| Westfalia Syncro expedition vs. Westfalia 2WD highway cruiser |
| Westfalia syncro expedition with raised suspension |
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54% |
[ 30 ] |
| Westfalia 2WD highway cruiser |
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45% |
[ 25 ] |
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| Total Votes : 55 |
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pedrokrusher
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Joined: July 11, 2011
Posts: 654
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Christopher Schimke
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Joined: August 03, 2005
Posts: 5390
Location: PNW
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 Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 6:43 am Post subject: Re: Westfalia syncro expedition VS Westfalia lowered 2WD highway c |
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Both!
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pedrokrusher
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Joined: July 11, 2011
Posts: 654
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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danfromsyr
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Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 7:08 am Post subject: Re: Westfalia syncro expedition VS Westfalia lowered 2WD highway c |
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the best vanagon is the one that you actually use on a regular basis.
took my 2wd out to monument valley and was happy enough pushing it thru valley of the gods 'road'
they'll get you there.
and if you get stuck. you're already set up for camp 
but one for each would be nice.
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photogdave
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Joined: April 05, 2004
Posts: 3052
Location: Vancouver Island, B.C.
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Zeitgeist 13
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Joined: March 05, 2009
Posts: 12115
Location: Port Manteau
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| Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 8:45 am Post subject: Re: Westfalia syncro expedition VS Westfalia lowered 2WD highway c |
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I raised my factory lowered Westfalia tintop and will probably raise my Westfalia poptop as well. AWD is a nice to have feature, but mostly unnecessary where I live. If I ever go Syncro, I'll convert the T4. Lowered cars are cool looking (I've done a bunch), but daily driving them is a hassle
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Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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raoul mitgong
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Joined: July 05, 2009
Posts: 1338
Location: Denver, CO
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| Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 9:28 am Post subject: Re: Westfalia syncro expedition VS Westfalia lowered 2WD highway c |
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Which one do you use? A: Both, but not exactly as you've set up your poll though. A tintop Syncro (daily driver) and a 2wd full westy. Neither raised or lowered.
Which one would did you buy? A: Both, and I bought a project tintop Syncro with a donor westy to become the expedition westy we all dream about. Not sure what van will get sold in the future.
What is you usage at the moment? A: 99% usage, the Forester is always the last choice. The rear facing car seat doesn't leave much room for the front passenger.
What kind of trips do you do? A: Weekend warrior and family camping. I love to take the 2wd westy to ski resorts as a base camp (espar heater) as the lodges are a Sh_t Show here in Colorado.
I'm not going to vote as it is obvious I couldn't make that decision in real life.
-d
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84 Westy with a 2.1 (Groover)
86 Tintop Syncro (Crow)
86 Tintop Syncro to Westy project (Tom Servo)
91 Westy (Only the top 12 inches of this van (a burn victim)) |
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syncrodoka
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Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 12005
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 10:26 am Post subject: Re: Westfalia syncro expedition VS Westfalia lowered 2WD highway c |
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If you want to actually use your westy for camping lowering it will impact your usage unless you enjoy camping at KOA type places that are paved.
Long miles on lowered cars gets old pretty fast, I have had several in the past. |
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pedrokrusher
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Joined: July 11, 2011
Posts: 654
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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syncrodoka
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Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 12005
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 11:39 am Post subject: Re: Westfalia syncro expedition VS Westfalia lowered 2WD highway c |
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Well, if you aren't doing a bunch of offloading a stock height 2wd will do the job just fine.
I would even chose a hardtop over a west any day of the week.  |
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kamzcab86
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Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7919
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 2:26 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro vs. 2WD Westy |
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| pedrokrusher wrote: |
| Just don't focus on the word" lowered" too much. But rather on the regular westy 2WD for mainly highway usage... |
Then, if you don't mind, I've removed "lowered" from the title/poll. I figured I was excluded from answering based solely on that qualifier, then I scrolled down and saw mostly normal-height Westies pictured and was a tad confused.
My 2WD Westy isn't lowered, nor do I want it lowered. It gets me to nice camp spots, whether on pavement or dirt, and to waterways to play in and that's all I need/want in a travel/camping rig. 
^It went through mud and a rock garden to get there.
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1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
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"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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pedrokrusher
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Joined: July 11, 2011
Posts: 654
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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ledogboy 
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Joined: September 19, 2005
Posts: 578
Location: Scappoose, OR / Oakland, CA
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| Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 4:22 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia Syncro expedition or Westfalia 2WD highway cruiser? |
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Ah- now I get it. I love my Westy, but I would love to have a tintop again someday. One money pit is enough for the time being, though...
