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2007 Elantra vs VW Rabbit

140 messages,  Last post on Apr 27, 2007 at 5:43 AM

You are in the Hyundai Elantra Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Elantra, Volkswagen Rabbit, Sedan

Messages Page 12 of 14

#111 of 140 Re: auto mags reviewers [ben911] by eldaino

Mar 29, 2007 (6:53 am)

Replying to: ben911 (Mar 29, 2007 6:32 am)
since i have real world experience with both cars, i can attest to the ups and downs of both.
 
The civic's ligheter chassis and overall lower stance make it 'feel' like its easier to toss around. Its regular rack and pinion steering make it feel a TINY bit more connected to the road.
 
The rabbit acheives the same exact numbers, it just doesn't 'feel' as organic as the civc. Having said that, i think the rabbit, with its elctromechanical steering, has the most fluid and connected to the road feeling of any car equipped with such a steering setup, and the smoothness of it outweighs the civics overall.
 
I wouldn't call the elantra sportier at all; if anything the engine is just as thrashy, given that many people in various magazines have referred to it as so in higher rpms, whereas very few have commented on the rabbits 'thrashiness' except maybe on edmunds.(or did they? Maybe its just rabbit haters. )
 
I like the new civic, and think that it has personality; but its being washed out with the sheer amount of people who own them.
 
I plan on keeping my bunny for awhile, and think that the pros on this car (torque, absolute best interior materials, soldidity, mild exclusivity) outweight the pros (at least for me) on the civic.(gas mileage, TINY bit better feedback on steering, high end power and redline.)
 
the elantra, civic and rabbit are good at a--->b cars, i just personally like the rabbit for that task more.

#112 of 140 Re: auto mags reviewers [eldaino] by backy

Mar 29, 2007 (7:14 am)

Replying to: eldaino (Mar 29, 2007 6:53 am)
Actually, I've seen multiple reviews note the "thrashiness" of the Rabbit's engine, e.g. MT's COTY review.
 
I would never claim the new Elantra sedan is "sportier" than the Rabbit. The Elantra is obviously aimed at more of an econo-luxo market, as evidenced by its interior styling and smooth, quiet ride. But in handling it is no slouch, just not as crisp as the best handlers in the class. One thing to keep in mind is that we have yet to see a sport-tuned variant of the Elantra, ala Elantra GT. That could come with the new hatch, which is expected to be unveiled at the New York Auto Show next month.

#113 of 140 Re: auto mags reviewers [backy] by eldaino

Mar 29, 2007 (7:34 am)

Replying to: backy (Mar 29, 2007 7:14 am)
Actually, I've seen multiple reviews note the "thrashiness" of the Rabbit's engine, e.g. MT's COTY review
 
i still disagree with this notion, its not thrashiness, its how a five cylinder sounds, very similar to the s40's acutally and some people like it or hate it.
 
I may not work for mt, but i do own the car, and spend a lot of time in it on a day to day basis, unlike them.
 
I cant wait for the elantra hatch!

#114 of 140 Re: auto mags reviewers [eldaino] by backy

Mar 29, 2007 (8:42 am)

Replying to: eldaino (Mar 29, 2007 7:34 am)
And unlike professional automotive reviewers like those at MT, you don't test cars for a living, drive many different cars back-to-back under the same conditions, and don't have a personal stake in the review, i.e. they typically don't own the car they are reviewing so they don't mind pointing out things that are less than perfect when they see/hear them.
 
The bottom line is that the Rabbit and Elantra are small cars with small engines, and I don't expect either of them to be V8-esque quiet, especially under hard acceleration. I like a car to be quiet when cruising, and I don't have a problem with either car on that score, at legal speeds or even a little more.

#115 of 140 Re: auto mags reviewers [backy] by eldaino

Mar 29, 2007 (1:13 pm)

Replying to: backy (Mar 29, 2007 8:42 am)
neither do i. Ive never refrained from pointing out what is wrong, or what i wish could be different in my rabbit.
 
I don't have a problem with the new elantra's engine either.
 
But no one has ever called the 2.5 in the rabbit 'downright annoying'.

#116 of 140 Re: auto mags reviewers [eldaino] by backy

Mar 29, 2007 (1:28 pm)

Replying to: eldaino (Mar 29, 2007 1:13 pm)
Except maybe when they pull up to the gas pump?

#117 of 140 Re: auto mags reviewers [backy] by eldaino

Mar 29, 2007 (1:42 pm)

Replying to: backy (Mar 29, 2007 1:28 pm)
in that case they need to think about all the other cars that could possibly be 'annoying' in that sense.
 
Me? My bunny hops along and isn't too thirsty at all.

#118 of 140 Re: auto mags reviewers [backy] by snakeweasel

Mar 29, 2007 (3:35 pm)

Replying to: backy (Mar 29, 2007 1:28 pm)
Or when they pull up to their mechanics garage.

#119 of 140 Re: auto mags reviewers [snakeweasel] by eldaino

Mar 30, 2007 (8:53 am)

Replying to: snakeweasel (Mar 29, 2007 3:35 pm)
don't think i'll have that problem.

#120 of 140 Re: auto mags reviewers [eldaino] by snakeweasel

Mar 30, 2007 (4:05 pm)

Replying to: eldaino (Mar 30, 2007 8:53 am)
Oh, I thought you had a VW.

Messages Page 12 of 14

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