Hi everyone,

I am a newbie to this list because I do not own a Vanagon and I have never
driven one.  However, I have this strange desire that I MUST own one!  It
defies all common sense and practicality trying to convince my wife that I
want to purchase an old vehicle which will immediately have to have the
engine replaced -- I can't explain it, it is all emotion.  Our '97 Passat
TDI has converted us to VW's, and I have since been reading the VW
newsgroup, the diesel listserv, and visiting vanagon.com.  Now that kid #2
is on the way, and carpools with other soccer-moms are being organized, the
word "minivan" is being spoken in our household.  Of course, there is only
one choice:  Vanagon.  I mean, I would prefer a Eurovan MV (110 hp TDI, 5
speed), but that is not a choice over here in the U.S. -- even if I did
have that much money.  I am looking at ads in the internet traders for my
area, but I do not see what I am looking for.  I would prefer a newer one
(2.1l engine) with the 7 seating configuration that has the rear-facing
foldup theater seats behind the driver and passenger.  I would assume that
the engine rebuild has already been done, or maybe I could enjoy it for a
while before it is needed.  If I had to settle for an older one, I would
prefer a diesel that was available in that time frame anyway.  Can your
wisdom help me:

1:  I think I remember seeing a list somewhere that was "advice for the bus
shopper" that listed things like what engine options / problems were
available for which year.   Does anyone know where that is?

2:  If I get an older Vanagon, I pretty much accept that I will be changing
the engine.  I have heard of someone on the diesel list changing a 1.9l
Canadian Turbodiesel into a regular diesel.  Is it possible to drop a 1.9
TD into an old gas vanagon (which is all I see around here in North
Carolina)?  What about a 2.1l digifant into an older 1.9l Vanagon?  What
about this Subaru engine conversion?  What about rebuilding the present
engine -- are they successful?  Does anyone know where I can find the
details of these options?

3:  If I get a version with the middle bench seat, is it possible to
convert it to the rear-facing flip-up seats (with seatbelts still
available, of course)?

4:  Can you get shoulderbelts for the outboard rear passengers?

5:  Am I crazy?

Thank you for all of your help -- I look forward to joining you on the road
one day.  Assuming, of course, we can buy one before the brainwashing wears
off of my wife.

Michael Townsend
townsend@rtp.ericsson.se
No, I don't live in Sweden, my employer's headquarters do, though.