OK, here is my second posting to this hot topic because a few more things
have come to mind.

1. I can't agree more with Joy about the people/community aspect.
2. With a Vanagon - if you do have trouble the Vanagon Rescue Squad is never
too far away
3. Met a great guy and list member Jerry Baldwin, at Buses of the Corn this
past summer and quite enjoyed his personal bus story - should you get a
chance it will leave you knowing that a Vanagon is where it's at. There are
many other's out there who will do the same.
4. Owning a Vanagon has given me 1000+ new friends - who require none of the
sometimes tedious maintenance that other types of friends do - you're simply
in by owning the van.

Now when I lived in Chicago in '95 our guitar player had a boyquota van. I
thought it was pretty cool - then years later I met my first Vanagon. I'll
tell you the Vanagon can hold twice the amount of stuff that boyquota could.
I've fit an entire band set up in my old '85. That was an entire pa plus
gear for two guitarists and a bass player - and more than half of the drum
set. I was way impressed.

Owning a Vanagon has been heart breaking at times - but the good things far
out way any heartaches I've endured. The one warning I have - when you get
one another may not be far behind. Good luck on your decision.

--
Thanks,

Jeff
'90 Carat (Grover)
'86 (We call this one Parts)
'78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus