I dunno, Vanagon parts arent't that bad ... my daily driver is a 1997 Saab
900SE.  I love it, but cripes is it pricey to keep up.  Recently the AC
compressor died; the local dealer (labor @ $75/hour, btw) quoted me $1300 for
a new compressor (I'm going to skip that one).  New center muffler and center
flex pipe?  Just got them replaced for a whopping $650, because all of the
local shops refused to work on Saabs and referred me to the dealer.I used to have a Mazda Miata; it cost me at most $600 in maintenance over four
years, but it didn't have the style and quirkiness of the Vanagon and the
Saab.  Ah, self-inflicted wounds.

Best,
d.