Our vanagon is an 87.  My daily commuter is an '85 Quantum (disguised Passat
for American consumption) wagon (1.8L, 5 speed) with about 280K miles (just
a guess as the odometer only works when it feels like it).  Every year I
have to do something to that damn car.  This Spring it was new tires--FOUR
of them!  Last month I had to replace the oxygen sensor.   And last year it
was front wheel bearings and an axle/CV joint.  The year before it was the
rear shock absorbers.  And don't get me started with the f*<&ing
maintenance--hardly a season passes that I'm not changing the damn engine
oil and filter!    Really...the list goes on and on.   And I paid good money
for this POS money pit, $400 back in '99 (and those were 1990's dollars..).
The stack of receipts from the original owner should have given away exactly
what kind of fruit this car is.  He had to get the timing belt replaced
TWICE in just 150K miles.  And it looks like I will have to change it AGAIN,
and probably flush the cooling system!

And its got alot of quirks.  For instance, it cruises way too fast on the
interstate, like 85-90 mph.  And you hardly have to slow down for off ramps.
Driving those speeds it only gets 29 mpg.

Mark Zaranski
87 Vanagon GL
85 Quantum wagon