"Volkswagen Rabbit returns"

Volkswagen Rabbit returns
The iconic VW Rabbit is back in an all-new version that reflects the
value of the legendary Rabbits of yesterday.
at http://www.washtimes.com/autoweekend...2647-5556r.htm

lol
Golf or Rabbit?
What's in the name if the vehicles are the same?
I don't think Europe ever had 'Rabbits' since they called them 'Golfs'.

OK who remembers the Rabbits?
Was a fond memory or did you have problems with your Rabbit?


"Mike" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Volkswagen Rabbit returns
> The iconic VW Rabbit is back in an all-new version that reflects the
> value of the legendary Rabbits of yesterday.
> at http://www.washtimes.com/autoweekend...2647-5556r.htm
>

First 1980 Rabbit I bought in 84 with 50,000 miles on it needed a
catalytic converter. Maybe twice. I silver soldered the AC condensor
once. Other than that it was a fairly good car. Brushes failed in that
car or its replacement. I had just gotten new brushes but I did not
make it home. Radiator cooling fan came on at the railroad tracks and
that pulled the battery down enough to stall the car. I think I had
over 200,000 miles on it before I wrecked it. It had scuffed cylinders
which I suspect happened before I got it.

Replacement was an 84 GTI with 129,000 miles on it. It was farirly
reliable except for a dirty connector at the hall snesor. It ran fine
after I Tarnxed it and greased it. I sold it with 289,000 miles on it.
I had pitted cyclinders which I suspect was because the car was
stripped with no hood or gas cap. I did have a bit more fuel injectin
problems but no cap can screw things up.

I was nervous to buy my 2003 TDI wagon with a manual tranny but it has
run fairly well. 2 non warranty parts so far. I suspect the Rabbits
were a bit more reliable but it could be faulty memory. I did knock
myself out when I totaled the 80 Rabbit. Really screwed up short term
memory for a while. I forgot how long short term memory was messed up
is ironic. But that accident was probably 15 years ago. I have not
removed the head off theTDI but it only has 140,000 miles on it.



On Sat, 02 Dec 2006 21:50:48 GMT, "dave AKA vwdoc1"
> wrote:

>lol
>Golf or Rabbit?
>What's in the name if the vehicles are the same?
>I don't think Europe ever had 'Rabbits' since they called them 'Golfs'.
>
>OK who remembers the Rabbits?
>Was a fond memory or did you have problems with your Rabbit?
>
>
>"Mike" > wrote in message
roups.com...
>> Volkswagen Rabbit returns
>> The iconic VW Rabbit is back in an all-new version that reflects the
>> value of the legendary Rabbits of yesterday.
>> at http://www.washtimes.com/autoweekend...2647-5556r.htm
>>
>

Sounds like you had some GOOD experiences with the old Rabbits Jim.
I too have owned several of them and have had good experiences with them.
1975 Rabbit 4 speed that got pretty close to 40 mpg with a very good looking
body but the floor had been repaired because of rust. I bought it for
$100........hmmm or was it given to me??? Well I put in a new clutch drove
it for 1-2 years and sold it for $200. New owner loved it!
1976 Rabbit, 1977 Rabbit restored after wiring fire in dash, some Rabbit
Diesels (1978,1980,1984,1984 and now I miss them), 1984 Rabbit automatic and
some more that I have probably forgotten about.
Main problems were fuse boxes on the Rabbits and RUST! Other than that I
had good experiences with them and they were quite reliable.
But I have yet to meet a VW that I do not like! ;-)
I will admit that I have seen a few third generation automatic transmissions
go out (some from a lack of final drive lube and others for no real reason)
and reverse gears go out in the manual transmissions possible from
inexperienced drivers.
My current VWs are a 1970 Beetle (in waiting) and a 1991 Passat Sdn 16V with
an auto trans. I don't see too many Rabbits left in Chicago. :-(
later,
dave
(One out of many daves)
http://vwdoc1.tripod.com/

