>a Syncro is just a status symbol and a whole bunch of
mechanical nightmare<
Spoken by someone with serious Syncro envy....ha.
Many of the Syncro problems that you read about, are caused by owner
tweaking. I kept two of my Syncros completely stock and never had any
problems, outside the expected 3rd/4th failure that seems to haunt all the
original trannies. I see the Syncro as a well designed awd system that just
works....and very well. Buying one, over a 2wd, is certainly inviting more
chance of mechanical failure, as it does have more mechanicals. None of
these are particularly exotic, to me. A 25 year old vehicle does require a
bit of research and some might find the learning curve a bit
steep,especially those with a dim mechanical aptitude.The 2wd is just a VW
van and the Syncro has some additional parts.
I purchased my first Syncro because I had three kids and lived in the
mountains. It was not a status symbol and no mechanical nightmare.
Miguel

Miguel

On Wed, Sep 11, 2013 at 1:13 AM, Scott Daniel <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>wrote:

> Just google about how durable and reliable the 4Motion system is on that
> car,
> and the engine.
> That engine is intense, pretty sure.
> google about how long they last etc.
> sometimes you'll find forums and posts like crazy.
>
> it's a very exotic audi/vw in my opinion.
> I wouldn't take one on .
> ( I like nice older cars ..like 80's    and 90's at the latest so far. )
>
> unless the guy is an electronics and mechanical genius. ..then..sure.
>
> Invest in Consumer Reports maintainance/failure/ and cost index to own ..
> it could even be on their of 'don't buy this car !'
> or they could be pretty reliable and durable.
> Research could reveal all that.
> A rebuilt trans could be $ 4,000 ..just for the trans alone, no labor. .
>
> They work great most likely.
> Not a Toyota let's say.
>
>
>
> On 9/10/2013 10:46 PM, raceingcajun wrote:
>
>>    Hello Vanities,
>>
>>    One of my Sons hit his head in the shower, and now has an
>> un-controllable desire to buy a Passat W8. Keep in mind that we live
>> on the
>> Gulf Coast. No snow/ice, winter temps are in the high 30's low 40's
>> and the
>> last time we had a wisp of snow was in 1997. Also he lives in town, never
>> get of the cement or goes off road mud riding. Worst driving conditions
>> heavy rains, some fog.
>>    Now with that back ground in mind. What I'm looking for is a general
>> users critic of the Volkswagen Vanagon Syncro system, its mechanic's and
>> driving idiosyncrasy's. General cost of maintenance, etc.
>>    So wipe off those crystal balls and lets have your learned opinion
>> good
>> and bad!
>>
>> Thanks in Advance
>>
>> Howard
>>
>>