'86 Day

"Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
08/06/2014 at 13:56 • Filed to: None

First year for rectangular headlights on the Vanagon:

I still prefer the single round headlights, however...

DISCUSSION (15)

ttyymmnn > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
08/06/2014 at 13:59

We had an '84 Rabbit, with square headlights. I have come to appreciate the rounds ones more.

505Turbeaux > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
08/06/2014 at 14:06

that you cant see a damn thing with when they are on!

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > ttyymmnn
08/06/2014 at 14:14

I had an '84 GTI. Great car - when it was running. The "Americanization" of the Rabbit when production started in PA was really a travesty. My friends all had German-made Rabbits, mostly '77s and '78s. I was a little jealous of the look of their cars, but I could easy out-accelerate, out-brake and out-corner all of them in air-conditioned, velour-lined comfort. Thankfully they'd give me a ride home when my car was in the shop, yet again, saving me from the embarrassment of having to get a ride from mom...

ttyymmnn > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
08/06/2014 at 14:19

I don't recall every having much trouble with the car, but I was only 17 and it belonged to my dad. It was a lowly 4-speed though, and I lusted after the GTI and the Scirocco. But it was still a blast to drive, and I drive stick to this day. My DD is an '01 Golf with almost 198k miles on it.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > 505Turbeaux
08/06/2014 at 14:19

True, but given the speed of the vehicle it's not like you're going to out-drive them. Nothing a simple bulb swap can't fix.

I had a little problem with my '84 Vanagon, and that was that nobody would take me seriously when I would flash to pass. I might have only had a top speed of 83 MPH, but that was faster than they were going. I solved the problem with a couple of 7" driving lights mounted on the bumper, equipped with 130W bulbs. If they didn't move after a couple of polite flash-to-pass indications, I'd fire up those beasts and melt the plastic off their bumpers...

505Turbeaux > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
08/06/2014 at 14:21

I had an 85 for some time. The roundies were much better. I need to do this some day in something almost as ridiculous as a vanagon. Lol 130W bulbs

McMike > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
08/06/2014 at 14:23

Also the first year for the Digifant 2.1l engine, a new cooling/electrical system, and a more robust, rear mounted AC unit.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > ttyymmnn
08/06/2014 at 14:38

My issues were mostly electrical, with instrument cluster failures, bad wiring harnesses, failing alternators and batteries, etc. Some of the US built cars were trouble-free, and others were complete horror stories. I remember one cold, dark, wet night when there was some electrical sizzling, strange smells followed by smoke pouring out from under the dash. The car kept running, but all I had working were headlights and brake lights. At night. In the cold rain. I drove for 30 miles with my foot on the brake so people could see me from behind, with my head hanging out the window so I could see what was ahead of me, all the time freezing to death. Getting rid of that car was quite a bittersweet moment. I really learned how to drive properly in that vehicle, but the money it cost me (12 month warranties back then) and the time wasted were bordering on the incalculable.

I really wanted the Scirocco, but the GTI was such a great performer (for its day, mind you) and such a sleeper, that I had to have it. Even though I was young and thin back then, getting in and out of the 2nd generation Scirocco was a bit much even then (I still don't understand how my grandfather was able to easily get in and out of his 914). I also liked the practicality of the Rabbit - at one time I transported a full-size pinball machine (a gift for my parents) inside of mine, something I doubt I could have done with a 'Roc.

I'd love to have another VW, but I'm worried about the reliability these days. When I moved recently I was deciding between a Jetta SportWagen TDI 6MT (in brown, of course) and a Mazda5 Sport 6MT. Nobody was dealing on the VW, but I got the Mazda for nearly 4K off list price, and I've been quite pleased with the decision. Once I get a place with a garage I think I'll start looking for a '70s-vintage Rabbit and build up a GTI-clone as a plaything in an effort to recapture some of that lost youth.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > McMike
08/06/2014 at 14:44

Having had an '80 with the forward mounted AC system, the rear mounted one was a nice change. I loved the ductwork running up to the front on the later models as it made the interior seem somewhat like a business jet. I always wanted to mount reading lights in there to complete the look.

It was also the first year in which the Westfalia had a grey interior; I was always partial to the beige and brown of the '83-85 models.

McMike > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
08/06/2014 at 16:48

I didn't think it was until 86.5 (or 87) until they offered the grey.

^^ has '85GL and'87Wolfsburg

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > McMike
08/06/2014 at 16:57

You are correct. I didn't have to go through my suitcase full of brochures to remember that my ideal Vanagon (in stock trim) would be a bronze 1986 Syncro Westfalia P27 with the beige/brown interior. First year of the 2.1, highest HP at 95, last of the beige interior. The round headlights can always be retrofitted.

Mmm, brown manual wagon, just not a diesel, but that last issue could be fixed.

McMike > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
08/06/2014 at 17:04

Mmm, brown manual wagon, just not a diesel, but that last issue could be fixed.

Yes, it can.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > McMike
08/06/2014 at 17:15

What can brown do for you?

Kinja'd!!!

Give me a raging, er, nevermind...

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > 505Turbeaux
08/06/2014 at 18:07

Especially if you popped out the crappy sealed-beam headlights and replaced them with proper European H1 housings with removable bulbs. The only thing I found to be rather unusual with those was that you could see exactly where the beam pattern stopped. With the sealed beams that was just a blur somewhere out in the distance, but the H1s stopped in such a way that made me think I would out-drive them.

505Turbeaux > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
08/06/2014 at 18:22

I have noticed the same exact thing on h1 busses. There was almost no directional pattern or diffuser on those lenses which may have been the cause, but I have only seen it on a few other euro cars with h1's