I would have to agree about the diesel rabbits and early Jettas being some of
the best in-the-snow vehicles out there.  There is really no way to take off
fast and stopping isn't much of a problem as the vehicle doesn't way very
much.  Pretty much all of the weight is over the front drive wheels which
also do most of the stopping.  My '81 Jetta diesel has spent alot of time in
snow driving emergencies and also as an off road vehicle (it is like a
mountain goat and only seems to be limited to off roading by the lack of
ground clearance).  It is nice enough to be a daily driver, but beat up
enough for me not to care about salt and small branches scraping the paint.

However 85-91 Jettas at least are different in some way.  They are heavier
and like to slide at stop signs in even light rain.  They are also not as
good in the snow (drove my parents 85 diesel Jetta for several seasons).  In
the winter (in the salt belt at least) old, kinda beat, and slow are really
the nicer cars to drive.  Usually better in the snow and no worries about
salt.  My Jetta is off the road at the moment since I am running my '91 Carat
and '90 GL Vanagons (the latter is for sale).  I am hoping to put it on the
road about after January when it becomes an antique here in NJ (it is an
'81).  Then I can use it for short drives back and forth to town and only pay
a small fraction of NJ's terribly high insurance rates.  Thanks for listening.

Thanks,
Ken Wilford
http://www.vanagain.com
John 3:16

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