints, praise, etc would be helpful.