1982 Volkswagen Rabbit MK1 Caddy Pickup: Regular Car Reviews

[@sergeant_salty]

RIP to the Rabbit, the Comanche, the S10, the Ranger, the B series, the Taco..... all our small trucks are gone

[@hamigakisan7094]

Somewhere in the multiverse, there exists a 2023 Comanche…

[@forrestdevine2336]

D21 Hardbooty

[@Low760]

The Ranger is still around. And they do a van version of the caddy still. Could always cut one down.

[@TBustah]

Technically, this is a coupe utility (like the El Camino), not a truck.

[@TollHammer]

Blame misinformed liberals

[@porlando12]

That clip of him rowing through the gears with the sound of an entire kitchen's worth of silverware being jostled around sends me.

[@firingallcylinders2949]

As a Rabbit owner I can confirm that's exactly what it's like

[@MotoNORMative]

I was just watching it and reminded that part and laugh obnoxiously loud slapping the door of my elantra.

[@urs6onfuturas975]

As a VW/Audi guy from Maryland you couldn't have described PA VW enthusiasts any better. They are a different breed. Similar to the "Honda kids" from 10+ years ago.

[@chapel976]

New England too.

[@aygwm]

A generation bereft of strong father figures.

[@miketeeveedub5779]

Same thing here in western Canada, but about 15-20 years ago. Today all the old-school dubs are mostly gone - converted long ago to soup cans and rebar by winter salt. But a few do remain. I park on the other side of the Cars and Coffee meets from them. I took their name in defiance - I made it my own.

[@gnarshread]

Vag gut from VA over here. You're not wrong.

[@megatronn194]

Yes. Honda kids took the template of the PA VW culture and injected a lethal dose of VTEC Tourettes into the mix and there you have it, the 'Civic Nation.'

[@vwestlife]

Don't sell it short! The 1.6L diesel in this Rabbit Pickup made 52 HP at 4800 RPM and 71.5 lb-ft of torque at 2000 RPM. It was the smaller 1.5L diesel used in the 1977-80 Rabbits that only produced 48 HP. Internationally, the pickup version of the Rabbit/Golf was known as the Caddy, but VW didn't use that name here, not only because it wouldn't make sense without the regular version being called Golf, but also because it would be confused with "Caddie", the nickname for Cadillac.

[@OwlManoloPR13]

Thank you for your Crosley Cruiser video! Also, loved when you puto coins on top of the needle to destroy that vinyl disk. Can't remember the name.

[@nitrohedgehog]

sounds like it needs turbo.

[@GR-cf4qh]

48 HP? That's crazy.. Nobody needs that much power. They should have put a 1 liter in it. 32 HP is enough for anybody.

[@kennethmottaz2664]

Yea that is 100% true because I got a 1980 rabbit pickup and I got the 1.5 diesel and from New it made 48 hp but I think mine it making maybe 37 to maybe 41 at best but it overall is a great engine because all gotta turn is turn the key and wait on the glow plugs to warm up and it fires up and runs nice

[@firingallcylinders2949]

My Rabbit Truck gets about 50MPG it's sick

[@jonnykarkkainen9965]

These VW pickups are quite common here in Finland. They were fairly cheap, not to mention simple. It has enough space to carry say, firewood. And its OK on gas.

[@Hipas_Account]

I was about to say this, they've recently been going up in price, i remember looking at one that was in nice shape and was petrol swapped that went for about a 1000€ and had passed inspections (5-10 years ago), and now for a fairly bad example you might be looking for about 1500€ to 2000€, and that's for a Diesel. I still very much want one though, especially since my daily 91 Caprice enjoys a bit of the gasoline.

[@jonnykarkkainen9965]

@@Hipas_Account I have a MK2 Jetta which is close enough I guess. A Caprice wagon would be sweet too.

[@Hipas_Account]

@@jonnykarkkainen9965 A wagon would have sweetened the deal and i was in fact going to get a Roadmaster Wagon with the 5.7 but it was sold right from under me, so i managed to get a Caprice sedan but with the fairly lethargic 5.0. I've yet to get myself a VW as much as i really would want one, but i have enough projects as is.

