Author |
Message |
ericos_bob Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2009 Posts: 71 Location: australia
|
Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 4:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
I consider my modified syncro as capable as any average 4x4. Give or take a bit of offroad performance when comparing to various makes and models but the differences are minimal. So much so that I find driver skill is able to make up for advantages one has over another. I'm talking pathfinders, jeeps, toyotas, landrovers etc which are not modified to extremes.
For me, to really move up a level form a modified syncro I'd be thinking more of unimogs, pinzgauers or other custom extreme offroaders as they will go where a syncro simply cannot regardless of driver skill. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
hege Samba Member

Joined: November 14, 2007 Posts: 59 Location: Finland
|
Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 3:55 am Post subject: |
|
|
I dont know what to say after seeing this video:
Link
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
randywebb Samba Member

Joined: February 15, 2005 Posts: 3815 Location: Greater Metropolitan Nimrod, Orygun
|
Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 12:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
does " average 4x4" mean average SUV?? b/c those are not always very capable - Honda Pilot would be one example of a so-called soft-roader _________________ 1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
onwardtothestars  Samba Member

Joined: April 04, 2007 Posts: 385 Location: Hazenville Pass Wyoming
|
Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 5:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
hege wrote: |
I dont know what to say after seeing this video:
Link
|
The Syncro certainly competes, and i must say its not a modified rig. _________________ Beetle, Ghia, Vanagon Syncro, and more |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
GrindGarage Samba Member

Joined: October 14, 2008 Posts: 710 Location: Ocean City, NJ
|
Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 5:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Silver syncro puts modern Toyota to shame good work driver _________________ -cliff
91 Vanagon AUTO
97 Single Port EJ22 all smallcar.com |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
thevannmann Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2010 Posts: 62 Location: Brookfield, WI
|
Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 6:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
^ x2 _________________ 1982 1.6 NA Diesel Westfalia "Bearly Muven"
1990 Volvo 740 Turbo Intercooler |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
ericos_bob Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2009 Posts: 71 Location: australia
|
Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 7:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Lol what a great clip I love it and a very good driver behind the wheel of that syncro! I also find a lot of people will write off their syncros offroad ability without ever really testing what it can do simply due to the tech talk naysayers hyping up their modern 4x4s.
Oh and by average 4x4 I'm talking about the vehicles I commonly go 4 wheeling with which are cars like new and old toyota landcruisers/ troopies,hilux, nissan pathfinders,patrols, holden jackaroos, mitsubishi pajero's,delicas,tritons, holden jackaroo's, jeep wranglers,cherokee sports etc. I would consider these makes and models to be on the same playing field as my modified syncro.
Every once in a while there will be a heavily modified jeep or other that will have all the bells and whistles. I don't run into these too often though and obviously aren't average 4x4s you'd run into off the beaten track. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
conchyjoe Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2012 Posts: 24 Location: Santa Cruz
|
Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 8:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
IdahoDoug wrote: |
That is not an easy trail and if anyone here has been through the Miller Jeep Trail I suspect they'd chime in to say a stock Vanagon Syncro would not make it through and a modified one would have a lot of trouble and need to be driven in such a way that it endangered the drivetrain and suspension components. |
i'm late to the party, but I used to run that trail in a fairly stock Tacoma, Cj jeep, and later in a built fj60. All vehicles made it, but I would never ever consider taking a synchro through them. Not saying it couldn't be done, just that it would not be fun...
Having said all of that, the reason I sold all of those vehicles, and don't own one now is what someone said about camping etc. It's nice to snail it around with your home on your back, and just open the door and cook...
I reckon the best comparison to the Synchro is the Mistubishi L300 Delica. If I could get a diesel one over here in the US, it would give my VW love a run for the my hard earned cash... although, they do have a low range too... essentially a van on Shogun/montero frame and drive train...
2400cc turbo diesel... oh man i miss european car markets sometimes... |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
ericos_bob Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2009 Posts: 71 Location: australia
|
Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 9:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Nice pic of the delica. The older l300 does catch my eye. It's too bad the new delicas have gone all egg shaped and narrow. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
hege Samba Member

Joined: November 14, 2007 Posts: 59 Location: Finland
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
onwardtothestars  Samba Member

