TopGear.com America high mpg project (regeared, aeromodded diesel Rabbit)

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by eyesoreracing

Since I assume you qualify as part of that group, your opinion matters just as much as that guy's, but TopGear.com management isn't likely to see or care about your opinion unless you post it on their site next to his. Just sayin...

Point taken!

I'd encourage anyone who enjoyed the project to head on over to the tg site and leave a comment. Hey - these guys were nice enough to keep us up to date here; least we can do.

[ChrstphrR]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

One less than a gallon short fill for fe claims?

I still haven't heard what makes this swap more sensible than just modding a Jetta? Can't even find those old Rabbits anymore- they're all gone!

No they're not ... people just horde them. My friend has an '85 diesel that he bought from his dad.

And way up in Edmonton, AB, Canada:

1980 VW Rabbit Diesel 5 Spd

A 1980 rabbit, diesel, and 5 sp. I wish I had the money for one.
Kudos to whomever does snap it up, though

Hrm, on second thought, maybe it's just that us Canadians horde them?

[Frank Lee]

I see just as many Rabbits as I do Vegas- 1/year, if that.

The points being, why do a TDI swap into one? Save a little weight, probably no gain in Cd, and Jettas are more plentiful than Rabbits anyway. Why not just pull some weight out of a Jetta and do the other stuff to that?

And, 70 is great but you know, a stock '81 Rabbit diesel could get 60 mpg, so +15%... lots of guys here are beating that percentage handily.

[Big Dave]

Is TopGear.com gonna take the Sipster to "Diesel Power's" soiree in May?

[ChrstphrR]

I'm sure spoilt with my more modern Mk4 Jetta, myself. They probably dropped as much into that 1980 Rabbit as I paid for mine, used.

I am actually in your camp on that too, Frank Lee. I'd rather do a swap into a more modern VW. But, each generation of VW is heavier than the last, which works against running the car more miserly.

[giff]

Some odds and ends you folks will likely enjoy; aero details and budget breakdown.


Project Sipster Wraps Up

[Crono]

I love Top Gear's style. Awesome as always.

Sometime you guys should really go 100% full-out on a hypermiling car, though I did like that you proved you could make it gutsy and cheap at the same time as well.

[MetroMPG]

Above the bumper, the Rabbit is still a jagged, square mess.

The car's designer would be offended! Looks can be deceiving - despite its chunky appearance, the front of the Rabbit has attached flow, hood & sides (source: Hucho, of course).

[roflwaffle]

Bashing the rain gutters = total eco-ricing.

[bennelson]

Looking at the budget break-down is interesting.

The first half of the list, has all the expensive stuff, including almost half the budget for the engine, and lots of "tuning".

Near the end of the list, things like plywood and spray foam are relatively inexpensive.

I wonder how much money would have been spent on this project if they had a stock Rabbit diesel and done pretty much just the inexpensive mods to it. What would the fuel economy have been?

An interesting contest might be MPG gain vs Dollars spent!
We would of course have to ban Basjoos from that contest.