[@jonnykarkkainen9965]

@@Hipas_Account I had a chance to buy an 89 Wagon with the 5.0. It would actually be more fuel efficient than an Audi A6 Quattro

[@musicmoviesandgames2004]

They’re quite rare in the US these days, I’ve only seen one on the road in my life, and that was years ago

[@acelaya352]

As a Texan I come to this channel for the finer points of PA culture almost more than I do the cars.

[@UmmYeahOk]

As a fellow Texan, I come to this channel to question who dwarfed this guys pickup? Where’s the rest of the cab? You can’t fit that many groceries in a bed like that. And how on earth is he supposed to pick up the kids from school with it that low to the ground? Anything that can actually fit inside a single parking space isn’t worth driving!

[@Aspiring_Hermit]

I'm from his part of PA and it's all painfully true

[@steve-wu7jp]

At least you guys are on the same plane

[@nperry106]

PA is Pittsburgh in the west, Philadelphia in the east, and Alabama in between.

[@OtherAlissaG]

Same here

[@AIDAHAR210]

This is what 95% of pickup owners truly needs

[@bjf10]

and can't buy! :(

[@phgamer4393]

given how fast everyone drives in texas and cali, more like the maverick for the modern era but yes. most people dont need a big truck.

[@currier207]

Ford Maverick…

[@jackedrussell]

@@currier207 Have you seen one of these next to a Ford Maverick?

[@RatBürgerSk8]

Can't do donuts with this though. The first generation SCSB Colorado with the Vortec 3500 is the ideal small truck imo.

[@gregkelley7182]

I used to own a diesel jetta of this same era about 20 years ago. It may have taken nearly a full mile to get to 60 mph but got amazing fuel economy. With a new injection pump and the timing on the pump slightly advanced as well as mixing one ounce of acetone per 10 gallons of diesel fuel in the tank to lower the surface tension of the diesel fuel, it regularly got 65 mpg in the city.

[@jonnygee489]

That’s awesome

[@D0praise]

Holy s#!+!! That’s impressive

[@kvltizt]

my god, that’s awesome

[@mitTÜVimKonflikt]

In Europe these are known as the Caddy and they were a very popular choice by workers like carpenters and such because they are fairly practical, cheap, great on fuel, small enoguh to fit everywhere and very reliable. Prices for these also shot up like crazy in the last few year

[@skittlesbutwithchocolatein2274]

they aren’t cheap maybe they were cheap but definitely expensive now they are value for money but expensive

[@theonlyMoancore]

And don't you guys over in Europe get that new VW truck too? The Amarok?

[@syxepop]

@@theonlyMoancore - the VW Amarok (soon to be a badge-engineered Ford Ranger) is one size above the Caddy, more like the Honda Ridgeline.

[@westerlywinds5684]

I had a restored 1979 Rabbit pickup to like new in original condition, but I couldn’t sell it. I started at $9000, then $6500, then eventually sold it, incl. spare parts, for $4000.

[@christianb1707]

I didn’t expect elon’s son to pop up here 😂

[@ajorsomething4935]

Always refreshing when Mr.Regular spends half the episode making fun of the owners of a car rather than talkin about the car itself.

[@beardedslavbrew615]

That's kind of the whole point of this channel. It makes it interesting.

[@ajorsomething4935]

@@beardedslavbrew615 I am well aware, but the reviews have been getting slightly more serious recently and they haven't quite went all out in a while.

[@syxepop]

The reason there's a "PA VW Culture" of sorts is because the Golf Mk. 1 (Rabbit) and the Caddy Mk. 1 (Rabbit Pickup) were MADE IN PA by locals, so they treat even other Vee Dubs as their own as well, with "their own secret sauce and all"...

[@InfiniteForces]

In Brazil we got a really similar pickup called VW Saveiro,based on the VW Gol(which started as a simplified 1st gen Golf/Rabbit but became VW's Beetle replacement here),and it's still living on here after almost 40 years,and modernized.

