Any Other Syncronaughts ?

[GerardW]

If you are one you'll know what it is. This is my other passion. About 95% of our roads are dirt and that's mostly where we tour. On the bike I use my 1150ADV, and in winter or when its a family outing, the Syncro.

It has a 2.6 5 cylinder Audi engine, which is at present getting a factory spec rebuild.

Who else has one ?,

[Tishabet]

Out on the Olympic peninsula this Spring, chief syncro enthusiast in foreground

[BReif61]

There is a ROUGH looking 83(?) Westy for sale relatively close to me for $28k. Are these really that expensive?

[GerardW]

Just did the calculation. For us that would be ZAR392 000.00 That is stupid expensive here and none of us would have Syncro's.

A good Syncro here would be ZAR130 000.00 and that's really good, so $9 285.00

Interesting comparison. But I've seen there by you they go for relatively high prices.

[island911]

Nice Syncro !

I have an 87, that sadly doesn't look quite so clean.

Originally Posted by BReif61

There is a ROUGH looking 83(?) Westy for sale relatively close to me for $28k. Are these really that expensive?

The vanagon prices are pretty ridiculous. Especially syncros. That 83 is not a syncro (AWD) but is a Westy ($'s)

Tishabet's Westy Snycro... that combo is almost a unicorn.

[GerardW]

Yet, a guy on our Syncro forum in Namibia, bought himself a Westfalia Joker Syncro the other day for about R130 00.00, which for us is very good, relatively inexpensive for that car.

Westfalia's are scarce here and of course LHD, which is a problem. We drive on the wrong side of the road.

Mostly we buy Syncro busses and convert them to our needs, making each one unique.

And of course then there is the enjin... its all about the engine.

[BReif61]

Originally Posted by island911

Nice Syncro !

I have an 87, that sadly doesn't look quite so clean.

The vanagon prices are pretty ridiculous. Especially syncros. That 83 is not a syncro (AWD) but is a Westy ($'s)

Tishabet's Westy Snycro... that combo is almost a unicorn.

So you're saying that price isn't out of line? Seem awful steep for something sitting on the side of the road in that condition. Shows what I know. I'll just go back to lusting over expensive Beetles instead.

[Tishabet]

Originally Posted by island911

Tishabet's Westy Snycro... that combo is almost a unicorn.

My syncro westy is in good shape on the interior, is solid mechanically but needs some help on the body... it has some of the vanagon seam rust woes as well as the typical rust area behind the kitchen and under the windshield rubber which I will need to address (you can see some of the seam rust in my picture above, running on the drip seam below front passenger door). Fortunately it's not too bad yet and I've done some body off restoration/paint work on previous vehicles and feel up to the challenge.

As island911 said it is a desirable/rare model and you can go far into the backcountry with the 4wd and lockers etc and camp in relative luxury. Since we're discussing prices etc, I picked up my syncro westy in January for 18k CDN, about 14k USD at the time and I feel like I stole it.

[Geary]

My '90 SVX Syncro Westy


GT is actually going to do a run of high quality Syncro gears next year, which is pretty exciting for me ..

[Tishabet]

Geary, nice ride!

Originally Posted by BReif61

So you're saying that price isn't out of line? Seem awful steep for something sitting on the side of the road in that condition. Shows what I know. I'll just go back to lusting over expensive Beetles instead.

'83 Westy for 28k... someone is smoking the crack rock.

Here in Seattle (where Vanagons abound) I'd say a clean 85-91 basic Vanagon will go for 6-12k depending on trim level, options and upgrades, the phase of the moon etc. As rule of thumb I'd add 8-12k if it's a westy, 10-12k if it's a syncro, 1k for each knob if it's a syncro (front locker, rear locker, decoupler), 5-10k if it has a well sorted and sanitary engine upgrade.

