Marty wrote:
<<<SNIP>>>What do you think?  Would you trade the comfort and relative
speediness of your Vanagon for the simplicity of a late model bus?  Anyone
feel like you would NEVER go back after owning a Vanagon?  How about anyone
with a bus who wouldn't own a Vanagon?
I'm really interested in hearing your thoughts on this.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Marty-

Don't do it.

I've owned a couple of 2.0L FI 1970's vans and they ARE great. I spent time
and money to get the heat working great, no problem there. The "in the
seat" power wasn't THAT much different from a water cooled Vanagon. AC,
well, there are still a few busses out there with AC, but it's pretty hard
on the motor. Who needs it, right (at least until summer).

The BIG difference for me is the HANDLING. Even with the proper tires, new
everything in the suspension, the bus was all over the road. Passing trucks
caused the tires to court the ditch. Gusty cross-winds presented a grueling
task the driver, making long highway trips an exhausting ordeal.

Our Vanagon handles MUCH better. It isn't a Porsche, but most of the above
maladies are greatly reduced. We bought the "happy median", a 1982
Air-cooled Vanagon for just the reasons you site, simpler and (hopefully)
cheaper to maintain than the younger waterboys. It handles great, the power
is sufficient for all that we do, ("PASS US" license plate directs other
drivers when the power is lacking).

If you MUST satisfy your curiosity, trade with a bus owner for a week. I
bet you'll be SCRAMBLING back to your van and the bus owner will want to
make the trade permanent.

Best of luck,

G. Matthew Bulley
Principal
Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
Communications for Organizational Development
www.bulley-hewlett.com
(888) 468-4880 toll free