[@aarcturious]

Yep, was sold as the Fox here in the US, but not the truck version because, as he mentioned, the 'Chicken Tax.' I have the 2 door wagon, but parts are hard to find here : (

[@InfiniteForces]

@@aarcturious Oh,the Parati. It was sad to see it die the way it did,I wish they would resurrect it for a future tall wagon(something like the Subaru Outback except made by VW on a stretched VW Nivus chassis). Also the Fox sedan is called the Voyage here,and almost got a 2nd gen in the 90s(the car was ready to release,the german HQ had approved production,but it was canceled after then-chairman of brazillian VW José Ignacio López got butthurt his design proposal for the Voyage got rejected by Hartmut Warkuss,then-chief designer of global VW,while the proposal of his rival Luiz Alberto Veiga,then chief designer for brazillian VW,got accepted,so he basically said "fuck it,I'm gonna cancel this and import a rebadged Seat Córdoba from Argentina",which is how we got the Polo Classic),but it took until 2007 to release it. Nice car,but the automatic sucked until like 2020,when they finally replaced the semiauto i-Motion with the ZF Tiptronic,when the car was basically in its deathbed.

[@ericgonzalez8382]

A friend owned one of those Gol-based Saveiros a long time ago and I still clearly remember how short and closed geared it was plus it was a very light car. Such a fun little car and it felt quick, at least until like 100km/h or so!

[@benvaun1330]

I want a mid 90's saviero so fucking bad.

[@sergep71]

@@aarcturious We did get the 2 door Wagon! My first car was a Fox, but it was a 2 door Coupe.

[@2steaksandwiches665]

My dad had one of these almost 40 years ago. Diesel. Slow as hell but he loved it. He sold that because he was a contractor and needed to haul more stuff but that was a fun little car. He sold it for like five grand in the late 80s. Hahaha edit. He said the dad driver was named Fred. That was my dad‘s name, damn coincidence Lolol

[@catinthehat5140]

Does he have a pumpkin face and a disgust for life?

[@jakehartman5702]

I think we're really getting a window in the mr. Regular is dating life with all these characters

[@quuxummephitida1219]

Also, when I heard "hauling a Sony rear projection TV", I, as someone who lived in Westmoreland Cahhhnny (correct pronunciation) for 36 years and experienced the VW+Sony plant's rises & falls, knew immediately that Regular & Roman had done their homework.

[@coolhandchunk]

I have wanted one of these for 25 years. Learned to drive on an 81 diesel rabbit... fun little car.

[@KingSalami407]

My first car. Top speed was 65 downhill with a tailwind. I hated it

[@coolhandchunk]

@@KingSalami407 loved mine. Driving slow cars fast! Mine had the grey leatherette interior and the 'step in' seat belts. Put +600kms on that car before a block heater fire took it out

[@mosampson8862]

@@KingSalami407 Early 80s diesel rabbits were decent with a 5 speed.

[@JunkVWs]

get one

[@tbrednet7347]

I am the proud owner of a 1984 gas version grey sedan rabbit built in Westmoorlande, PA. The Car is about the best shape it could be in for its age, with very little wear and tear. I even aquired GTI wheels years ago from a guy from PA on eBay for about $50 that was in 97, Yes Ive owned the car for quite a number of years. LOve the car. Best Car

[@kbbl102.5]

HAPPY 10 YEARS RCR! This video feels like the absurdity of season 1 meeting the super polished anthropological commentary of modern RCR, and as poetic as ever. Love you guys, so proud of how far you've come!!! P.S. loved you guys on Cumtown or the Adam Friedland show or whatever

[@brendang673]

I was about to mention that. This really felt like an old school episode of theirs.

[@kbbl102.5]

@@brendang673 it did, didn't it? The first half legitimately gave me de ja vu. There was a moment where I felt like I had gone back in time.

[@alanoneuser]

I wanted one of these desperately when I was in my 20s and I was driving an '84 Rabbit L with the 1.6 Diesel and no back seat. That was a fun car.

[@Daniel-fd3wp]

They get really good MPG. 👍

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Haha I could feel it pull better when I pulled the rear seat out (81 4 speed diesel rabbit). And it was almost faster in 3rd than 4th. As soon as it wasn't level, bang it down in 3rd as soon as 3rd would be at redline and let it go for like 10mins up a steep hill screaming it's brains out.

[@alanoneuser]

IIRC 4th was actually known as "economy gear" in the manual, I suppose it must have been an overdrive gear. It basically said to get it in that gear as soon as possible for best mileage. Still couldn't really get the thing much over 60mph regardless.

