On Sat, 20 Feb 1999, Bill Cornelius wrote:

> Hi all; Would like personal opinion on 4wd or not . I am going to buy
> a Westfalia before spring. Live in northern Wi. / drive 80 miles to
> work/ will be sleeping in westy during  the day 2 times a week / also
> flyfishing & bird  hunting trips/ mostly on- road driving, but  lots
> of snow.
>  how does 2wd vanagon do in snow?
>  ideas for improving 2wd?
>  the heck with 2wd & get the syncro?
>         Thanks Bill
      Syncros are expensive and full of complicated looking expensive
parts. They get about 2 MPG less than the 2 Wd drive. They are slower.
About the same difference in American built vehicles. BUT the Syncro
is great off road and in snow, at Much  larger expense. 2WD Vanagons on
the other hand don't get as good traction in the snow as you would
think, having the engine over the drive wheels. The Vanagon body
does not flex, as most vehicle, the suspention is set for ride
confort and not traction. Front wheel drive vehicles get better
traction than a 2WD. I had both. I ended up putting a Syncro
lock dif. in to my 2WD.

                                          Eric