On Tue, 25 May 2004, Doug in Calif wrote:

> These rigs do not have a fully independent suspension systems so they
> handle like a turd on twisty roads.
> if they are rear wheel drive they will spin on even the slightest ice or
> slick surface as they have no weight on the rear wheels.

True, but you will never have to replace a CV joint.  A limited-slip diff
helps a lot with traction on slick surfaces, and if you do a camper
conversion you *will* be adding weight to the rear.  The front-mounted
engine means you will never air-lock the cooling system and there are no
complicated bleeding procedures.

Those big rear-wheel-drive, live-axle vans are great freeway cruisers,
they track straight and stable with little steering input and their
torquey engines make cruise control a viable option instead of an
annoyance.

I've driven both...I'm not saying that they're better or worse than a
Vanagon, they're just designed with different goals in mind.

David Brodbeck, N8SRE
'86 Volvo 240DL wagon
'82 VW Vanagon Westfalia Diesel