[@firingallcylinders2949]

@@Daniel-fd3wp My Diesel Caddy gets around 50 highway.

[@choryferguson2196]

Holy Christ this is unhinged! You're reaching new levels of journalism here…poetical levels.

[@adambahnsen4577]

I worked with a guy back in '98 that had one of these. Had to redline it and dump the clutch just to get it to spin the tires in loose stone, but, it never broke, and always ran "good". The truck is still running around with the same driver and over 500k on the odometer.

[@lugnutgmc]

I accidentally bought one of these when I was 22. Got me into VWs. Was a great truck for years. Had a 1.5in stack with a clapper. More practical truck and did more work than 90% of trucks on the road today. Ran it off home heating oil 5 gal at a time after I converted my heat to propane. Struggled a little to climb the bridge on my commute but otherwise was adequate. It's rated for 1k lbs. And I did that regularly. Currently have a project one with a swapped in TDI. And race a cabriolet with a 1.6 D in 24 hrs of lemons.

[@JunkVWs]

cabriolet in lemons sounds dangerous

[@nickscapellato8248]

I haven't laughed this loudly in a while, kudos Mr. Regular.

[@donaldsalkovick396]

What part was funny? P

[@kevincockburn7805]

@@donaldsalkovick396 the breakdown of the PA dubber scene. The depravity of it.

[@catinthehat5140]

@@donaldsalkovick396 ...that's right, walk away

[@yam83]

"My family tree is a wreath" XD

[@LowAltMotorsports]

2nded

[@tshepomohapi8919]

In South Africa the rabbit was still in production until the late 2000s. And it was only discontinued because of safety concerns from VW. It was a hit seller right till the end, many of us were heartbroken when they stopped production. Certainly not a minor resurgence. But great video as always.

[@JunkVWs]

👍

[@JuicyJLee]

Correction never called the rabbit that was strictly for North America. It's a caddy

[@feedingfrenzy123]

We got these in the UK as the VW Caddy. They're very popular in the volkswagen scene and have gone from old painter and decorator runabouts to four/five figure show cars

[@AshleyPomeroy]

I walk past a bright green Caddy as part of my daily commute - it's simultaneously cute and useful-looking. I can see the appeal. I learn from the internet that they were built in Sarajevo, but production of this generation came to an end in 1992 because of the war.

[@pleepler]

And VAG kept on innovating these and making more, although the pick-up version died with the Skoda Felicia pick-up, Caddy lives on as a fancy MPV/small commercial van. And that van segment is very competitive, it's a shame that it didn't work out in the US, outside of city courriers who are dreading the passing of the RAM variant of the Fiat Doblo. They genuinely loved it.

[@areed7327]

@@pleepler I keep hoping he'll come back to the UK and review my (non-pickup) Felicia one day

[@kbbl102.5]

This is the culmination of "Early Years" and "KZbin Partner" absurdity, automotive knowledge you guys have always made fun, and modern RCR polished and poetic cultural/social commentary. I love you guys, thanks for the fun and thoughts all these years

[@Pabster207]

I was expecting a normal regular car review, this was not disappointing. This is gold! 😂

[@InvictvsNox]

@ the wrenches getting shuffled around dubbed over the gear shifting I absolutely lost it lmao

[@leadfoot8593]

I thought it was silverware. But yes big funny.

[@darrellbaughman4806]

We had one as a shop truck when I still wrenched. The a/c would knock about 10mph off but the damn thing was solid for city stuff.

[@mrs.america3819]

I used to have a 1980 Volkswagen Dasher Diesel Station wagon. Black. 48hp Diesel. 0 to 60 in 30 seconds with a manual transmission. My father bought it brand new in 1980 as our family car and then I got it years later when I was 16. Loved that car. No safety features. No anything. No AC, no power steering, no power anything, nothing. Those things were lemons. It finally just stopped running. The engines would just die. First car, loved it.

[@overwatch1774]

10:14 What a great shot with the FedEx truck looming ominously in the background.

