In a message dated 98-11-20 19:32:11 EST, mwilliamson@ABCH2O.COM writes:

<< ALL are Transporters, vanagon being a variant.  NONE are vans.  MOST are
 busses, exceptions being the double and single cab varieties of all years
 since the inception.
  >>

a VAN is a cargo carrying vehicle, in which the cab and cargo area are as one
-derived from a pickup truck (yes, the first 1950 bus was derived from a
flatbed kind of thing they used to transport parts around the factory at
Wolfsburg)
so all vw transporters, buses, vanagons, eurovans, etc, - are all VANS.
but the term "Bus" - is actually a nickname...given to all the pre-'79
aircooled vw vans - because, there was no real official model name (ie, no
emblem on the body - there was only the "type 2" referred to in the owners
manual, as in the "type 1 referred to in the Beetles owners manual, "Beetle"
too, being a nickname)
the term "Bus" is classic. as the term "Bug", or "Beetle"..the old curved body
lines of the aircooled bus...baywindow, or splitwindow....
in 1980 the "classic" look ended.
the boxy replacement was given a name.
the Vanagon..
to call a Vanagon a "Bus" is sacreliege....
i cringe everytime i hear someone calling one of those New Beetles - a
"Bug"...its not a bug...

its kind of like when chevy brought back the malibu...i doubt under the hood
of a '98 malibu theres a 350cubic inch engine....
ahh i digress......

chris