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Volkswagen Rabbit

832 messages,  Last post on Oct 02, 2009 at 6:24 AM

You are in the Volkswagen Rabbit Forum.

What is this discussion about? Volkswagen Rabbit, Volkswagen Golf, Hatchback

Messages Page 70 of 84

#689 of 832 Re: Auto News Article (Continued) by shirotori

Apr 28, 2009 (4:52 am)

Replying to: shirotori (Apr 28, 2009 4:48 am)
When does the next-generation Polo come out, and will it come to the United States?
 
It was at the Geneva auto show in March. We haven't decided whether to bring this vehicle into the United States. We have introduced the hatchback in Europe. We believe -- and dealers have confirmed this -- that the vehicle is too small for the American consumer. We have alternatives, and these could be a Polo sedan and perhaps later a hatchback with more space. We are investigating what model we should start with and when we should start -- in 2011 or 2012.
 
What price are you looking at for the Polo?
 
Under the Jetta -- starting at $13,000 and going up to $15,000.
 
Where does the Jetta fit in your product strategy with the new mid-sized sedan coming?
 
The Jetta successor will be between the Polo and the new mid-sized sedan. It will compete with the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.
 
How big will it be?
 
It will be bigger than today's car, and it will be longer and wider. It comes in the fall of 2010.
 
You are changing the name of the Rabbit back to the Golf with the model change this fall, but will you keep the Jetta name?
 
The naming is not decided. It is one of the strongest nameplates we have in the United States. This is the biggest market. We sold around 100,000 last year.
 
What enhancements will the Golf have when the new generation comes to the United States?
 
The biggest is that we will offer the Golf with TDI diesel technology -- the same engine we have in the Jetta. We believe 30 percent of the Golfs could be sold as diesels.
 
What will the price be?
 
About $17,500, which is where it is right now. We have put in a lot of technology to make the car lighter and more comfortable. It's not that much bigger. The interior design is more refined.
 
Has the recession led you to revise your long-term strategy of selling 1 million units in the United States by 2018?
No. Together, VW and Audi will sell 1 million -- 800,000 for VW and 200,000 for Audi.

#690 of 832 Bought a 2009 Rabbit S 2 Door Stick Shift this weekend by micweb

Jun 23, 2009 (3:00 pm)

Sure has improved (ride, handling, quiet, power) since my last VW Golf, a 2004 4 door 5 speed. Cabin materials and quality are even a little better, but they have always been superb.
 
Engine rpm seem to be 1,000 rpm lower than on the old 2.0.
 
The 2.5 is super smooth, especially compared to the early production run which I test drove when it came out. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was a conventional 4 cylinder with great counterbalancers.
 
Incredible torque and low end power. Takes off like a rocket up to 40 mph. Haven't really opened it up on the freeway or even taken it over 4,500 rpm.
 
Feels like I am going faster than the speedometer indicates, and I am wondering if it reads low/accurate (many speedometers are 5 mph optimistic). The speed doesn't read high on the freeway, but I am keeping up in the fast lane and it DOES feel faster than indicated speed even though the cabin is nicely isolated. Considering that I can drive a Honda Fit (I had a 2008), Toyota Yaris hatchback, Nissan Cube all at the same indicated speed WITHOUT feeling like I am going fast, I am thinking the Rabbit might be going at least 5mph faster than a comparable speedometer reading in the other cars I mentioned.
 
The build quality and materials are fantastic.
 
I had misgivings based on engine glitches (computer glitches? stalling, loss of power) in my 2001 Golf around 43,000 miles. In fact that's the main reason I traded in my 2004 early, under 10,000 miles - it didn't develop any problems but I didn't quite trust it.
 
Anyway I am resigned to owning two commuter cars due to my long commute (share the mileage) and since the other one is a Nissan I feel better about taking the "risk" with this new VW. That and the fact that Consumer Reports customer surveys are outstanding. Anyway odds are I'll trade it in before the warranty runs out, or earlier if weird stuff happens.
 
Anyway I am the happiest I have been in years, in terms of driving experience. Truly a driver's car.