[@TheMeanmarine13]

My dad had a 87 Ranger 4cyl manual, and we actually pulled a 1950's Ford tractor from Dayton to S. Indiana on a small trailer. Braking was iffy but the little ranger that could made it lol. Oh yeah and He added extra leaf springs to it so it could haul heavier loads 😆🤣

[@therealfactor5726]

I bought my 81 about a year ago and I love it. It’s simple enough I was able to easily rebuild the engine in my garage when before I had never even pulled a valve cover off. It’s slow but I’m usually able to do 70 (85 downhill with a tailwind) and I’m still getting great fuel mileage. Also the bed really isn’t that small compared to modern trucks. Most trucks now days have 6ft beds or smaller unless they’re work trucks.

[@JunkVWs]

cool

[@3Wheels1Block]

I'm amazed the intro was 6 minutes before we ever got to the year, make a model. 🤣🤣 Mr. Regular is quite the story teller!

[@Moto_Medics]

My dad had one of these, was one of my first memories driving down our dirt road in it and him asking me if I’d be mad if he sold it, I remember saying yes and he thought that was pretty funny. RIP❤

[@jayman4095]

The opening to this is the rebirth to the opening of the 91 Ford festiva review... I love every second this

[@SludgeFactoryRecording]

Theres been a light blue rather clean example of one of these sitting in a car lot/storage space I pass on a regular basis and its always peaked my interest. This video has persuaded me to go and get that little dude, cheers!

[@paulhalvorson6122]

Did you

[@jameswright5572]

Diesel rabbit pickup in white was my first car back in 82.

[@drewswanson2701]

Pa dubbers bit is absolutely accurate, friend in college parted out there car in there apartment’s parking lot after it had scrapped trough to many oil pans and subframes from being absorbed slammed, and honestly it was an hilariously car and a lot of fun for almost no money which for youth is all you need

[@sideshot6951]

this episode is such a breath of fresh air i love it

[@sedakame1]

Idk about fresh 😂

[@syxepop]

@@sedakame1 -oh, with all of those 💩 mentioned... 🤣🤣🤣

[@CarsMeetsBikes]

@@syxepop PISS PISS PISS PISS THATS RIGHT WALK AWAY

[@maxeluy]

In south america we have the VW Saveiro, basically the same thing, they are still in production, the 7 gen right now, and they are super useful.

[@hamigakisan7094]

SA has a interesting car market. Isn’t the Suzuki Jimmy still in production for Mexico and South America? How difficult is it to import a newer model of these into US? Does the 25 year law still apply?

[@maxeluy]

@@hamigakisan7094 Yes they are available, there is a bright yellow available in my local dealer, that is a Toyota/Suzuki dealer, and is next to a gray Lexus LC and an orange Suzuki S-Presso, and is also sharing the space with a couple of Hilux, Suzuki Swift and more. Only 2 brands but they definitely have variety there 🤣

[@hamigakisan7094]

@@maxeluy mannn, also know Mazda still makes the b-series in other markets. I like my mazda3 hatch, but if I could get a new model b-series, I’d be stoked.

[@maxeluy]

@@hamigakisan7094 The BT-50 is available here. I think that is the same as a Ranger. The base model Mitsubishi L200 is the closest to the old Mazda B. That simple pickup truck with black bumpers and steel wheels.

[@syxepop]

@@maxeluy - last gen (up to early '20) was on the T-6 Ranger chassis with Ford-sourced engines. Mazda since deviated to a version of the Isuzu DMax, engines and all, but with Mazda styling.

[@MotoNORMative]

Mr. Regular you ALWAYS make me laugh. NEVER FUCKING CHANGE!

[@ghomerhust]

i have NEVER clicked on a Regular video so fast! i love these terrible little cars. i have an 82 Caddy that im in the process of stuffing a VR6 into. they're terrible, ugly, cramped, and holy shit so much fun!

[@JunkVWs]

so fun

[@TheMeanmarine13]

The Eminem rant had me absolutely dying 🤣 😂 😭. I can't remember the last time I actually LOL'd from a KZbin video. Thanks buddy, I needed that.

[@TBustah]

The tooling used to build the version that was sold in South Africa for a millennium was actually taken from that plant when it closed.

[@ScotterOtter]

apparently so, but it's accredited to 'unverified reports': "Unverified reports suggest the stamping dies for the Rabbit and Rabbit Pickup may have been used to start Volkswagen Caddy and Citi Golf production in South Africa." (No citation given for the origin of the reports themselves).

