where to find info for 85 VW jetta? Price? tech help?
 

a good friend/customer of mine wants to sell his wife's jetta. other than minor 1/4 panel rust, the only problem with the car is it needs a motor mount they were quoted a high price for the repair, so they want to sell the car.
what do you guys think? where should I look for value information, and repair information? I figure it will need to be repaired before sale if max value is to be expected. also, what do you guys think it's worth?

If they paid you $100 to take it, that would be a fair price.:D

http://www.kbb.com/

Only goes back 20 years, so you might need to apply a little "Kentucky windage" for an '85.

If it's an automatic, don't take it even if they do pay you. First year for the new body/interior, first year for the CIS-E, failed 13times in the first year on us (lemon law started in '86). Just out of warranty, the transaxle failed catastrphically, sold it for a Ford, much more reliable. Hell even a Corvette is more reliable than VW these days.

try the VW Vortex (google it). There are a lot of kids there, but also a ton of VW info of all kinds.

X2 two more months until my VW adventure is over!:D:cool:

You don't mention what power train it has ....

I drove an '86 Jetta diesel for 5 yrs -- was mistreated when I got it, rebuilt the brakes, front end, new shocks and drive axles ----- then drove it for 100K doing nothing but changing oil & filters, averaging about 43mpg. I also needed new junkyard seats as the original ones fell apart.

It had much more zip than my 240D, and was pleasant to drive.

An 85 vw diesel five speed can be a good car. How many total miles is an issue though. Rust in floor is death for these as well.

I am pretty sure it's a 5 speed, I will get more details on the car, she has driven it for at least the last 10 years, as long as I have known her... weird that she has loved the car and used it for this long, and a simple motor mount gets her to sell it... of course it's never given her any problems before. that and she now drives a prius... make your own decisions about that one... anyway, I need to decide if it's worth it to take the car on and sell it for them, or fix it and keep it for myself, or RUN RUN RUN away...
I have been looking at some vw forums that were suggested to me... I am really spoiled with this forum. nothing else really compares.

VW tech help
 

I drove 1985/86 VW diesels for years-loved them until I got into MB. I still have a 1985 VW golf that a teacher drove. Damn dependable car still !!
Most VW diesels sell for $600-$900

Motor mounts are not hard on a 1985/86 VW and can be done in your driveway with a jack in a few hours.

Here are two great sources for both tech help on VWs and parts.

The "PartsPlace " in Michigan cannot be beat for tech support assistance and shipping of parts.

http://www.partsplaceinc.com/

Another good place

http://www.vwdieselparts.com/

I got a 1991 and 1982 jetta diesel they're pretty nice and get 38-40mpg and pretty easy mostly the timing belt replacement is kinda pia but other than that for 500-600$ there great i'd like find me another one to drive to work. i have injectors and a ip pump for one too

I've owned 4 VWs over the past 5 years, 3 of them diesels. At first I really enjoyed them because they are nice to work on. After a while, I noticed I was working on them ALL THE TIME. My last VW, a 1996 Jetta diesel, was hands-down the worst car I've ever owned. I will never, ever own another VW.

I would easily taked any of the <$250 Renault Lecars from my past over any of the >$5000 VWs Jettas & Golfs of my past. Seriously, I would.

I bought stuff from "Parts Place", too --- great place. They had stuff like door handles (the latch part breaks) at good prices when nobody else did.. If you live nearby, they will also buy your worn-out sled for parts when you're finished with it ...

Mine had around 80K on it when I bought it - I think - the odometer only worked occasionally, and soon stopped altogether. They are expensive to fix, so I did without it.

Then I put on at least 100K over 5 1/2 years, and it never let me down. The engine still sounded and ran fine when I sold it. Good engines, those 1600s.

Cracking up
 

Great place for VW parts. :)
They are a fifteen minute drive for myself and several other forum members. :)
Parts Place inc
2300 N. Opdyke Auburn Hills, MI 48326
Phone-(248)373-2300