Local examples:
'89 Bluestar vanagon (2WD, not westy but a relatively rare Bluestar trim, love this one) for $8,500: 89 Vanagon Bluestar
'86 Westy (2WD, some rust) for $13,000 1986 VW Vanagon Westfalia (price reduced!)
'90 Vanagon (2WD, nice Subaru engine upgrade, clean) for $16,000 1990 VW Vanagon Subaru powered
'87 Syncro ("single knob" rear locker, clean) for $14,000 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon Syncro 4 Sale Ultra-Rare
'87 Syncro Westy (no knobs, questionable repaint with some rust coming through) for $29,500 1987 Vanagon Syncro Westy
'87 Syncro Westy (double knob, clean with good upgrades, the holy grail) $45,000 1987 Vanagon Syncro Westfalia

[Freytag]

I have an 87 syncro with a 1.8t, locking dif, decoupler, big brakes, re-geared trans and some other cool stuff. It's my favorite car

[Bill Douglas]

Gerard I have fond memories of PE. Surfing on the Wild Coast through the reserve, Jefferies just down the road, Summerstrand uni, the bars in town, the surf spot next to the harbor entrance... How is it these days? Still the friendly town.?

[GerardW]

Come guys, without pics it did not happen

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Gerard I have fond memories of PE. Surfing on the Wild Coast through the reserve, Jefferies just down the road, Summerstrand uni, the bars in town, the surf spot next to the harbor entrance... How is it these days? Still the friendly town.?

Still just a big town. Been here all my life and love the place. Twenty years of poor government have seen things go down hill a bit, but we have a new local government now which will hopefully start sorting things out.

Nice thing about living in the EC is that the gravel and mountains is an hour away. Many guys around the country yearn to do Baviaans and to us its a Sunday outride.

We are spoilt here.

[GerardW]

I bought my Syncro in February. Paid too much for it. Did not know much about them, and paid a lot of school fees since.

What have I learned ?

Its worth what you willing to pay for it. Buy a good engine and drive train. The rest is incidental. Its a never ending project.

Mine had a good body and drive train, but crappy, 2.6 plastered together engine with aftermarket parts fitted with all sorts of adaptors.

If you have a good engine with crappy body, you can still go anywhere with confidence while over time fixing it up and its not going to cost an arm and a leg.

If you have a crappy engine, your nice Kombi is just going to sit in the yard, and its going to cost you before you go anywhere.

So, no matter the price, if the mechanics are good and you have the money, buy it. The less you pay, the more it costs you.

That's what I have learned !

[island911]

Originally Posted by GerardW

..., but crappy, 2.6 plastered together engine with aftermarket parts fitted with all sorts of adaptors... !

Exactly why I left the stock engine in mine. I mean, I understand the benefits of say doubling the HP. But, even with 2x HP, it is still a barn on wheels. And seeing all of the complexity (and cost) of engine swaps... I conclude that the puny little flat 4 is good enough. It is highly functional and reliable.

[GerardW]

Originally Posted by island911

Exactly why I left the stock engine in mine. I mean, I understand the benefits of say doubling the HP. But, even with 2x HP, it is still a barn on wheels. And seeing all of the complexity (and cost) of engine swaps... I conclude that the puny little flat 4 is good enough. It is highly functional and reliable.

Mine is actually a bit of a unique Syncro. In the early '90's it was a project protype bus of VWSA to fit it with a 2.5 as an experiment for a stronger factory engine. It turned out too expensive and the project was scrapped. As far as we know only three were build, two big windows and my small window.

Eventually mine got the 2.6, but it was butchered over the years. The two big windows are still original to this day and are here in SA.

So, in a way mine is an original 2.6 and once the rebuild is complete it will be back to factory standard as the last of the 2.6's were built.

But, I do agree with you, if it ain't broke , don't fix it. Keep it original.

[island911]

That -is- interesting. Does the VWSA 2.5/2.6 have knock detection? Is it a flat-4?

[GerardW]

Originally Posted by island911

That -is- interesting. Does the VWSA 2.5/2.6 have knock detection? Is it a flat-4?

No, its the Audi 5 cylinder. 115Kw and very nicely suited for the Syncro. Not sure of the engine specs and what sensors the ECU runs on.

Once the rebuild is done I'll get it all from my mechanic.

[Freytag]

Quick trip to Big Sur with the wife. Van has a little more than double the stock hp, turbo is great for Tahoe and the small wheelbase is great for driving in tight spots. It's my favorite car

[GerardW]

I like to keep things original and I am very jealous when I see an original Syncro. Once my engine rebuild is done I'll start sourcing parts to put it back to the way it was the day it left the factory.

Not much to do, bumpers, mirrors and wheels. Only thing is, here they smoke you with the price of second hand parts. But there's no rush to fix that.

In the mean time just ride and enjoy. Also my favourite car.