The '87 I just sold had the head gaskets replaced at 80k miles.  The '91 Carat
that I am selling has 140k miles and still no head gasket woes.  What is the
difference?  Both were purchased from the same dealer and both of them were
owned by families that took the van to the dealer for every little servicing.
They both have the 2.1 l motor although the Carat does have an automatic
tranny and the '87 had a stick (Oh no let's not start that again!)  They ran
the Autobaun antifreeze and everything else VW recommended since the dealer
was the only person that touched the vans.  "How many licks does it take to
get to the center of the head gasket problem?  The world may never know."
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
PS Well just have to keep lickin'!