Anyone have a new VW Rabbit?

[tomokun]

3. The diesel model of both the Rabbit and the Jetta should be coming back to the states soon. It's dependent on the upcoming diesel restrictions and implementation of ultra low sulfur diesel. Those models easily get well north of 40ish MPG.

Isnt the Jetta TDI still for sale? I mean the Beetle TDI Is still for sale here as well.

GLI though = <3 (as i steal my friends package 2)

 

[rontheancient]

TDI's are still on sale for the rest of this year, including those states with higher emissions standards like CA, but diesels there are taken the instant they land at port, especially the V10 TDI Touareg. VW is trying to get as much diesels into the US before the Low Sulfur Fuel law comes into effect in 2007 (that will virtually stop VW and MB from selling diesels in the US until mancfacturers can rework the engines for the new diesel) and some of the TDI's being sold now are 2007's

 

[GoCubsGo]

It looks pretty cool. Just watch out for Volkswagen's outrageous repair and maintenance prices. Its seems like every time my moms Touareg goes in it has like $3000 work done (luckly it is under warranty). My uncle has a 2003 Passat V6 and he has spent a fortune keeping it running as well.

This is very true and it is also what drove me away from the Touareg, which I love.

 

[balamw]

However, if you change your final paragraph to cite individuality instead of reliability, Honda and Toyota are both lacking. I will give the Honda NSX and the S3000 good marks, but I'm betting they're worse on reliability than other Honda models.

Agreed. Definitely lacking in the fahrvegnugen department too. Which is why I'll bury my passat before I give it up. If I'm going to be on the road for over two hours a day I'd better enjoy the ride.... (Even though my wife's old 1999 Honda CR-V was kinda fun to drive every once in a while... I definitely don't get much driving enjoyment out of our 2004 Odyssey, but it has been great when we need to go somewhere with the kids and grandma or one of the kids' friends want to tag along...)

It all depends on what your particular needs are at the time... all I'm saying is that I've spend more time in the shop than I'd like with my VW.

B

 

[Stridder44]

Ahh, stay away from VWs. My mom was looking at a Passat to replace her Cutlass Supreme, and I read up and saw their decline. I immediately directed her to a Japanese Honda or Toyota. She now happily has a Honda Accord.


EDIT: VWs don't get the awe-insperational fuel economy(Honda Accord V6 240 hp:25mpg/City---VolksWagen Passat V6 197 hp:18 mpg)

Well that's not entirely true. I had a 98 Jetta and now an 04 Golf and neither have had any problems so far.

 

[Stridder44]

FWIW:

1. The 2.5 engine in the new Rabbit and Jetta isn't that bad. It has nice low end torque which is nice when you consider when you'll be using it most, such as getting on the freeway on ramp. I'd personally perfer low end grunt over a high-revving motor, but that's just a personal pref. Also, while estimated EPA milage is nice, it all depends on how you're driving the car. I could be driving a Fit, but if I leadfoot it all the time, my milage is going to suffer.

2. I wouldn't be so quick to charge the new Mk.V Rabbits and Jettas with the same reliability problems as the Mk.IV models. It's a completely different platform.

3. The diesel model of both the Rabbit and the Jetta should be coming back to the states soon. It's dependent on the upcoming diesel restrictions and implementation of ultra low sulfur diesel. Those models easily get well north of 40ish MPG.

That was my next question was what people thought of the 2.5i engine. Im assuming the 5th cylinder picks up the a/c and other junk?

 

[bousozoku]

Agreed. Definitely lacking in the fahrvegnugen department too. Which is why I'll bury my passat before I give it up. If I'm going to be on the road for over two hours a day I'd better enjoy the ride.... (Even though my wife's old 1999 Honda CR-V was kinda fun to drive every once in a while... I definitely don't get much driving enjoyment out of our 2004 Odyssey, but it has been great when we need to go somewhere with the kids and grandma or one of the kids' friends want to tag along...)

It all depends on what your particular needs are at the time... all I'm saying is that I've spend more time in the shop than I'd like with my VW.

B

I know that feeling. My Golf has stayed clean because the dealer finishes by washing it. After the multiple incidents with the window regulators, I told the VW consumer line that it was probably my last VW. The fact that the vehemently denied the problem and yelled at the service manager for telling the truth didn't sit well, either.

My next car will probably be a Mazda but their cars aren't much different overall in reliability. Every Mazda I've had has been loads of fun, though.

 

[Stridder44]

I know that feeling. My Golf has stayed clean because the dealer finishes by washing it. After the multiple incidents with the window regulators, I told the VW consumer line that it was probably my last VW. The fact that the vehemently denied the problem and yelled at the service manager for telling the truth didn't sit well, either.

