They went bust because unlike banks the government wouldn't stump up any cash, they would rather have another 20k unemployed, it's just the way manufacturing has been treated over the last 30 odd years..
The engine is particularly good made by VM - parts are cheap.
It's not a sophisticated van, don't expect the latest refinements, but it's a bloody good workhorse that will pull well over a tonne all day every day.
Darran