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Volkswagen Rabbit

693 messages,  Last post on Nov 28, 2009 at 4:29 PM

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#690 of 693 Bought a 2009 Rabbit S 2 Door Stick Shift this weekend by micweb Jun 23, 2009 (2:00 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. Replies to this message: backy (Jun 23, 2009 7:33 pm)
#691 of 693 Re: Bought a 2009 Rabbit S 2 Door Stick Shift this weekend [micweb] by backy Jun 23, 2009 (7:33 pm)
Replying to: micweb (Jun 23, 2009 2:00 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 693 Tranny question by inajoong Jun 24, 2009 (8:21 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 693 Farewell Rabbit, we hardly knew ye by backy Nov 28, 2009 (4:29 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.

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