"Jim Behning" > wrote in message
...
> First 1980 Rabbit I bought in 84 with 50,000 miles on it needed a
> catalytic converter. Maybe twice. I silver soldered the AC condensor
> once. Other than that it was a fairly good car. Brushes failed in that
> car or its replacement. I had just gotten new brushes but I did not
> make it home. Radiator cooling fan came on at the railroad tracks and
> that pulled the battery down enough to stall the car. I think I had
> over 200,000 miles on it before I wrecked it. It had scuffed cylinders
> which I suspect happened before I got it.
>
> Replacement was an 84 GTI with 129,000 miles on it. It was farirly
> reliable except for a dirty connector at the hall snesor. It ran fine
> after I Tarnxed it and greased it. I sold it with 289,000 miles on it.
> I had pitted cyclinders which I suspect was because the car was
> stripped with no hood or gas cap. I did have a bit more fuel injectin
> problems but no cap can screw things up.
>
> I was nervous to buy my 2003 TDI wagon with a manual tranny but it has
> run fairly well. 2 non warranty parts so far. I suspect the Rabbits
> were a bit more reliable but it could be faulty memory. I did knock
> myself out when I totaled the 80 Rabbit. Really screwed up short term
> memory for a while. I forgot how long short term memory was messed up
> is ironic. But that accident was probably 15 years ago. I have not
> removed the head off theTDI but it only has 140,000 miles on it.
>
>
>
> On Sat, 02 Dec 2006 21:50:48 GMT, "dave AKA vwdoc1"
> > wrote:
>
>>lol
>>Golf or Rabbit?
>>What's in the name if the vehicles are the same?
>>I don't think Europe ever had 'Rabbits' since they called them 'Golfs'.
>>
>>OK who remembers the Rabbits?
>>Was a fond memory or did you have problems with your Rabbit?
>>
>>
>>"Mike" > wrote in message
groups.com...
>>> Volkswagen Rabbit returns
>>> The iconic VW Rabbit is back in an all-new version that reflects the
>>> value of the legendary Rabbits of yesterday.
>>> at http://www.washtimes.com/autoweekend...2647-5556r.htm
>>>
>>

My first three VW's I owned in Cleveland Ohio. The first 1966 was
owned by a little old lady down the street. It dropped a valve. I
learned VWs on that in High school. Used head, rings and such. New
brake line when it blew out racing up and down the driveway with three
buddies. The panic stop at the end of the driveway does not work so
swell when a cingle circuit master cyclinder blows the tunnel brake
line. Not the first tunnel brake line I replaced. Second was 1967 from
California that suffered 3 years of Cleveland salt. Petty good shape
but it did suffer. Painted it. Replaced noisy transmission and other
stuff over the years. The third was a 1966 Georgia Squareback. That
was pretty solid before a drunk highschool kid rear ended it. Our
family bought it from my high school buddy. I straghtened the back end
and painted it. That car had wicked oversteer. I probably never had
enough air in the rear tires.

Thing went downhill when I moved to Atlanta,Georgia. You can drive a
car forever if you do not wreck it. No real rust happens if your car
does not sit out every night in the dew. Even the dew takes 20+ years
to cause significant rust. Unless you have an American made truck bed
on your Toyota. My bed is rusting out on my 1987 Toyota. The only
thing American on the truck. Of course the car would have been
recycled my now if it was up north.

Not that many Rabbits in Atlanta anymore. I saw 4 TDIs and a few other
VWs at my bike race yesterday and it was not a big bike race. Maybe
bike racers are frugal.

On Sun, 03 Dec 2006 04:57:05 GMT, "dave AKA vwdoc1"
> wrote:

>Sounds like you had some GOOD experiences with the old Rabbits Jim.
>I too have owned several of them and have had good experiences with them.
>1975 Rabbit 4 speed that got pretty close to 40 mpg with a very good looking
>body but the floor had been repaired because of rust. I bought it for
>$100........hmmm or was it given to me??? Well I put in a new clutch drove
>it for 1-2 years and sold it for $200. New owner loved it!
>1976 Rabbit, 1977 Rabbit restored after wiring fire in dash, some Rabbit
>Diesels (1978,1980,1984,1984 and now I miss them), 1984 Rabbit automatic and
>some more that I have probably forgotten about.
>Main problems were fuse boxes on the Rabbits and RUST! Other than that I
>had good experiences with them and they were quite reliable.
>But I have yet to meet a VW that I do not like! ;-)
>I will admit that I have seen a few third generation automatic transmissions
>go out (some from a lack of final drive lube and others for no real reason)
>and reverse gears go out in the manual transmissions possible from
>inexperienced drivers.
>My current VWs are a 1970 Beetle (in waiting) and a 1991 Passat Sdn 16V with
>an auto trans. I don't see too many Rabbits left in Chicago. :-(
>later,
>dave
>(One out of many daves)
>http://vwdoc1.tripod.com/
>
>"Jim Behning" > wrote in message
.. .
>> First 1980 Rabbit I bought in 84 with 50,000 miles on it needed a
>> catalytic converter. Maybe twice. I silver soldered the AC condensor
>> once. Other than that it was a fairly good car. Brushes failed in that
>> car or its replacement. I had just gotten new brushes but I did not
>> make it home. Radiator cooling fan came on at the railroad tracks and
>> that pulled the battery down enough to stall the car. I think I had
>> over 200,000 miles on it before I wrecked it. It had scuffed cylinders
>> which I suspect happened before I got it.
>>
>> Replacement was an 84 GTI with 129,000 miles on it. It was farirly
>> reliable except for a dirty connector at the hall snesor. It ran fine
>> after I Tarnxed it and greased it. I sold it with 289,000 miles on it.
>> I had pitted cyclinders which I suspect was because the car was
>> stripped with no hood or gas cap. I did have a bit more fuel injectin
>> problems but no cap can screw things up.
>>
>> I was nervous to buy my 2003 TDI wagon with a manual tranny but it has
>> run fairly well. 2 non warranty parts so far. I suspect the Rabbits
>> were a bit more reliable but it could be faulty memory. I did knock
>> myself out when I totaled the 80 Rabbit. Really screwed up short term
>> memory for a while. I forgot how long short term memory was messed up
>> is ironic. But that accident was probably 15 years ago. I have not
>> removed the head off theTDI but it only has 140,000 miles on it.
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sat, 02 Dec 2006 21:50:48 GMT, "dave AKA vwdoc1"
>> > wrote:
>>
>>>lol
>>>Golf or Rabbit?
>>>What's in the name if the vehicles are the same?
>>>I don't think Europe ever had 'Rabbits' since they called them 'Golfs'.
>>>
>>>OK who remembers the Rabbits?
>>>Was a fond memory or did you have problems with your Rabbit?
>>>
>>>
>>>"Mike" > wrote in message
egroups.com...
>>>> Volkswagen Rabbit returns
>>>> The iconic VW Rabbit is back in an all-new version that reflects the
>>>> value of the legendary Rabbits of yesterday.
>>>> at http://www.washtimes.com/autoweekend...2647-5556r.htm
>>>>
>>>
>