[@TBustah]

@@ScotterOtter I looked it up. Apparently, South Africa was already building the Golf when Westmoreland stopped, but the second-hand tooling supposedly DID arrive later. Even if it’s all speculation, it’s still a more than reasonable assumption. The Pennsylvania plant stopped producing Golfs in 1984, around the same time South Africa started. Even though they already had a set of tooling in use in South Africa, why would they just scrap the tooling from Pennsylvania? Tooling doesn’t last forever, so even if they didn’t want to increase output, it’d be handy to keep around for backup in case something broke or just wore out. Considering how long it was in production there, I’d be more surprised if it DIDN’T come in handy at some point.

[@JunkVWs]

cool info

[@gabrielhughes5492]

"All the stockings are crispy" made me snort coffee out of my nose this fine morning.

[@TheMicro4]

The moment the kitchen silverware stick noise happened I just started laughing uncontrollably. Also the porter cable grinder is far too expensive. It’s a Harbor Freight 20$ special grinder or a stolen Milwaukee angle grinder lol

[@imitt12]

You're giving them too much credit. They stole a Rigid from the contractors doing school renovations.

[@cesariojpn]

Roman needs to do a video on the Chicken Tax and some of the weird cars that are associated with it.

[@syxepop]

If "Nicolás" want any incentive, the two Utes more related to the Chicken Tax back when it was enacted were the VW Transporter Mk. 1 (Microbus), which came as single and crew cab pickups and the Toyota Corona Pickup (yes, that Ute did sell in minimal amounts Stateside, contrary to the larger Crown pickup).

[@liamk3844]

I've always loved the look of these. I only wish I was mechanically or financially inclined enough to return a Rabbit pickup to glory.

[@OwlManoloPR13]

You can. Tons of DIY and info on these cars.

[@Eatinbritches]

Pretty simple and easy to work on. Tons of aftermarket support, and even factory interchangeability. Great place to start for a noob.

[@JunkVWs]

it is getting hard to find a cheap good one, but a lot of not that expensive descent ones

[@Fydron]

I really miss these small cheap pick ups.

[@TechTimeWithEric]

I had an 81 that someone swapped an 01 TDI drivetrain into. It was a pretty decent truck, but I was a bit too girthy for it lol

[@JunkVWs]

those mk1 motor mounts don't handle tdi shake well. but people still run them

[@esteban1487]

My Dad had an 82 Rabbit diesel "sedan" which shook and smoked and got 52mpg highway. 0 to 60 time was measured in minutes. 🤣

[@djfedora7161]

That liver king mention was the funniest thing Mr regular has done in a while

[@rtdc5662]

You want to run a big exhaust pipe through the bed that way you have less bed space. You know, like a "modern" truck.

[@quillmaurer6563]

This example actually looks pretty clean relative to the "PA Dubber" stereotype being described. Only odd thing about it is the bed-mounted exhaust stack. What's the reason for that? Stock exhaust fell off? Mock the big diesel truck bros (with a tiny diesel truck)? I never understood that, seems like it makes the truck not usable as a truck.

[@bzilla-d4i]

In South Africa these were produced until 2007, small business owners either op'd for these, Ford Bantams, or Nissan 1400's....all 3 have been engine swopped to death, recently saw one of these with a 2.9l VR6.

[@chiefkeef74]

Its like an S10 and a Paseo bunged behind a Denny's without rubbers

[@HankScorpio64]

When I was a kid there was a Mexican guy who lived in my grandparents small town who had one of these. He used it to haul cans and scrap copper.

[@BokBarber]

Okay I actually laughed out loud at "my family tree is a wreath".

[@unitedcity_mc4421]

Why does this exist? Because people (yes, including me) really love it.

[@christopherconard2831]

Pull out in second? I wish I'd pulled out first. Now the state takes half my paycheck for child support.

[@CJWriter0925]

The fact that "The way I am" is one of the few Eminem songs I can tolerate and it made its way into an RCR review is the perfect way to start the holiday season.

[@skyb2149]

Alex Jones makes more sense than your boy Fetterman up there.... Neck buddy 😂

[@charliehallman9437]

Mr. Regular, A slight correction. The New Stanton Assembly Plant IS still in use. It has been divided up and sports several manufacturers, notably, Siemens, and circuit board manufacturer Intervala, as well as Westmoreland Community College's Technology Center (Trade School) which I attended.

