Someone mentioned shocks dictate how stiff your suspension is.  Wrong, actually.  Shock rates (as
in very stiff aftermarket shocks) are almost always speaking of the Rebound rate, or how quickly the
shock will re-extend after it hits a bump.  Springs are what supports the vehicle, keeps it up.  Do
a google for hypercoil..they make any spring you could ever want, though I have not looked for
springs specifically for a van, they can make custom rated springs to order at a very reasonable
price, if you think it worthwhile trying to improve the "handling" on a vanagon.
  The 911s notoriously quirky handling is a function of polar moment (as mentioned)  The motor is
hung on the back of the car, and is a big percentage of the over all weight of that car.  So in
order to make that one stick to the road, they put big rear treads on it.  Works ok, but if the car
ever loses traction and starts to spin...you MUST not let up on the throttle (which takes some
getting used to) because if you do that, you make the weight shift forward to the front
tires....exactly the wrong thing to help control a rear wheel (oversteer) slide.  Plus, once you
start that heavy lump (the motor, way out back behind the wheels) toward the outside of the turn, it
is difficult to catch it...911s are very easy to pass going into a turn...because they have to go in
slowly enough to avoid having to let up during that turn (causes the weight to shift forward, making
them spin out)  They exit turns well, since they have most weight over their drive wheels,
especially accelerating.
  Don Hanson

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