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Mon Feb 26, 2007 11:25 pm

I curently am in the process of buying a 1985 garage kept Rabbit. Its a diesel motor with 37,000 cherry old man meticulously serviced, 4 door, 5 speed, light mettalic blue miles.Is it worth $1,800 (One thousand eight hundred dollars?)? Please give me your output on this vehicle as I have heard that the big flaw is the timing belt. And if so how often should it be replaced? I really want this V so I hope its a good find. Also I should mention I live in N.E. Pa. so a cherry like this is hard to find with our winters. Thanks for your response in advance members!

Tue Feb 27, 2007 3:40 am

Swinzey wrote: I really want this V so I hope its a good find.

That says it all right there .
If you want it, who cares what its worth. Imho. its about right for a car w/ that low miles, w/ the surge in people wanting Diesels, people are asking more than that for higher milage Diesels. I'd buy it if the milage is correct & it runs well.

Tue Feb 27, 2007 6:42 am

You also might want to ask the folks on www.vwvortex.com since they are more the water-cooled crowd. If the timing belt is a concern right off the bat, then buy the car and replace the belt to ease your mind. At a total investment of under 2 grand, it's not a bad deal at all!

Rick

Tue Feb 27, 2007 5:44 pm

I agree, the timing belt should be replaced before drivint it.....in fact, I'd recommend replacing all the rubber hoses(coolant, vacuum & brake) as well; a car that has not been driven usually has them pretty much rotting away.

IMO $1800 is a bit steep for a four-door, but I say go for it if it speaks to you. 8)

Thu Mar 01, 2007 7:05 am

A diesel with only 37k miles is a steal for $1800. Like someone already said, people charge more for cars that aren't cherry and have alot more miles.

Thu Mar 01, 2007 8:51 pm

crukab wrote: Swinzey wrote: I really want this V so I hope its a good find.

That says it all right there .
If you want it, who cares what its worth.

X2...looks to be average price for an above average car. GO FOR IT

Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:16 am

If you don't buy it, let me know where it is. I will buy it.

The timing belt should be changed every 60k miles as a general rule. I would change this one right away because it is 20 years old.

Tue Mar 06, 2007 12:08 pm

A mint Diesel with only 37K on it? Geez, that's like hardly broke in yet! I'd buy it...!!

By the way, it would be a Golf in 1985, as the last year for the Rabbit was 1984 (until VW recently resurrected the name.) Due to the square headlights, it still looks a lot like the Rabbit from the front though.

Thu Mar 08, 2007 1:26 am

oasis wrote: If you don't buy it, let me know where it is. I will buy it.
glutamodo wrote: A mint Diesel with only 37K on it? Geez, that's like hardly broke in yet! I'd buy it...!!
I'll throw in a $100 finder's fee. :twisted:

Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:18 pm

I paid $2600. for my 81 rabbit. Mine is gas and a convertible. I had been looking for a rabbit convertible for a little over a year before I found this one. Their were serveral on ebay that sounded good, but i did not want to drive to CA, or anywhere up north to get my car. I saw my car at a local european car lot, I called, then my dad called, and then my fiance called asking different questions. I figured that they might get a better price if they asked about it. I am sooooooo glad i got my car, the only things I have had to put into it is a new fuel filter, and the exhaust rewelded on it....a sum of a whole $35.00 for both things.
Roo