Club 80-90 Forums

can anyone tell me anyhting about T4 syncros ? are they anything like T25 's in terms of capability ?

Well i can think of a lot to say about then and nothing is good.

They are not so good off road, better on road, more economical, more powerful.......but just not the same

good to hear experts views on is, thanks - thats kind of the impression that I got - cant see theyll ever have the following of T25 syncro's ....

they are certainly more capable of getting you stuck offroad. They look crap too. Otherwise the t4 is an awesome car (for old people)

If you want a syncro for the odd muddy field then probably no probs but if you are going to get serious get a T3.

I've been to some interesting places in my T4 syncro. A set of MTs, taller sprimgs at the back, wind up the front and a heavy right foot is all you need!
It also helps if you have a nice tight VC and the rear diff lock that works.

I must admit Doug has surprised me on quite a few ocasions with his t4.I very much think this is atributed to his driving skills though.He almost makes the t4 look good . I am bias towards them though.
But i still stand by my first remark(no offence to you Doug or your t4)
Russel

No offence taken Russel, give me a T3 any day - preferable one of yours!

I've co-polited with Doug, between gassing him and a few dead ends I was pleasantly surprised as to how capable the T4 is off road.
I wouldn't dismiss them totally and i know which I would rather drive down to the Alps in.

I was always put off T4's by the only marginal improvements in performance over the T3. Even the 2.5 102bhp feels strained and noisy on the motorway, does pull the hills like my dj though, and makes steep slow hills much easier. I remember taking one for a test drive when they first came out, from a VW center in Putney in London, was not impressed, especially when they offered 300 trade in for the T3!! I always preferred the VR6 T4, just because it did do something that the T3 could not, warp drive motorway travel with ease and refinement.

The LWB T4 syncro doesn't half creak and groan as you off road, very flexible body shell. The T3 16" does not flex at all. I prefer that any day. But to blast down to the Alps, mmmm a VR6 T4 would be nice, not a diesel one.

But then I felt the same with the new T5, had a 174 Caravelle on test for a weekend, and was disappointed overall, was really hoping for a leap forward from the T4, but it was marginal.

Isn't the T4 syncro drive-train the same as a T3 only in reverse? Is it mainly a question of ground clearance?

I think the achilles heal is the lack of protection for the bottom of the engine.
The ground clearance doesn't help, but not too difficult to remedy.

I think some longer dampers (not expensive to get made) spacers for the diff (to keep the CV joints from binding) wind the torsion bars up a bit and some packing under the rear springs they would be reasonably useful.

The 2.5TDI is an ace engine, very torquey, will chip/remap easily to 130hp without too much fuss, then there the exhaust mods, the bigger nozzles etc that regularly see users upto 170hp ish without too much full and usually as economical as they were before (40 on a run anyone, like to see that out of your wasserleaker!!)

I have a nice T3 Syncro with a VR6. Very nice combo but the VR6 is very thirsty. It sits lovely on the motorway. Opened it up for the first time on the way back from Newcastle. Pushed it coming out of a roundabout. Accelerated up to about 85 in third before changing up. Was right up in the power and boy did it feel good. Don't want to push it too much or too often otherwise I'll end up having to rebuild the gearbox. It is very pleasant to drive normally however you do need deep pockets to pay for the fuel.