Convince me about syncro’s

[ChrisP]

Hi all

I’ve lurked on here a good few years, and have owned a couple of syncro’s (albeit briefly) before – a uk jetta syncro, and also a gti syncro. I have the chance of buying a rolling G60 syncro, but before I go down that route, I’d like to know what handling benefits I’m going to get from it?
I currently run a Jetta Coupe, and I really love the way it drives, the shell is really stiff with a proper stitched cage in it, and the handling is really good. The below shows what its like

I dont really suffer from lack of traction as such, but with me not using the car as I quite intended (one track day in the last 12mths) I do wonder about trying to make the car a little more road focused, and hence the syncro…
I know I may get a slightly biased view with this being a syncro forum, but your thoughts on the benefits of the 4wd chassis over the regular one would be much appreciated

Cheers

[Chris S]

All G2 Syncro models benefit from having the G60 type high transmission tunnel, the Syncro rear end is also stiffer than the 2wd shell as it has the extra crossmember/stiffening to cope with the rear driveline.

The Golf 2 G60 Syncro also has stiffer anti roll bars both front & rear as well as slightly stiffer spring/damping than the std 90/98 bhp models.

[ld50]

After driving the syncro I’d mentally written off the handling of non-4wd cars so when I got the gti as a daily while the syncro is off the road I was actually surprised by how well it handled.

I found the 16v to be well balanced and handled as close to neutral/rwd as you’re likely to get with a fwd…to a point – so I guess not dissimilar from your jetta by the sound of it.

As you might expect, I found the differences were most apparent at the very edge of grip in each case. To me, it boils down to the syncro feeling more like one unit rather than a front and a back which don’t necessarily agree and need to be controlled separately like on the gti.

With the syncro you can also get it set up for the corner and then just keep the power down without heading for the hedge or having to play go fetch with the handbrake which obviously costs you speed (although it is fun and does slide very nicely ).

It’s a heavier chassis for sure but with the right suspension setup there’s not much I found which will touch it for handling & grip short of something like a pulsar gtir. In snow and ice it’s moderately embarrassing how well it grips while everyone else is sliding about.

Both mine are on coilovers so are hopefully a reasonably fair comparison. with the extra power of a g60 i’d have thought it would be a delight to drive!

[ChrisP]

Thanks for your thoughts chaps.

With regards to the stiffness of the shell, I know the G60 syncro is a lot stronger, the front chassis legs have further bracing, and the rear end is stiffer also – I have a friend who has one, and I defintely noticed a difference when driving it.
Just to delve into the handling a little further, I run Koni coilovers and the biggest (22/25) arb’s that can be fitted to the MK2 chassis, so I guess what I’m a little concerned with is that the handling won’t be up to the same level on the syncro, mainly because the arb’s can’t be upgraded from G60 spec – is that right?
As for the power side of things, I had a 12v VR6 coupled with a Gemini 6 speed box in the Jetta, which is just in the process of being replaced with an R32…..the syncro would be getting that engine and box combo (changed to syncro spec) along with VR6 syncro rear axle, diff and transfer box. I guess I’m a little concerned about doing all the work and then not being massively happy with it all – I think the power would be more than sufficient to overcome the extra drivetrain losses of the syncro over 2wd, but would I gain with regards to grip and traction at maybe the expense of a little handling over what I have currently?

[Author]

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