Syncro or 2WD

[elizer]

[E1]

Our van’s original paint is very, very nice.

But Elizer’s comment is exactly why we may never paint it.
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‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[Kdj]

[4Gears4Tires]

[photogdave]

[mitch5]

I currently own a syncro that i am prepping to sell. They are awesome vehicles and super capable but the transmissions are inadequate for anything heavier than a tin top.

If you are willing to spend 5-10k on the transmission at any given time and be willing to let the van sit for 2-3 months while it is rebuilt then you'll be fine owning one. Depending on usage you may be doing this every 3-5 years. I am no longer willing

As others have mentioned a 2wd is super capable because of the weight on the rear, there are options to modify a 2wd that will bring gearing within range of the syncro granny gear.

[dhaavers]

OP…I’ve never been, but if I were you I’d get out to Syncro Solstice in Moab at the end of May.

Do some ride-alongs in both types of rigs & spend a whole weekend learning about your options.

Money (and time) well spent…

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=787013&highlight=solstice

- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[calsurf]

There's a lot to consider in a question the OP proposed. I have been in the same position several times going back and forth on 2WD vs 4WD. Probably the biggest thing to consider if money isn't the deciding factor, is the need vs want, actual/reality terrain vs dreamed/vision terrain, investment or use it and abuse it (a little) type ownership. In my case, I chased down a low mileage 2WD manual Westy camper ($17K) almost 2 yrs ago so my wife and I can do some Southwest US camping and touring. Nothing hard-core 90% paved, 10% dirt. IF I want a little more traction off road a Peloquin locker is a good option. MPG, insurance & maintenance cost is important to consider for most. This debate can go forever, but in the end of the day it's your decision you're living with (until you/I change our mind again, ha), Cheers.

[syncrodoka]

Driving on salted roads will eat up any car in short order. We don't salt the roads so I am free to use any vehicle all year. My syncros aren't investments so I get to use them offroad, the truck just took a load of greenwaste(filled completely to the top) to the landfill and is currently being refilled, I daily drove my rhd fastback and doka for decades. These vehicles can be used but if you have tons of money invested in them it would probably be a bad idea, mine are mechanically in great condition but can be used. Different stokes for different folks as they say

[MarkWard]

[ThinkingD]

I think your budget will dictate your choice.
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87 Titian Red Westfalia 2.0 VW I4 SOHC manual Ottawa, Ontario

[E1]

[silversync]

We bought our Syncro in 2005 for $4,300.00. Of course we spent plenty on repairs and moderate upgrades and it was always in ready-to-go usable condition, often a daily driver. Now we are hitting over 70 years old, probably those offroad and remote camping days are over. I'm shopping to "downgrade" to an '89 or newer Vanagon / Carat with an auto trans, mostly for comfortable day trips.
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Roland: '89 Syncro, '02 911 C4S, '10 Audi A4 Avant

[MarkWard]

I'm glad I got to build one from scratch. It's really a very impressive engineered package. Its too bad VW isn't making many syncro specific parts available. I also got the syncro fever out of my head.

Like silversync, we are also approaching 70. My days of winching, shoveling, airing up and down are behind me.

Don't feel bad for us, I took the money from selling the syncro and bought a barn find 1980 911 SC. A car that was on my bucket list. And I still have my sorted 82.

One last thought in case the original poster does come back, having worked on both types, many syncro repairs are 3x as difficult. Something as simple as replacing a starter is a real task.
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[kamzcab86]

[SCM]

[hardway]

I started on a T1 (splitty) and a Type 1 (beetle) and have owned and operated many front drive and various types of AWD vehicles. When I let the T1 go I replaced it with a T3 (Vanagon).

I learned how to drive in Vermont in the winter. In my opinion a rear drive, rear engine vehicle is very capable in low traction situations. With a locker, Limited Slip Differential or even a Torsen type differential they are even more so.

The first time I thought about getting a Syncro I was driving on glare ice on a Forest Service road. I had to limit the speed so as not to swap ends. One time I was driving to a trailhead on a Mine to Market road (Not maintained to Forest service standards). I had to back down and take another run at it to get through. I thought to myself that if this were a Syncro I wouldn't even have to think about it.

So I got a Syncro. A Syncro does not feel like a RWD T3. It is heavier. It is not as much of a joy to drive. The rear drive T3 is an exceptionally nimble vehicle. I enjoy driving the Syncro but I love driving the rear drive T3s.

Any T3 is now an antique. And so it requires money and effort. The Syncro is a least a factor of 4 times more. Then there is the un-obtainium factor. This applies to all T3s but more so to Syncros.

Also to be considered is if you can tolerate having a limited top speed. As the years passed I found myself driving the T3s less. If I need to get somewhere fast I take another vehicle. I now have a rear driver with a 1.8t. It still has a limited top speed but the driveability is so much better.

My advice is to start with a rear driver. And that is if you really can deal with the limitations of an obsolete vehicle. The reason I let the splitty go is that it was unsafe to drive in modern traffic. The brakes and visibilty of a T3 are still OK today but the limited acceleration can be a problem. Very few people actually NEED a Syncro. Invest in your skill set. Treat yourself to driving schools. Maybe get a special differential. I got my Syncro when I was climbing a lot. I had a legitimate need for it then. It is paid for now and I still value it's ability. But I cant drive it in the winter now because Washington State now uses De-icer (SALT). So I have to take a less collectible vehicle in the winter.

[calsurf]

Here's a interesting Syncro Westy camper. Just got listed. Has a lot of pluses. Should go for plenty of coin. Up in BC though. Smog cert can be a real pain depending where you live. If not your choices are a wider. What's your budget??

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1987-volkswagen-vanagon-westfalia-47/

[Howesight]

We bought our Syncro as a tin top in 2008 from the original owner who cared for the vehicle very well, keeping it garaged when not in use. The first step for us was to convert the van to a Westfalia with all the parts from a scrap donor van. The transmission was rebuilt and upgraded at the time we installed the Subaru SVX engine in 2012 and the upgrade included re-gearing 3rd and 4th gears (and oiling plates, etc) to suit the higher power and keep highway revs reasonable.

We have mostly babied this rig when driving off-road. We don't do jerky starts or anything that shock-loads the transaxle. With the front and rear lockers, crawling in "G" gear works well when traction is low. On the highway, we initially drove fast (sometimes 80 mph for many miles) on the freeways to get to our destinations. It is not hard to ruin a Syncro gearbox, but so far, we have had good luck.

When we go camping, (especially when I go alone), it is about 50% of the time to a location accessed by crazy logging roads, and sometimes de-activated logging roads. I like this kind of travel and adventure, so a Syncro is right for me.

If you always travel in groups, though, then you can expect some assistance from others in your group if you get stuck, and in that case, a high-clearance 2WD Vanagon can do some impressive things - - right up until it can't - - which is where your friends in your group can assist. For our needs and wants, the Syncro option was, and remains, necessary.

This rig had a factory-installed rear diff lock, which I highly recommend. I added a front diff lock and a de-coupler. The front diff lock is very rarely needed, but adds a lot of capability when going places that no Vanagon should really go.

If you don't do your own maintance and repairs, then a Syncro is not likely for you. I would not trust most technicians who don't specialize in these vehicles (Vanagons and the Syncro variety) to do proper repairs to such a Unicorn. It's also necessary when you go off the beaten path as far as I like to go, to be able to do DIY field repairs.

Hope you find what works for your needs!
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'86 Syncro Westy SVX

[Sodo]