Club 80-90 Forums

The only vehicle which has come close to being as enjoyable to drive as my Syncro is the Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE I used to drive at Glastonbury Festival for 4 years. Both vehicles are outstanding and both put whopping grins on my face, but I own the Syncro!

I was banished from the house on Saturday for a wives' lunch do, so slung my MTB in the Syncro along with some grub and went out hacking round some local trails for the morning. Afterwards sat in the Syncro with the propex on to dry off, change and warm up and then had a cooked lunch and several mugs of fresh tea.

If I don't have a good outing in it at least monthly I get tetchy.

I love our Syncro too, and actually enjoy working on it also, but I guess I may not feel the same if I paid a lot for it. Having got it for just €1350, I feel a bargain, and a lot of capable vehicle for the cost, so don't mind spending on it getting it back to how it should be.

i am with you simon.
both of mine are off the road. it feels like i have limbs missing.
i was tempted to bid on the welsh syncro panel van on ebay recently
but thankfully, it has been removed from temptation.
what was i thinking.
i am just convinced that it will snow before i get one or the other of them running again.
but it has made me realise even more that there isnt another car i want.
oh except for a volvo tgb13, but i think that is a whole nother league.
mine are also both running on a tight budget and the doka has been for years, but they have been brilliant. the camper gearbox did take me by surprise rather. the dokas was long overdue.
if you think that most of us are playing catchup for 20 odd years of neglect on often hard used vehicles, i think we are all doing ok.
and to give me solace, i just look at all the bills my mate has to keep his t5 running, and i feel a whole lot better.

Here here!

I keep looking at other classic/retro motors but the T3's are just so damn usefull, plus my girls complain everytime they get a lift in a friends 'sensible' car. So smooth/quiet/low they hate it!!!
Will have to make time to get the syncro back on the road.

Happy happy joy joy I love it again MOT and no advisories!
I can heartily recommend Duncan's Garage in Byfleet (near Brooklands) as an old-school VW-friendly establishment. They know their way around anything Volks flat 4, air or watercooled.

Coming on Saturday then?

I think I have just negotiated a green card!

Here's a thread revival

I'm really not feeling the love for the old thing at the mo
I appreciate that I'm facing up to a fair bit of work (both sliders need attention, crappily "fitted" n/s/r wing, front valance seam etc.) and some sensible tyres would help, but I want to get the SA's tip-top and good paint costs proper money.
Maybe it's the winter blues and with no snow in sight, it's pretty hard to justify for doing runs to the tip and the odd bit off laning. Yeah it's fun but these old wagons aren't getting any younger as has been commented on elsewhere. We can't keep beating up these old girls for fun, it's too expensive. 2 x sets of Winter tyres and wheelarch liners take up a lot less space too! Factor in heavy steering and the infamous syncro cold gearshift, the mem'sahib isn't going to go for it even though she's no speed freak. Unlike me I got the 2.6 Microbus t&t last week and blimey what a contrast! Smooth, quiet, easy to drive, loads of grunt and LPG 72p a gallon at the moment. What with the 20v conversion pending and the WBX-RS to build, I've got plenty to get on with for the time being.
Maybe the syncro is just not for me. I dunno, it would camperize quite well with a bit more poke but a decent fared-in roof tent would still leave me with funds for painting at least one of the SA's that already have the horsepower...

It's big decision time

well i`ve spent all day off roading in riches van so i`m FFUUUUULLLLLL of syncro love . xxx.

..lee.. wrote:well i`ve spent all day off roading in riches van so i`m FFUUUUULLLLLL of syncro love . xxx.

In the AFN?

jed

..lee.. wrote:well i`ve spent all day off roading in riches van so i`m FFUUUUULLLLLL of syncro love . xxx.

I know Mario is a bit behind, when is yours back?

Just done a 330 mile round trip in the Syncro velle JX that I use daily for work. Even the wife commented on how good it was for carrying presents and children. Apparently much better than the A6. Then she offered to drive it all the way home! Obviously I told her to relax and I would drive!

Everytime we go out in the velle my 4 year old shouts "shotgun!"

I love mine. Will love it more when we can use it properly.

jed the spread wrote:

..lee.. wrote:well i`ve spent all day off roading in riches van so i`m FFUUUUULLLLLL of syncro love . xxx.

In the AFN?

jed

No, i think they just exchanged knowing glances seeing as it was the first date.........................

ninja.turtle007 wrote:

..lee.. wrote: Then she offered to drive it all the way home! Obviously I told her to relax and I would drive!

My wife hinted for the first time the other day about wanting to drive our Flint, and I had to resort to some quick thinking I told her that the Syncro is quite a handful, and is not like driving a car. I told her about the cold driving when changing gear from 1st to 2nd, having to pace yourself, and that special knowledge is needed in gear change. This put her off for now, so hopefully she don't ask again for a long time

Still ok on the Boss and not wanting to drive the syncro, although there has been a glimmer of hope that she might come off road. Christmas day I was showing some of the off road vids to my 15 year old niece, she was really enthusiastic and pleaded to come on yesterdays trip on Epynt Ranges. Once Lou new that Sarah my niece was coming she said that she would have liked to have come. Tough luck I said, no seats left have to wait your turn now!!

We got invited by a local 4x4 club up onto the army ranges at Epynt, Mid Wales close to Sennybridge. Boy it was wet. Was a bit worried about the snorkel as it has sponge filter in line that looks like the inside is starting to perish. Once we had gone so far there was no turning back. Most of the vehicles were highly modified Disco's and Defenders, one standard Maverick and one defender that was more custom than standard, what a beast.

Went in the AAZ panel van as was told that there were a few overhanging trees in the wooded section, and a good job we did. Beginning to wish I had put a pop top on the camper not a high top!

I sure you all can predict the outcome.

Before we started the Landy boys were looking at the syncro with a lot of scepticism, after the trip they were all coming up and commenting on how much better it was than they had expected. Coupled with the fact that we had a brew up in the back of the van and kept warm, when they were all out in the cold, that really topped it off. Wouldn't be surprised if there will be a few converts.

Will post a vid up latter, Happy New Year All

Cheers Rich