This post about "Life after a Vanagon" has struck a big chord for me since I'm going through it right now.  Here's my story. 
 I have owned two Westies in the past 12 years, a 90 (which I sold in 2006) and an 87.  I spent five years on each one making all the usual repairs, mods and upgrades, thanks in large part from what I learned from the good folks on this list serve.   I loved those vans.  It was a labor of love, punctuated by occasional periods of heartbreak and frustration. I was finally through with upgrades on the second van when it was stolen this past January.  I left it with a local shop in Southern Oregon to have the rear wheel bearings replaced and it was stolen from the shop's lot in the middle of the night.
First few weeks I was in shock and dismay.  When it wasn't found after a month, I became  resigned to process my insurance claim and to figuring out how to move on.  Allstate paid me $33,000 for it.  It was worth more than that to me and I was hoping for more, but it is what it is.  I didn't want another five year project so my options were to buy a restored westy, move on to a eurovan camper, import a tiny camper from japan or look for another camper van most similar to a westy.  
The first three options were going to cost me 40 to 60 grand for a good one....and I would still have a 25 year old vehicle.  Finally settled on looking for a conversion based on a Mercedes Metris platform.  I checked out the conversions being sold by Campervan in Seattle, Peace Vans in Seattle and Keystone Coachworks in Eugene Oregon.  I visited all three places and came away most impressed from a quality and value offered by what they were doing at Keystone Coachworks.  https://keystonecoachworks.net/.    I won't get my van till early next year.  I got one with all the features, so it won't be cheap, about $90,000, but hopefully it will last me twenty years.  
Not an easy decision to move on to life after a vanagon, but nice to have a decision made.   Good luck to you all with your personal vanagon journeys.
-Rick Duvernay
    On Sunday, May 15, 2022, 01:07:32 PM PDT, Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:  
 
 *"On the negative side, I am not a big fan of the batteries being located
in a tiny steel box inside the van"*

Yes... I agree with this 100% - Why don't they put the battery under the
rear bench compartment? It's close enough to the engine and close enough to
the fridge (if there's one in a full camper)?

My BMW 735iL has the battery under the rear seat.

On Sun, May 15, 2022 at 12:59 PM Bruce Todd <beeceetee@gmail.com> wrote:

> For me a big plus and smile goes to the Vanagon’s drivabilty around town
> or with City driving.  Really good visibility, great turning radius,
> excellent for parking.
>
> Also fun to drive / putter on 2 lane highways but not so much fun driving
> on long stretches of major interstates, freeways or up long mountain passes.
>
> Many repairs are accessible and can be completed simply…for example
> changing a side marker or signal light bulb, installing new plugs, etc.
> With some newer cars getting at the engine components, to swap out
> something or changing an oil filter or replacing bulbs is a real chore.
>
> On the negative side, I am not a big fan of the batteries being located in
> a tiny steel box inside the van - or watching the coolant temp gauge climb
> when idling in bumper to bumper traffic.
>
> I am lucky that there are still many Vanagons around where I live and also
> knowledgeable mechanics.  It will be a different story though if I ever
> complete a cross continent trip.
>
> Bruce
>
> On Sunday, May 15, 2022, Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> So... this is my thinking regarding Vanagon... please add yours if you
>> have
>> any.
>>
>> The plus + :
>> - Unique look and attractiveness.
>
>
>
>
>> - Practicality and functionality.
>> - Size - small enough for narrow and tight roads.
>> - For a fee the vanagon can have another engine other than the 2.1 WBX.
>>
>> The minus - :
>> - Parts are getting scarcer and scarcer.
>> - Attract thieves in some areas.
>> - Less and less good mechanics to work on.
>>
>> Anything else...?  :-)
>>
>>
>> On Sun, May 15, 2022 at 10:56 AM Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> > I have another friend who made the vanagon exit and got something else
>> > (this one and the other with the Sprinter are long time vanagon owners)
>> >
>> > So he sold this Westy (2.3 GW engine, full camper) and bought a good
>> used
>> > Toyota Tundra, bought a small used camper trailer, got rid of the wheels
>> > and suspension and put it on the back of the Tundra, refreshed the
>> interior
>> > a bit and drove to Alaska...
>> >
>> > On Fri, May 13, 2022 at 2:13 PM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> >>  It's Friday, so OK to post something like this.  I have owned VW vans
>> >> since 1974; current '85 is approaching 300,000 miles of fun.  Has a
>> recent
>> >> Subie 2.2 motor conversion, a new rebuild of transmission, and soon
>> will
>> >> have new front suspension and new brakes all around.  So obviously, I
>> am
>> >> committed to this thing.
>> >>
>> >> Others have eyed my Vanagon with envy.  My tintop parks nicely in
>> garage,
>> >> gets 22 MPG, I smile everytime I drive, especially when I see
>> reflection in
>> >> glass store front windows.
>> >>
>> >> So....Toyota Sienna.  About a 2005-2008.  Fits in garage.  Has A/C that
>> >> works.  Drivetrain is exactly like my daily driver, a 2004 Toyota
>> >> Highlander.  V-6 motor.  Robust.  Parts and service are available
>> >> anywhere.  Price on San Diego Craigslist is typically around $6000 to
>> >> $9000.  Plentiful.
>> >>
>> >> My idea would be to strip back interior.  Build my own bed and camper
>> >> interior.  Screens on windows.  House Battery in that deep space in the
>> >> back of Sienna.  Butane stove.  Ice chest.  Custom curtains.  All the
>> usual
>> >> junk too.  Totally doable.  Great campervan for 2 people.
>> >>
>> >> Please don't hate me.....just thinking.
>> >>
>> >
>>
>