Got to jump back in on this thread I started and that seems to have drifted
a bit.
First, I read the comment about 'so bring your Vanagon to a VW event for
repair' as a tongue in cheek comment and not meant seriously.  Second I had
two points to make in the original post: The value of a top mechanic that
really know the vehicle and the fact that many problems (and I mean many)
that occur in older vehicles like ours are really very simple but the
tendency is to assume major problems and start replacing parts, sometimes
expensive parts, and hope the problem will go away.  Loooking back at my
original message I don't think I emphasized that second point very well.
Now back to the regularly scheduled programing....