aaz test drive

[..lee..]

a bit cheeky i know but is there anyone nearish to me with a aaz in a syncro, standard or tuned, that would be willing for me to have a short test drive before i commit to putting one in my 16".

thanks lee.

[v-lux]

Im not nearby, but i can vouch for the AAZ being a very good replacement for a tired JX.

Not a huge power difference, but its certainly a bit more 'driveable' than the JX. You notice the slight increase in torque more than anything else.

[..lee..]

cheers v-lux, have you driven a 2.1 syncro as i`m thinking of going from a 2.1 to an AAZ but dont want to end up with a slower van.

lee.

[futbus]

Like Alan can say the AAZ is a good swop. I also have a petrol syncro, but it`s a lighter van, and does drive differently but other differences not just the engine. The AAZ can be modded simply and cheaply to give good performance and there is plenty of stuff on here and brickyard on how to`s.

If you ever come down this way, your welcome to go for a drive.

[Aidan]

upgrade the stereo if going tractor engine from wbx
it's a hell of a lot of work to change fuels, different fuel tank esp.
on lpg the wbx costs the same to run as diesel doing 35mpg

[..lee..]

thanks for the offer futbus.


aiden, i`ve thought about lpg but cant really afford to loose any space with mandy and the 2 kids in tow most of the time. i`d like to go 5 cyl diesel really but i dont want the electrics plus i`ve got everyting i need to go aaz bar the fuel tank and some bits of baxter.

i tried looking in to a 5 cyl mtdi pump but cant seem to get any sense locally.

surely with a syncro the more tractor like the better oooo ar.

[mcgill5]

i emailed H A project when i was thinking of the 5 cylinder diesel. they said if i sent them the loom they would make one up for me. cheers mcgill

[andysimpson]

upgrade the stereo if going tractor engine from wbx
it's a hell of a lot of work to change fuels, different fuel tank esp.
on lpg the wbx costs the same to run as diesel doing 35mpg

and about as quick as a month in the jail

[HarryMann]

Your 2.1 diff might be a bit high for a TD if you run big tyres on 15s..

I've driven both, and although I like what I've got in the AAZ now, it didn't happen overnight.. there's a lot more to it, especially converting from petrol

If you are into a project and some development, OK, but a quick swapover ??? Mmmm - I certainly wouldn't do it from the economy aspect, unless you go Tdi.
What mpg are you expecting to make it all worthwhile, or are you considering it for other reasons?

You can get the speed of a 2.1, but not from a std. AAZ... IMHO

[..lee..]

thanks for the input guys, not really going diesel for economy although i`d hope to get an improvement on the 18 to 24 mpg that i`m getting out of the 2.1.
the 2.1 runs nice but i find i`m having to spend on it all the time, oil leaks then water pipes and recently ect and oxy sensors, cant stand the fact that it tapps when it starts after being parked for a while and the exhaust will need changing in a year or so.

what i want is a engine with good torque low down for off road and be able to hold 60 to 70mph on the motorway with a possible short burst to 80 mph just to clear the traffic you sometimes get stuck in. i might get away with a tdi with the gearing i`ve got as i have the 4.8 ( i think) diffs and big wheels (255/65/16) but i dont want the electric bull "pooh" you get with a std tdi as if something goes wrong when i`m away i`ll have no chance of fixing it.

i`ve got a bellhousing adapter and 5 cyl petrol in the syncro doka so idealy i`d like to pinch that stuff and use the bits to fit either a 5 or 6 pot mtdi in the syncro 16", i could keep the petrol fuel tank in the 16" then and put the aaz in the doka which was origonally diesel anyway.

need to get a reliable engine and trans as sorted as we are hoping to do 6 weeks in europe summer 2011 and wouldn`t be happy going with the 2.1.

cheers lee.

[syncroandy]

You'd not be disappointed with a Subaru if done right..

[..lee..]

i`m tempted to wrx the other westy but i`m not a big fan of the subaru engine. i know a lot of people who compete with them and i see them run the cranks out a bit too often for my liking. for a heavy vehicle i think a td is the only way to go really. not many petrol lorries running around anymore. .


just need some time now............................................

[syncroandy]

I think the NA is the one to go for. Ej25 165bhp with the AAN gearbox seems to be sweet spot to me. These engines are known to be long-lived.

[ericos_bob]

Wouldn't go a subaru turbo if fuel economy is of importance and yes reliability is not quite as good on the turbo's. Don't fit as easy as the 2.2 or 2.5 NA motors . Doing an EJ22 conversion myself because I need ultimate reliability for outback expeditions here in australia. The subaru ej22 NA engines with 135hp are a big improvement over the stock 2.1 wbx. Very broad torque curve with much better bottom end power than the 2.1wbx for offroading. Economy average is 27mpg or 30mpg cruising and are one of the most reliable motors you could put in a syncro. Not unusual to have them run for 250-300,000 miles. Downside is it is getting harder to find a low mileage engine but they're still common enough that if you keep a look out something will pop up. just my 2c. good luck with whatever conversion you do. erik

[..lee..]

thanks for the input guys, guess there`s only one way to see what suits and thats get a conversion done and live with it.