>If I had to drop 7-8g's into my 16 year old Van to cause it to be
>reliable, it would be time to bail.
>It would be time to start looking for a dependable mode of
>transportation without the all the glitches.

If you have a regular Vanagon, yeah, $7-$8k is probably too much
money for a new engine.

If you have a late model Westy, then it's a good investment,
especially if you intend to keep the van a long time.  Westy's are
going up in value each year as they become more scarce.  They are
even more desirable with a powerful, well engineered engine.

And to clarify, $7-8k is for a low mileage Subie engine
professionally installed.  If you can do the work yourself, it will
cost you only $3-$4k by the time it's done....not much more than a
"new" waterboxer that still has all the waterboxer deficiencies.

And once you drive a Subie vanagon, you'll never want a waterboxer
again.  It's like using DSL or Cablemodem internet after using
dial-up Internet. ....it's hard to go back.