Good morning! Today we’re going to look at a couple of rarities, with plenty of room for people, or stuff, or some combination of both. Even better, they both feature manual transmissions. Sounds good, right? We’ll get to those in a minute.
Yesterday, we checked out some sketchy ads for cheap, abused luxury cars that had several of you crying out for a “Neither” option in the poll. Not gonna happen, folks. That’s not how we play the game. You don’t have to actually buy one of these; you get that, right? It’s all make-believe. So come on; play along! It’s fun!
Those of you who did elect to play chose the Mercedes by a narrow margin. I think that would be my choice too. I don’t dislike Infiniti, nor the VQ35 engine, but a V8 Benz is hard to pass up. Just drive it home at night so no one sees you, and don’t let it out of the garage until it’s presentable.
Well, maybe those of you who sat out yesterday will find one of today’s choices more to your liking. They’re both big enclosed open spaces, one with an unusual number of cylinders, and the other with an unusual number of doors. Let’s take a look.
1986 Volkswagen Quantum Syncro – $3,750
Engine/drivetrain: 2.2-liter overhead cam inline 5, five-speed manual, AWD
Location: Elko, MN
Odometer reading: 169,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
In case you aren’t familiar with it, what you’re looking at here is no ordinary frumpy mid-’80s VW wagon. This is the Quantum Syncro, America’s version of the second-generation Passat, but sporting the entire driveline from an Audi 80/4000 Quattro. Yep, five-cylinder engine, locking diffs, and all. And, just like all the early Audi Quattro models, it was available only with a five-speed manual gearbox.
The Quattro drivetrain makes for a weird underhood layout, with that long engine sticking out ahead of the front axle, canted over at an angle for hood clearance, and the radiator sitting next to it instead of in front like most cars. It works brilliantly, though, as evidenced by Audi’s dominance of Group B rally racing for a couple of years. In the Quantum, Audi’s famous five is not turbocharged, but if you guess that plenty of them have been retrofitted with a turbo engine, you’d be right. Not this one, though. It’s stock, and runs just fine, and both differential locks (for the center and rear diffs) work.
The seller does say that the exhaust system is trashed, but that it “sounds cool.” Hopefully their neighbors feel the same. We’re also told that the air conditioning is inoperative, but some parts needed to get it going again are included. And, in true ’80s VW fashion, three of the four outside door handles are broken. On the plus side, it comes with a full set of extra wheels with snow tires.
It’s currently in rural Minnesota, but the seller says it came from Idaho, where they don’t salt the roads, so it’s not rusty underneath. A photo or two to confirm that would have been nice, as well as a couple interior shots, but I’ll let it slide because of the cat photo.
1991 Mazda MPV – $3,700
Engine/drivetrain: 2.6-liter overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Auburn, WA
Odometer reading: 92,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
I’m not sure if you could ever call a minivan “exciting,” but back in the late 1980s and early ’90s, it was kind of fun to see all the manufacturers’ different approaches to designing one. These days, everyone has settled on the transverse FWD layout of the first Chrysler minivans, but for a while automakers were just throwing stuff at the wall to see what stuck. Mazda’s approach was a car-like vehicle, rear-wheel-drive, with one door on the driver’s side and two on the passenger’s side. But no sliding doors here: The passenger loading door was a big, but conventional, hinged door.
Most MPVs were powered by a V6 engine and an automatic transmission, but the standard equipment was a 2.6 liter four-cylinder and a five-speed stick. You don’t see too many of them; I only recall seeing a couple of them back in the day. This one has only 92,000 miles on it, and just had its clutch replaced. There are varying degrees of “can drive a stick,” and some people are just hard on clutches. At least you know it’s new.
It looks well-kept inside, and refreshingly simple. I don’t know what it is about a true “floor” shifter, with no center console around it, but it really appeals to me. It makes the interior look so much more spacious, and I like the honesty of it. Though, I suppose you might feel differently when you go looking for a place to put your coffee and discover there are no cupholders.
MPVs may have been rare with manuals, but damn near all of them, as far as I can tell, were painted in this sand beige color. I think I saw a green one, once, maybe, but like red Miatas, these are what you see most often. This one looks pretty well-preserved, but the paint is a bit faded, and there are a few battle scars here and there. It doesn’t have any rust, however, which is something.
As for me, I think these are both pretty cool, for different reasons. I’m honestly not sure which one I like better. Luckily, it’s not up to me, not really. You all get to choose – and choose you must.
(Image credits: sellers)
I like old school VW character. I’ll take the wagon.
