AT A GLANCE
Volkswagen Syncro Wagon Peugeot 505S Wagon Volvo 740 Turbo Wagon
Price, base/as tested $15,645 / $17,280 $17,445 / $18,220 $21,355 / $21,355
Curb weight, lb 3000 3210 3115
Engine/drive inline-5/4wd inline-4/rwd inline-4/rwd
Transmission 5-spd M 5-spd M 4-spd M + OD
0-60 mph, sec 9.6 16.2 8.4
Standing 1/4 mi, sec @ mph 17.0 @ 79.0 20.3 @ 67.0 16.6 @ 85.5
Stopping distance from 60 mph, ft 152 170 169
Lateral acceleration, g 0.76 0.71 0.75
Slalom Speed, mph 63.0 56.3 55.9
Fuel Economy, mpg 19.5 18.5 24.0
Pro Con
Syncro Wagon: 4wd, torquey engine, good acceleration and braking, confident handling Full-time 4wd can be awkward, dated body design, modest cargo capacity
505S Wagon: tested 4-84 excellent ride, good cargo and people accomodations, likeable French spirit short on power and cornering grip, modest fuel mileage, scarce dealer network
740 Turbo Wagon: tested 6-85 remarkable power, good fuel economy for performance, roomy, well finished high price, conservative looks may not appeal to everyone, V-6 more appropriate for price?


SPECIFICATIONS

PRICE
Quantum Syncro Wagon 1986 Quantum GL5 Sedan 1983
List Price, all POE $15,645 $13,120
Price as tested $17,280 $13,980
Price for the Syncro as tested includes std equip. (air cond, pwr strg, cruise ctrl, rear wiper), pwr pkg (elect. window lifts, elect. adj mirrors, central locking) $695, sunroof ($450), AM/FM stereo/cassette ($390), cargo cover ($100); warranty: 24 mo/unlimited mi.

ENGINE
Quantum Syncro Wagon 1986 Quantum GL5 Sedan 1983
Type sohc inline-5 sohc inline-5
Bore x stroke, mm 81.0 x 86.4 79.5 x 86.4
Displacement, cc 2226 2144
Compression ratio 8.5:1 8.2:1
Bhp @ rpm, SAE net 115 @ 5500 100 @ 5100
Torque @ rpm, lb-ft 126 @ 3000 112 @ 3000
Fuel delivery Bosch, KE-Jetronic K-Jetronic
Fuel requirement unleaded, 87 pump oct unleaded, 87 pump oct

GENERAL
Quantum Syncro Wagon 1986 Quantum GL5 Sedan 1983
Curb weight, lb 3000 2660
Test weight 3140 2750
Weight dist (with driver), f/r, % 57/43 63/37
Wheelbase, in 100.4 100.4
Track, f/r 55.6/56.5 55.7/56.0
Length 183.1 180.2
Height 60.9 55.1
Trunk space, cu ft 18.6 + 12.4 16.8
Fuel capacity, U.S. gal 18.5 15.8

DRIVETRAIN
Transmission 5-speed manual (QSW) 3-sp automatic (GL5)
Gear ratios: 5th (0.83) 3.41:1
4th (1.07) 4.40:1
3rd (1.46) 6.00:1 (1.00) 3.08:1
2nd (2.13) 8.75:1 (1.50) 4.62:1
1st (3.60) 14.80:1 (2.71) 8.35:1
1st (2.71 x 2.0) 16.69:1
Final Drive ratio 4.11:1 3.08:1

CHASSIS & BODY
Quantum Syncro Wagon 1986 Quantum GL5 Sedan 1983
Layout front engine/4wd front engine/fwd
Body/frame unit steel unit steel
Brake system, f/r 10.1-in vented discs/9.6-in solid discs, vacuum assist 9.4-in solid discs/7.9 x 1.6-in drums, vacuum assist
Wheels alloy, 14 x 6J alloy, 15 x 5J
Tires Continental Super Contact, 195/60R-14 Continental TS 771, 185/70SR-13
Steering type rack & pinion, pwr assisted rack & pinion, pwr assisted
Turns, lock to lock 3.4 3.4
Suspension, f/r MacPherson struts, lower A-arms, coil springs, tube shocks, anti-roll bar/semi-trailing arms, coil springs, tube shocks, anti-roll bar MacPherson struts, lower A-arms, coil springs, tube shocks, anti-roll bar/twist axle acting as trailing arms and anti-roll bar, coil springs, tube shocks

CALCULATED DATA
Quantum Syncro Wagon 1986 Quantum GL5 Sedan 1983
Lb/bhp (test weight) 27.3 27.5
Bhp/liter 51.7 46.6
Engine revs @ 60mph in 5th 2950 n/a


ROAD TEST RESULTS

ACCELERATION
Syncro Wagon GL5 Sedan
Time to distance, sec:
0-100 ft 3.1 3.7
0-500 ft 8.9 10.0
0-1320 ft (1/4 mi) 17.0 18.8
Speed at end of 1/4 mi, mph 79.0 73.0
Time to speed, sec:
0-30 mph 2.8 4.0
0-50 mph 7.0 8.8
0-60 mph 9.6 12.6
0-70 mph 12.5 17.0
0-80 mph 17.5 23.8

SPEEDS IN GEARS
Syncro Wagon GL5 Sedan
Maximum rpm 6300 6300
5th (rpm) mph est (5560) 113
4th 96
3rd 70 (5000)105
2nd 48 91
1st 29 52

FUEL ECONOMY
Syncro Wagon GL5 Sedan
Normal driving, mpg 19.5 21.0

BRAKING
Syncro Wagon GL5 Sedan
Minimum Stopping distances, ft:
From 60 mph 152 163
From 80 mph 261 279
Control in stop very good very good
Pedal effort for 0.5g stop, lb na 26
Fade1: na 54
Overall rating good good
1: percent increase in pedal effort to maintain 0.5g deceleration in 6 stops from 60 mph

HANDLING
Syncro Wagon GL5 Sedan
Later acceleration, 100-ft radius, g 0.76 0.77
Speed through 700-ft slalom, mph 63.0 59.1

INTERIOR NOISE
Syncro Wagon GL5 Sedan
Idle in neutral, dBA 57 53
Maximum, 1st gear 70 75
Constant 70mph 73 74


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