VW Type II T3 Vanagon Syncro promotional video

A technical description of the Syncro four-wheel-drive system used on the Type 2 (T3) Volkswagen

[@jasoncarpp7742]

If only these were still produced today.

[@hdofu]

Fancy seeing you here

[@cornelcon5267]

Better in off-road than modern croossovers of our days 🙁

[@Ant_Nomad]

Ностальгия... это было время инженеров а сейчас одни маркетологи, видео класс👌 лайк👍

[@oligt90]

Music is a trip

[@ralfhenke8148]

8-O Did anyone mention that all of this was done without off-road rubbers! The cars in the clip ALL run on plain road tires! I am pretty impressed... (to say the least)

[@klaasbil8459]

2:44 looks like off-road tyre to me

[@petesgoproxboxchannel5581]

NOPE if you look close they do have they do have off road the lower quality given the video's age blur's the tire's enough so from side on they look stock 7:03 they pause it you can see it's no road tire.

[@ralfhenke8148]

OK, OK, while these rubbers may not exactly be your ordinary road tyre they certainly aren't what you'd call an offraod tyre on any dedicated offroad vehicle (say Wrangler, Defender, Niva, Jimny etc. Those would be completely different things that would also serve just one single purpose: Either master the most peculiar offroad challenges - or impress bystanders of your adventurous show-off piece in downtown Detroit, Denver or Düsseldorf. Pretty sure none of the tyres used in the video would drown out any conversation at anything above 30 mph and they also wouldn't bring down mpg to one-digit figures. I would also bet that the Syncro Vanagon would beat any Subaru or similar civil 4x4 of roughly that era in 95% of all circumstances. Of course it's not a "true" (i.e. dedicated) offroader BUT unless you want to discover new paths across the Gobi desert or find your way to the source of the Nile you'd be hard pressed to find a more capable everyday 4x4 which is as spacious, comfortable, reasonably quick (57kW was just the base config, more powerful units were available) and outright useable car than this. Anyone here who's mocking the long wheelbase, for example, seems to forget that you can in fact counter that by more ground clearance. Also: if you want/need more space, the car needs to be longer. (There's a reason why Defenders come in 90" and 110" wheelbase versions, you know? Just like they were short and long versions of Freelanders. Or Land Cruisers. Or Patrols. Etc... The Vanagon isn't meant to climb the Himalaya. Not even Ben Nevis. It isn't meant to win Indianapolis or the next drag race at the lights either. And neither is it a 30 ton truck, a Greyhound bus or a flying carpet luxury barge. It is what it is. And for what it is, the Vanagon syncro is one of the best and most capable means of transport for anyone who's after an all-in-one car solution. Some kind of Swiss Army knife or Leatherman to cope with almost any imaginable situation 90% of car users will ever have to deal with. Argument closed. And BTW I am still impressed by it. Very much so. Irrespective of its tyres. 😀

[@Eatinbritches]

Wow I saw this as a kid when it was new! Had a westy for a while, would've killed for a Syncro (would've came in handy a few times lmao) Great vans, even with their quirks, want another one some day.

[@Ohlukei]

I never understood why they cancelled the T3 like busses and made the T4. The T3 with its short wheel base, high ground clearance and large wheels even with its rear engine and rear wheel drive was the more capable bus in many regards. 🙂

[@jasoncarpp7742]

It's unforgivable that Volkswagen discontinued the rear-engined Type2 (Vanagon here in the USA).

[@dariusEMPEROR]

those where the days when they where showing what the cars are actually capable of. not a post processed footage of a prop car

[@PASSATCL]

Good quality video!

[@theskig]

Why I watched this video only 8 years later? KZbin suggestions should be improved!

[@sleepyxboy]

Musically soo cool accompaniment (being music producer, i love to that kind "synths" vibe) , really nice promo. I didn't even expect that VW did that much version out of regular transporter. Especially i was surprised by dog handler van, is anybody have seen it in real life?

[@Eatinbritches]

Love the music! What's wrong with people who don't like this? How is it not pure class basically scoring that ditch climb section and time it with the saxophone? Who the hell puts that much work into a damn promo video??

[@markusmuller1151]

Composer was, specially for this promo, Curt Cress from Hamburg

[@creightonjensen4210]

Ok, I need to see what the ground at 7:48 looks like. That is insane.

[@randomchannel252]

as the green vanagon reaches the top of the stairs at 12:28 , the lights wink at you ;)

[@ianbrown9082]

Had to turn the sound down in case my neighbour's thought I was watching a porn film!

[@fana406]

Yup. Manpussy action porn!

[@mrnoodlelai]

My dream van

[@NQBN]

Good old days

[@modestaspanavas1212]

Very good days

[@johngo6283]

And, the music is terrific. =^) I love the ending sequence.