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1986 Westy Weekender
Now a full camper
1.8t Syncro conversion
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metropoj
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Joined: April 23, 2004
Posts: 1343
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| Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 5:38 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia Syncro expedition or Westfalia 2WD highway cruiser? |
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For me, I don't need the overhead of a Syncro. I am mainly accessible roads, paved, but if I were to venture off the beaten trail, I'd survive with a winch and a 2WD Westy I'm pretty sure. Would add a LSD to the tranny as well before going Syncro.
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86 TiiCo powered Westy. |
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pedrokrusher
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Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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jimf909
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Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7466
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 9:09 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia Syncro expedition or Westfalia 2WD highway cruiser? |
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Which one do you use?
2WD, MT, Bostig, Westy camper.
Which one would you buy?
I'm guessing this is the last Vanagon I buy. I'm getting it dialed and it's running well at 275K miles. When it's time to replace it I'll look at Sprinters or Transits for a bit more room for storage and a head, airbags and reliability from the new millennium.
What is you usage at the moment?
105 out of the last 154 nights it's been driven over 11K in road trip miles (3,800 in Feb/Mar, about 8,000 May-Jul). It's a road trip rig, weekend camper and daily driver as needed.
What kind of trips do you do?
Weekend camping and extended road-trips. Imagine taking two-lane roads across several states with drives down forest service roads to dispersed campsites. That's an ideal road-trip for us.
Overall, it's built for travel on two-lane highways, secondary and tertiary roads. Tires and suspension are selected with quiet and comfort as primary criteria. The van travels plenty of dirt roads but I don't look for water crossings or deep ruts to navigate. I use a motorcycle for that kind of travel (BDRs, etc.)
Full-moon rising last month at 10,500 feet near Spanish Peaks Wilderness
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| Abscate wrote: |
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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timichango
Samba Member
Joined: April 07, 2012
Posts: 858
Location: Squamish, BC, Canada
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| Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 11:36 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia Syncro expedition or Westfalia 2WD highway cruiser? |
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| metropoj wrote: |
| For me, I don't need the overhead of a Syncro. I am mainly accessible roads, paved, but if I were to venture off the beaten trail, I'd survive with a winch and a 2WD Westy I'm pretty sure. Would add a LSD to the tranny as well before going Syncro. |
Yeah, likewise. Our slightly-lifted 2WD (van cafe springs and 16" wheels with Rotiivas) has yet to get us stuck (well, there was that one time in Pismo Beach, but even a Syncro wouldn't have helped much there...). Plenty of ground clearance for everywhere we've tried to get to in BC, and we bomb around the forest service roads and remote campsites a fair bit.
Would I like a Syncro, if cost and upkeep were no option? Sure! But until then, I'm happy with the 2WD — and I'm going to get them to throw a Peloquin into the transmission when the thing finally gives up the ghost and needs a rebuild.
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Vroomhilde-San: Our 1991 Silver Vanagon Westy automatic + Subie EJ25 |
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BavarianWrench
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Joined: January 18, 2004
Posts: 1045
Location: Oceans Edge
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| Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2017 7:57 am Post subject: Re: Westfalia Syncro expedition or Westfalia 2WD highway cruiser? |
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There are advantages to both rigs. I'm currently enjoying a Salvage rig I purchased to convert a TinTop Syncro into a camper. This 2WD floats down the road as opposed to a Syncro that runs down the road. The 2WD has kept me out of a few spots because I knew I would get stuck. I also have gotten stuck in the snow when I did not think I would have. Chains did get me out, but I had to chain up. I've had great times in 2WD Westies, both automatics and manuals. In the end, living in Colorado, I prefer a Syncro. I do love this current van. It has been to many a ski hill and river this year. When you're not worried about how it looks you can charge slightly harder then normal. This rig has charged some spots folks with nice Syncros would not subject their paint to. This rig has seen more use then some Syncros that I've owned. Its a work horse.
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Tobias Duncan
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Joined: January 15, 2013
Posts: 1390
Location: Taos NM
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| Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2017 9:49 am Post subject: Re: Westfalia Syncro expedition or Westfalia 2WD highway cruiser? |
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| I dont see 2wds as highway cruisers. With the sort wheelbase and rear engine over the drive tires, they are pretty competent on logging roads and such. |
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tjet
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Joined: June 10, 2014
Posts: 3533
Location: CA & NM
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| Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2017 11:01 am Post subject: Re: Westfalia Syncro expedition or Westfalia 2WD highway cruiser? |
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I vote for lifted Syncro 
BTW, do you have a high-res of the pic below?
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