[@chevymontmarlo]

The vw rabbit truck. The official vehicle of not being in love with the luv, or to different to get a courier or anything Japanese.

[@brianmiller1077]

1. We did the stacks treatment with a Subaru Brat. shame because of course the outside back seats had to be removed. three-four years old and the thing was rusting to hell. 2. I saw one of these back in 2000 on I-94 in the Twin Cities. I said you don't see many of those anymore and one of the guys in the back said yeah "especially with a V8 in the box" and sure enough the motor was in the back and I swear it had duallies too.

[@Onio_Saiyan]

Put a small block V8 in that thing and a nice transmission and you've got yourself a nice little sleeper.

[@apodski]

It's front wheel drive.

[@Onio_Saiyan]

@@apodski E V E N B E T T E R

[@TheNewChevyRoll48]

Who'd win in a fight? A PA Dubber or Trent Falkenwrath?

[@milkj.]

another day of RCR vs his arch-nemesis’s: The PA Dubbers

[@Klatchan]

5:20 I feel this description in my soul.

[@Uhrmacher2]

@1:16 Heels touching ground, 10/10 Slav squat.

[@cavalierliberty6838]

Show me on the vw rabbit where the pa dubbers touched you in explicit detail, Mr regular.

[@JunkVWs]

😂

[@sonicaids]

on paper a MK1 golf ute sounds like a great idea.

[@Low760]

Like a mini ute.

[@hamigakisan7094]

With an angle grinder and spotty welds, you can make it real!

[@Rasmuskuusela]

I have a 1983 1.6d Vw Caddy (last model year assembled in Wolfsburg, Germany). In Finland these were extended by 8cm at the end of the bed to pass "cargo van" category which meant lower taxes and insurance. Mine is 95% stock and has been in the family for 32 years and it's a forever vehicle for me. I also own a 1989 mk2 Golf 1.8 and couple other Volkswagens.

[@JunkVWs]

where did they assemble the later caddys till 1992?

[@Rasmuskuusela]

@@JunkVWs European models atleast were assembled at VW Sarajevo, Yugoslavia

[@JunkVWs]

@@Rasmuskuusela my 1988 vin says manufactured in Germany 🤷‍♂️

[@PocketsRides]

My uncle has one of these and drives it around using fryer oil he gets for free. Things dope.

[@JunkVWs]

👍

[@aprillovesgolf7042]

What color? Mine is yellow.

[@PocketsRides]

@aprillovesgolf7042 His is black. Pretty sure it's been repainted before though. His example is far from perfect, but it runs great and a cool setup.

[@wtf0101]

I had a 81 diesel it got close to 700 mpg,you just didn't get in a hurry,lol had problems with the glow plugs every 200k miles,got close to 1 million miles👍I wish I still had it

[@JunkVWs]

👍

[@Fpseth]

Reminds me of my Datsun 720. Tiny, slow, smells like a boat, somehow still fun

[@aaronswink8554]

1982 VW Rabbit MK1 Caddy Pickup. Still 100x better than a Routan.

[@JunkVWs]

😄

[@jameskerherve7487]

I haven’t laugh more at anything in months than this review. The crispy stockings killed me 😂😂😂

[@comboballer]

i will concede i think the engine sounds kinda nice

[@JunkVWs]

😄

[@CXW429]

holy hell ive never heard a better description for the steering on my 1st gen ram, "it steers like a 16 bit video game, left a bit, not enough, left left too much--"

[@Just_a_commenter]

A pickup truck, but smol... Huh. Never knew there'd be a pickup small enough to not obscure my vision in a parkling lot. Neat. I'd never drive it, but still, it's neat.

[@ajvark]

You think this is tiny? Check out the 1973 Ford Courier review.

[@Fydron]

@@ajvark Or 70's Toyota 1000 Pickup those things were awesome and i would still love to have one but those that still exist are so pricy that you could get a new car with the cost of those.

[@MrJayrock620]

The VW Rabbit truck is kinda the vehicular equivalent of a dry under the table handy from Brenda the bricklayer during an HR meeting. It technically does the job and is slightly better than nothing, but it’s really gotta be your kink to enjoy it.

