am i the only wuss?

[candyman]

whether you are a wuss or not does not matter. what matters is syncros were designed to do specific things, handle certain off road conditions better then 2wd could ever do. You are embarrassing your syncro by not giving her a good work every now and again. While I do not "beat the hell" out of my syncro, I do work it hard, probably as hard if not harder then any syncro owner on this site. I know how to drive off road and the syncro is perfectly capable of my needs. I live in Western MT where you do need 4wd some of the time, contrary to what a lot of people think. In fact, I have to drive it to work this morning instead of my 58 bug cuz we got a lot of snow last night and they never get to plowing my side of town for a while. There is no real reason in my opinion to own this kind of a car if you do not need it because yes, they are expensive to own, but damn it, they are fun as hell! now get out there and use it or lose it man!

[Syncronicity]

[whynotvw]

< Timwhy wrote : I don't know? Are you! I think just because you have a 4X4 doesn't mean you have
to beat the crap out of it. You don't even have to take it off road to use the 4X4.
Who knows when you'll have to navigate some really hairy parking lot like my
wife does with her 4X4. I say be glad that the allwheel drive is there when and
if you need it, and keep that paint looking good. >

yeah these things are freakin expensive when it breaks. once i was on the freeway and the traffic was really bad. i needed to get off the exit, but there was a divider so i just went over the divider with my syncro. i had some stares from people.

[euromog]

You are not a wuss. I beat the hell out of my Syncro more than any one. It was bought and built for my fun. I purposely don't have a Westy or DOKA because they are worth way too much for what I want to do worry free. You use your Syncro for what you bought it for. That is all that matters.

[cvbill]

Great shots Aleric! Brings back fond memories. I used to tease Craig S. incessantly over the years about his reluctance to scrape the paint on his green Doka. As you can see, he's loosened up a lot, and a good guy to take all my crap. Check out his bumper protector!
I scratched my newly repainted (again) syncro after dumping it on its side at Hollister down in Big Sur camping. Just got back from Death Valley Sunday camping for a week. Lotsa offroading to out of the way places- but never did use the front locker. No damage (930 axles!)
Anyway, you need to come to SdeM. There is no pressure to do stuff you are not comfortable doing, and if you want to learn, THIS IS THE PLACE.
That's how I started, and all I got was a dented van! (to show Craig)
Don't be afraid of your rig, I have a picture of Joey M's maroon Doka stuck up to its axles in the sand in Oregon, THE same Doka GoWesty sold later for $70,000+

[Jon_slider]

dont hesitate to go to SDM, you can ride with Bill and leave your Van at camp

I just sold my Subie Syncro Westy, and have been driving my 2wd Westy, since I no longer live in snow country

I never broke an Axle at SDM, though lots of people have, even people right in front of me going up past the quarry.. After that, I stopped trying to go up past the quarry..

there are many places you can take your Van at Hollister, that does not involve breaking axles..

here is my last Syncro on some non axle breaking terrain at Hollister

Its also easy to drive to the obstacle courses to watch other fools

[HeftySmurf]

This is a pretty funny thread. I can understand not wanting to scratch my paint. The first decent scratch I got was a bummer but after I got over the fact it was only paint and how much fun I just had, I got over it.
With all the rain we have had here in Seattel lately I was checking out the swellking rivers and saw a Land Rover coming through a flooded road.
it was very hard not to join him. However, common sense told me it wasnt necessary. Now if I had my little cover plate on the bottom of my motor (that covers up the fly wheel) I totally would have.
Sounds like Utah is a nice and open terrain so scatches are not such a concern like narrow brush covered trails
_________________
-Lorenzo
90 GL w/ Bostig

[Volksaholic]

Wherever your comfort zone is... go with it. There are people here who garage their Vanagons for the Winter and keep them out of harm's way in the Summer... would that be considered wussy? I also know a guy with a nice Syncro with serious brush scratches all over it... it's his getaway vehicle and he tests its limits pretty routinely. Everyone's got their reasons for owning their Vanagon and what they're willing to subject it too. Mine is my daily driver, as has been every VW I've ever owned. I tossed the sand bags in the back this morning and took off in the fresh snow for work... I'll wash the salt out of the nooks & crannies next time it's above freezing and repair the rust when it rears it's ugly blisters.

Paul
_________________
1988 Wolfsburg Edition, 2001 Subaru EJ251

[trihartsfield]

Come on now you need to loose your virginity-easy and slow.
_________________
1971 Transporter-SOLD
1982 Westy Will grow up into a TDI

[candyman]

Two pages and no post from daizee, what kind of thread is this

[VanWilder]

Tim, if you saw what I do with VanWilder, you would have no issues with yours in a 4x4 scenario..

Your Syncro can handle.
_________________
VW
________________________
"83.5" Vanagon GL Air cooled "VanWilder"
VanWilder has given back to me more then I could ever put into it September 22, 2010
Malama Ka `Aina—"Respect the Land"

[jackbombay]

[DAIZEE]

Here I am, been following quietly, nothing to say other than I am a wuss BUT I don't own a Syncro so staying out of it! Thanks for thinking of me tho
_________________
'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)

[Mofus]

Speak of the devil, and the devil appears...
_________________
'87 Syncro passenger w/ 2.2L Subaru
'10 Passat Wagon (keeps Mrs. Mofus away from my van)

[spaeth]

Alaric, you know that is TriStar Eric in his Jagdwagen doing that ravine. My DoKa is the same color. I followed him down that, but it was in the Rover. I would not have done that in my DoKa. Eric has tons of offroad experience and it shows in his driving. I on the other hand am still getting used to this whole off road game. Doing it in a $1,200 Rover is much less stressful.

That was a cool bit of trail though.

Craig

[DAIZEE]

Mofus, I am definitely not the Devil, I didn't bring me up. You think I'm just supposed to sit back and take all that sooo many dish out.? That's not going to happen. I am a wuss BUT I am also strong willed. I don't believe in using the Ignore button but SERIOUSLY did you feel over compelled to make your comment? Get help!
_________________
'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)

[Mofus]

Hey, lighten up..It was just a joke.

Touchy touchy

Gotta walk on eggshells around this place sometimes.

Seriously, how often is the timing just right that you can throw out a speak of the devil comment?

Peace and love, peace and love.

Back on topic: It's your van. Do what you want.
_________________
'87 Syncro passenger w/ 2.2L Subaru
'10 Passat Wagon (keeps Mrs. Mofus away from my van)

[fairweather]

Looking out the window right now and the snow is blowing sideways and the storm cells are lined up all the way to Hawaii (or so I'm told).

Pretty damn happy I have a syncro, it's what I bought it for. So far while out riding I have helped 2 two wheel drives get started from a stop sign, that used to be me, never again!

Not really into the rough stuff but do it occasionally with fingers crossed, mainly to eliminate having to walk for miles on a road to get to a trailhead. I hate beating my van too.

For exploration the mtb is my vehicle of choice.

[0to60in6min]

you can keep your Syncro on paved roads forever if you want... but..

you don't need to get your Syncro in to hard situation to enjoy it. I am sure that there are quite a few easy offroad trails for you to try once in a while... and you will see...

the first time I try I feel a bit edgy but then later... I said WOW... and I want more...

[Classicvibe]