VW 181 Facts & Figures


Road test


Road and Track Road Test for the Volkswagen 181
October 1973

PRICE

List Price, all POE........$2750
Price as tested............$2858
Price as tested includes AM radio ($65), dealer prep ($43)

IMPORTER

VW of America
600 Sylvan Ave.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632

GENERAL

Curb weight, lb ...........1920
Test weight ...............2290
Weight distribution (with driver), front/rear, %.....44/56
Wheelbase, in. .............94.5
Track front/rear ......53.3/56.9
Length ....................148.8
Width ......................64.6
Height .....................63.8
Ground Clearance ...........11.0
Overhang front/rear ...21.2/33.1
Usable trunk space, cu ft ..10.7
Fuel capacity, U.S. gallons 10.6

ENGINE

Type .................ohv flat 4
Bore x stroke, mm ...85.5 x 69.0
Equivalent, in ...3.37 x 2.72
Displacement, cc/cu in ............1584/96.7
Compression ratio .........7.3:1
Bhp @ rpm, net ........46 @ 4000
Equivalent mph ..............76
Torque @ rpm, lb-ft ...72 @ 2800
Equivalent mph ..............53
Carburetion ...1 Solex 34 PICT 3
Fuel Req. .......regular, 91-oct
Emissions, gram/mile:
Hydrocarbons ..............1.8
Carbon Monoxide ..........26.9
Nitrogen Oxides ...........2.6

DRIVE TRAIN

Transmission ........4-sp manual
Gear ratios: 4th (0.93) ..3.83:1
3rd (1.26) .............5.19:1
2nd (2.06) .............8.49:1
1st (3.78) ............15.57:1
Final drive ratio ........4.12:1

CHASSIS & BODY

Layout ...rear engine/rear drive
Body/frame ......platform frame/seperate steel body
Brake system........9.6 x 1.7-in. drums front, 9.1 x 1.7 in. drums rear
Swept area, sq in. ..........111
Wheels .....steel disc, 14 x 5 JK
Tires ..................185 SR-14
Steering type ......warm & roller
Overall ratio .............19.4
Turns, lock-to-lock .......2.75
Turning circle, ft ........36.1
Front suspension: trailing arms, torsion bars, tube shocks
Rear suspension: trailing & diagonal arms, torsion bars, tube shocks

INSTRUMENTATION

Instruments: 100-mph speedometer, 99,999.9 odometer, fuel level
Warning lights: oil pressure generator, hazard, high beam, directionals

ACCOMMODATION

Seating capacity, persons ......4
Seat width f/r .....2 x 20.0/52.0
Head room f/r ........37.0 x 37.0
Seat back adjustment, deg .....10

MAINTENANCE

Service intervals, mi:
Oil change ................3000
Filter change .............6000
Chassis lube ..............none
Tuneup ..................12,000
Warranty, mo/mi ........24/24,000

CALCULATED DATA

Lb/bhp (test weight) ........49.8
Mph/1000 rpm (4th gear) .....18.8
Engine revs/mi (60 mph) .....3200
Piston travel, ft/mi ........1451
R&T steering index ..........0.99
Brake swept area, sq in./ton ..97

ROAD TEST RESULTS

ACCELERATION

Time to distance, sec:
0-100 ft ....................4.4
0-500 ft ...................12.1
0-1320 ft (1/4 mile) .......22.5
Speed at end of 1/4 mi, mph .59.0
Time to speed, sec:
0-30 mph ...................6.3
0-40 mph ...................9.7
0-50 mph ..................15.3
0-60 mph ..................23.2
0-70 mph ..................42.2

BRAKES

Minimum stopping distances, ft:
From 60 mph ................165
Control in panic stop .......good
Pedal effort for 0.5g stop,lb..65
Fade: percent increase in pedal effort to maintain 0.5g deceleration
in 6 stops from 60 mph .......15
Parking: hold 30% grade? .....yes
Overall brake rating ........good

SPEEDS IN GEARS

4th gear (3850) ...............73
3rd (4700) ....................67
2nd (4700) ....................40
1st (4700) ....................22

INTERIOR NOISE

All noise readings in dbA:
Idle in neutral ...............65
Maximum, 1st gear .............92
Constant 30 mph ...............75
50 mph ......................81
70 mph ......................90

SPEEDOMETER ERROR

30 mph indicated is actually 28.0
50 mph ......................46.0
60 mph ......................56.0
70 mph ......................65.0
75 mph ......................69.0

Source: Road and Track October 1973


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