<snip> I didn't have have comprehensive coverage (mistake), so I got
nothing from the
insurance company on my fire. I sued the dealer who inspected the bus the
day
of the fire, the smog inspection people, the seller, and the mechanic who
rebuilt the engine.<snip>

Wait a second...  You're suing almost everyone in sight because you didn't
want to spend the extra $$$ for comprehensive insurance coverage?  As the
owner of a vehicle, isn't it your responsibility to see to it's general
condition and maintenance, no matter how long you've owned it?  What did
you do to prevent this fire?  Did you look into the engine compartment to
see if anything was amiss?  Did you look under the vehicle prior to driving
it to see if there were any puddles of some fluid or another that might be
cause for concern or corrective action?  More importantly, did you have a
fire extinguisher on board to combat the "unthinkable"?

Look, man...  I don't know your situation or what happened, in what order,
and so on.  But holding everyone and their brother responsible for your
lack of planning, vision, level of preparedness, and ultimately, cheapness,
is down right infantile.  Cut your losses, thank whatever God your religion
recognises that you are able to wake up each new day, and go out and buy
another van.  Life's too short to point fingers, saying, "could'a, would'a,
should'a".

Alan Bosch
Presently:     '92 Passat CL
Formerly: '69, '71, '73 Bugs
          '82 Rabbit L
          '82 Rabbit Diesel
          '83 GTi
          '88 Fox GL Sport
          '94 Jetta III

...and there was/is a fire extinguisher in every bloody one of 'em...