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2006 Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit - READ ONLY

83 messages,  Last post on Jul 05, 2006 at 7:03 AM

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What is this discussion about? Volkswagen Golf, Hatchback

Messages Page 7 of 9

#54 of 83 Re: With respect... [jrct9454] by bricknord

Apr 17, 2006 (3:36 pm)

Replying to: jrct9454 (Apr 17, 2006 5:52 am)
Not so much based on nostalgia, based on experience. My parents had 1978, 1980, and 1982 Rabbits over the years. I personally owned a 1982 Hatch, a 1981 Pickup, and my current 1983 Rabbit. I've also had VWs from as old as 1966. I have owned the Gen 1 "Rabbit" ( Golf elsewhere ), as well as Gen 1, 2, 3, and 4 Jettas, most recently a 2003 Jetta. My wife had a 2000 New Beetle. I forgot to throw in the Vanagon Westfalia Camper I had, and the 412 Sedan from 1974.
 
So, if nostalgia is based on positive experience, I guess you can call it that. If all the VWs I have owned had been tons of problems, I wouldn't be back. They weren't any more problematic than the 1990 Subaru Loyale, 1982 Honda Civic, or 1976 Toyota Corollas I owned from the same general era.
 
Not here to defend VW as a whole. Here to say that based on other family members owning 3 Rabbits, and me owning 3 Rabbits, we must have gotten 6 random good ones.
 
BTW, the valve seal issue was on the pre-1978 rabbits if I remember, and was addressed by a factory campaign. You will find that Asian and Domestic auto makers have such campaigns and issues with regularity. For instance to name a few, the Toyota sludge issue, the Honda Element windshields that stress crack, the known issues with Honda and Acura auto transmissions ( Accord, TL, etc ), Ford ignition switch recalls...
 
All I can say is we had 6 good Rabbits, and that is what created the positive nostalgia, and similar nostalgia among others with good Rabbit memories is what keeps the market for old used Rabbits good.
 
Now, if you want to talk Dashers or Vanagons, that is another story, there were issues!

#55 of 83 Re: With respect... [bricknord] by cosmo

Apr 17, 2006 (5:39 pm)

Replying to: bricknord (Apr 17, 2006 3:36 pm)
Easy on the Dasher, Matt. I had a '77 wagon that never needed even one minor repair in eight years. Then my teenage son totaled it right after my ex-wife got it in the divorce settlement. (My son didn't get even a scratch.) I knew that car was way too good for her.

#56 of 83 Hmmmm by harrychezt

May 25, 2006 (9:15 pm)

All I know of VW's is from 2 guys I knew; one an old friend, and one from the U.S. Coast Guard, back in 1993-94.
 
My friend had a 73 VW Beetle(Bug), orange. He had it back around 81-82. It ran fine, was a little noisey.
 
The "Coastie", he got a Fox(VW) sedan...and it was in the shop more than at the USCG Station.
He really was angry over it.
 
1 good, 1 bad experience.
same for us with Nissan:90 sentra great, 97 200 sx, bad.
 
Anyhow, I sat in a "golf" in March, at the local autoshow, and was underwhelmed.
This new version looks better(interior shots, on various parts of the net, that I have seen, are better than the Golf I sat in).
Sounds like a lot more everything, too, for the Rabbit(vs Golf).
 
Hey, if Ford can have a Mustang.....
 
I just think that the VW Rabbit name sounds better than the VW Golf.
 
Anyhow..... I thought this thing was to be out by now(Memorial Day Weekend) and out in full force by June
Haven't heard a thing about it yet.
 
I will have to take a special trip, but when they appear, i will try to arrange a test drive.
 
Take Care/Not Offense

#57 of 83 OMG! by nippononly

Jun 01, 2006 (7:29 am)

PLEASE, let's not revisit the days of the Dasher!
 
I heard July 7th for first availability for the Rabbit, and I can't wait. I really want to check it out. It would be nice to have a competitive hatchback from VW - I have had, and sold, a Matrix. Decent car but nothing very nice about it.
 
I read some place that the base price of the new Rabbit would be $15,600, but I find that hard to believe given the old Golf based higher. I may also be tempted to try out the 4-door GTI, which I believe will arrive around the same time.
 
The question is, will VW sell a "stripped" version of the Rabbit? I would want A/C, CD, and cruise. Most other stuff could be optional for me. But the cheapest Jetta is much more comprehensively equipped than that, with a price to match. I assume the new Golf/Rabbit would follow suit? So I figure more like $18K for a base price, probably with those items I mentioned and all the safety equipment (6 airbags and ABS for starters) too.
 
I figure its best competition would come from Fit, which would be more bare-bones but also cost less, and the Matrix/Vibe, which are bigger but would again be more bare-bones for the same money (but with much better fuel economy). Perhaps also the Subaru Impreza? That's a faster car, again less plush than Golf, but AWD makes up for the poor fuel economy. All of that assumes that hatchback buyers won't just buy anything in the same price range, but will specifically want a HATCH. (as I would)
 
Oh yeah, one more would be the Mazda3 - a stylish car that is eating up the sales charts. And now the Versa is coming along, still an unknown as it arrives at the same time, but with a lot less power (and a lower price). Rabbit will have its work cut out for it. Especially given that there is so little financial support from the factory for VWs in America.

