As one of the resident syncro nuts, I can weigh in and say that I agree in
some sense with these statements. The bus was somehow better handling in
the snow (e.g., 4") than my Vanagon Syncro although I can't say exactly
why. Of course, when push comes to shove, and the snow gets deep, I have to
say the Syncro is superior to a bus, but I must admit that my old 72 bus
was incredibly able in the snow in a way that seemed to me superior in some
odd way to a Vanagon.

At 04:08 PM 7/21/98 -0700, you wrote:
>Craig writes:
>
>>could go all over the place.  I've heard that the Vanagon isn't as good
>>as a bus, but I don't think that there is that much difference.
>
>Well I think there is a BIG difference between the off road ability of the 2
>wheel drive Vanagon and loaf.
>
>Certainly good tires help, but there is something about the Vanagon's
>suspension (I think it is less "compliant" ) and the more equal weight
>distribution is a handicap off road.
>
>You really notice it when the van is at an angle, either when you are
>crawling along a dry river/creek bed or when you have one side in a rut.
>
>Traction in snow is also not as good as the loaf.
>
>
>Alistair (syncro envy!)
>
________________________________________________________
Derek Drew                              New York, NY & Washington, DC
drew@interport.net
'90 Syncro Westfalia...
...seen off-road at http://www.tiu.net/~des/vw/drew/index.html

        Also seen at: http://www.pipeline.com/~tforhan/swrange.htm
                     http://4wd.sofcom.com/VW/snow.html
                     http://www.pipeline.com/~tforhan/swmassn.htm
                     http://4wd.sofcom.com/VW/Campers/Campers.html

        Note: most valuable Vanagon sites on the planet (for owners) are:
                    http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?S1=vanagon
                    ftp://gerry.vanagon.com/pub/