My next car will probably be a Mazda but their cars aren't much different overall in reliability. Every Mazda I've had has been loads of fun, though.

I have been considering the Mazda3 (grand touring or whatnot) simply for the bang you get per buck. However I wonder if the materials feel cheap and how well-built it is (Im used to my german engineering).

 

[bousozoku]

I have been considering the Mazda3 (grand touring or whatnot) simply for the bang you get per buck. However I wonder if the materials feel cheap and how well-built it is (Im used to my german engineering).

I tried the cars at the Orlando auto show and even the cheapest models felt good. I don't care for leather so it wouldn't matter whether it used Connolly (sp?) hides or not. The interior switchgear was solid but didn't seem as smooth as VW. The thing that bothered me was that the Mazda 3 felt better than my Golf. On the other hand, the Subaru Impreza WRX didn't feel nearly as good and was truly lacking as a day-to-day car.

 

[joepunk]

IMO FWIW

I think that the new Rabbit styling will grow on me. I like the price point of the Toyota Yaris but find that ABS is not standard except with the most expensive option (on the website). Very annoying that basic safety features are options on some vehicles. The Fit looks nice but, IIRC, the paddle shifters on the steering wheel are only available on the sport version. Again annoying it me. The milage of the VW Rabbit is ridiculous with todays price at the pumps in the US.

Has the VW Rabbit been tested by say Consumer Reports or such others yet? I'm interested in what the independent reviews say on those small cars and what they get in MPGs.

 

[Stridder44]

IMO FWIW

I think that the new Rabbit styling will grow on me. I like the price point of the Toyota Yaris but find that ABS is not standard except with the most expensive option (on the website). Very annoying that basic safety features are options on some vehicles. The Fit looks nice but, IIRC, the paddle shifters on the steering wheel are only available on the sport version. Again annoying it me. The milage of the VW Rabbit is ridiculous with todays price at the pumps in the US.

Has the VW Rabbit been tested by say Consumer Reports or such others yet? I'm interested in what the independent reviews say on those small cars and what they get in MPGs.

Yeah 22 MPG is pretty bad but I wonder what the Mazda3 (grand touring) gets?

 

[bousozoku]

Yeah 22 MPG is pretty bad but I wonder what the Mazda3 (grand touring) gets?

The way city mpg is calculated really failed my way of driving. Instead of the (I believe) rated 23 mpg for city, I get around 30. I've seen a high of 35 and a low of 25 but under normal driving, it's right around 30 with a 1999 2.0 litre engine.

From what I've read and heard, the more economical cars will get better numbers and cars and trucks with larger engines will get lower city numbers than rated.

 

[Stridder44]

The awesome thing is the 07 Rabbit has a AUX line in in the glove box and a bulit in iPod adapter in the center console (inside one of the storage compartments, not out in the open). Damn these things are hot...

 

[balamw]

The awesome thing is the 07 Rabbit has a AUX line in in the glove box and a bulit in iPod adapter in the center console (inside one of the storage compartments, not out in the open). Damn these things are hot...

Do you know if the iPod adapter use the dock connector or the headphone jack?

(Wondering if the new HU might fit in my B5).

B

 

[abqhudson]

Bought a new Rabbit Saturday.

Today I received my Sept MotorTrend.

According to Motor Trend editors their 5 star (Drive before you die) cars (in alpha order) are:
Bentley Continental GT
Chev Corvette
Ferrari 599 GTB
Ferrari F430
Jaguar XK
Lamborghini Gallardo
Lexus LS600h L
Mercedes S class
Porsche 911
Porsche Cayman
Rolls Royce Phantom
Volkswagen RABBIT

So far I am very pleased with my purchase. Drives great, plenty of pep.

Jim
2006 Rabbit
2004 BMW 530I
2002 BMW 325i is for sale

 

[job]

I have been considering the Mazda3 (grand touring or whatnot) simply for the bang you get per buck. However I wonder if the materials feel cheap and how well-built it is (Im used to my german engineering).

You'd be surprised how nice a Mazda 3 is.

It shares chassis components with the European Ford Focus (a much more upscale car than over here) and the Volvo S40.

Of all the people I know that own one, I haven't heard a single complaint. The build quality is apparently top notch.

With regards to the 2.5 engine, I heard it was developed as a response to the previously slow and archaic 2.0 115hp engine that powered almost all of the entry level VWs.

Personally, I'd drive a Mazda 3 hatch over a Rabbit, but that's just me.