Jason...

Buy the best syncro you can afford.  Shop around.  List members are an
invaluable resource both for finding buses and fixing them.  Understand that
you will be repairing ANY vanagon you get... after all, the youngest ones
are now ten years old!  The syncros were actually built by another
company... not vw.  I forget who... someone on the list will probably tell
you.  Ask if they don't and you really want to know.

Anyway, the fact of the matter is that the syncros are better build than the
2WD.  More heavy duty suspension... bigger fuel tank... really an excellent
vehicle.  And unlike anything else on the road.  I've owned five buses
now... three of them vanagons and this is the best one I've ever had.  I
paid dearly for it (you may have seen my recent post) and had to replace the
viscous coupling and do some tranny work, but she is sweet as can be now...
I love her.  VC's are expensive... $850 from Derek Drew... much more from VW
and others.  Most syncros with a good deal of miles on them need new VC's.
Ask Derek about that.  Also look on the syncro list... http://www.syncro.org
That site will tell you tons about syncros pros and cons.  Yes upkeep is a
little more than 2WD's, but they're worth it.

Like any car, it's all in the maintenance.  If you can find one that someone
has taken good care of you'll be in good shape... I'm far from being an
expert... just a syncro lover.  You will get lots of feedback on the list
with a question like this.  Don't let em scare you.  Listen closely to their
advice... be diligent about our search.... and be patient.  The good ones
can take some time.

Mick Kalber
89 Syncro Westy "Daddeo"
Tropical Visions Video, Inc.
62 Halaulani Place
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
808-935-5557
808-935-0066 (fax)
hotlava@interpac.net
www.volcanoscapes.com