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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6542
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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 Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 8:45 pm Post subject: Re: Mass syncro lust diminishing? |
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I dare say many or most of the places we've gone in 50 months on the road are too tight for a Sprinter.
_________________
‘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 |
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ScottShelley
Samba Member
Joined: October 15, 2012
Posts: 596
Location: California
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| Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 8:56 pm Post subject: Re: Mass syncro lust diminishing? |
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| E1 wrote: |
| I dare say many or most of the places we've gone in 50 months on the road are too tight for a Sprinter. |
Truth be told, most of my friends who own a Syncro(and I have many) are scared to death of getting any trail pinstripes on their van. |
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6542
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 8:58 pm Post subject: Re: Mass syncro lust diminishing? |
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I hear that, and why paint is last on our list. 
_________________
‘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 |
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9605
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 12:40 am Post subject: Re: Mass syncro lust diminishing? |
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| davevickery wrote: |
| Here is the AWD Sprinter's version of offroading. They are just going up some rutted dirt roads and making a big deal out of it. |
Yeah that AWD version kills a 2WD Sprinter. Could a non-locker'd Syncro make it up that hill? Couldn't a 2WD Vanagon with a Peloquin make it up? Very few Syncro owners would attempt what that Sprinter driver did, even though the Syncro would do it so effortlessly, without stopping or any wheelspin.
I bet that Sprinter's ECU is putting on its own brakes, cutting the throttle, all kinds of monkey business that the driver has no control of. Stuff that would piss me off.
Syncro's way cooler, but a new Sprinter can drive to 4 corners of the USA, ending in Florida, then you say "what the heck lets go to Prudhoe bay." As long as you can find a Mercedes service center to take your $500 for an oil change. Which is arguably better than wondering if you'll need a $5000 transmission along the way.
It takes a special person to make any 30-year old vehicle work just in town. To take off on a long trip..... ????? Sprinter is much better for most people, and the AWD version certainly is dipping into Syncro culture. I think all the crap transaxle rebuilds out there have dealt a blow to Syncro values. Hopefully that can be turned around.
Changing engines, and modifications, and just the hobby of it is way different for a 30 year old machine. The restoration. You can't do that on a new machine.
With regard to the subject....Mass syncro lust diminishing? I've seen some pretty nice Syncros sit for sale for awhile, for more reasonable prices. I think GoWesty was setting the prices artificially high, based on their location (near Los Angeles). They provided an anchor point for high-retail Syncro pricing. Without their lead, prices are "adjusting" to a more realistic number.
_________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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elizer 
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2016
Posts: 1462
Location: Northern Virginia
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| Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 3:57 am Post subject: Re: Mass syncro lust diminishing? |
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We have a swb 2wd sprinter at work. I love driving it. Comfortable seats and a 500 mile drive felt like 50.
I don't think I will sell my syncro even though I am a chronic buyer, builder, driver, then seller. It kills the wallet and is a short lived high which makes me always on the hunt for another build.
The sprinter has its appeal. You can finance it as an rv for a 5% loan for 10 to 20 year loan gives you a pretty affordable 600-1000 a month payment.
Before I bought the syncro It was between the syncro and the sprinter. But I am the kind of person if I have more space I will end up filling it with more crap. |
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Waldi
Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2014
Posts: 1752
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 4:17 am Post subject: Re: Mass syncro lust diminishing? |
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If ppl are worrie about cash with a Syncro, how can they afford a Sprinter ?
How much do you pay for a service in a MB garage for the Sprinter ?
How much would you pay for broken parts and service in 10 years driving a Sprinter ? How much money of value would the Sprinter loose in 10 years ? |
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elizer
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2016
Posts: 1462
Location: Northern Virginia
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| Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 4:31 am Post subject: Re: Mass syncro lust diminishing? |
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| Waldi wrote: |
If ppl are worrie about cash with a Syncro, how can they afford a Sprinter ?
How much do you pay for a service in a MB garage for the Sprinter ?
