[Vwdiesel] Rabbit droppings # 9 from Hagar. ( whats in a name??? )

[Nate Wall]

My parents bought a 1975 Rabbit, new (gasoline, diesels were not offered).
This was the first year offered in the US. The Dasher was offered in 1974. It
was carburetted (a Zenith 2 bbl.) and had a catalyst. 1.6 L (90 CID), rated at
75 HP. It was also quite light, at about 1,900 pounds). I was about 15 at the
time and remember it as the first new car I saw them with (they bought a 1960
Bug new also). It was incredibly fast, as I recall. The TV ads claimed a 0 -
50 mph in 7 seconds. I learned to drive in that car, and it was in fact, quite
nimble. Laid rubber like crazy, given the right abuse.

The car was very basic, no A/C or P/S. I don't think it even came w/ a radio.
It had rubber mats. Window cranks broke and it rattled and buzzed like crazy.
Had a single gauge (speedometer) and simple warning LIGHTS (not LEDs). It was
a 4 speed. It underwent about a dozen recalls. One was to remove the catalyst,
of all things. Who knows why this was decided. The dealer rodded out the
catalyst (knocked it out of its housing) and rejetted the carburetor, with
smaller jets, of course. That was about in 1977. Performance sucked after
that. It also skipped on acceleration since that, and ran very anemic. Webber
came out w/ a "Rabbit" 4 bbl to replaced the dealer mucked-up Zenith. The
pain-in-the-ass thing was that the unleaded fuel filler constrictor was not
removed. So had to still use more expensive unleaded fuel. (It was about a
dime a gallon more, if I recall). At about 20,000 some miles, it was using a
quart of oil in about 300 miles, or less. Just after the motor went out of
warranty, the folks took it to VW. After a big to do, VW replaced the cylinder
head under waranty--defective valve guides. It got sold at 140,000 miles for a
song. Still ran and looked well, regardless of many neglected things, like oil
changes.

--Nate

Drew MacPherson wrote:

> Rabbit was a name chosen for the North American market because initial
> market research suggested that Golf (the name used in Europe) wouldn't fly
> in NA.  The idea behind the Rabbit name was that it implied
> characteristics like "light, nimble, and fun."  The fact that the car was
> spacious and economical was an added bonus.  And thus the A1 Golf became
> the Rabbit in North America.
>
> When the A2 Golf was developed, VW decided that the North American market
> had matured sufficiently that they didn't need to continue with the cute,
> bunny name (after 30+ years of "Bugs" and "Rabbits" we finally grew up...)
>
> As far as the origin of the Golf name, the generally accepted school of
> thought is that most VW names are derived from things that move - air
> streams, ocean currents, winds etc.  The Golf's name is thought to be
> derived from the Gulf Stream, the Jetta from the Jet stream etc.  No doubt
> VW's names were chosen by a group of well lubricated marketting execs in
> the cafeteria at the Wolfsburg facility... :)
>
> WV can be prided for not messing with things that work, however.  The
> highly successful Golf has carried its name from 1974 through 2003,
> through 4 platform changes (with a 5th on the boards.)  The Jetta moniker,
> on the other hand, has only held on in North America.  On the European
> market, the Jetta was renamed with the introduction of the A3 to Vento
> (wind this time!) in an effort to boost sagging sales.  When the A4 rolled
> around, it became the Bora (hello, what were they thinking??)  The reality
> is that the lightweight, compact Golf hatch is a practical, roomy small
> car suited to Europe's tight urban roads.  The Jetta has never been as
> popular because of its size and relative lack of functionality (huge
> trunk, but no hatch...)
>
> Drew
>
> On Wed, 19 Feb 2003, H .Hagar wrote:
>
> >  Does anyone know where the name RABBIT came from ??. And now GOLF? the
> > name does not do a thing for me. good gracious me ---LOL.  The dealer I
> > asked know jack all about Beetles, Rabbits or anything else.Just wants
> > me to buy a 30000 dollar canadian Golf. Hagar. --
> >
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