Club 80-90 Forums

I was thinking about that one Tom, Nice for what I thought was a good price.
What did it need money on?

KarlT wrote:2WD VW good off-road?....... Baja Bug!

The drivetrain layout is about all that a T25 shares with a bug though. The bug is small, relatively light, and extremely compliant. A stock 2WD T25 is big, heavy, and way too stiff to keep both driven wheels firmly on the ground over rough surfaces. Having the weight of the engine over the driven wheels doesn't really make up for that.

Hi Cooper, the guys are giving you some great advice here, take a moment to think about what you really need and what you really want..

The Syncro is something that provokes imagination, you need to realise how much of that is possible. Your on tight funds matey, so exploring things you want to do, are going to cost money. They will cost you even more money to have enough confidence in your van to do those things. You will want to be confident that your van is in top shape, cv joints, gearbox, vc box, decent tyres, good solid engine...

Ask youself, how often will you use AWD and when and where?

A few people on here have mentioned a 2wd.... I bought my 2wd for around £1300 and had an amazing time with it. I pulled up next to mountains, overlooked lakes and enjoyed the freedom a van offered.

Get a feel for what you are actually going to do in a 2wd, use it as you would with a syncro and see if you get stuck. You might not do as much off roading as you had hoped, you might enjoy the fact your not spending 5x more on a syncro and the parts are pretty cheap and good to learn.

You can always sell the 2wd a year later without making a loss. If you buy a syncro and regret it, you could loose a lot of money.

KarlT wrote:I was thinking about that one Tom, Nice for what I thought was a good price.
What did it need money on?

I replaced the VC as it was tight. But I got a good deal from Stan so I'm happy.

The man cost is the engine conversion. A lot of Syncro Diesel associated parts needed plus the labour cost. Whilst diesel tank was being fitted I had the straps replaced too. Then I needed a diesel Eberspacher.

Some people would have been happy with the 2.1mv in it but it is now soooooo much nicer to drive. It is pretty much my ultimate Syncro westy.

Gear box going to Aidan for oiling plates and a check over in April.

I have a few hundred quids worth of bits that came off to sell to recoup some of the conversion costs.

Ok what vw would you suggest for me.

I want to go to festivals
Go up to my mates in breacon.
Go to the alps so through snow.
Travel around the middle east.

2wd
Diesel
Rhd

In mind but what type?

I also need it to be lez ok.

Cooper wrote:Ok what vw would you suggest for me.

I want to go to festivals
Go up to my mates in breacon.
Go to the alps so through snow.
Travel around the middle east.

2wd
Diesel
Rhd

In mind but what type?

I also need it to be lez ok.

2wd, 5 speed, 2.1 petrol + LPG or modern diesel conversion.

Plus, please read the WIKI ^^

This is going round and round and round, with a lot of people giving good, sound advice but the same questions keep being raised.

So here's some more questions for you

Cooper wrote:
I want to go to festivals - How many a year, given that a Bay or 2wd T3 does for most people?
Go up to my mates in Brecon - again, how often? 4wd not compulsory for most of the locals IIRC
Go to the alps so through snow - ditto
Travel around the middle east - really? Get a specific vehicle for that journey e.g. that F..d county that's already been that way.

I also need it to be lez ok. - Now you're talking about a proper recognized camper conversion to comply with the LEZ rules for exemption

I hate to break it to you, but your budget isn't big enough for your dreams. Go and sell a kidney or do over your local Post Office...

PS That's it from me. I can't offer any more advice.

The wiki is completly confusing to me.

I donr want petrol.

I want one that can tow.
Diesel
2wd

What size engine?

Fwd or rwd for what i want to do?

So you want the following:

A daily driver, sole vehicle, overland-ready, rhd (to go abroad?), diesel, camper, tow vehicle. Buy a Nissan Patrol with a roof tent, they're good enough for the UN.

This is getting silly...

Pretty much.

But i dont fancy the roof tent. The nissan doeasnt have space like a vw will.

Like i said in the first post.

Can i lift a 2wd put knobbly typres on to improve the capablities?

Also i dont know what size engine would be best for what i want to do.

If you want diesel and to be in the LEZ, then as said it has to be registered as a motorhome, or be a caravelle. Panel van not allowed full stop. (This goes for 2wd too)
Another option is a 2wd and get a rear diff lock fitted or a LSD, both these options will set you back over a grand.
All the things you listed above can and is done in a 2wd all the time.
You need to look at what you can afford

lloydy wrote:If you want diesel and to be in the LEZ, then as said it has to be registered as a motorhome, or be a caravelle. Panel van not allowed full stop. (This goes for 2wd too)
Another option is a 2wd and get a rear diff lock fitted or a LSD, both these options will set you back over a grand.
All the things you listed above can and is done in a 2wd all the time.
You need to look at what you can afford

So if i look for a camper or caravelle ill be ok.

What would a rear dill lock or lsd do for me on a 2wd?

dash wrote:

KarlT wrote:2WD VW good off-road?....... Baja Bug!

The drivetrain layout is about all that a T25 shares with a bug though. The bug is small, relatively light, and extremely compliant. A stock 2WD T25 is big, heavy, and way too stiff to keep both driven wheels firmly on the ground over rough surfaces. Having the weight of the engine over the driven wheels doesn't really make up for that.

Interesting, but I wasn't saying a T3 is like a Beetle. That would be daft!


@ Cooper..... Bored now.

@ karlt

Thas ok you dont have to read this thread if you dont want to.

I just want to know all options and whats suggested re; 2wd.
Im asking on here seeing as pretty much most members have a vw 80-90 and i dont.
So i am asking a lot of boring questions.

Go to Volksworld show next month. I'm sure there will be one or two Syncros for sale in the car park. Plus a few 2wd drives. That way you can see what you are getting for your money .

If you are lucky you might bump into The Surrey Syncro Posse!