On this page, I hope to outline any and all differences between the Fox I's and Fox II's.  Please note that the terms "Fox I" and "Fox II" used by me aren't used much by other VW enthusiasts.  The difference between a Jetta I and Jetta II is big, because the entire car was redesigned.  In the Fox's case, it is only a minor exterior change (similar to Scirocco I's and II's).  Now that I've confused you, please read on... :)

Engine

• All Foxes sold in North America had a 1.8L [1781 cc / 109 C.I.D.] 4-cylinder, 4-stroke, SOHC, gasoline engine
• Fox I's [1987-1990] had the CIS fuel injection system
• Fox II's [1991-1993] Foxes had the Digifant II system
• Except California cars - they had the Digifant I system
• The Fox II has considerably fewer "VW-Audi" logos, most are replaced with parts bearing the "Industria Brasileira" logo
• Examples: timing belt cover, "stove", windshield wiper arms
• The oil cap
• Fox I's have a VW-Audi logo
• Fox II's have an "oil can" symbol
• The two are not interchangeable

• The Fox II has a slightly different front dashboard
• The difference is at the bottom - a "knee bar" has been added to protect both the driver's and passenger's knees in the event of a collision
• The result is a smaller glove compartment, and the radio is moved to the floor-mounted console in the place of the storage bin [the "knee bar" goes right across the place where the radio used to be mounted
• The knee bar was introduced in 1989 or 1990.
• 1987 Foxes (both US and Canadian, as best I know) had an Oxygen Sensor light and an upshift indicator

• The Fox I [1987-1990] had one body style
• square headlamps
• Trade # 6054

VW Part No. N-019-151-1
• totally amber front turn signals
• additional turn signals/parking lights in the bumper
• and totally plastic rear lights
• The Fox II [1991-1993] had a slightly modified body style
• Fox II-specific headlamps [bulb #9004]
• Did Brazilian VWs have H4 headlights?  Anyone?
• turn signals which are amber only on the side of the car, clear at the front
• black inserts in the place of the additional front turn signals
• rear lights with a black plastic frame around them
• The hubcaps on the GL models were changed from the Fox I to the Fox II
• The exterior rear window seal is different
• The Fox I has a black-painted chrome insert around the rear window, which is prone to weathering
• The Fox II has a different seal which has a "gutter" built into it.  This really helps with controlling the amount of water riding around on the rear window at highway speeds
• 1990 models (Fox I body style) also had this seal with a "gutter" built in. (Thanks Jason.)
• On the Fox I, a "puddle" of water would end up riding around the middle of the rear window, seriously hindering rear visibility.  The "gutter seal" guides most of this water down the sides of the window, effectively eliminating the "puddle" from forming
• Early Foxes (1987 & 1988 models for sure) had 2 extra towing hooks in the front, for a total of 4

• Were towing hitches ever dealer-installed?
• Help here

• ?