Ownership

Post by **richard ellis** » 20 Sep 2007, 08:08

Hi What is the longest time anyone has owned the same syncro.
I bought mine in 1988 and it is still going strong.
Dick

Post by **toomanytoys** » 20 Sep 2007, 08:14

thats dedication....

Post by **Boltze** » 20 Sep 2007, 16:46

Hi Richard,

we bought our 1985 Caravelle syncro in 1988. It's already in a good and original condition

Post by **KarlT** » 20 Sep 2007, 18:10

Boltze wrote:Hi Richard,

we bought our 1985 Caravelle syncro in 1988. It's already in a good and original condition

Is that why its that horrible brown!

Post by **KarlT** » 20 Sep 2007, 18:12

20 mths & I'll get off-road one of these days!!

Richard. Did you buy it new then? How much were they new?

Post by **Simon Baxter** » 20 Sep 2007, 20:13

richard ellis wrote:Hi What is the longest time anyone has owned the same syncro.
I bought mine in 1988 and it is still going strong.
"richard "

You must be totally skint by now!

Post by **richard ellis** » 21 Sep 2007, 18:38

Hi Karlt
I bought it brand new I think it was around £15,000 but got a bit of discount.
It has only been in a garage/service once for a gearbox repair, I do all the servicing myself.
Why did I buy it???? I was doing 115 miles to work and 115 back in a new Toyota Hi=Lux and got badly constipated (nearly needed a ceasarian } so went and bought the Syncro never looked back.
Over the years I have had loads of Vw's--- two Karmann Ghias one beetle one van and probably a dozen pick-ups starting with the first single screen one for about £900 new.
I often had a new one every year, until I bought this one, I would still buy one if they still made the same model, however they could do with a bit more power, but still great to drive.
I also have another that had engine trouble, some so called mechanic did a bad repair, smashed the head up,so bought it for spares
Simon I have always been nearly skint!!!
Dick

Website · Post by **syncrosimon** » 22 Sep 2007, 07:26

I drove my first syncro in 1987 at the Hertfordshire County Show, where there was a demo by the local VW garage. They were doing a time trial race type thing, and had a sprinkler sytem to make it muddy. You also had to drive over a pile of logs. The vehicle was a white panel van, petrol of course for decent performance!!
At that time my dad had been running caravelles jointly for the business and for the family car. My dad lived in south africa from 1957 to 1974 and exclusively ran vw's and had various splits and bay's and a variant which he imported back with us in 74.
in britain he then got a deluxe 2000cc bay with steel sunroof, then a 1984 south african caravelle, then a syncro in 1987 which was an ex vw demonstator. I learnt to drive in those last two.
I do remember the vw garage saying very clearly that a kit could be purchased for two wheel drives to convert to syncro. In 87 I remember £3000 being mentioned which was a lot of money.
Since then me and my dad have always had syncro's. he now has a t4 camper and me the beautiful 16".
Unfortunately my dad wrote off the syncro in 1994 on the motorway. no one was hurt, but barrel rolling doesnt do anything for the re-sale value.
From 1994 to 1997 I worked for the National Trust in Cornwall who had two 14" double cabs syncros and I got to drive one at work. They were so much better than the landrovers. More comfortable, better storage, easier to drive. Just better.
Simon.

Post by **Boltze** » 22 Sep 2007, 19:41

Karl this colours are very rare on a syncro. I like them.

Post by **KarlT** » 23 Sep 2007, 11:13

Boltze wrote:Karl this colours are very rare on a syncro. I like them.

Only kiddin ya!

I like the retro look...........I think!

Post by **toomanytoys** » 23 Sep 2007, 12:47

Yeah I like the Merion brown and timor beige too...

I have a 1983 2wd Caravelle in it... cool retro colours....

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