In a message dated 98-05-30 16:32:04 EDT, prbrrh@PROAXIS.COM writes:

> any way she says the syncro is an expensive toy and it
>  will cost large quantities of money to keep it on the road. i say all
>  cars are expensive to operate. she has been reading my email from the
>  list and she has this idea that vanagons (the syncro type) are expensive
>  to keep and hard to get parts for the syncro system. i told her, not
>  hard to find parts just expensive.

They don't necessarily need to be expensive either.  A while back I bought
some spare Syncro parts and have them "aging" on a shelf in my garage.
I bought a pretty much complete Syncro drivetrain for $1,000.  Much less than
trying to buy individual pieces after one breaks.
Here's what I got: transmission (with diff lock), driveshaft, front
differential, 4 axles, 8 CV joints, 2 brake rotors, 1 brake drum, power
steering rack, front & rear suspension arms & some miscellaneous stuff.
Another way to acquire a collection of spare Syncro parts is to buy a wrecked
van and pull out the Syncro parts out of it and sell the balance.  The balance
of parts might even pay for the cost of the wreck.

Good luck,
Jim Davis