[@Eatinbritches]

Best part of the film.

[@vitonamous]

the background music is funky i like it

[@Salmon_Rush_Die]

57 kiloWatts = 76.44 horsepower

[@derekdrew]

I put a link to this video up at another similar one from the USA that I put up here: Syncro Technology 37 T3 Vanagon 1986 Factory VW Promotional Video The link I put up is in the bottom of the description of the other video..

[@dinocracchiolo1006]

The days when we had a real choice of vehicles.

[@SyncroTravels]

And it still is reliable!

[@Potaterfilms]

thats debatable

[@mrflamewars]

Ahaha the fuck is the matter with you.

[@11secghia]

20 years and 300000 miles for me on my 87 synchro!!

[@mrflamewars]

11secghia Ahahaha liar! How many times have you had to haul the wasserleaker out of the van to replace the water seals?

[@ndg9367]

John, What piece of shit do you drive? Yugo

[@TiptronicSS]

A 4 wheel drive van! You barely see that today!

[@OMENASOSE6111-wt7mz]

I LIKED IT

[@cheruiyotjk2077]

Very educative. My 4WD transporter syncro lacks front driveshafts. How I wish I could get them

[@pauliecopez2683]

I'm sure you could if you search hard enough. Or make some

[@antonstorta4507]

👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@HellenicVanagonTheSyncroHeresy]

The Syncro Heresy

[@BigEightiesNewWave]

Subaru is taking notes. Subaru has left the chat.

[@mamata5018]

yeah right

[@deanmartin8240]

Was John Holmes driving??

[@BigEightiesNewWave]

go ahead ladies...Its big enough for the both of you !

[@niklaszettel8828]

Gebaut bei der Steyr-Daimler-Puch Fahrzeugtechnik in Graz im Puch Werk

[@iiiHeleniii]

supreme.

[@timothyhines5867]

I would love to own one and I always get what I want

[@ApexHerbivore]

Got one yet? :)

[@vaughnsigal4560]

How about now?

[@trinom1c84]

Did you get it yet?

[@lucasavalos2237]

And now?

[@AJ-wv3rs]

timothy hines give us an update dude

[@dariusEMPEROR]

built like a tank

[@3jasom]

8:51: when you call ambulance only for offroad ride experience.

[@fg5040]

в общем ...не нужно никакое синхро ...этот авто и так отлично справляется с бездорожьем

[@Eatinbritches]

Ehhh... I got mine stuck a few times in places 4WD would've pulled me through.

[@lupras]

I'm sold, when can I buy one? I don't care about any of the mechanical features, I'm m sold on the music alone. Please tell me the exhaust sounds like the music.

[@Cameron4077]

A VW helicopter

[@type2523]

Gibst das auch in Deutsch ?

[@markotrieste]

When car companies treated customers like people with brains...

[@jasoncarpp7742]

Something I believe should've been offered for American Market Vanagon Syncro models was a turbo diesel engine. I'm sure it was available for most markets, but for some reason it was never available here in the USA, or even Canada.

[@NinoJoel]

Lol no one wanted a 1.6 turbo disel here i Germany ... they where not at all reliable

[@jasoncarpp7742]

@@NinoJoel I reckon it depends on what makes something "reliable". It takes careful maintenance in order to keep an engine running. Without a good service network, maintenance would be rather difficult.

[@NinoJoel]

@@jasoncarpp7742 The problem with these engines where not related to poor maintenance. They suffer from a way to smal cooling system and other engineering problems. It is true that maintenance is important but it only helps so much if the engine itselve is junk. They don´t last if they are used under load or get into longer trafic jams. It is rare to se them reach even 200.000 Km.... Nedles to say normal Petrol engines last longer which is quite unusual. The Turbo Disel engine from the later T4 model gets past the 600.000 Km mark with no problems. I have seen some with 900.000 Km when they where maintained well / Still without any real repair work done to the engine.

[@Eatinbritches]

Actually, you could get the diesel. At least, in Canada you could. I've seen a few. Even with the turbo... the 1.6 is better off in a Jetta. A 1.9 TDi, however... will do the job just fine 👍

[@jasoncarpp7742]

@@Eatinbritches How about a 2.0 TDI Syncro? Would that fit?

[@vaioskaliakoudas6388]

Reverse mounted Subaru Symmetrical All Wheel Drive

[@DailyRealness]

Where are the original Syncro engineers? Why don't they come forth?

[@69mag]

Because they stuffed a 95 hp engine in a 5000 lb vehicle

[@niklaszettel8828]

In Graz(A) Made bei Steyr-Daimler-Puch-Fahrzeugtechnik

[@nathansharma87]

I wish cars were advertised like this today. Nowadays it's like ...."here, it's new, wireless phone charger, dynamic ergonomic contemporary slate spacious infotainment screen. Leather on top models......now buy it" No engineering knowledge or background into how it was designed and tested.

