> VW vans, handle more poorly than regular cars, I was surprised at how bad
> it really is.  The slightest glaze on the road, and the van wheels start
> spinning.  It regularily gets stuck simply parked on the snowy street in
> front of the house.  Yesterday, at Albion Hills conservation area, the VW
> was spinning its wheels on several grades that other vehicles had no
> problems with.
>
> Tires (not snow tires) are in reasonable shape.  Is this typical of
> Vanagons?

It is a rear wwheel drive vehicle and has to push itself wherever it goes
vs. being pulled as in FWD.

We have a problem on ice---but doesn't everybody else! We drive our 85
through 10 plus inches of snow, here in Montana, and have never gotten
stuck! In starting off from a stop, you will tend to spin more than FWD.
You need a good set of M+S rated tires. With my past experience
spinning--tires do make a difference.

--Bill
'85 GL