> Driving around town today I came across an A2 bodied VW Golf Syncro - jacked
> up ~ 6" higher than normal, with  serious 'roo/brush bar assemblys front &
> rear, outside rear mounted spare, lotsa extra *big* lights front & rear -
> looked like it was all ready for Paris-Dakar !  Anybody have any info ? ?
> (& yes I know,where's the Vanagon thread; well, the word Syncro & maybe the
> fact that it's water-cooled ? ? ).
> 
What you saw was a Rallye Golf, which VW motorsport ran in the Pikes
Peak a few years back (and the Paris-Dakar). It was a  Europe only
model, which came with different floorpan and (usually) a 2.0 16v
engine with supercharger. You may have seen one of VWs test cars,
as I doubt many others have made it across the ocean. Ron's Parts
built one in Vancouver which was covered in European Car, but
theirs was lowered & had a VR6 in it. 
When it was selling, price was about twice that of standard Golf I 
think.
Shawn & Janis Wright
'88 Westy (336k) '85 Jetta TD (361k)
VWnut@smus.bc.ca (swright@smus.bc.ca)
http://www.islandnet.com/~swright/vw.html