Good Buy Syncro?

[rollercoaster]

Would anyone like to suggest a value?
Or comment on its condition?
Before its advertised..

South African (RHD), but normal bodyshape,
tougher running gear than usual.
Difflocks front and back, good VC.
Comes with three sets of 15" wheels,
6 AT2's on steels, set of muds on steels and road tyres on Penta alloys
Its LEZ compliant and has a congestion charge exemption. (so its free in central London)
New full RJES Subaru conversion, including the wiring loom, Smallcar alloy sump,
(its at FutBus's now getting the new stainless RJES exhaust fitted).
It has a lot of lovely features in its favour, powersteering, central locking, electric mirrors..
even got the wiper delay and interior light delay!
Nightbreaker headlights
Ten seats, including quickly removable rear facing row (original fitment)
Freshly reconditioned gearbox, linkages, and steering boots. New MOT.
Its really lovely to drive, fast torquey, and economical too.

The paint is not perfect, but I haven't started rollering it yet..
Been feeding it Dinitrol and Waxoil to keep it sweet.

Although it is a wrench to think of letting it go..
in reality its not been in use for most of the time I have had it.
It has been (as it is now) stuck in a garage.
So I can hardly claim that I cant live without it..

Probably a good time to think about maybe finding a new owner.
Guess this is a fairly desirable van, I chose it carefully, put a lot into it,
and it could make someone very happy.

[..lee..]

sounds like a lovely van but you seem to miss the point that a syncro is for life not just for christmas.


value ??? my guess would be £6K to £8k ish depending on condition??????


lee.

[syncropaddy]

^^^^ WHS. The ten seats might be a turn off for some though

Looks like a cracker but what is "tougher running gear than usual" ??

[rollercoaster]

Yes Lee,
I can see that, and this ones got a life of its own, some times my life is either in the driving seat, or lying under it,
but its not often enough, much less than half the time, so my life gets into other things mostly..
If I had unlimited funds and space, it would stay, next to the many others I would have kept too..
I'm not going to be a collector, as I said there may be an owner that will live with it "for life"
My missus had a syncro she drove all round Australia, and let that go, we love them, its not the end of syncros.

Paddy,
I'm not too sure, seems it is beefed up a bit, for example it has the 16" driveshaft flanges on the gearbox,
and the towing train weight seems high, I was told it has some extra strengthening around the chassis.
Perhaps someone knows what else to expect in the little differences, I only spot them as they come up.
Could have some of the 16" features but still be a 15" bus, thats what I imagine anyway, and I like that.

I also think it had a bit of a headstart in South Africa, without any wetness initiating corrosion,
however it has been in the UK for some time so the beginnings are evident.

The ten seat aspect is not going to put anyone off its a bonus, normal caravelle seats, plus the three extras,
when they are removed, (two simple clips) its just like a seven seater, lush comfy seats, armrests an all..
all the same velour upholstery right through it.

[syncropaddy]

I know over in Ireland you would need a PSV licence to drive it. Looks good so good luck if you decide to sell

[silverbullet]

On the driveshafts, SA buses all had 108mm rear cv's as standard, whether 2wd or syncro. Both my 2wd buses are like this.

Because it's a small-window (pre-1991) the trim is very similar if not identical to German spec. as a lot of the parts were imported direct to SA for local assembly afaik.

On the rust thing, it does rain in Africa! Apparently down towards Cape Town everything rusts due to the prevailing winds. A bit like Cornwall...

It's a very rare bus over here, I can't say I know of another SA syncro but there might be some. Very nice and too good to be caned off-road (the a/c ducting would probably fall down anyway)

[silverbullet]

E D I T: looked closer at the interior pic, that's authentic SA seating. Golf mk2 front seats and headrests, no headrests on middle or rear rows but German GL fabric.

Insurance in UK depends on number of legal seats i.e fitted seatbelts. It's why I drove our Microbus with the jump-seat belt removed to take it down to a 7-seater, before I did the interior mods.

[toomanytoys]

7 seat RHD syncro velle.. its about the only vehicle I could swap for the lhd 8 seat 2wd we've have for nearly 13 years.... Mmmmmm

[silverbullet]

Well when that house sale goes through, buy it as a nice cheer-up for yerself and join the SA untouchables

[rollercoaster]

Well I know it can be tricky on the multi seat issue, licensing and insuring,
but its not impossible, I did find insurance, or rather Swintons did..
I had the same issue with a 9 seat T4 previously.

[rollercoaster]

Heads up!
We just bought a new syncro..
So this fantastic bus will be advertised very soon.

Its been running everyday and all the hard work and investment thats been put into it has really shined,
On the road its been eating some miles smooth and fast, even using its Congestion Charge Exemption in Soho,
Off the road its been great on the farm as well as some exciting times going wooding.
The bodywork is ready for a bit of restoration, but nothings covered up,
and its probably just as well I didnt do it myself and roller it as I would have.
The last mechanical detail to finish is the quiet powersteering pipe to fit, havent got round to it yet.
Basically its in an optimum state to be sold.

Our new baby is 5 weeks old now, and he told us that we needed a van with "facilities"
As well as three seats up front so we could travel sitting together.
The Reimo Freeway conversion with Variotech R+R bed ticked our boxes, and a Syncro version came up for sale,
its a T4 Syncro, but I have enjoyed one previously, it has a few rust issues to sort out but it works ok.
See how it goes...

[ghop99]

Congratulations on your new arrivals!

[syncrowjoker]

Wish it was a deisel Lovelly van will make someone very happy

[rollercoaster]

If only they could run on milk!

[KarlT]

What engine is it?