#691 of 832 Re: Bought a 2009 Rabbit S 2 Door Stick Shift this weekend [micweb] by backy

Jun 23, 2009 (8:33 pm)

Replying to: micweb (Jun 23, 2009 3:00 pm)
Congrats on your new Rabbit! I did a similar switch back in April, went from a 2005 Jetta GL 2.0 (with AT though) to a 2007 Rabbit 2 door (with AT also). I liked the Jetta, but had it only 3 months before it was totaled. But I made out OK in the switch, as the Rabbit is clearly a better car than my Jetta. As you noted, more power (I only have 150 hp though), better handling, better interior materials, and more quiet and relaxed on the highway with the low-revving engine (2100 RPM 70 mph with the 6AT--much higher revs on the old Jetta!). I find I have to watch the speedo carefully as it will get over the limit before I know it. The one area that I think the Jetta had an advantage is in ride smoothness--the Rabbit has a firmer ride. Not harsh, but firmer and more tire noise than the Jetta (even though they have the same size rubber, and even the same kind of tires).
 
Both of these cars were VW Certified used cars. The Jetta had 2 years of factory warranty which I extended to 8 years (which I never used of course). The Rabbit has almost 4 years of factory bumper-to-bumper warranty left on it, so that gives me some peace of mind from the VW gremlins. However, the car is pretty basic and the Rabbit has a good reliability record so far, so I don't feel I took that much of a risk and it's a great car for what I paid ($11k + T&L). I plan on holding onto it for at least 8 years, turning it over to my daughter for school in about 3 years. But like you said, I can trade it earlier if "weird stuff" happens.
 
I love my Rabbit! Can't wait to get back into it again after being away from home the past week. I had to drive an Impala for a week.

#692 of 832 Tranny question by inajoong

Jun 24, 2009 (9:21 am)

I have a 07 vw rabbit. It has one of those manumatic/shifttronic things that lets me shift manually. Does using this create more wear and tear on my transmission than just putting it in D and driving normally? I sometimes engine brake.

#693 of 832 Farewell Rabbit, we hardly knew ye by backy

Nov 28, 2009 (5:29 pm)

I said goodbye to my 2007 Rabbit yesterday. It was a great car which I loved to drive, and cost me only gas and insurance during the 8 months I owned it. But my wife has a bad back and it was hard for her to climb in and out of it (although she too liked driving it). Also, we recently sold our minivan and were left with two small cars. So I decided we needed a bigger car. I traded the Rabbit even-up on a 2007 Sonata, which has a higher driver's seat and a lot more room, plus the practicality of four doors. It's a better car for our situation right now. Maybe in a couple of years when we need to add another car again, I'll be able to get a Golf, or maybe find a great deal on a VW Certified 2009 Rabbit, like I did with the 2007 Rabbit.
 
FWIW, I paid $11k + T&L for the Rabbit eight months ago, and the Sonata's discounted price was $10,988. So with the even-up trade, the Rabbit was probably the best car I've ever owned in terms of cost of ownership.

#694 of 832 front fog light grill by inajoong

Mar 30, 2010 (8:41 am)

Hey guys, I have a 2007 rabbit. Someone did a hit and go on a parking lot and now i have to replace the small grill where the fog light would be(i don't have fog lights). Do any of you know where i can get this online?

#695 of 832 Volkswagen Rabbit TDI (Diesel) - when will we get it? by Sylvia

Oct 02, 2009 (6:24 am)

#696 of 832 Volkswagen Rabbit TDI (Diesel) - when will we get it? by Sylvia

Jul 20, 2006 (8:18 pm)

Volkswagen Rabbit TDI (Diesel) - when will we get it?

#697 of 832 yes, bring on the TDI! by nippononly

Jul 18, 2006 (8:46 pm)

The new Rabbit with a diesel pulling 40 mpg and a price (4-door) staying under $20K base would be unbeatable.
 
Having said that, the configuration of this car to buy right now is the base 2-door model with no options but the alloy upgrade. For about $16K you get a car with all the bells and whistles and the nicest interior at the price. You just have to be aware you are trading mpg for pound-feet, which in the Rabbit are brimming over the top!
 
I still would probably be planning to sell at the expiration of the B2B warranty though - VW will need five years of solid reliability before I will trust them beyond the warranty.

#698 of 832 Re: yes, bring on the TDI! [nippononly] by jeffyscott

Jul 19, 2006 (1:11 pm)

Replying to: nippononly (Jul 18, 2006 8:46 pm)
VW will need five years of solid reliability before I will trust them beyond the warranty.
 
Well, you get enough warranty to cover that study period...4 year bumper to bumper and 5 year power train and its mechanical twin (Jetta) has been out for over a year.

Messages Page 70 of 84

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