TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Mar 29, 2004 9:07 pm

Hey All;

I have a chance to buy a 1984 Rabbit Convertible. My kids think it would be quite a kicker to have a little Cabriolet to beat around in.

I know nothing about it other than that it has 185,000 miles, is a gasser with a 5-speed manual, is in pretty decent condition in and out, and the top is very good. Here are a couple questions:

1. He's asking 750.00 or offer. I think I can get it for 500.00. Do you think it's worth that?
2. What kind of gas mileage could I expect to get?
3. What's the wheel pattern? Is it 4x100? (It currently has some nasty plastic "ricer-wannabe" hubcaps on it.)
4. Are there any specific things I should be worried about with this particular make, model and year?

Thanks!

JSH

Wed Mar 31, 2004 1:45 pm

check for rust around the bottoms of the doors, at the bottom of the a-pillars, the rear floors, and insde the wheel wells at the splash points, and the stiffening rails below the rockers. The tops leak at the windshield and the seals above the door glass, because the rubber seals get worn out- replacement is no big deal. do a compression check, and look for sign of oil/coolant leaking at the head. check the motor mounts and the shift linkage bushings- popping out of reverse and sloppy shifting are indicators that new rubber is needed here.
I havd an 87 cabriolet that averaged 30 mpg, and in 70,000 miles / 2 yrs of driving i had to replace a catalytic comverter, starter and one half shaft assembly. Pretty damn durable, if you ask me.

for $500, how can you lose?

Wed Mar 31, 2004 1:59 pm

Jonesey;

My wife looked at it today. She loves it - thinks it's cute.

I think my boat is sunk...

JSH

Wed Mar 31, 2004 2:56 pm

If you can get past the cheerleadermobile image and are comfortable with your manhood, the damn things are a blast to drive.
I'd buy another one, if i didn't have the 181.

Wed Mar 31, 2004 6:57 pm

Jonesey;

I have 3 teenagers at home. If that hasn't destroyed "feelings of my manhood" nothing can.

And the cheerleader image would be tragically destroyed by seeing me in a Rabbit Cabriolet. :shock:

By the way... There is a Karmann "badge" on this Rabbit. Does that mean anything, or is it just something they thought would be cool to stick on all of them?

JSH

Wed Mar 31, 2004 7:01 pm

The cabs were all built by karmann, hence the badge.

Fri Apr 02, 2004 4:12 pm

Go to www.vwvortex.com and there is a cabby forum that you can ask questions in there.

Cheers,
J

Tue Apr 06, 2004 6:04 am

Simple. Buy the car.

My first car was a 1983 cab and I sold it with 425 000Kms on it. At 225000kms I left Toronto, drove to Vancouver then down to Mexico then worked my way back diagonally across the country. The car never let me down once. Best memories were in that car. I had an auto trans however which failed twice and was proned to burnt starter solonoids.

Have fun with it.