I know some of these $2-4,000 clunkers seem high priced but at least you
know what you are getting into.   As I recall Benny Boy used to say you are
going to spend $20K if you wanted a good running Vanagon Westfalia.  Meaning
that if you bought a $15K van you will probably dump $5K into it when you
get it.  If you buy a $10K van you will end up dumping another $10K, etc.
These aren't set in stone numbers but the idea these are old vehicles and
expensive to fix and maintain and there are not allot of vans left in old
lady's garages with 15K miles on them for $5K.

If I had to start all over again and buy a new van I'd probably find a
clunker with the best non-rusted body and the least monkeyed-out interior
and go from there.

Bryan