Diesel Rabbit

[hihoslvr]

Just saw a '78 VW for $300: 2dr hatchback, manual, kinda rough shape, but decent tires, tags expired in Jan. Anybody know 'bout these things? I'm gonna call the guy to get the lowdown...

 

[blackbronc]

The bottom ends are the same as the gas motors and they're not up to the compression required for diesel. If you want a VW diesel that's worth anything you need to get the late models.

 

[Danger06Ranger]

They're alright, got 1 in the shop right now getting a clutch kit. The owner says it gets great mileage, and can take a beating. Don't think it would matter but the 1 I'm working on is a "truck".

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

my parents had an 80-something that they drove all over creation. they can get up to 50 MPG and are reliable as long as you CHANGE THE OIL ON TIME. my parents gave theirs to my grandma when she blew up her saturn and she promptly proceeded to skip the next oil change, blew the oil filter off the block, and ran the engine out of oil.

id love to get ahold of a diesel rabbit pickup and run it off of vegetable oil.

 

[mhughes165]

damn, guy aroiund me has one of them old vw diesel military cars, those things are friggin cool as hell, he gets like 60mpg even beating on it, its ridicoulus

 

[Danger-Ranger96]

Friend of mine just bought an 87 VW rabbit diesel with 289k miles on it. Still runs like a charm, I've heard stories of people rolling the gauges over 1,000,000 km and i believe it's true. Reliable as the old toyota Corollas (a guy in Saskatchewan was in the news, he rolled 1 million kms on his and its back up to 215,000 km and still running) He was also in an old toyota commercial for corolla back in the later 90's

i was just doing some research, apparently this Mercedes went 4.6 million kilometers(2.8 mil miles)...holy shit

http://www.worldcarfans.com/5040929.001/proverbial-longevity-in-46-million-kilometers

 

[hihoslvr]

damn, guy aroiund me has one of them old vw diesel military cars, those things are friggin cool as hell, he gets like 60mpg even beating on it, its ridicoulus

"Things" are cool! The one I saw looks kinda scary, not a whole lotta metal. I agree with sludge though, biodiesel/SVO conversion would be trick... a PU or Mercedes would be cool too. I'll call the guy tomorrow, but I guess it's probably gotta major problem, bad tranny or won't pass smog; but no oil leaks that I saw. Thanks for all the input.

 

[pickup]

I picked up a '90 Jetta w/1.9 turbo last fall for $600.00. As soon as I can get my hands on a first gen Ranger 4x4 with a decent body, the engine's going in. Acme adapters makes kits to bolt them in Toyota pickups and GM Trackers with great results. I spoke with them, and they have had a lot of requests for Ranger kits, so apparently "we" are going to come up with something.
I'm not sure how I get talked into stuff like this...

 

[snake]

Those older ones had NO POWER. You could run 5th gear OR the A/C but not both. I think they were normally aspirated. The new ones have plenty of power and get the mileage but aren't as reliable as say, a ranger. A friend of mine has an '05 and swears its gone when the warranty runs out. Been in the shop tons of times and still not right. Parts are high, too...

 

[hihoslvr]

Just talked to the guy on the phone, had it in the shop for a new rad. and they told him the alt. mount was broke, and needed to welded, part is obsolete. Also, exhaust has rusted off, and was broke into, by bustin' off drivers door handle, and stereo ripped out. Has non-op tag, but doesn't need to be smogged, said he gets 35-45 mpg. Sounds like alot trouble for my inept mechanic/secreterial skills, I think I'm better off saving my dough, and waiting for one a them diesel F-150's...

 

[danger88ranger]

Those older ones had NO POWER. You could run 5th gear OR the A/C but not both. I think they were normally aspirated. The new ones have plenty of power and get the mileage but aren't as reliable as say, a ranger. A friend of mine has an '05 and swears its gone when the warranty runs out. Been in the shop tons of times and still not right. Parts are high, too...

My dad has an 02 jetta and its been in the shop way too much. He's replaced the converter twice, and hes went through 3 sets of volkswagen rotors in 2 years. And no, my dad does not run his car hard. I do know a guy who has a couple rabbits with diesel motors and he loves them. They get 52mpg on average for him and he said they are very realiable.

 

[gbadgley]

The Rabbit diesels were great! 50-60 mpg every day. We had one at work years ago, I will tell you first hand that DO NOT like to run on gasoline. We had a kid fill it up twice, the first time the filters caught it and shut it down, the second time..... total melt down. If you can find one GRAB IT!!! Greg

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The Rabbit diesels were great! 50-60 mpg every day. We had one at work years ago, I will tell you first hand that DO NOT like to run on gasoline. We had a kid fill it up twice, the first time the filters caught it and shut it down, the second time..... total melt down.

Diesel's in general are funny that way.

 

[chittybangbang]

Just saw a '78 VW for $300: 2dr hatchback, manual, kinda rough shape, but decent tires, tags expired in Jan. Anybody know 'bout these things? I'm gonna call the guy to get the lowdown...

48hp and 56 #ft
Gas mileage. around 40 mpg with a 4 spd around 48 mpg with a 5 spd.
One thing Vdubs.Great cars when they run but a nightmare to keep running.I know first hand.