> These vans were
>  designed by the Germans to be maintained, unlike American machines,
>  where the ideal is just turn the switch and go

Indeed, I think it's clear that the Vanagon's mechanical "weakness"
was mostly the inherent difference in engineering approaches.
A Detroit engineer might very well start by asking:

 "What would happen to this engine if the driver let the coolant leak
out and then kept it only 3/4 full of straight hose water for 20K
miles?"

A VW engineer would gape in shock at the very question and ask:

"WHY would anyone DO that?!?!"

Same planet, different world.

--
John Bange
'90 Vanagon - "Geldsauger"
'90 Vanagon GL - "Wiesel"