Oppopinions - Rabbit Pickup Edition

"Patrick Nichols" (pnichols)
04/14/2016 at 17:25 • Filed to: None

So I know I change my mind a lot but I think next winter I want to pickup (pun intended) a project car. As I will be getting rid of my ‘08 Rabbit this summer, I figured I should get back into one as soon as possible. I really like the caddy and I think I could use it a good amount. I think it would be a bit of a restomod, but not a show trucklet.

Some ideas:

Maybe some retro shop graphics for my side projects. (After fixing any rough body work)

Some nice snowflake style wheels.

Update the radio/speakers for a nice modern touch

Update the brakes? Do I need to do this?

Veggie Oil conversion possibly? What is the general consensus on these?

DISCUSSION (14)

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Patrick Nichols
04/14/2016 at 17:29

This is the answer to all the questions you just asked: http://www.speedhunters.com/2014/06/the-vo…

I will also accept this: http://www.speedhunters.com/2013/04/united…

Pickup_man > Patrick Nichols
04/14/2016 at 17:35

I really like these. With some tasteful mods I think that they look awesome. I actually looked into buying one once, went and test drove it and everything, there were just a few too many issues with it and the seller didn’t come down to where I felt comfortable so I let it go. A few of the things I can remember about it, the diesel version is slow (obviously) but was actually better than I expected, and the interior is pretty small, but not unbearable. I looked into modding and aftermarket support as well before checking it out and these are pretty easy and cheap to modify. Lowering them (if that’s what you’re into) is simply new suspension up front, and a 1/2" plate with holes in it for the rear. Turbo-ing the diesel engine isn’t uncommon either, and there is loads of information on TDI swaps and various transmission swaps.

All in all I say go for it, they’re cool little trucks and they’re fairly desirable, so if you find that it isn’t for you it should be pretty easy to flip it.

Patrick Nichols > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
04/14/2016 at 17:36

Looking for more shop truck, less h2o fest veedubbro.

ttyymmnn > Patrick Nichols
04/14/2016 at 17:37

I knew a guy in Houston back in the early 90s who dropped a GTI engine into a plain blue VW pickup. Talk about a sleeper. It was awesome. As a lifelong VW guy, I really like those p/ups.

Patrick Nichols > Pickup_man
04/14/2016 at 17:38

I’ve seen that a bench seat conversion is fairly common too... something something that cake song something something.

kanadanmajava1 > Patrick Nichols
04/14/2016 at 17:40

In Europe these are called VW Caddy (VW still sells a small van with the same name). My ex-roommate had one that was slammed and it had a 1.9l turbo diesel borrowed from some newer VW. It was surprisingly fun car even though I generally hate every diesel engine. Here they usually look like these.

Kinja'd!!!