#58 of 83 I got onto the VW dealership search thing by harrychezt

Jun 01, 2006 (12:38 pm)

for Dayton Ohio area, and one had 3 of them listed?
I e-mailed another dealership and they said "coming soon"(June?).
 
Could be. Hyundai Sonata (last year) was announced for June, but there were models on lots by Memorial Day Weekend last year(for the new 06).
 
Maybe someplaces will get a few "early", before 4th of July weekend?

#59 of 83 Re: OMG! [nippononly] by micweb

Jun 01, 2006 (1:57 pm)

Replying to: nippononly (Jun 01, 2006 7:29 am)
According to the best information I could scrounge up:
 
1. 2 door is 14,990 plus destination so your number is about right. Comes with pw, pdl, remote, pm, aircon, cd. Pretty well equipped. Also should come with VW's great "tip up" front seats for easier access to the rear. If you want an idea of the front seat room, rear seat room, or trunk space, check out the 2006 GTI - but keep in mind the front end looks a lot different, and the upholstery and other trim will be less plush. The only options are an automatic for a grand, and stability control for about $300.
 
2. In the former Golf line up, the 4 door cost a lot more at first, but the price differential dwindled to a few hundred dollars at the end (the trims and features became more comparable). The New Rabbit apparently has a $2,000 price differential, but no one is sure if the content is correspondingly higher.
 
3. Rumor has it VW is revamping its pricing strategy on the 2007 Jetta, and the 4 door Jetta and 4 door Rabbit may end up being within a $1000 of each other, excluding variations based on optional equipment.
 
A HATCH as you mention is great and a real rarity over here (USA) these days. One of the reasons I owned 2001 and 2004 Golfs was the hatch - a lot of storage space while seating for 4 people (or even 5, in a pinch)PLUS the hauling capacity of a small station wagon when you flip the rear seat cushions towards the front and fold the rear seat tops down.
 
The trick is to find a great dealer - there are still a few out there. Maintenance is low and the VW warranty is great - 4yr/50,000 miles bumper to bumper, plus another year and 10,000 miles on the power train. BUT a warranty is only as good at the dealer (which is true even for Toyotas and Hondas), and since VW's can be buggy (pun intended) it takes a good dealer to keep you, the driver, happy.
 
The reason higher defect/problems is not a problem in Europe (where VW is usually #1) is because you can get the problems fixed right away, with a lot of good dealers to choose from. Over here people expect to do lube shop oil changes and corner mechanic maintenance, and with a model like VW, with fewer units on the road (hence less experience with them), that can lead to trouble.

#60 of 83 Re: OMG! [micweb] by jeffyscott

Jun 01, 2006 (5:52 pm)

Replying to: micweb (Jun 01, 2006 1:57 pm)
The impression I got from another site is the base 2 door rabbit is equipped about like the VE Jetta (I understand they are going to drop the value edition name). Meanwhile, the 4 door Rabbit seemed like it would be equipped about like the Jetta 2.5 (without the vinyl seats...which are also supposed to become optional on the Jetta 2.5).
 
I think because of this the cheapest Jetta will actually be cheaper than the cheapest 4 door Rabbit.
 
Like you, I have also read that $14,900 is to be base price for the two door Rabbit.

#61 of 83 .... by harrychezt

Jun 01, 2006 (6:30 pm)

1) called VW today, and the man said they would have brochures, etc, soon, and cars out soon. That was all he said that he knew.
 
2) Does this vehicle have any options like a sunroof? Even the new Accent , you can order a sunroof these days(couldn't before).
 
take care/not offense.

#62 of 83 Re: .... [harrychezt] by allhorizon

Jun 02, 2006 (12:45 am)

Replying to: harrychezt (Jun 01, 2006 6:30 pm)
I agree with what others have said here. Your price was a tad higher because it included destination. Sunroof (and a few other items) are likely available options on the 4-door, only --- not on the 2-door. With the initial release, the 2-door is bargain-basement (Macy's, not Walmart), the 4-door can be optioned out. I also expect changes in the upcoming model year(s), if the Rabbit sells well enough. Finally, late 2008/early 2009 looks like the introduction of the MKVI, which will likely change things around, once again.
 
I'd suggest spending the $$ on ESP - well worth it.

#63 of 83 Re: .... [harrychezt] by cjdecker

Jun 21, 2006 (8:12 pm)

Replying to: harrychezt (Jun 01, 2006 6:30 pm)
I just bought the 2006 VW Rabbit yesterday, here in Annapolis, MD. I LOVE IT!!! I too owned a Rabbit before. My first car was a 1981 Convertible VW Rabbit, red w/white top and white interior, every high school girl's fun dream car. It definitely had its fair share of problems, broke down EVER day, never had first gear, etc. but all in all it was a GREAT car. And the new one is FANTABULOUS!
 
For those wondering about the price, I bought a 4 door, automatic w/a sunroof, 6-disk in dash player, heated seats, upgraded to 16" alloy wheels, added ESP and after a bit of dealing (okay, ALOT and 2 dealerships), the final price was $19,600. According to them, standard on a rabbit includes the CD player, heated seats, heated mirros etc.
 
Out of all the dealerships in MD, I did not see ANY 2 doors, but then again I wasn't looking for one. I'll post later if any problems occur, but so far, its a DREAM!

Messages Page 7 of 9

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