1984 Volkswagen Rabbit L review from North America

1.7 liter motor needed replacement shortly after I purchased the car. Main bearings were bad, so I replaced the engine with a 1.8 Fox motor with only 100kms on it. Shortly before selling the car it began burning the synthetic oil I was running in it (bad new engine too).

- In very cold weather, car would die after being started

- wheel bearings, struts, electrical system all needed replacement or constant repair after a mere 150kms

- serious rust-through issues at 170kms

- several exterior/interior pieces broke after cautious driving and care

- After owning this car, I have gone onto purchasing e30 BMW 3 series cars with twice the mileage, and have both performed like new cars. This does not say much for VW, especially since many of their products are compared to BMW's. VW has done a great job of marketing a very poor product, and has continued to do so until today, where the younger market all want a VW product... too bad they don't know that their cars are just an expensive name brand that should not even compared to the Japanese competitors.

Looked cool when I wanted it.

Handled pretty good.

I liked the rear wiper idea (same like my 245 Volvo wagon, but that was a much better car overall)

Fuel economy was OK at best.

This car cannot be compared with anything else other than Hyundai ponies, and Yugo's, it does not share any quality aspects with any Japanese or other German products.