1979 0r 82 VW Diesel Rabbit opinions

Mountainman · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2015 8:12 pm

Maybe I should post this elsewhere, but I wanted you all to read this...

Anyhow, might be getting a 79 rabbit 4 speed diesel in excellent condition on a trade. Just wondering what you all think of the engine, reliability, parts availability, or any other wisdom. I want a cheap car to drive to the city (moving back to mountains soon) that gets even better mileage that the CRD. 50 mpg sounds pretty good. I hope that's at 55 miles per hour?
hmm, am I crazy to give $3200 in trade for rust free, excellent condition one?

thanks for any harassment or advice :rockon:

Oh, and absolutely no jokes about a 6 foot 4 guy in a tiny yellow Rabbit! :POPCORN:

mass-hole · **Posted:** Thu Nov 19, 2015 12:08 am

I feel like you could get a an early 2000's Jetta TDI in that ballpark and probably have a much better car that gets similar mileage.

Mountainman · **Posted:** Thu Nov 19, 2015 12:18 am

Good point, I've been thinking I might go for a $500 gasser instead, so when it's -20 (rarely, but happens) I have an easy start and heat. Besides, diesel is almost a full dollar higher per gallon here :shock:

I had an 83 or 84 gas rabbit when I was a kid and it was fast and tough. Used the same fuel injection system as the Volvos, Bosch I think.
My main goal is to have something that I can leave at most wilderness trailheads and not worry about. I got in for a week or three sometimes, and I don't want to leave a winch and a grand worth of tires and wheels to disappear. I also go to some hotsprings that are miles in where wasted kids are likely to do something terrible to my precious CRD.
If someone trashes a 5-$800 rabbit, $50 at the junkyard and I'll be back in action :goink:

jws84_02 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 19, 2015 3:01 pm

Is it na or turbo? If it's na I would pass. It wouldn't have enough power to get up all your hills. Lol

Mountainman · **Posted:** Thu Nov 19, 2015 4:10 pm

Yeah, I'd probably delete this thread if I could lol. I'm now thinking of a second eco CRD or maybe a cheap prius with curtain airbags because the highway that I drive on is a serious death trap (deer, elk, bears, drunks, and many fools that are in a rush).
I could end up with a civic hf also though, as they get as good of mileage as a prius.

oh, it was a non TD rabbit... I've driven an Izuzu pup a bit and cruising over the big grades at 35 mph isn't the best :lol:

rankom · **Posted:** Thu Nov 19, 2015 9:10 pm

well i have only good things to say about 1.6 VW diesel turbo or non turbo , i did work on them in europe in late 80 early 90s they are my favourites.

mass-hole · **Posted:** Fri Nov 20, 2015 12:31 am

Mountainman wrote:

Yeah, I'd probably delete this thread if I could lol. I'm now thinking of a second eco CRD or maybe a cheap prius with curtain airbags because the highway that I drive on is a serious death trap (deer, elk, bears, drunks, and many fools that are in a rush).
I could end up with a civic hf also though, as they get as good of mileage as a prius.

oh, it was a non TD rabbit... I've driven an Izuzu pup a bit and cruising over the big grades at 35 mph isn't the best :lol:

LOL.

Just do what they are going in the Eco Mod thread. Convert to 2wd, gear down to 3.55's, Eco tires at a billion PSI, GDE tune, remove viscous heater and all the other crap. Cut the springs and slam it to the ground. I would have to think you could push over 40 mpgs will all that done.

thermorex · **Posted:** Mon Nov 23, 2015 9:20 pm

I'd think how much I'd have to drive the pos jetta/prius/rabbit to get my investment back? Drive like a boss in the crd. That's what I think. Worth the Extra $$$. Side remark, if the rabbit is not modified, it may worth as an investment. But don't expect to go more than 50mph comfortably... It's a vintage vehicle.

Mountainman · **Posted:** Mon Nov 23, 2015 10:53 pm

Well, I found a steal on a 2005 Prius. Just have to drive 15 hours to get it. I had some friends that flipped them and they were always impressed how many miles you could get out of them. I need something that is really cheap to drive. Plus, I can put some duratracs on the CRD and enjoy it more. I barely made it back up to my elk camp trailhead for the last load of meat this year. Can't wait to rock some studded Duratracs up there next year, plus a winch :rockon:

thermorex · **Posted:** Tue Nov 24, 2015 6:50 pm

Well, good luck finding what you need anyways. I wouldn't drive a small vehicle like a prius, but I understand your point.

Mountainman · **Posted:** Wed Dec 02, 2015 12:04 am

thermorex wrote:

Well, good luck finding what you need anyways. I wouldn't drive a small vehicle like a prius, but I understand your point.

Thanks, I've spent a lot of time wondering if I'll do better in a little car that can get smashed, or a KJ that might roll over. I should just get a Hum V

thermorex · **Posted:** Thu Dec 03, 2015 1:30 pm

Mountainman wrote:

thermorex wrote:

Well, good luck finding what you need anyways. I wouldn't drive a small vehicle like a prius, but I understand your point.

Thanks, I've spent a lot of time wondering if I'll do better in a little car that can get smashed, or a KJ that might roll over. I should just get a Hum V

If you're that worried, stay home and don't ever drive, lol. But I'd rather take the risk of rolling than being in some small attempt of a vehicle...

Mountainman · **Posted:** Thu Dec 03, 2015 2:08 pm

yeah, I wish I didn't have to drive so much. I'm my kids only functional parent, so I worry about them going to a foster home if I get hit by a bus. The mountain town I'm moving back to pretty much runs on alcohol. At least they drive slow lol. Not that I don't sip a little whiskey, but not at the bar 10 miles from home... :5SHOTS:

jws84_02 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 03, 2015 5:12 pm

My vote is a Prius, and then weld a Exo cage all the way around it

Mountainman · **Posted:** Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:16 pm

jws84_02 wrote:

My vote is a Prius, and then weld a Exo cage all the way around it

Or maybe I can drive it into the bed of a big pickup, and they won't even notice :rockon:

thermorex · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2015 6:57 am

jws84_02 wrote:

My vote is a Prius, and then weld a Exo cage all the way around it

Lol. And put some 31 inch tires on it. That would make it very fuel efficient.

thermorex · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2015 6:57 am

jws84_02 wrote:

My vote is a Prius, and then weld a Exo cage all the way around it

Lol. And put some 31 inch tires on it. That would make it very fuel efficient.

thermorex · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2015 7:00 am

Mountainman wrote:

yeah, I wish I didn't have to drive so much. I'm my kids only functional parent, so I worry about them going to a foster home if I get hit by a bus. The mountain town I'm moving back to pretty much runs on alcohol. At least they drive slow lol. Not that I don't sip a little whiskey, but not at the bar 10 miles from home... :5SHOTS:

Mountain man in the mountain town. Lol. Well, I hope whatever you decide doing will work the way you want. And you and your kids will be happy!

Mountainman · **Posted:** Mon Dec 07, 2015 10:07 pm

Thanks man! I probably wouldn't even be going this route if diesel didn't run almost 50% more up here :banghead:

1979 0r 82 VW Diesel Rabbit opinions

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