1982 Volkswagen Rabbit hatchback from North America - Comments

Blown head gasket.

Master cylinder died.

Lots of leaks.

I own a 1982 Rabbit diesel that I drive to work and back, five days a week (at least), 65 miles each trip. I've been doing this for 3 1/2 years now, and other than a flat tire, the car hasn't let me down yet. Not too bad for a car with over a quarter million miles on it. The fluids that are supposed to stay inside leak outside, and the fluids that should stay outside leak in, the windshield is cracked, it rattles to the point where conversation is impossible, the CV joints are shot, and it's just plain ugly. (I think Rabbits were ugly when they were new). While it is not what I'd call a "babe magnet", it always runs, and will get 45 MPG on the freeway, if you drive slow. As an added bonus, the diesel engine will runs great on doctored-up jet fuel, which I can get free at work quite often. I guess there's trade-offs involved in everything.

I too own a 1982 4-door Rabbit diesel with the 1.6L 4 cylinder. Mine has the 5-speed transmission. It has 133,000 miles on it, and so far seems to run great. It also shakes and rattles excessively, but only at stop lights or while idling. I recently bought it on Ebay for $865 mainly because I heard these cars seem to keep going and going without much repair work required, and they are suppose to get almost 50 miles per gallon. Having never owned a diesel powered car before, I was very skeptical. But during my 1,400 mile journey driving it back home from the place I bought it from, I couldn't believe my eyes when the trip odometer turned over 500 miles before I finally had to stop for gas and couldn't put more than 10 gallons of fuel back in the tank! WOW-WEE-WOW-WOW!!! Plus, I was consistantly driving it 70-75 mph 95% of the way home. And now that I've experienced what these little diesel Rabbits can do, I really have to wonder why more of these aren't being produced today? It's mind-boggling that this technology has been out there since 1978 when the very first Rabbit diesel was introduced in America, yet so many people here prefer to drive gas-guzzling SUV's to work instead. America really is a waste-land. No wonder the rest of the world hates us so much. People of America need to learn how important it is to conserve!!!

If your car shakes excessively, then chances are the passenger side motor mount has given up the ghost. The car should shake a bit, but should not seem like it is shaking itself to pieces. When this mount goes bad, it is essentially metal-to-metal between the body and engine, transferring every bit of vibration from the engine to the car's body, and from the car's body to YOUR body.

Unfortunately, this is a VERY tough part for the do-it-yourselfer to change. Essentially the entire front of the motor needs to come off. The motor mount is press-fit into a metal plate that runs all the way across the front of the engine (it is this plate that the injection pump mounts to). Once the mount/injection pump plate is off, the old motor mount has to be cut out with a Sawzall and a new one pressed in. And there is another complication. For some reason Volkswagen has a thing for 6/8mm Allen head bolts, and after 25 years these can be a BEAR to get off. I stripped out 2-3 of them.

I just did this on my '81 Jetta. Before this repair the car felt like it was going to shake itself to pieces when idling. Now it idles pretty nice! Not "new Lexus" smooth, but certainly tolerable. 1000% better than before. Try it!

This car is a character!!

Though troupers with engines go on and on and on the Golf/Rabbits are noisy buggers-hearing ones self think is tricky. Also it is important to note they become expensive cars to run for, despite looking after it well, everything bar the engine will give out.

I am afraid as these cars age they will not hold their value. Why?... sadly it's certain 'character' is often percieved as ugliness and it is this point which will prevent it from ever becoming an emerging classic.

In 1981, I bought a 1982 VW Rabbit Diesel. I drove it 120 miles round trip and at the end of 5 years, I had 60,000 on it. The VW company rebuilt my head as it blew a gasket, and did not charge me for it.

I got 45 plus MPG and if I drove just 60 mph it would get over 50 mpg. It was comfortable and roomy for my wife and two small children.

I too, wish for something like it now. It cost me $6500 brand new. The new ones are more costly. A rabbit, with diesel, like the 82, should be available for $12,000 USD, brand new in 2010. That would be awesome.