Joined: April 04, 2007 Posts: 385 Location: Hazenville Pass Wyoming
|
Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 6:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
So did the jeep or whatever in the last video. Also notice the van was still drivable once being pulled over. _________________ Beetle, Ghia, Vanagon Syncro, and more |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
IdahoDoug Samba Member

Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10355 Location: N. Idaho
|
Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 9:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I was showing a friend some Moab videos this weekend. Took a stock SUV through Metal Bender, Hells Revenge, Poison Spider and Porcupine Rim. Included the optional hardest obstacles in all cases, and also Launch Pad and the now closed Dump Bump. Stock SUV, no lockers and ended with zero body damage.
I'm dying to get to Moab to test my Van. Wonder if they are running any of the above trails? Those are pretty gnarly in several long sections.
DougM _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
onwardtothestars  Samba Member

Joined: April 04, 2007 Posts: 385 Location: Hazenville Pass Wyoming
|
Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 9:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I have a Touareg too and I've seen Moab videos of them in action. Driving both my Syncro and my Touareg in the same offroad situations here on the ranch and elsewhere I'd say the Syncro is very capable, the wife and I prefer the Syncro. _________________ Beetle, Ghia, Vanagon Syncro, and more |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
IdahoDoug Samba Member

Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10355 Location: N. Idaho
|
Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 9:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Forgot to add earlier we did NOT make it up Dump Bump. It's a 12 foot high pitched slab and I did not know once the wheels are spinning on the rock to walk it to the left to hook the huge rooty-looking thing to get over the lip. That thing's crazy and for those who've seen it, didn't want to mislead that I made it - yowza.
Made everything else. Moab is a virtual playground for a machine like a Syncro and I urge those who wonder if it's worth it, to consider going. You'll never forget it.
DougM _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Jon_slider Samba Member

Joined: April 11, 2007 Posts: 5091 Location: Santa Cruz, Crowdifornia
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
hellenic vanagon Samba Member

Joined: December 28, 2007 Posts: 283 Location: ATHENS GREECE
|
Posted: Wed May 29, 2013 6:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
conchyjoe wrote: |
IdahoDoug wrote: |
That is not an easy trail and if anyone here has been through the Miller Jeep Trail I suspect they'd chime in to say a stock Vanagon Syncro would not make it through and a modified one would have a lot of trouble and need to be driven in such a way that it endangered the drivetrain and suspension components. |
i'm late to the party, but I used to run that trail in a fairly stock Tacoma, Cj jeep, and later in a built fj60. All vehicles made it, but I would never ever consider taking a synchro through them. Not saying it couldn't be done, just that it would not be fun...
Having said all of that, the reason I sold all of those vehicles, and don't own one now is what someone said about camping etc. It's nice to snail it around with your home on your back, and just open the door and cook...
I reckon the best comparison to the Synchro is the Mistubishi L300 Delica. If I could get a diesel one over here in the US, it would give my VW love a run for the my hard earned cash... although, they do have a low range too... essentially a van on Shogun/montero frame and drive train...
2400cc turbo diesel... oh man i miss european car markets sometimes... |
DEATH TRAPS #1
Link
DEATH TRAPS #2
Link
_________________ The Syncro Heresy |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
nemobuscaptain Samba Member

Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 3874
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Phishman068 Samba Member

Joined: February 19, 2007 Posts: 1996 Location: Pittsburgh PA (ish)
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
carterzest Samba Member

Joined: January 22, 2008 Posts: 3841 Location: Eagle, ID/Sun Valley, ID
|
Posted: Wed May 29, 2013 8:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Link
Same run the next day.....
Link
_________________ Happiness=Portland, Oregon in the rearview mirror!
Last edited by carterzest on Wed May 29, 2013 8:45 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
MTV1960 Samba Member

Joined: March 29, 2011 Posts: 51 Location: Costa Rica
|
Posted: Wed May 29, 2013 8:44 pm Post subject: Syncro locker operation |
|
|
I was wondering if when the front and rear lockers are engaged are the wheels supposed to turn in unison or is one going to break free? I was on a steep trail with loose dirt and noticed that when my rear stock locker was engaged the right wheel was spinning and the left was doing nothing. The front locker is an upgrade with a go westy decoupler and solid shaft replacing the VC. The same thing the front left was spinning out and the left doing nothing. Is the system functioning correctly or is something amiss? _________________ 86 Wolfsburg Weekender
87 Syncro Westy |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|