1981 Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup Custom review from North America
"The most reliable vehicle I ever owned, I will never part with it!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Fuel pump 2 times.
Alternator 4 times.
Dropped valve once.
Head gasket once.
Driveshafts 4 times.
Right 1 time, left 1 time: wheel cylinders.
Back brakes failed 2 times.
Starter 3 times.
Vacuum pump 1 time.
Air conditioning quit 4 years ago - never got fixed.
Heater core busted 8 years ago - bypassed, never fixed.
Park brake cables froze up 1 time.
Glow plug heating circuit quit.
Previous owner caused him to sell to me, numerous general repairs... IE belts, hoses, batteries etc.
General comments?
Still gets 30-40 mpg, starts first try every time, makes 86 mile round trip commute to work effortlessly 4 times a week, however since speed limits on US interstates were increased it is difficult to keep up in traffic. Made a rear mower attachement to mow my lawn. Am currently trying to purchase a new Caddy TDI pickup overseas to import home... Wish me luck. If the engine ever quits I will replace it or repair it at any cost.
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| Your best friend on four wheels |
|
| A machine pure at soul |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1981 |
| First year of ownership | 1990 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2000 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.6 diesel Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 232000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 566234 miles |
| Previous car | Chevrolet Celebrity |
| Date of Entry | 12th April, 2000 |