I won't mention all of the Beetles that I have owned. ;-)
I do miss the convertibles............sometimes. ;-(
I did not really drive my '88 Rabbit Convertible since I sold it before
putting it together. <g>

Chicago = Rust big time until the metal treatments got much better.

later,
dave
(One out of many daves)


"Jim Behning" > wrote in message
news
> My first three VW's I owned in Cleveland Ohio. The first 1966 was
> owned by a little old lady down the street. It dropped a valve. I
> learned VWs on that in High school. Used head, rings and such. New
> brake line when it blew out racing up and down the driveway with three
> buddies. The panic stop at the end of the driveway does not work so
> swell when a cingle circuit master cyclinder blows the tunnel brake
> line. Not the first tunnel brake line I replaced. Second was 1967 from
> California that suffered 3 years of Cleveland salt. Petty good shape
> but it did suffer. Painted it. Replaced noisy transmission and other
> stuff over the years. The third was a 1966 Georgia Squareback. That
> was pretty solid before a drunk highschool kid rear ended it. Our
> family bought it from my high school buddy. I straghtened the back end
> and painted it. That car had wicked oversteer. I probably never had
> enough air in the rear tires.
>
> Thing went downhill when I moved to Atlanta,Georgia. You can drive a
> car forever if you do not wreck it. No real rust happens if your car
> does not sit out every night in the dew. Even the dew takes 20+ years
> to cause significant rust. Unless you have an American made truck bed
> on your Toyota. My bed is rusting out on my 1987 Toyota. The only
> thing American on the truck. Of course the car would have been
> recycled my now if it was up north.
>
> Not that many Rabbits in Atlanta anymore. I saw 4 TDIs and a few other
> VWs at my bike race yesterday and it was not a big bike race. Maybe
> bike racers are frugal.
>

Just went to the dealer to see this new Rabbit (rebadged Golf). Cute trick
and I have always liked the name "Rabbit". ;-)
Well it is priced decently at possible under $16,000 with a lot of standard
features and a 5 cylinder (1/2 Lamborghini 8 cylinder) engine. I would not
want those steel rims and wheel covers though. VW does not even show them
in the Rabbit Brochure. lol

If I had time I would have test driven one or two to test the manual and
automatic transmissions.

> a 5 cylinder (1/2 Lamborghini 8 cylinder) engine.

Well, I'll be darned.

"dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote in message
. net...
> Just went to the dealer to see this new Rabbit (rebadged Golf). Cute
> trick and I have always liked the name "Rabbit". ;-) Well it is priced
> decently at possible under $16,000 with a lot of standard features and a 5
> cylinder (1/2 Lamborghini 8 cylinder) engine.

Because 8 / 2 = 5!



It uses a similar head design as the Gallardo but to say it's 1/2 of the
engine is a bit much...'cause it's not 1/2 the hp, 1/2 the torque, etc.
either.

OOPs my bad! lol
maybe it was the V10 engine. 8^o
Glad you caught that Matt B! ;-)
Or maybe an I-10 engine huh?

Well my IH Scout used a 152 engine (1/2 of the 304 V8 engine), so I thought
it was possible but now I need to double check my math in the future. ;-)

"Matt B." > wrote in message
...
> "dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote in message
> . net...
>> Just went to the dealer to see this new Rabbit (rebadged Golf). Cute
>> trick and I have always liked the name "Rabbit". ;-) Well it is priced
>> decently at possible under $16,000 with a lot of standard features and a
>> 5 cylinder (1/2 Lamborghini 8 cylinder) engine.
>
> Because 8 / 2 = 5!
>
>
>
> It uses a similar head design as the Gallardo but to say it's 1/2 of the
> engine is a bit much...'cause it's not 1/2 the hp, 1/2 the torque, etc.
> either.
>