Synchro setback

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Nov 30, 1998 | 04:30 PM

Passat Man

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Synchro setback

Scratch the 1999 Volkswagen Passat GLX Synchro from your shopping list. VW of America will not import that car this model year. The decision was made in the days after our Nov. 16 Car Board item.Parts supply problems and anticipated low volume-about 50 per week in the U.S.-forced the change, said a VW spokesman. Meanwhile, VW will add a front-wheel-drive Passat in GLX trim next January or February.For 2000, VWoA will import a four-wheel-drive Passat, but instead of using the Synchro name and technology, it will carry 4Motion badges and the latest Haldex electronic limited-slip central differential system, as found on the Audi TT.

Nov 30, 1998 | 04:43 PM

Audi Man

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Hey, this 4Motion and Haldex sounds pretty cool! Lets make sure it gets into Audis only and not into those puny VWs!! Seriously, what are the main diffs between that and the Torsen diff Quattro/Syncro?

Nov 30, 1998 | 07:12 PM

JIM H.

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Alright, let's try this again...

IF VWoA imports ANY Passat/A4 based car to N.A., it will hav a "north-south" engine layout, and therefore, it will be our beloved inline, Torsen, gear-driven all-wheel drive system. VWoA may call it Syncro, but that is a MARKETING TERM, NOT A MECHANICAL DESIGN! The TT is an "east-west" engine layout, therefore its all-wheel drive system will use Haldex/viscous type system. Any transverse engined Audi OR VW product will hav a different system than any inline engined Audi or VW product.

Nov 30, 1998 | 07:46 PM

Zsolt

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Torsen: gear driven, robust like a vault. Haldex: clutch based, just one more thing to break.

This is all I know. Enough for me to dislike any Haldex crap. If someone knows otherwise, please enlighten me.

Dec 1, 1998 | 12:46 AM

Don S

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Re: Synchro setback

Most likely the name of the all wheel drive versions is the only thing that will change. The technology would not change as long as the current drivtrain configuration is being used. VW will use the other technology in its sideways mounted engine configuration. I read that VW thinks Syncro sounds too much like Quattro.

Dec 1, 1998 | 06:39 AM

ErikR

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Even more fun with engineering!...

The haldex is a very cool toy. You can vary the disk lockup electronically for different conditions and to give a different feel. But it is a clutchpack, which ALWAYS wear out. Even better it has a miniature pump! Try replacing that.It's just a gizmo. If it was legal to change to for racing I would love it, in spite of the complexity issue, because I would chip it to 30-70 proportion in the dry and 50-50 in the winter. Lord knows what vw will set it to (70-30???)But reliability is the most important issue for me, and the Torsen wins hands down. There are VW racers with over 100,000 miles on these units with no problems.