Jim2K,
Yes, the SL van is a few bucks more but there are a few advantages if this is your first visit to San Jose and/or you don’t speak much Spanish.
If you do not have and/or can not communicate directions to the SL it could be a problem. I did not want to worry about that issue on my first trip, therefore found that the SL van and driver (Jimmy) were well worth the extra few bucks. Jimmy was right outside the customs exit, on time, with a SL sign with my name (misspelled…) on it. The scene outside the airport is a zoo, and it was nice to zip through that… Jimmy also took me on a short side trip to the Don Begino cigar factory so that I could stock up on some great local stogies. I’m smoking one as I type…
Jimmy also spoke great English and was a wealth of knowledge for a rookie…we took the scenic rout past the DR, KL, and ZB… I felt a lot more comfortable with visual recognition and got a feel for the surroundings.
On my next trip, now that I have a SL card with directions on the back...
And now that I have a feel for the scene at the airport (think, deer in the headlights

…), I will use a $12 cab… The SL van is a service; therefore you do pay a premium… your call.
Mendo