How much would you pay for broken parts and service in 10 years driving a Sprinter ? How much money of value would the Sprinter loose in 10 years ? |
I guess its all relative.
I think the value of "worry free" driving for at least the first few years has its draw. If people buy a $100,000 van a $5000 repair seems reasonable. When people buy a $15,000 -$20,000 van a $5000 repair seems enormous. |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32592
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6829
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 4:51 am Post subject: Re: Mass syncro lust diminishing? |
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This is a good thread. I've got my Sprinter lust, but I'll keep my Syncro rust!
Thinking a license plate frame:
"Sprinter lust,
Syncro rust!"
😆
_________________
This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.
There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.
Last edited by Steve M. on Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:47 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Waldi
Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2014
Posts: 1752
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 4:57 am Post subject: Re: Mass syncro lust diminishing? |
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I had a t3 30 years ago
I had a t4 25 years ago
I had a Sprinter 15 years ago
But i will die with/in my t3  |
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bobbyblack
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015
Posts: 4349
Location: United States, Iowa
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| Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 6:57 am Post subject: Re: Mass syncro lust diminishing? |
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From what I've researched, the Sprinters are broken down to MB vs Dodge by the engine they have installed. Not sure, since I didn't come up with an easy search terms on the google, but I believe Dodge will service your MB as well, if they service Sprinters in general. Base price for a 2017 2wd is 37K us. I bought my 2003 Westy FWD Weekender for just slightly less, in 2003. If that is not an interesting bit of information, I am not real sure of what is... Seems as if there are some very good reasons to have a Westy, but VW sold off the Westfalia stuff a while ago. Even IF the T5/T6 (of whatever they call the next one) gets imported to the US, it won't be a Westy any more... Long Live the California! (I want 2)
_________________
'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
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shagginwagon83
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016
Posts: 3796
Location: VA/TN
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| Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:26 am Post subject: Re: Mass syncro lust diminishing? |
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When I worked at a private golf course, we would 'valet' members in MB Sprinters. They often tore up, but that's because we drove the hell out of them. They were pretty smooth.
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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Paulbeard
Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2015
Posts: 2604
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:32 am Post subject: Re: Mass syncro lust diminishing? |
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| djkeev wrote: |
One can still purchase a house in the USA for what a nicely modified Sprinter Camper retails for.
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Where?
_________________
Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs
— dhaavers |
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6542
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:45 am Post subject: Re: Mass syncro lust diminishing? |
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Thatta Boy, Scott, clean rigs get sad.
Worry not my friends, Syncros and Westys will not lose demand. Things work in cycles.
_________________
‘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 |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32592
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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syncrodoka
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 12005
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:59 am Post subject: Re: Mass syncro lust diminishing? |
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| Syncro prices near me are still climbing, they are coming up for sale less often as well. |
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Jake de Villiers
Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007
Posts: 5911
Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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| Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 8:01 am Post subject: Re: Mass syncro lust diminishing? |
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| davevickery wrote: |
I saw a lot more Sprinters on my last Moab trip too. The desert, the beach, and ski areas or National Forest Camps is where a Sprinter would be nice. But half the stuff I do in my Syncro you couldn't do in a Sprinter. I scrape branches as it is and there are a lot of trails that were cleared by Jeeps that we can fit under the overhanging branches. The clearance doesn't look that good either.
Here is the AWD Sprinter's version of offroading. They are just going up some rutted dirt roads and making a big deal out of it.
Link
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The guy's a terrible driver. Around here he'd be stuck in no time!
_________________
'84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
www.thebassspa.com |
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6542
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 8:05 am Post subject: Re: Mass syncro lust diminishing? |
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| djkeev wrote: |
| I just purchased one for $65,000 out near Reading Pa. even located in a desirable area. |
Howzit do on the back roads?
_________________
‘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 |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32592
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6542
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 8:10 am Post subject: Re: Mass syncro lust diminishing? |
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Perfect!
If they're "driving by you" though, perhaps your Temp II is amuck...
_________________
‘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 |
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