[@TheVaultIsMine]

What a glorious sound!

[@JunkVWs]

😄

[@ThunderChief2677]

The assembly plant isn't dormant. As of like 2014 Westmoreland County Community College bought a portion of the plant and uses it as a "tech" center for welding and machining courses. Uber I believe also was renting a large section of the plant to test thier driverless cars. A student snuck into their section and was ran away after seeing very heavily armed guards as the tech was was very valuable and was practically a company top secret. Siemens also bought a large section of the plant as well and even put on an addition. So it has become quite the hub. Though there are many out buildings and roads that lead no where or are no longer in use around the property.

[@ej_tech]

0:29 why? why? why? why? WHYY!??

[@Gazdatronik]

I bought a complete IBM XT at a Chicago rummage sale that came from the Westmoreland Plant in 1999. It still had the business software on it. It's when I first learned VW tried and failed in America.

[@fearandloathingmedia2051]

Mr. Regular, have you ever thought of reviewing an 03 Acura CL Type S 6 spd?

[@marconesi9368]

4:33 are we ignoring the 4 Ram SRT-10s on the right in the background?

[@marconesi9368]

Sorry, 5 Rams

[@RegularCars]

That’s a shop that specializes on srt-10 rams and some other mopar stuff

[@marconesi9368]

@@RegularCars ohhhhhh, makes more sense now. Thought it was either a really rich guy or my coffee not kicking in yet.

[@freakied0550]

East TN mk1 Caddy Pickup owner here (diesel). 10/10 shitty when bought (literally out of a cow pasture), floor boards were rough, so I ripped the carpet and bedlinered over some baking sheets on the interior. Portable bluetooth speaker is my stereo system. 35mpg and it hauls my lawnmower and trash. Thankfully no inspection here in TN.

[@JunkVWs]

sounds rough

[@freakied0550]

@@JunkVWs "mechanically sound" lol

[@Segafishy]

We still use the recent Van ones too, British Gas had a fleet and sold them of dirt cheap so loads have been belching around still occasionally engine swapped to the 1.9tdi and tuned so it doesn't drive like a wet fart anymore.

[@sv_cheats1970]

AFN with a chip

[@stockholm2375]

Seeing that stack and that shifter made me instantly like...despite being one of those diesel freaks that everyone hates, I can't help but love the small trucks, and those added elements are icing on the cake.

[@gnarshread]

It's great to see Mr. Regular getting back to spouting vitriol about the cars owner.

[@i.n.cognito6326]

Have Roman do a story on the New Stanton plant! I had a used rabbit from that plant as my first car growing up in Central pa in the 80s.

[@skynet1.044]

0:59 I found this funnier than it should of been, since I’ve been in a van that sounds EXACTLY like this in the back when going around corners 💀

[@97jettatrek]

What's up with the four SRT10 Dodge Rams @ 4:32?

[@brianmarshall636]

I know

[@cwtrain]

0:59 The falling wrenches sound folly for moving the stick shift around was so choice.

[@ThomasTironi]

If you like vw trucks I recommend a even more obscure one: Saveiro, based on the Vw Fox from the 80’s and still sold in South America in a newer model mostly based in a mix of PQ24 Polo and MK4 Golf axios shocks, with optional double cab for 4 passengers with 2 doors

[@grob25]

I am sensing hostility towards people in Pennsylvania.

[@papilloncycles3463]

Oh Man I had the rabbit hatchback diesel 1981. 55 MPG City. 50 MPH top speed. 0 to 50 in 38 seconds with a tailwind. 5% grade top speed, 37 MPH. Yes You need the flashers! Great car in the snow.

[@idrisddraig2]

Something was wrong with your car, unless the USA versin was very different to the rest of the world. MPG sounds right, but Top Speed should have been 80mph+ And should climb hills better than any econmy gass car of the era. Was it Auto ? (only the USA got automatics)

[@papilloncycles3463]

@@idrisddraig2 Man you know, 80 mph is a dream, but for real I put 300k on that car, it ran great and hitting 50 mph was about all it could do, I was never worried LOL expected it!

[@papilloncycles3463]

BTW never used 1st, that topped out at 10mph!