TopGear.com America high mpg project (regeared, aeromodded diesel Rabbit) - Page 23 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

G2TDI · 02-01-2012, 05:29 PM

Since all the info on this car inspired me to start this:
Mk3 Golf sipster project. - TDIClub Forums

But the info was hard to find and locate and follow (not very user-friendly UI if you ask me

) I thew this up there a while ago:

The Rabbit Sipster

Cobb · 05-10-2012, 10:37 PM

Interesting they choose a Rabbit vs the Dasher. I had a Dasher and it got easily 50+ mpg in its stock form. It took like 5 miles toget to 55mph. It was a 1.3 L engine 90 CID if I remember correctly. The cylinders were smaller than a coke can and if you didnt retorque the head, you were asking for a gaskin replacement.

I bet with eco mods that got int he mid 70s, but I sent mines to thecrusher in 00.

G2TDI · 05-10-2012, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobb

Interesting they choose a Rabbit vs the Dasher. I had a Dasher and it got easily 50+ mpg in its stock form. It took like 5 miles toget to 55mph. It was a 1.3 L engine 90 CID if I remember correctly. The cylinders were smaller than a coke can and if you didnt retorque the head, you were asking for a gaskin replacement.

I bet with eco mods that got int he mid 70s, but I sent mines to thecrusher in 00.

There never was any VW (water cooled) that were imported to the US with any
smaller than 1.5 engines which is what the Dasher had, there were no 1.3 diesels back then only more recently VW had a 1.2L 3 cylinder one.

Sounds like you had a fairly tired engine and IP based on your experience.
As for why they didn't use a Dasher or by it's original name Passat would be maybe because very few are still around and that with it you couldn't have done the same transmission conversion nor would there even be any sutaible TDI geared transmission that would fit it in the US, since it is more based on an Audi than a VW and doesn't have a transverse engine as the Rabbit.