Date:         Mon, 5 Mar 2001 16:43:27 -0500
Reply-To:     Lawrence Johnson <larry_avery.johnson@SYMPATICO.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Lawrence Johnson <larry_avery.johnson@SYMPATICO.CA>
Subject:      Re: Are synchros more trouble than they are worth???
Comments: To: Rico Sapolich <JKrevnov@AOL.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Most definitely *Y*E*S* but only if you spell it  *S*Y*N*C*R*O*

We have two syncros, both 1986, one a Doublecab and the other a Westfalia.
Without them, life here in the snowy part of Ontario, Canada would next to
impossible. On several occasions, we were able to get through snow & ice
conditions that even the snow plows failed to navigate. If you have ever seen
the pictures of Derek Drew on skidoo trails, that could just as well be us. He
does it for fun; we live it.

-Larry

wayout@IX.NETCOM.COM writes:

<<  I could consider a synchro... But Im wondering if I should bother...
I get the gut feeling that VW didnt have a whole lot of experience doing
4WD . . .

. . . I should stick with my usual automobile asthetic of "the simpler the
better".

What do you folks think?
Am I looking at expensive problems with a synchro, or are drivetrains
comperable in reliabilty to a 2WD?
 >>

Jason,

I am sitting here looking out on at least a foot of snow covering the road in
front of my house, so perhaps I am the wrong person to address you questions.
 I have 2 Syncri solely because I want to be able to hop in one of them and
drive the 600 feet to the closest plowed street without getting my feet wet.
Having said that, I think a better Vanagon would be a 2WD with a locking rear
axle.  Once I decide to retire my older Syncro, I plan to salvage its locking
differential for such a transplant.  Anyway, syncro doesn't have the ground
clearance for any real off-roading.

VW also must have doubted their finesse with 4WD because they farmed out the
Syncro to one of the world's premier 4WD manufacturers, Steyr-Puch.  I am
sure Steyr-Puch does not make junk, but their 4WD system does require a lot
of hardware and, obviously, more things to maintain.  Some Syncro parts are
much more expensive than the 2WD equivalent.  Also, it is prudent to change
tires 4 at a time on a Syncro.

Rich

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