At 09:59 AM 3/8/98 EST, ROGunter wrote:
>     For those of us who have been wondering why we don't see Vanagons for
>sale that much anymore, part of the reason may be the voracious market for
>these beauties overseas.
>
>     Yesterday I answered an ad in the Washington Post and went to see a '91
>Vanagon which I didn't buy (it was trashed), but found out something very
>interesting.  The gentleman I met said for the past year or so, he has been
>scouring the US for used Vanagons.  He buys them, puts them on a ship and
>sends them to South Africa where he probably more than doubles his money.  He
>says anymore it's too hard to find Vanagons so he is looking for another type
>of used vehicle to export overseas.

I can't understand how it could be profitable to export used Vanagons to
South Africa, a country where they still make Vanagons. In fact, I don't see
how you could make money exporting any vehicle from the US other than
collectables as the US has one of the strongest currencies in the world
right now. It doesn't add up.

-Mark McCulley