Yesterday I cleared the van through Canadian customs and was able to drive my 'new' Dehler Syncro
16" van HOME!

My initial reaction is WHAT HAVE I DONE!!!  It drives like a TRUCK, not like the "Porche of vans,"
that is my beloved Syncro 14 Westy!

I'm guessing that the tank-like ride is due to the D rated tyres, monster Goodyear Wrangler AP
235/70R16 tyres (on 7.5Jx16H2 rims)! Do all of these things drive like a TANK?????

My initial impression of the Dheler interior is that the High-Top is a work of art, but the rest
of the 'downstairs'...... what were they thinking....... no wonder they went out of business.

Today it was 10C degrees and I had a day to try and bond with the van.  I've had 3 different
Westies since 1981, and I am conditioned to the Westy as THE interior.  The Dehler interior takes
some getting used to.  It seems more set up as a business interior where all that needs to be done
is to serve wine and pate. It will take some getting used to.

Buying the van has been about a 3 or 4 month process.  It could NOT have been done without Marc
Peters of http://mobylhome.nl/ I can recommend Marc to any, and everyone.

As you may recall, this is a UNIQUE Dehler Syncro 16".  I have wanted a Syncro 16 for a long time,
and when this one came available in Dusseldorf, I took a chance and bought it. My initial post
(with liks to photos) is at:
http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0511b&L=vanagon&F=&S=&P=28603

Yesterday afternoon (4 hours start to finish) I:

1) Payed Wallenius Wilhelmsen for the RORO shipping of my van from ZeeBrugge to Halifax. US$1,250
(CDN$1,450),
2) Paid the CND$210 Import tax on the van and it was 'cleared' by CDN Customs (as the van is
greater than 15 years old, this is NOT a problem in Canada),
3) Agriculture Canada, looked at the van and found no dirt, so they 'released' the van (did not
need cleaning).
4) a ride out to the auto-port to collect the van and drive it home (without plates).

Door-to-door this took about 4 hours.  I helps that I live here in the port city of Halifax.

Anyway, tomorrow I go down and get license plates for the van.   Take care.  Malcolm

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