I learned how not to understeer into curbs in one of these that had been GTI-ified. People following always enjoyed seeing it lift the inside rear wheel.
Dad had one just like this. Great car, but not too reliable. Non-boosted steering? Check. 4 on the floor? Check. Rev-happy 8-valver? Check. Sweet VDO gauges? Check. Great handling and disc brakes? Check. Superb fuel mileage? Check. Mysterious puddle of water on the floor? Check. Inscrutable idiot lights? Check. Dozens of blank switches? Check. Battery-killing radio? Check. Bizarre humming noise from rear wheel bearing? Check. Dead starter? Dead alternator? Dead battery? Check. Check. Check. Window crank falling off in your hand? Check. Smiling as you corner down a mountain pass? Check.
The kid's first car was a 78 (I think?) one of these. Stripped down. Replaced everything on it, including the wiper motors and, eventually, the engine after it ate a rod. Given that it got no care by a teenager it held up pretty well but I pushed it more miles than I ever rode in it and the electrics out-Lucased Lucas.
i'd love an old GTI... but should they really have used the phrase 'twice as fast as other VWs?' that seems like a damning point to their other cars....
11/05/08
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11/05/08
Wait...these are Rabbits...
THUMPERS!
11/05/08
Non-boosted steering? Check.
4 on the floor? Check.
Rev-happy 8-valver? Check.
Sweet VDO gauges? Check.
Great handling and disc brakes? Check.
Superb fuel mileage? Check.
Mysterious puddle of water on the floor? Check.
Inscrutable idiot lights? Check.
Dozens of blank switches? Check.
Battery-killing radio? Check.
Bizarre humming noise from rear wheel bearing? Check.
Dead starter? Dead alternator? Dead battery? Check. Check. Check.
Window crank falling off in your hand? Check.
Smiling as you corner down a mountain pass? Check.
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11/05/08
And how did Volkswagen get away with stealing the Citroën slogan? "It's not a car, it's a Citroën" makes a lot more sense in any case.
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11/05/08
I can't make it stop. So I can't make myself want one. What's your secret?
11/05/08