Gee, I go out of my way to keep those vents open.  In the winter, it helps to move air out of the vehicle so it's easier for warm air from the heater box to enter.  Other times, it is great for general air circulation.  I have never noticed cold hips from the breeze. 
Dave B.

-----Original Message-----
From: Raimund Feussner <ray@V6BUS.DE>
To: vanagon <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Mon, Feb 4, 2019 9:53 am
Subject: Re: Air recirculator

Taping the openings shut, which are on the front hinge face of the door,
also helps.

Am 04.02.2019 um 03:43 schrieb Dennis Haynes:
> The other tell is the additional seal at the front of the door to close the gap of the hinge area. This is where the exhaust from the earlier door vent actually exits. The seal helps reduce wind noise inside the door.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Raimund Feussner
> Sent: Sunday, February 3, 2019 2:36 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Air recirculator
>
> You probably have the black vents in the rear side windows?
>
> In that case yes, the door vents are taped shut, and no blue slider handle in their grille.
> VW didn´t bother changing the door trim panels, so they just blocked off the vents with that black tape.
>
> Regards
> Raimund
>
> Am 03.02.2019 um 18:10 schrieb Dan N:
>
>> *"For 87 and earlier most Vanagons have the exhaust vents in the front
>> doors."*
>>
>> well... on my tintop van I have those exhaust vents in the bottom of
>> the front doors... but they are blocked off by factory with black
>> tape... why is it?
>>
>> thanks
>>
>> dan