Club 80-90 Forums

peasant wrote:

syncrosimon wrote:... The syncro was absolutely streets ahead in terms of safety...
However to discover these things you have to push it to the max....

Pushing it to the max negates the safety margin (as you rightly pointed out) ...but it's a very handy thing to have (the margin, I mean) if and when the road / the weather springs a surprise on you just round or in the next bend. a surprise for which even your careful driving style is too fast.

Very well put

Bloody weather!! Boo! Jumpin out at ya like that!

Maybe you should get a all wheel drive car with ABS, ATC, Auto pilot, Auto suspension control, automatic lights, automatic headlight dimming, .... oh have a auto slowdown so if you are approaching a car from behind too fast you slow down, And don't forget a breathalyser no start system so you can't drive drunk.

Are we talking racing cars here or vans.The last time i looked racing cars belonged on a track or am i just getting to old.
If u drive with care and antisipate situation before they happen you wont get into trouble with a decoupler.I have used my expedition van with bothe VC and decoupler and fully laden(exess or 2.5ton)As to road holding i cant say i found any difference.

I've not driven owt wi a de coupler, fancy a go TBH.

I can see it's benefits, and if I was into off orading I would probably buy one, but, to be fair, the most I used my syncro was for driving to and from work, which it did well.
I have driven plenty of 2WD syncros, and they are a bit scarey really, the height, the "pooh" tyres, they really don't want to go around corners.
I really do think a VC on a road going syncro is a really good idea.
I like to drive like a complete nob most of the time, and the best bit about driving a syncro like that was the VC and how much it improved how it behaved on road.
I do often think about buying another (if I had any spare time) but I would throw away all that "pooh" underneath and drop it on it's a*** as i think with a TDI, some decent shockers and some proper wheels and a bit of fettling they would be fairly much unbeatable in traffic light grand prix's.

Are we talking racing cars here or vans.

Ridicule it all you like, fact is, a properly working VC gives you an inceased safety margin on the road.

Whether you're ever going to need that margin or not is a different question.

But it's not just a question of driving skill, but also of luck ...because if you constantly anticipated the worst possible scenario, you'd hardly be driving at all ..not much above walking pace anyway.

So you make your best guess of what's going to be around that next bend and you take your chances.

Since my van came with slightly better cards than others, I don't really see the point in taking all the aces out of the deck just so that I can possibly get that bit higher up that incredibly steep and slippery slope that I didn't need to get up in the first place.

But that's just me ...

peasant wrote:

Are we talking racing cars here or vans.

Ridicule it all you like, fact is, a properly working VC gives you an inceased safety margin on the road.
quote]

Safety Margin!

Stay in bed.........................Drive safely....................................Deed!
^
Theres my margins! Im about here.

Here'a thought!

The most undeniable truth! Death! You eather are or arent deed! So VC or decoupler! You eather do or dont. How simple is that?

Full time 4 wheel drive definitely is better even on dry pavement. It's been proven on race tracks over and over. Baxter has a good point with a slammed syncro with big engine and suspension / tires to go with. Would be a fantastic road machine!

Andy syncro-nutz wrote:Here'a thought!

The most undeniable truth! Death! You eather are or arent deed! So VC or decoupler! You eather do or dont. How simple is that?

Have you been drinking?

I think there must be some sort of language barrier here as your not making much sense!

Normally, it's McGill I can't understand, but thats when I talk to him, but yours is written in text, and I must to admit to wonder, "what the f**k is he on about?!"

lloyd wrote: Baxter has a good point with a slammed syncro with big engine and suspension / tires to go with. Would be a fantastic road machine!

yepp...it's called an Audi quattro

What he said ^^ but one that you can sleep in.

Ooohhh.
Cans.
Worms.
Open.


Love it

Lloyd wrote:In the end it's a personal decision, but selectable is my choice for front to rear and side to side. VC/limited slip just isn't as good when you really need all 4 wheels to pull regardles of what traction is under each axle/tire.

I do get the impression that some VCs can be a bit slow locking the drive, compared to others... either I've not experimented enough or am lucky to have one that seems to put the load through to the front almost instantly, though won't deny there can be a bit of incipient front wheelspin at times..

I wonder if a Peloquin centre-diff can be made to fit in the VC space... it would transfer torque abs. instantly like a Torsen, and only woud be caught out with a wheel completely off without both lockers on ... maybe it could be lockable too, obviating that (small) problem.

Lockable cross-axle Peloquins for Syncros (diff substitutions) are on the cards sometime this year - allegedly; they would make AWD tarmac running excellent in my opinion - so Mr Baxter, get your order in now for that road-burning Syncro

£50 each and we could commision the design of a centre-diff Peloquin to start right away?

Yes, hello! Peloquin here, you say all three for a Syncro, OK. Can you transfer £3,500 to us immediately and then we'll get them gift-wrapped and off to you tomorrow....

OH the full story with the NCT centre was that I told both the person booking the car in in reception that it was ful time 4wd and I told the tester when he took the keys from me. He brought it through all the tests, but on the rolling road, he only tested the front axle and took the van off before the test was complete. I know this cause I watched the test being conducted. Anyway I tested my VC to see if it was damaged, which it was, and rang the NCT centre, who outrightly denied that the van was conducted in this manner cause the tester denied doing it and the computer system didnt show results from the rolling road (but this is because the test was not completed and in the end they used a decelerometer). So they wanted me to get a mechanics report to prove that they damaged it (which would cost me a fortune) and I know Id en up just having to take them to court. So feck that. I called my insurance company and they said that they should be able to pay out for the damage and recoup the expenses from the NCTs insurance, without me losing my no claims bonus.