I had a VW. Hated it. But I love wagons, this one has an interesting engine and the boxy front looks so cool I had to go VW this time. And it had a cat on it.
MPV is clearly the better option. Less miles, better condition, 5 years younger. So I voted for the VW for the first time .
the MPV is very clean, completely invisible yet will likely go another 50k miles before it fails completely. the VW, probably not so much.
You’re right that they’re both cool; the Mazda is unquestionably more practical and more reliable, but that Quantum Syncro is just so cool, and it has ATS wheels so I choose that one and I’ll suffer later.
The MPV is a solid worker. Nothing will excite you, but little will go wrong. Ever.
The VW is a lot more fun, but bound to involve a lot of minor and major drama along the way.
I’m taking the Mazda every day, all day. Even if the Mazda was as ratty as the VW.
MPV because I grew up in them.
My uncle worked for Mazda Canada, so my parents bought three MPVs over the years that had previously been company cars of employees at the head quarters.
My mom had two of this generation in the exact same beige, and then a black 2003 with the DVD player in the headliner.
I wanted to vote Quantum – but there’s too much gone wrong.
Whereas the Mazda you know will be dead reliable.
I like em both. Fun fact – Mazda had a badge engineered version of the Ford Explorer, but it was only available in 2 doors, because Mazda considered the MPV to be similar to an SUV and didn’t want to cannibalize its own sales.
I sent that MPV ad to my friend yesterday!! That’s a bargain price for an interesting vehicle that could potentially last another 200k miles. Unfortunately she wants an automatic since its primary use will be a daily driver in Seattle traffic.
The VW has a higher novelty factor, but it also has more issues and will likely to continue to have more frequent issues compared to the Mazda.
So my vote goes to the MPV.
That Quantum looks familiar, I just saw it several weeks ago reviewed by Zach from Shooting Cars channel on Youtube.
You can take a peek of the interior on that video, it really looks great for the age and mileage.
Mechanicals are also great and he had lots of fun driving it.
The exhaust doesn’t sound half bad either.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGRSYydvlF0&ab_channel=ShootingCars
I appreciate the clean condition of the MPV, but I’m not a fan of the idea of adding a manual to a milquetoast minivan that doesn’t come with any other particular feature like AWD or a turbo.
So Quantum it is. I would only fix the door handles and give it a nice clean up
I concur certain vehicles are meant for manuals and certain ones are meant for Automatics. And then their are Crossovers that split it. A taxi, daily city driver, cop car, fire engine, ambulance and minivan are all automatic only vehicles.
Does the quantum come with the kitty?
5-speed pseudo-minivan??? Sign me up! I would love to own a stickshit Aerostar, and this MPV is channeling a similar vibe.
MPV all the way, RIP Biz Markie
MPV’s were/are amazing.
Dang it, I’ll just take both. The VW for the winter and blasting around roads up north in the summer. No ac needed for either of those things. The MPV for all the rest of life’s duties. This actually wouldn’t be a bad two car garage. Plus, I could tow either behind my RV since they are manuals.
Had a 91 MPV with the V6 auto. Good vehicle. Seats not exactly removable. Tell you what, it was the best vehicle for the drive in movies! You remember those! Paid way less than what this one is going for. But it was painted Park Ranger green…was Metallic Red! Probably why it was so cheap. But paid for itself couple times over.
I’m a hybrid VW/Mazda enthusiast (well, really more of a well-wisher) so these should be right up my alley. That being said, I prefer the Quantum Leap to the precursor to the better MAZDA5.
I absolutely hate VWs…however, wagon. Therefore that horrible, ugly, broken VW for the win. Sorry, MPV.
“And, in true VW fashion, three of the four outside door handles are broken.”
FIFY. I owned a 2007 Jetta for 6 years and replaced five door lock modules in that time period.
My now wife drove a Quantum (2WD sedan with 5MT) when we first met, so I’m partial to the VW. I’ve also always really liked the MPV. Condition wins today.
Take me down to the MPV Mazda
With the three beige doors and a great big shifter
Oooh, won’t you please take me down
Today’s options are as good as yesterday’s were bad. A “both” may be in order, but I went with the Mazda because that one is in fantastic condition.
Why not both?
IF the VW were in as good of condition as the Mazda, I’d pick it. But this one looks really beat up.
The VW feels like a $750-1000 beater from the before times. I know those days are over, but over $3.5k is way too much at this condition.
it’s quite good inside. The seller should’ve taken pictures but here’s a video that honestly provides more details than a hundred pictures combined. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGRSYydvlF0&ab_channel=ShootingCars