I had repaired or replaced EVERYTHING on this car and now have over $8,000 invested, yes, know, will never get all that I have invested out of it but someone is really going to enjoy this car). All mechanical work was done by a VW factory trained mechanic who even worked on these cars in the dealership when they were new.I don't think you will find a nicer, ore reliable, W diesel sedan than this one, nd you can drive this one home with confidence towherever you live, ast coast, est coast,north, outh, ou name it.And EVERYTHING works. Original radio, ear defrost, ear window wiper, ll switches, lock even keeps perfect time.This car only needs ONE thing. The driver side vent window. It must have fallen out at some time and the old man had a plexiglass replacement put in instead. It fits nicely but is the only non original item on this car. You can buy a new vent window glass oneBay for about a hundred dollars and they take 30 minutes to install.
I had an '81 Rabbit Diesel back in the late 80s and if you ever drove one back then, ou will find that this one drives JUST LIKE A NEW ONE. Very tight, ery accurate, reat acceleration, ERO SMOKE, mmediate cold starting.I have included a lot of underside pictures for those of you in the North and Northeast. Cars like this one are simply not available in rusty climates.Here is a partial list of everything I did or had done to this car.
1. Bodywork
a. New total car paint job to original metallic sand color and all dents, ings, lemishes fixed.
b. All five wheels powder coated
c. Underside of car undercoated
2. Replacement parts
a. New wiper blades
b. Fuel filter(s)
c. Air filter
d. New battery
e. New tires
3. Brakes
a. Brake flush
b. new brakes
c. new master wheel cylinders
d. new rear brake line
e. new flexible brake hoses replaced on entire car
4. Rear axel
a. new rear wheel bearings
b. new rear wheel bearing seals
5. Transmission
a. new clutch, ressure plate
b. new shifter bushings
c. new transmission oil
6. Front end rebuild
a. new inside and outside tie rod ends
b. new steering rack boots
7. Engine
a. new lube oil, ilter
b. new head gasket, ings and cylinders were perfect
c. new valve guides
d. new valve cover gasket
e. new timing belt
f. coolant replaced
g. new glow plugs
h. cleaned, ubricated and tested all four injectors
8. Suspension
a. New front struts
b. New rear struts
c. New upper front strut bearings
d. New rear strut bushings
9. Interior
a. New headliner
b. Door handles lubed and adjusted
c. Window regulators lubed and adjusted
d. New rear hatch piston