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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site mmm.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!stolaf!umn-cs!mmm!schley
From: schley@mmm.UUCP (Steve Schley)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: 1980 Diesel Rabbit Inquiry
Message-ID: <182@mmm.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 5-Sep-85 10:13:04 EDT
Article-I.D.: mmm.182
Posted: Thu Sep  5 10:13:04 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 9-Sep-85 01:28:31 EDT
References: <683@hou2e.UUCP> <1300014@prism.UUCP>
Reply-To: schley@mmm.UUCP (Steve Schley)
Organization: 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn.
Lines: 43

In article <1300014@prism.UUCP> zrm@prism.UUCP writes:
>
>The diesel Rabbit is probably the only driving experience more degrading
>than a Chevette. It is spartan, noisy, and the motor mounts are poorly
>designed and cause the car to shake all the time. And $3000 is on the high
>side, even for a gas Rabbit in excellent shape.
>
>The gas Rabbit, on the other hand, is a very good car...

I don't know whether zrm has ever owned a diesel Rabbit.  I owned a '79
until very recently, and still own an '81, and I can't let his/her
comments go unanswered.

Granted, 49 hp isn't much, but the car is not necessarily spartan --
the diesels are the same as the gas models in this department.  Noise?
Yes, especially on the older ones (the new Golfs are wonderfully
quiet).  Shakes?  Some, but you really only notice it at idle, and it's
not so bad once you get used to it.

When it comes to diesel Rabbits, these points should be remembered:

1) 40+ mpg around town cancels a lot of ills (especially for '79 cars)

2) You can't be shy with the accellerator.  Get used to putting it to
the floor.

3) If you want accelleration, get the RPM's up!  The engine is
rev-limited, so you won't over-rev.  For acceleration, put the pedal to
the floor until the engine stops going faster, then shift.

4) Maintain the car.  (So what else is new?  Good advice for any car!)

5) The diesel hurts you only in the straight-line performance.
Cornering and all-around agility get high marks on all Rabbits.

Having said all that, $3000 is a bit high for the average '80 Rabbit.
$2200 to $2500 for a good specimen is more like it.  Have it looked
over by a mechanic who knows VW diesels before buying, though.

-- 
	Steve Schley

	ihnp4!mmm!schley