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Progress
Posted: 16 Mar 2006, 13:08
by Louey
The Volkswagen Touareg has another competitor in the off-road class, which is none other than Volkswagen's Vanagon Syncro, last produced in the 1991 model year for the American market. The Vanagon Syncro and especially the Vanagon Syncro Camper models were featured a couple of years ago in an article in the Escapes section of the New York Times, and VW beat out the Toureg in off-road tests conducted in Germany. Unfortunately, the Vanagon Syncro Camper only sold an average of two vehicles per state per year in the mid to late 1980s. Accordingly, it is hard to find in the used car market and regularly fetches about 75% of the original sale price of about $25,000.
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/autom ... lstory.htm
progress? or just Air conditioning and a comfortable chair
Posted: 16 Mar 2006, 13:16
by Horza
Are you surprised Louey? The Toerag[sic] like most modern off road vehicles isn't meant to be used off road, it's for intimidating other mothers on the school run and to allow the manufacturer to avoid complying with strict safety regulations that govern "on road" vehicles.
Posted: 16 Mar 2006, 13:54
by Diamond Hell
I've seen footage of the Toerag off road and it does appear capable, but would you throw said £40K vehicle into the woods?
Thought not.
Posted: 16 Mar 2006, 13:55
by Louey
I wouldn't throw 40k at a vehicle full stop!!
Posted: 16 Mar 2006, 20:03
by Cate
I'd love to
have 40k!
Posted: 16 Mar 2006, 21:26
by andysimpson
Looking at a tourag underneath shows they did put alot of thought into its abilites to go off road, it looks like as with most things vw the accountants finished of the design and left a few silly bits hanging low. Its suspension travel is good, much better than a t3 but the arms are alloy so won't take much bending.
Posted: 16 Mar 2006, 21:40
by HarryMann
are alloy so won't take much bending
Duralumin casting alloys, or even forginsg aren't a long shot behind steel on stiffness and strength, thats what you often land on at Heathrow..
but not so damage tolerant.
I think the Audi Q7 is the best of this class off-road, did you watch the video I put up a while ago... looked impressive to me, but that was sand and desert type stuff - Rally car type stuff
Posted: 17 Mar 2006, 09:47
by andysimpson
HarryMann wrote:are alloy so won't take much bending
Duralumin casting alloys, or even forginsg aren't a long shot behind steel on stiffness and strength, thats what you often land on at Heathrow..
but not so damage tolerant.
I think the Audi Q7 is the best of this class off-road, did you watch the video I put up a while ago... looked impressive to me, but that was sand and desert type stuff - Rally car type stuff
Volkswagen have been using multiple alloy arms for over ten years now on passats, a4,a6,a8, they were softer than butter in the early days, they are much better now but have more wear problems than any other car i know of so i can't see the tourag being much better.
I have not seen the audi off road video, i have seen the porsche cayane one and that was impressive.
Posted: 17 Mar 2006, 10:00
by HarryMann
Andy, you can find that vid somewhere in this thread :-
http://www.club80-90.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3676
Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 21:55
by andysimpson
I can't see the link to the video from that thread, is it still there or i am going blind (most likely).
Posted: 19 Mar 2006, 02:16
by HarryMann
Ok, there is loads of stuff on that Q7 site to be sure... one that's got some good video..
Goto the Q7 site
Q7 Release Website
Skip intro
Goto Heritage
Skip Intro
Look for the window with 'The Audi Q7 is coming' or select Audi Q7
View Film
Guess this sort of website you either love or hate... finding stuff is a nigtmare and the trend to small windows and smaller print is, well, Er, modern?
Take a look at the Pike's Peak Quattro? named after the Michele Mouton, Walter Rohl era of barnstorming the Americans for the first time with 'trick' Euro rally cars
Posted: 19 Mar 2006, 21:22
by andysimpson
Thanks found it now.
Its stability on that sand is amazing for its height and weight, the ESP must of been working hard. Its a shame they don't show it in more demanding terrian, an A4 quattro could of done that easily. I suppose in real life it would not make it off tarmac.
Posted: 19 Mar 2006, 21:42
by toomanytoys
Just as a side note, a belgian guy has gone to a lot of trouble to compare torque at the wheels comparing a TDsyncro-DJ (112bhp)syncro-2wdT5(TDi174)-T5 syncro (TDi174) and a Siekel special T5 syncro..
To summerize..
the T5 syncros cant drive slow.. and at 8.7kph its turning 1100 rpm (std) 1300rpm (siekel).. and even the TD T25 puts out more torque at the wheels at the same speed.. and can go slower if need be..
I'll see if I can translate the info up..
Posted: 19 Mar 2006, 22:02
by andysimpson
toomanytoys wrote:Just as a side note, a belgian guy has gone to a lot of trouble to compare torque at the wheels comparing a TDsyncro-DJ (112bhp)syncro-2wdT5(TDi174)-T5 syncro (TDi174) and a Siekel special T5 syncro..
To summerize..
the T5 syncros cant drive slow.. and at 8.7kph its turning 1100 rpm (std) 1300rpm (siekel).. and even the TD T25 puts out more torque at the wheels at the same speed.. and can go slower if need be..
I'll see if I can translate the info up..
I would think they have not used a crawler gear is due to the fact the rest of the vehicle is not for off road use, the t4 syncro was much more road than the t3 syncro and the t5 4 motion has gone total on road use, it will probably scrub the floor with a t3 on a slippery road though.
Posted: 20 Mar 2006, 01:11
by airhead
Its a shame though cause it has a cracking centre diff. The Haldex they use is a brilliant piece of engineering. If they jacked the suspension up and put on some armour plating on the bottom it might not be half bad off the road. So whats this siekel special T5 now??