Thinking of buying a Syncro....

[tforturton]

.....so what are the drawbacks? I want it to use as a semi-daily driver, with occasional camping trips. Would I bet better off buying a bog-standard T25 camper?

[..lee..]

drawbacks..........1 cost.
2 none.

[jed the spread]

.....so what are the drawbacks? I want it to use as a semi-daily driver, with occasional camping trips. Would I bet better off buying a bog-standard T25 camper?

Its a £15,000 investment if you buy a decent Syncro or if you buy a "pooh" that needs some work...

A decent 2wd will cost you £7,000 so its up to you really, personally I wouldnt go back

jed

[Macflai]

If you have ever owned a Land Rover or a real 4x4 before, then I suggest a Syncro. If not, a 2WD... and if you want to drive on easy tracks then upgrade the suspension, lift the suspension a few centimetres or put bigger tyres.

Second option is better, because you'll never will be worried about a think called Viskokupplung.

[Synkraut]

For daily driver use, consider this:
Fuel consumption on a syncro is quite a bit higher (so think about TDI conversion or LPG)
Due to shorter gear ratio, your "cruising speed" is lower (well it is on the Autobahn at least)

[KarlT]

Fuel consumption on a syncro is quite a bit higher.

Have you got figures for that?

[Cooper]

Buy a syncro.

You can buy a good one for £5-6k but have to look around.

Its the running costs/upgrades/stuff to fix thats costs.

Dont fret. They are awsome.

I do 31mpg in a diesel 1.9td.

[syncropaddy]

£15,000 is a good figure. The less you pay at the start will mean the more you pay to get it up to spec afterwards so buy wisely at the beginning. It will also mean a lot less work. Dont be fooled into buying cheaply and doing it all yourself cuz it'll end up costing the same. You will, of course want to add your own touches.

[Synkraut]

Fuel consumption on a syncro is quite a bit higher.

Have you got figures for that?

Oh dear, metric system, we don't do mpg over here (we do Litres/100km). There are of course the official figures (taken from the VW tech-date sheet for 1989) according to this, the difference between a 2.1 MV engine powered 2WD Caravelle with 5 gear transmission as opposed to a 4WD with 4+G Transmission is: (at constantly 90Km/h: 9.8ltr/100km (2WD), 12,1ltr/100km (4WD); at 120km/h: 15,1ltr/100km (2WD) 17,1ltr/100km (4WD); city cycle: 15,5ltr/100km (2WD), 16,1ltr/100km (4WD))
Now these are more or less theoretical figures, but from my personal experience, I would guess that the fuel consumption is approximatly 10-15% higher in a syncro (more than that if you're going to lift it and put some nice AT-Tyres on it)

For me, the pleasure of driving a T25 syncro is well worth the slightly higher fuel consumption, but I'm also happy that I decided early to invest in an LPG conversion for my daily driver T4 syncro

[mrmule]

.....so what are the drawbacks? I want it to use as a semi-daily driver, with occasional camping trips. Would I bet better off buying a bog-standard T25 camper?

You've got to have plans to camp somewhere pretty remote to be able to say you needed a syncro to get there. If the occasional camping trip will be of the conventional kind without pushing terrain boundaries, then a 2wd will suffice.

If you want it for off roading, which is why I bought mine, Its very capable. I had a Defender 90 pick up, and except for the fairly long front and rear over hang on the Syncro, it can do everything the Defender could, especially if you find one with front and rear diff locks. And mine hasnt really got any modifications to speak of yet...

I have found my syncro to be more thirsty than my 2.5 subaru powered 2wd. Theres more moving parts on the syncro, they're rarer, and more expensive when you find them.

No one ever said cool, elite and exclusive was cheap though

[KarlT]

Fuel consumption on a syncro is quite a bit higher.

Have you got figures for that?

Oh dear, metric system, we don't do mpg over here (we do Litres/100km). There are of course the official figures (taken from the VW tech-date sheet for 1989) according to this, the difference between a 2.1 MV engine powered 2WD Caravelle with 5 gear transmission as opposed to a 4WD with 4+G Transmission is: (at constantly 90Km/h: 9.8ltr/100km (2WD), 12,1ltr/100km (4WD); at 120km/h: 15,1ltr/100km (2WD) 17,1ltr/100km (4WD); city cycle: 15,5ltr/100km (2WD), 16,1ltr/100km (4WD))
Now these are more or less theoretical figures, but from my personal experience, I would guess that the fuel consumption is approximatly 10-15% higher in a syncro (more than that if you're going to lift it and put some nice AT-Tyres on it)

For me, the pleasure of driving a T25 syncro is well worth the slightly higher fuel consumption, but I'm also happy that I decided early to invest in an LPG conversion for my daily driver T4 syncro

Interesting info. Never seen comparison figures before. Interesting that they are so close for round town driving must only be the taller 5th gear that delivers the real difference.
Yeah, MPG also annoys me, we don't even buy gallons!! Miles per or 10 litre would make much more sense.

[chuckle-bus-tom]

For me, the pleasure of driving a T25 syncro is well worth the slightly higher fuel consumption, but I'm also happy that I decided early to invest in an LPG conversion for my daily driver T4 syncro

I paid £5k for my syncro a year ago and it's cost me £3k already. That did include a £1300 LPG conversion though, which significantly softens the weekly fuel pump rape!

A syncro is great fun, it turns heads but it is not a light decision to make. The Wiki has a whole section that will give you an idea of what's required. Also, search the likes of Brickwerks and VWHeritage and see the price of parts (especially compared to the 2wd counterparts)!

Good luck!

[syncropaddy]

Miles per or 10 litre would make much more sense.

Karl .... l/100kms .... its the European way !!

[KarlT]

Miles per or 10 litre would make much more sense.

Karl .... l/100kms .... its the European way !!

Yes but those of us with rare/exclusive/desirable RHD's don't have Km clocks!!

Okay so new, unmodded & I guess empty 2.1 syncro should do 60 miles on 16lts round town @ £1.40 a litre that's costing you £22.40, so circa, a pound every 3 miles, 33p a mile......Hmmmmmm, What's that a gallon??
Any diesel figures?...

[bikermike87]

Okay so new, unmodded & I guess empty 2.1 syncro should do 60 miles on 16lts round town @ £1.40 a litre that's costing you £22.40, so circa, a pound every 3 miles, 33p a mile......Hmmmmmm, What's that a gallon??
Any diesel figures?...

Around 19mpg....

I was getting a solid 23mpg around town / short journeys

I was getting 25-27 when I go camping.

Running a very low mileage 2.1DJ 14" Panel van with camping interior, 16" MT's with timming set at 10BTDC. Using GPS to record mileage and I brim it everytime. Stopped recording every journey now, I don't loose sleep over an extra £400 fuel a year anymore (based on 6000miles in a 35mpg car).

For a 2tonne van that I can sleep/cook/go off road in. I use it as a daily vehicle now and I love it, something different and a bit under stated.