I found one locally dirt cheap, but in need of a few parts.
What owning a Rabbit Diesel like? Would I struggle to find parts? Are they overly expensive?
What kinda MPG? Grease Car Ability?
I need better MPG, and my ZX2 isn't cutting it. It's only getting 26-28mpg when I drive it gingerly, plus the Rabbit may be a good a "fix'er up and seller" with the rising price of gas and interest in GreaseCars.
They're slow. But buy it anyway.
Diesel VW's are bringing silly money on ebay right now.
You won't struggle to find parts. They're everywhere, and at fairly reasonable pricing.
Plenty of tech support online.
The engines are as simple to work on as a stone. Be advised, however, that you'll need a couple hundred dollars' worth of special tools to do important things like set the injection pump timing.
Supposedly it doesn't stay running, any idea what that might be?
When does one need these special tools you speak of? Common maintenance or rare overhaul type stuff?
One needs the special tools for: a] setting the injection pump timing b] changing the timing belt c] adjusting the valves
All of which are a 60k service. All should be done RIGHT NOW if the car doesn't have any records.
Starts & doesn't stay running could be a $6 fuel filter (NAPA) or a rusted out or pinched off fuel line. It could also be a worn injection pump ($600+!)
Join the discussion boards at www.vwdiesel.net and you can learn a lot.
PHeller wrote: Supposedly it doesn't stay running, any idea what that might be?
Spark plugs? A vacuum leak??? :grin:
gamby wrote:PHeller wrote: Supposedly it doesn't stay running, any idea what that might be?Spark plugs? A vacuum leak??? :grin:
I'm fairly certain that it's not spark plugs.
Woodyhfd wrote:gamby wrote:PHeller wrote: Supposedly it doesn't stay running, any idea what that might be?Spark plugs? A vacuum leak??? :grin:
I'm fairly certain that it's not spark plugs.
...it's not vaccum, either--that's the joke. See: ":grin:"
I used to own one.
They are embarrassingly slow, belch black smoke like a freight train, and smell worse than my teenager's dirty socks.
Gosh I wish I still had it!
My '79 Rabbit was awesome... smoked like a freight train, but I wouldn't call it slow. Got 55mpg at 55mph and was virtually trouble free. Girlfriend totalled it for me... took it off a 30' cliff at 60mph... they had to cut down three trees to extract the car. She walked away without a scratch.
My parent's '82 Rabbit was one of the worst cars i've ever dealt with... was slow to the point of being unsafe, never got more than low 30's mileage, and drove horribly. We ended up dropping a gas engine in it....
Bill
