Boges are the best of those as far as I know.  I've used the Boge struts
and shocks on several cars and I've liked them.  They also have a reputaion
for longevity.  But I've heard bad things about KYB: they tend to die
young. Also, I have found the KYBs to have a harsher ride  on my '71 than I
would've liked. I believe both come with lifetime warantees, but who wants
to keep changing shocks?  I have no experience with Monroe.  However, most
of my experience has been with non-vanagons so all this may be meaningless.

Just my 2 pfennings

James

>Jon,
>I've had problems locating shocks for my syncro.  Was going to mail order
>KYB's and BOGE for my van ($44 and $89 respectively) when i found that Trak
>auto sells Monroe Magnum sensi track for my vehicle @ $36 each.  they are a
>heavy duty gas charged road sensing shock with a lifetime warranty.
>later,
>porter_fred%pax9@mr.nawcad.navy.mil
>relax and spin
>87 syncro
> ----------
>|From: "vanagon@lenti.med.umn.edu"@PMDF@PAXMB1
>|To: porter fred; "vanagon@lenti.med.umn.edu"@PMDF@PAXMB1
>|Subject: Shocks..are these good ones?
>|Date: Thursday, April 11, 1996 7:27PM
>|
>|<<File Attachment: 00000000.TXT>>
>|hey now,
>|
>|after spending all morning looking for some shop that had shocks that would
>|fit
>|my van and not liking the prices they gave me, i've decided to do them
>myself.
>|it can't be that hard...right? :-) anyways, i was looking at JC Whitney's
>|catalog and say some..can't remember the name...Gasomething..not
>gabrielle..
>|hehehe, gas shocks, about 19.95 each. anyone have a jc whitney catalog
>handy?
>|anyone know about these shocks?
>|
>|jonathan
>|

Red '93 SLC
Red '87 GTI
   and
'67 deluxe
'71,81,'85 Westies