After almost 8 months on the "injured reserve", my 84 vanagon is back in
the 'rotation' again and I am quite happy.   I kept it off the road most of
that time to minimize possible damage to the transmission internals, and
that seems to have been pretty smart.  I just finished reinstalling the
transmission after an AA Transaxle rebuild  (5sp manual trans) and it is
remarkably quiet and smooth, just like new (I imagine)  The major
components of my 5sp were OK, but the bearings were pretty far gone...all
is good now.

   There's a real pleasure (I actually have fun driving good vehicles) in
the experience of driving this pretty well-sorted Vanagon.    I've recently
been using a GM Safari AWD van for almost everything...  I picked the
Safari AWD automatic up as my winter-time worker vehicle and while it is a
 fine vehicle, especially given they are relatively inexpensive, it is
nothing special to drive...   Quiet, semi-powerful, luxurious with full
leather and heated seats, etc etc......the conventional older (97) mini-van
GM simply doesn't 'connect' to the roads....it sort of isolates you in the
cabin...like you  are watching a video or something.   Everything in a
normal mini-van seems to be designed to isolate you from the outside world
as you motor along....not so the older vanagon with "power nothing"...You
are right there, involved, and the Vanagon does it pretty well, given it's
general configuration and versatility.

  Also noticeable is the "Vibe" one receives, normally, while driving a
Vanagon.. Something about them seems to make people smile,   They make ME
smile..and probably YOU, too....unless your's is broken right now...