-- [ From: John Rodgers * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --

I believe the vanagon reliability to be related to the maintenance it
receives. Keep the maintenance up, it will give good service. Don't, and it
will leave you stranded in the most inconvenient place and at the most
inconvenient time, just like any machine.

When I bought my "85 GL some years ago, it needed work. The PO had neglected
the maintenance. When I got it I brought it back up to speed, and had very
little trouble until the pilot bearing failed at about 205,000 miles. I had
the tranny overhauled, new clutch installed, and it ran fine again.

I traded it on a "88 GL with 72,000 miles. Excellent body, interior,
airconditioner( it will freeze a halibut) but it needed maintenance work ,
and that is being done now. Will get freshly greased wheel bearings, new
brakes, new muffler, new O2 sensor, new cat converter. I just put in a new
speedo cable. The only remaining item is to rework the tranny...has a
whining ring and pinion....a sign of repairs to come. But when that is done,
the vehicle should give me good service for a very long time.

If maintenance is done all along as it is required, there should never be
any really big bills except for an engine change or tranny overhaul. And it
should rund pretty much without incident.

Reliability of the vanagon  certainly depends on how well you take care of
it and how hard you drive it.

John Rodgers
"88 GL Driver