Date:         Tue, 6 Apr 1999 00:35:58 +0200
Reply-To:     Per Lindgren <lindgre@ONLINE.NO>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Per Lindgren <lindgre@ONLINE.NO>
Subject:      Re: Straw poll: maintenance costs [Syncro]
Comments: To: Brent Christensen <bchristensen@ROCK-SYSTEMS.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Brent Christensen wrote:

>
> How much time/money does a well-maintained Syncro takes on a *monthly* basis
> as compared to a non-Syncro Westy?  Is the difference appreciable? I will be
> buying a Westy (or EV camper) soon, and while the 4WD Syncro is *very*
> appealing, maintenance costs could be a big mitigating factor...  (And IMHO
> the EV's just lack "charm" )

Hi Brent!

As a Syncro only owner, I cant compare my costs to a non-Syncro 2WD vehicle.
Opposed to my old air-coolers(68 Bug, 73 Sqaure), it is virtually maintenance
free.

The things I have done to my Syncro since I bought it last June is:
    Replace the thermostat and coolant.
    Replace the Sparkplugs
    Replace oil and oilfilter (once)
    Greased two cv joints (one axle, left rear)
    some bulbs here and there.
    Replaced the shift stick.
    Had it at the dealers for a check (27 checkpoints all over the car)

Things that need to be done soon:
    Replace upper front ball joints (very soon)
    New tires (no, I'm not buying Yoko's)
    Replace those dreaded fuel lines.
    misc. bushings in the front end.
    tranny and front diff oil replacement (stuff into some synthetics)
    replace some brakelines.

Things that was supposed to be done, but don't bother to do until they fail
completely:
    Starter rebuild/replacement (failed two weeks after I bought the Syncro, but
picked it self up, and still going strong)
    Exhaust system is rusty

Other items that should be done during spring and summer:
    Fix some rust spots and seam rust.
    An underbody anticorrosion treatment
    Soundproof the sliderdoor (already did the front doors)
    Finish the sound system (HA! will never be finished)

So, all in all I do not think I have been too frequent at the dealers, or the
FLAPS with this car, and that is the basic reason I bought it in the first
place, a reliable daily driver to keep the costs down (costs are still up, the
Syncro uses as much money in gas, as I used in parts on my '73 Square)

PerL
88 Syncro
Arendal, Norway