Many of us work not only full time but often very demanding jobs. Then some
of us even have family and side line obligations. While I enjoy traveling,
especially the driving and sightseeing part there are times I/we simply have
to get there. Just last week I went to Busses By Natural Bridge. This was a
470 mile trip each way. I has a challenge getting the Friday off. Once past
NY traffic I needed to "make tracks' to get down there and enjoy the
weekend. Generally I stay right and middle lanes and keep up with traffic.
Most of the trip was done at 65-75 mph. With my need for frequent stops and
a shopping diversion it was still almost 10 hours. There were a few hills
that slowed my down to 60 or so and I still felt that I was in someone's
way.  I find this stressful.

I grew up with Busses and Bugs. I learned to drive and took my road test in
a 67 splittie. I had a few bays. When we got our first Vanagon, an 84 with
the 1.9L, it was like oh my gosh, I can go as fast as I need in comfort! I
can even stop and steer (not aim) it.  I never looked back. Back in those
days we had the 55 mph speed limit and the early Vanagons especially the
Diesels were designed around that limit. For some those vehicles are fine
but the lack of power is probably the main reason these never really sold.

For many reasons I really like the Vanagon. For a van type vehicle there is
nothing that offers some level of modern performance that is so serviceable.
Yes, serviceable. What other van type vehicle can have the complete drive
line removed in your front yard without a hoist or exotic equipment? Know
how to use a multi meter and a pressure gauge and you can fix anything that
happens. How about that almost bullet proof suspension? Just look at the
number of people that get into these things having no repair experience
later becoming fully self-sufficient. Sure they have some quirks and some
parts are expensive but overall how many other vehicles 25 years and older
with hundreds of thousands of miles get pushed into service for cross
country trips and living space?

However after all that is said if they couldn't travel at normal speeds I
probably wouldn't own them.

Dennis