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Posted: 15 Nov 2005, 10:04
by clash460
quote

"You get the picture: overweight, fifty-something, bearded, wine guzzling, grumpy old man (do I have the right credentials?) wants more sparkle in his motoring."
sounds like you would fit in perfect (new best friend for Matt) :lol:
will leave it too the hardened 4wd people to give you the low down
welcome :D

Posted: 15 Nov 2005, 10:40
by HarryMann
You sound a perfect couple for a Syncro... but not a £2k one. With due deference to any others Tristar owners, I'd suggest one might be your thing - maybe £4k upwars depending...

Rather than sell it to you (someone else can have a go at that), why don't you look through the 'Events' section of the Syncro website, maybe read this:
http://www.club80-90.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=900

if you haven't already and then decide for yourself if you want to join the Syncronauts whence you can come along and find out for yourself if what they do 'turns you on' in any way. You'd need a tent though, if you're going to enjoy the barbecue and your wine - maybe turn up just for the day, or B&B 'ing it isn't unknown, but somewhat frowned upon :oops:

Or if you fancy being able to camp on the top of Mt Everest, and don't mind LHD (very high driving position makes this much less of a problem in UK) take a look at this one...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/vw-westfalia-sync ... dZViewItem

Posted: 15 Nov 2005, 11:45
by Diamond Hell
As Clive says - go look at the past events stuff on the Syncronauts website - especially have a look at the Syncro-pendence 2005 video Hacksaw Bob did - you'll get a really good feel for the sort of nonsense we get up to and also just how capable these vehicles are off road.

A doka is a fantastically capable vehicle, both for doing 'things' and also off road. Not a lot of other vehicles of the same size can move a tonne of stuff and 5/6 people at the same time.

Unless you're looking for a camper then go have a look at some, although your best value option to buy one is to head off into Europe - far better value for your money than the UK and importing one isn't too much hassle (and you get a nice trip into the bargain). It will take up some time though!

Let us know whereabouts you are and I'm sure there's someone relatively close who will hook up and take you through what Syncros are about, where the achillies heels are and why they're so great (and they are).

Posted: 15 Nov 2005, 12:56
by sixsprings
importing..see www.tee3.co.uk
for the adverts, see www.mobile.de
good luck..
matt will you send this guy your video that you've just send me - funny and awe inspiring. :D

Posted: 15 Nov 2005, 14:10
by HarryMann
Well,

Mark Williams (Mudlark) has a nice Tristar in Bristol, which I'm sure he'd arrange for you to take a look over sometime. They have power steering and are much quieter and better trimmed than the normal ones... and have 2 rear doors with sliding windows.

Image

Posted: 15 Nov 2005, 18:04
by Aidan
and are as rare as a rare thing - only 19 rhd uk vehicles.
If you are in the market try CJ at Syncrospares as he seems to be able to ferret out syncros, maybe even knows of a doka that's for sale.
01884 266424
07808 200623

he's only in Cullompton so close to you

Posted: 15 Nov 2005, 19:01
by HarryMann
... and how many do we know about here?

Posted: 15 Nov 2005, 19:13
by matt

Posted: 15 Nov 2005, 19:18
by HarryMann
Good commitment Matt - so how come you got stuck the first time :roll:

Posted: 15 Nov 2005, 19:55
by Mudlark
and thats how it goes really !

You think youd like something a bit different, out of the mold so to speak; a VW T25 double cab seems attractive; and then you start looking around and come across a 4wd version called a syncro; and the more you look the more you want!

Eventually you find the one you've been waiting for; get it home, drive it and love it, but its got buttons on the dash and you just have to pull them :D , but you've been told that if you pull them while on a road you might damage your gears or worse; so you get to thinking that youd like to get off road, just to try it, just so you know...

and before you can say 'diff-lock' your a fully signed up member of the syncronauts and doing things with the van you never thought possible, meeting up with a bunch of people who trod the same path!

I have a UK RHD Syncro Tristar; a luxury DOKA is all. It has fancy exterior trims, four doors and an insulated and upgraded interior not unlike most cars of the time. The two front seats have armrests and its quite a neat package, but as has been said there are not many of them.

Posted: 16 Nov 2005, 16:15
by Diamond Hell
You'll never lose a Syncro in a car park!

If £2k is your budget then you're not talking Tristar, you're talking good, solid imported doka. Don't forget to try Scandinavia too. They used a lot of Syncro dokas for their utility companies and many of them have slightly unusual options like pie ovens under the passenger seats and heated seats!

Posted: 16 Nov 2005, 16:19
by Ye Olde Syncrospares
but they all need new exhausts and complete brake lines fitted,something to bear in mind,cj