[@shaikhassan1482]

💖💖💖👍👍👍💪💪💪🇲🇾🇲🇾🇲🇾

[@user-jd4mq9cj7n]

Просто супер, но ничего не понял...

[@miloszgondek]

Of course they can Snorkel ! 🥴

[@mecurian485]

And and.... they all were hijacked and turned into taxis in South Africa

[@JesseWright68]

Great video, but the notion that a Vanagon can tow 4000 lbs. with any degree of practicality is laughable at best.

[@mrflamewars]

Maybe with a Subaru Engine shoved into the back of the thing, the Wasserboxer would just explode if you tried it.

[@JJVernig]

It works, and don;t forget, the max speed in Germany with a trailer is just 50 mph.

[@Eatinbritches]

It'll tow, but 4000 ibs. is a weeeee bit optimistic.

[@69mag]

@@Eatinbritches Oh hell, It'll tow 4000 lbs all day long...DOWNHILL!!

[@petesgoproxboxchannel5581]

@@mrflamewars I'm 100% on board I had a 25X just the 4 cylinder module I towed my mate's Lexus with clasped suspension up a diveway problay only like 12 degrees BUT THE IMPRESSIVE PART it was just idling & towing it I had to hit the break's in panic at least twice my mind was blown !

[@rusticodeveraii5034]

synchro

[@MattJacques]

Who the heck is down-voting this?? Really?

[@powerswearingfluids]

I am so sick of our ignorant greed. The modernized relation between machines and people have paved the way for our numb and irresponsible economical values. In the 90s before euroncap safety development programs the manufacturers used to build simple jet utterly practical vehicles with a greater low speed handling like that rear engined 4wd box with a wide traction operating window. In average they behaved more responsively and attained higher average speeds at moose tests due to the lack of safety regulations and therefore they weighed much less and handled neutrally. Oversteering is the utilization of pendulum effect that gives full effect of tire grip and chassis balance and enables the driver to take immediate steering response in order to avoid crash without the delaying effect of overloading the tires. The development of highspeed stability has led to a false sense of security and we have learned to become senseless in the movement of time against distance and we lack the necessity to take responsibility. Stability programs showcase The Ai abilities to make lateral and longitudional calculations in tandem with steering and throttle angle in order to create a preordained target of humans responses but unfortunately till that point technology has not improved the relation of drivers reaction time and vehicle responsiveness at accident avoidance. Cars are designed to crash nose ahead because of the abilities of front end crumple zone that saves lives but countereffectively stability programs no matter how well developed create time consuming initial understeer in dangerous situations like crash avoidance- epic electromechanics can hide the mass with magnetic damping, rear whee steeringl and truly great reverse haldex 4wd systems etc.. so that traction could be maximized but there are no available programs that improve the direct feedback of a modern vehicle nor annull the laws of physics in our senseless everyday automobiles.

[@CS_247]

Great vehicle but hideous music...

[@Eatinbritches]

What? The music is glorious.

[@mrflamewars]

Good that most of these shitboxes are off the road today, one of the few vehicles that was genuinely dangerously slow.

[@nedkogenov5530]

Dangerously slow? Americans used to make unsafe weak cars that had 300+hp but i dont see Idiots like you complaining

[@jennywilliams3333]

Prat

[@69mag]

@Kevin Whether they're WORTH big bucks is debatable. I know I've got big bucks (to me) sank into mine.. but I love it!

[@Eatinbritches]

What a crock. They aren't dangerously slow at all, in fact their slowness makes them safer than usual. This opinion is laughably stupid (especially considering the fanatical vanlifers these days)

[@petesgoproxboxchannel5581]

hate to be that guy but I'll stick to my Subaru Outback it's good at......... Well can't honestly think of what it's bad at ? & ok please stop rock crawling them they don't have a great wheelbase & should be lifted 1st & trust me put this in mud & laugh the tire's don't have much width hence no displacement combine this with & long wheelbase well those to thing's are a massive no no for anything off-road remember these are professional driver's & notice how shallow the mud was & no point in the sand do they drive slow because if you stop most car's will get stuck & yes a short wheel base would help even the rock's they where flying over them wait sorry pebble's I'm just guessing here but I think it would struggle going slow over terrain like that let's do a crawl test I don't doubt it can't do it but how well bedside's long wheel base goodbye driveshaft LOOK I don't hate these Van's but pull the other one there an ok Over lander but do what you see here u will get stuck or break something !

[@petesgoproxboxchannel5581]

I will give it this only a few select van's where that good back then it could do more the most Van's