NON MB Diesels ( Rabbit p/up) pros/cons

[Beastie]

I was a VW MX in the mid 70's but never had any experience with the 80-84 ?
Rabbit p/ups. A few questions:
Automatic avail ?
Good or bad years/ engines
The nice ones seem pricey but am not really familiar with these. Just starting to look.

[compu_85]

There may have been an automatic in those, I know they offered one in the hatchback. It was only a 3 speed, and geared really short. Go for an 82+, then you get the 1.6 with better head bolts. 1.5 engine parts are getting hard to impossible to find.

-J

[pelon]

They were pretty good little engines in the 86-91s that i had(Jettas).
Manuals were really good trannies. I think the autos were weak.
Good ones are pricey cause there are not that many around any more.
Pretty easy to work on as opposed to the TDIs that need special tools and a computer.
roberto

[compu_85]

The autos were reliable... but when you only have 50 hp to start out with then steal 20 of it to run the transmission you are not left with a fast car. I drove a Quantem Turbo Diesel automatic and I couldn't believe it... it was way slower then my ECOdiesel, about as fast as a 1.6 NA Golf... and was geared to run 4,000 rpm at 60 mph

-J

[ashedd]

I can't come up with too many "pro's" for a VW pickup(Caddy is it?).

Cons:
Too small
Seem unsafe
Ugly
Probably has a terrible load rating

Pros:
45 mpg's

I base this all off the '85 golf diesel I use to have. The golf seems more versatile than the caddy. The jetta looks the nicest.

[compu_85]

Ya, the cab of one of those is quite small. I don't fit. They're also made out of very thin metal. They do have leaf springs in the back so you can put a few things in them.

[Orv]

This is basically the same vehicle as a VW Rabbit from the A-pillar forward.

I don't know if they ever offered an automatic with the diesel. The automatics are pretty darn durable as long as the seal between the automatic portion and the final drive doesn't fail and allow the ATF and the gear oil to mix. They're also known for being easy to rebuild. However, they're a three-speed and use a lot of torque converter slip to compensate for the lack of ratios. Based on my experience with gasser VWs I would expect about a 20% fuel economy hit (!) compared to the manual-shift version.

The four- and five-speed are nearly bulletproof as long as they're not run low on oil. There were various gear ratio options offered in various cars over the years, so you can mix-n-match if that's your thing.

Advantages:

- Shares a drivetrain with a gazillion Rabbits and Jettas; many good engine and trans swap options.
- Replacement parts practically fall out of the sky, they're so easy to find
- Great fuel economy.
- Very simple to work on.

Disadvantages:

- Short suspension travel.
- Noisy.
- Cramped inside.
- Not very crashworthy.
- No subframes; if they get twisted they're hard to straighten out again.
- Hard to find one that isn't either overpriced, beat all to heck, or both.
- Head gaskets tend to be a weak point, although they're easy to change.

[Orv]

BTW, VW offered a stroked 1.9L version of the 1.6L indirect-injection diesel in Canada. This is a popular swap. Fits on the same mounts as the 1.6 but you need to modify the exhaust to compensate for the taller block.

[shadetree77]

my mom used to have a 83 rabbit with automatic back in germany; god that thing was slow...it was scary getting that thing up to speed on the autobahn...i also remember the automatic having an "E" setting on the shifter...when u're sitting at a light you didn't have to have your foot on the brake; it wouldn't move till you put your foot on the gas (diesel) pedal...not really sure how they made that work...i remember we never had any problems with the transmission but it was always serviced at the VW dealer

[shadetree77]

sorry forgot to mention...i would look for a early 80's datsun 720 pickup with a diesel...i think they only sold them in the US from 81-83...great trucks though

[compu_85]

Ya, the diesels had the "E" mode trans that would drop into neutral at idle. I think it was something in the torque converter that did it?

[tbomachines]

Originally Posted by shadetree77

sorry forgot to mention...i would look for a early 80's datsun 720 pickup with a diesel...i think they only sold them in the US from 81-83...great trucks though

I second this, those were pretty good engines. Also came in teh Maxima of that era, and known to have been swapped into the Z cars (though, what's the point?)

[compu_85]

Originally Posted by tbomachines

]and known to have been swapped into the Z cars (though, what's the point?)

People steal the stronger crank out of the diesel engine to make the gas 2.8 stronger for power mods.

-J

[rs899]

Automatic avail ?

I don't think so. At least I never have seen any in almost 20 years of junkyard digging supporting mine.

Good or bad years/ engines

The switchover from 1.5 to 1.6 happened in mid-81. If you really want fuel economy the 1.5 is better but even slower. They are hard to find parts for. The 1.6 went to 12mm head bolts later in production, perhaps '83 or '84. Those are the ones to get as the earlier 11mm version can cause sealing problems and bolts can pull out.

Probably has a terrible load rating

Surpise! It's really not so bad-more than 800 lbs, so not far from being a half-ton. You can carry full sheets of plywood back there.

I have hauled an OM615 and a Gravely walkbehind with bushog and 2 sulkies.

It's actually a fairly decent very economical light-haul vehicle. It's dangerous, but what isn't when faced with the silliness of an Expedition or modern pickup used for show purposes. I am more concerned with being rear-ended as the rigid bed ends about 4 inches behind my tailbone, and it's unibody.

[Beastie]

Thanks ! as always a lot of great input ! I keep going back and forth on this. I need a small pick up but do not need a full size ( my brother in law has a 2001? Ford f350 Diesel dually 4x4 sitting in his driveway) I have looked at early to mid 80's Toyotas and Datsun's some with Diesels. I want 4x4 or FWD. The 2200R motor is awesome but it does not seem that the mileage is over 20 mpg.
I love Diesels but the choices are limited. If the USA had not banned the various "Micro " trucks used around the rest of the world. I would be all set.
I am putting together my slush fund for some kind of P/up just not sure what. All of a sudden as soon as I started looking for one I have seen the VW Rabbit P/ups on TV and a few movies.And everyone here is right on about the prices for ones in decent shape. It would almost be worth it to get a newer domestic truck but I kinda like the smaller size and better fuel mileage. I will keep looking and also post questions here since we have such a broad base of experience here from all the members.
Thanks