10k: Wanderer: 1990 Volkswagen Golf Country Syncro 4×4 5-Speed

 Nothing makes you do a spit-take faster than seeing a car you normally see grounded to the ground, but instead is jacked up on mud tires like it’s ready for the Paris-Dakar rally.  However, this isn’t some transformed aftermarket ride with all the pedigree and refinement of a West Coast Customs hack job, this is a bonafide factory stock Golf Country Syncro, equipped with all-wheel-drive and factory bullbars.  Find this 1990 Golf Country Syncro 4×4 5-Speed here on eBay currently bidding for $7,700 in Woodbridge, NJ with 1 day to go.

The Golf Country Syncro was never sold new in the USA, so it has been imported sometime in the recent past, because it just became legal for import (25 year old).  What we’ve been missing all these years is a ride height raised Golf equipped with Syncro four-wheel-drive, a front skid plate and external bullbars.  It is the dignified German response to a Mad Max style vehicle, and is likely a capable offroader if equipped with the correct tires.

Power in the hill climbing Golf comes from 1.8 liter 8-valve inline-4 that was good for around 100 horsepower when new.  It is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and to all-four-wheels via VW’s Syncro system.

With only 51kms (31k miles) on the odometer, this looks like a good way to start a VW Golf museum collection. 

 See a better car for alpine fun? tips@dailyturismo.com