1984 Trabant 601 S review from UK and Ireland
"The Trabant never fails to raise a smile"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Rear brakes dragging.
Front brakes seized.
Rusted trailing arm. MOT fail.
Severe chassis rust.
Cylinder head gasket failed.
Rear lights failed.
General comments?
A fantastic ramshackle creation from the former DDR (Soviet East Germany), with hit and miss handling until you get used to it, and then surprising drivability.
Powered by a 595cc 2-stroke twin cylinder engine, the front wheels are driven via a sturdy 4 speed gearbox with an easy to get used to column style gear stick. Average top speed is 67mph and MPG at about 27 to 32 depending on the journey.
The braking system is very basic, non servo assisted and drums all round. Breaking distances are a serious consideration when driving a Trabant.
The interior is basic... Austere and minimal. No luxuries are found on Soviet vehicles of this type. No power operated gadgets.
The steel chassis and floorplan, when left un-treated, is prone to serious corrosion, the duraplast body panels hold their shape and are easy to maintain.
Opinion is divided when it comes to aesthetics. Some think the Trabant is an ugly beast, others find it has a charm all its own.
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1985 - 601 S 2 cylinder-two stroke Great car that can't be used or found anymore | |
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| A very reliable, cheap and easy to maintain car |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1984 |
| First year of ownership | 2007 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 594cc 2-stroke Manual |
| Performance marks | 3 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 7 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 3 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 32000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 35000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Nissan Micra |
| Date of Entry | 4th November, 2009 |