Please talk me out of it, my bird isn't doing a good job!

[syncropaddy]

Tidy looking van,I've heard Mike is a decent bloke?? The price looks good depending on the exchange rate plus shipping and registration costs.Cant be an original Westy though??

Yes, Mike's a decent bloke and at his best on a Monday. Exchange rate is as good now as it gonna be for a while and shipping cost are nothing except a nice drive and a short boat trip!

Who said it was a Westy?

[syncron ice]

Yes Mike's a decent guy and looked after me when I first looked at my ambulance and also drove after me down to Cherbourg to make sure everything was ok when I purchased it.

Tony

[T'Onion]

must stop looking at Mikes site

just emailed him

[HarryMann]

Agreed, Syncros are total carp... avoid like the plague

[v-lux]

total carp

There it is again...this forum's got an obsession with them.

[HarryMann]

Yeh, they're carp, crap and pooh as well

Mine's just broken a clutch operating arm fork, so I definitely would strongly advise against buying one... there's far too many about anyway, government will be legislating soon, I'd put money on it.

and they're crepe too, when wrapped up as presents.

[jebiga41]

I'm still of the opinion (against all evidence to the contrary) that the Syncro is not an off-road vehicle or designed for off-roading, at least not primarily.

If you take it mudpludding anyway, you should at least have the ability (and spcae) to do preventative maintenance and aftercare yourself (and if it's just a good clean and check underneath to get the muck off).
Getting an off-road going Syncro serviced and looked after by a garage is not a financially viable option.

If I were you (with the apartment and all your other circumstances) I'd keep the camper I'm happy with, put a tow hook onto it and buy a cheap (and light ! ) old Suzuki off-roader and trailer ...camp in the camper and go off-roading with a cheap pice of carp where damage doesn't matter.

Was going to argue with this line of reason but he's right and that's what the sensible person would do! But you still won't have a Syncro !!!! There is a certain adrenalin kick and fear just before you drive your "camper" down something that you know campers are really not meant to go down and that if you mess up and destroy it it's all your fault for being an idiot BUT IT'S GREAT FUN Also your missus is into them at this point,( well not against them) and you are trying to get us to talk you out of it means you'll just have to get one otherwise you will never be at peace for the rest of your days, your bird will have left you for a landy driver, and you will have squandered your money on carp!!!! It's the curse of the Syncro the only way to break it is buy one!!!

[jebiga41]

Just to put you off buying one even more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX1iiqgk ... ata_player


Sent from my iPhone

[silverbullet]

Our take on syncro ownership: The mem'sahib is going to get the keys to ours, once the gearbox has been rebuilt. That way it will get daily use and spread joy amongst the masses (primarily the three 8-year-olds riding in the back) then get filled with muddy dogs once a week and we'll still use it for some green laning fun.
Happy happy joy joy and no Chelsea tractor envy on the school run; we know it's appreciating, not depreciating
This probably isn't what you wanted to hear, is it?

[lloydy]

Mike's got a very nice Carthago too........................

If you keep thinking of getting one, you need one. Sell the 2WD and do it, it'll cost you a fortune, but keep some money back to cover this. This is what i did. I'd rather spend 3K on a van to get it running/looking right, than buy a shiny one that could be full of suprises.
Mine goes in for a respray on the 22nd, and should then be finished, barring any damage i do to it!
Also everyone on this forum are great with advice and even giving up their own time to help

[axeman]

Mike's got a very nice Carthago too........................

If you keep thinking of getting one, you need one. Sell the 2WD and do it, it'll cost you a fortune, but keep some money back to cover this. This is what i did. I'd rather spend 3K on a van to get it running/looking right, than buy a shiny one that could be full of suprises.
Mine goes in for a respray on the 22nd, and should then be finished, barring any damage i do to it!
Also everyone on this forum are great with advice and even giving up their own time to help

would have thought that you would have learnt by now lloyd they never get finnished, there is always something too do i dont know any one that has or is not always maintaining or inproving (trying too) one thing or anouther on there van.
but hay thats syncro owner ship.
have to say, that my van is one of the most enjoyable vehicles that i have owned, for a number of reasons, i i cant see a time that i would concider selling it, i think once you have had one it would be hard imagen not having one.


neil

[slobbo]

I'm still of the opinion (against all evidence to the contrary) that the Syncro is not an off-road vehicle or designed for off-roading, at least not primarily.

If you take it mudpludding anyway, you should at least have the ability (and spcae) to do preventative maintenance and aftercare yourself (and if it's just a good clean and check underneath to get the muck off).
Getting an off-road going Syncro serviced and looked after by a garage is not a financially viable option.

If I were you (with the apartment and all your other circumstances) I'd keep the camper I'm happy with, put a tow hook onto it and buy a cheap (and light ! ) old Suzuki off-roader and trailer ...camp in the camper and go off-roading with a cheap pice of carp where damage doesn't matter.

Yeah maybe but then again instead of one vehicle to tax and maintain you've got 2.

[bikermike87]

Thanks everyone, Mike's website is good. Importing isn't something I had looked at, not that I should be looking

Also my 2wd is probably worth around £1900 so I'm a way off buying one just yet. But I have advertised my car so funds maybe on the horizon.

Depreciation is low, a 1600td may offer an improvement on the 25mpg the 1.9 2wd offers.
1 insurance (much cheaper than car, especially since the notice of intended prosecution for speeding ) That wont happen in the Van!
1 lot of tax
A very useful vehicle, plenty of space.
A mobile room to sleep in, if i loose my job and my gf decides enough is enough.


All very tempting, you lot are NOT doing a good job at talking me out of this!!!

[jebiga41]

Also worth looking at Vw-tristar.com in sweden he sometimes has some nice cheap panelvans and campers got mine from patrick and he is a gent he can also import them to hull for you. Don't worry about no garage I currently have 2 vans and renting with no garage (spent all my money on the Syncro instead of a house that would be now worth half of what they sold for then and so glad I did ) I occaisionaly do the trip to my dads garage to do some stuff but a lot of stuff you can do on a driveway or in the middle of a field weather permitting we're hard us Syncro owners good luck with the hunt and hope you get one you know you want too come along to next Syncro event whether you get one or not and try one out to really put you off you can repay us in tea also don't go the jimmy route as you'll just have to find space to store a trailered jimmy aswell as your van

[HarryMann]

notice of intended prosecution.... That wont happen in the Van!

No? They will do a bit more than 30 mph you know (but are still crap )