VW Toad

[HB of CJ]

We had a 1984 VW Rabbit Convertable with a swapped '84 Rabbit diesel engine.  Five speed with aftermarket 4.89 gears down from 3.55's.  45-48 mpg. Ran OK but kinda hot in very hot weather as it had no A/C.  Would go 70-75 mph topless, but not much faster.  Too much aero-dynamic drag or something.  A whopping 52 hp.  Had about $3000 in it including cheap paint.  An easy engine swap doable for most Bus Conversion poeple for whatever it is worth.  HB of CJ (old coot)

[uncle ned]

My favorite toad is my 63 econoline van.  I have towed it about 2,00 miles and drove it about 200.   It always gives trouble and has to be pulled back in.  Right Don.

Even with a "*itch" on the back.

uncle ned

Good evening capt ron

[pabusnut]

I am on my 3rd VW diesel--my second Jetta TDI.  I got an '04 automatic(5 spd), because I found it on a used car lot at a very reasonable price, in excellent condition---but some days wished I had gotten the 5 speed stick so I could flat tow it.  My '04 has all the bells and whistles and still gets 40+ mpg.  It does not quite have the cavernous trunk that the '98 had, but with the back seats folded down it is still very useful for hauling outsized stuff.  I do have a tow dolly for it, but it is a pain to use, and I will probably not use it except for trips where I go  somewhere and stay put for a week or more.

If they weren't so old, I would have a diesel vanagon(with a transplanted 1.9L TDI motor) with manual transmission.  They flat tow very good, have a/c and can go most anywhere.

Just my $0.02 worth.

Steve Toomey
pabusnut