1982 Volkswagen Rabbit Diesel LS

1982 Volkswagen Rabbit Rabbit 4-door LS Description

1982 VW Rabbit LS 1.6L NA Diesel. You can drive or tow this car home.Tires are Hankook Mileage Plus 175-70x13 and are OK; I have not rotated them and fronts are most worn (I was going to rebush the front control arms then replace front tires in a year or so).This car has been in the family for about 20 years - I have owned it for the past 10 and my father owned it for the previous 10 years. This is my fifth Rabbit diesel over the past 30+ years: I was a former (certified) auto mechanic specializing in diesels. The car was used as a tow car behind an RV, my father towed it some and I only towed it a few times. I do not know how many towed miles are on it. The car has factory AC and LS ("top of the line") trim. OEM radio was replaced by a Sanyo cassette deck long ago and still works. Car is wired for rear speakers although none are installed. Luckily, the cardoes not have power steering: I have owned one that did and don't recommend it as itrobs power and "road feel" plus the pump brackets like to break. The car is rust free (from southern and central NM) and is remarkably straight except as noted below. The interior is good: seats have some marks that I thinkneed dry-cleaning, carpets need cleaning, headliner and pillars have been reupholstered (by me) and are OK. I'm embarrassed that this is the first car I have ever owned that I have not completely removed the interior and given a good cleaning.

I don't have a highway fuelmileage but around town I get as bad as 33 mpg running the AC and as good as 40 mpg. I know an air dam will do wonders for these cars as long ago I had a two-door 1982 Rabbit diesel that went from 52 mpg highway at 55-60 mph to 62 mpg with the addition of an air dam from JC Whitney.

Note: photos do not show new locking fuel cap.

Maintenance and Repair: I keep my oil change log in the Warranty & Maintenance book but misplacedmy repair log. Here is a partial list of the most important maintenance/repair items:

• 2006, appr. 153K miles: add KYB struts, replace timing belt, tensioner pulley, oil seals, accessory belts, all motor/transmission mounts.
• 165K miles (appr.): injection pump rebuilt by Midwest Fuel Injection Service Corp; injectors rebuilt with Mercedes nozzles.
• 172K miles: water pump, starter, alt belt
• 175K miles: T-belt, oil seals, right-side motor mount, cylinder head (stripped injector threads), piston rings and rod bearings (so easy and cheap to do when head is off anyway)
• 182K miles: replace OEMclutch (with Sachs), rebuilt transaxle shift linkage assembly (includes undercar shifter boot) - now you will know what these carswere like when they were new, change transaxle lube withValvoline synthetic 75-90, new front (of car) motor mount, replaced block heater
• passenger rear wheel bearing, driver front wheel bearing, brakes, steering rack boots, tie-rod boots, one inner tie rod, front and rear brakes, exhaust hangers and half shafts also replaced over this 10-year period

The Bad: the photos show the paint clear coat peeling off. The car was repainted about 20 years ago and thepaint is still good below the belt line. There was a dent on the hood that was repaired at that time which is showing and I dented the point of the front fender by parking too close to my HiLo trailer then cranking the trailer down onto the car. The door weather strip seals are old and allow doors to rattle but two new seals are included (I was going to start with the front doors). It is not a big leaker: the transaxle weeps a wee bit out of the shifter seal (ever see a German transaxle that wasn't greasy?) and you will fight valve cover gasket leaks forever - luckily there are timing belt changes to renew the VC gasket.

Interior is aging (imagine at only 34 years old!) with some cracking in door panels andsun-cracks in the dash (let my daughter drive the car over the summer and she did not put up the sun shield when she parked it), vent outletsare brittle and cracked.Windshield has crack across upper right corner.

Hate to part with it but the driveway is full plus I'm retired and don't need a commuter car anymore. Thanks for looking, Bill.