VikingDJ

My dad purshced an 06 Rabbit today, and had me come along for negotiaions and to make sure he didn't get ripped on trade in. I was forutnate enough to take that car for a long test drive, and get a real feel for it. I drove the GTI a few months ago, and naturally this car is quite tame in compsarison, but I gott say for the money, this is one fun machine. Even withits 150hp anfd 170 torque, it's really a nice peppy little machine. It looks sharp, and the car drives so nice. the gearbox is just so much smoother thenmy sti and s2000, and the overal feel of the car is magnificant. It shifts effortlessly.

The interior is very nice, and the car comes very wel equipped (6 disc mp3 changer, stability control, heated seats, ect ect. I have fallen in love with vws all over again, and most likely I'll be going back to my original roots, after my temporary time with my sti. I guess it depends on what's more important, but I give props to VW. that car has exceptional handling for it's 17k price tag, and just feels like quality inside and out. my dad is very pleased, as well he should be. What a great affordable daly driver that car is. Jury is still out on reliability, but i have to say I was impressed what what that car did. Dealer welcomed me to drive it hard, and that I did. Yes, it's very slow compared to my sti, but what a great smooth feel of low end torque, and a very smooth quiet ride, with an incredible turning radius.

Once I stop spoiling myself with two premium cars, this is definitely a candidate for the sti as a replacement beater comutter car, and investing my money more wisely down the road. I had my fun, and it might be time to settle into something more economical, and classy looking. It's changed my view on VW totally now, and I just have this feeling my Subaru days are numbered.

juanjux

I can't understand how anyone can fall in love with those FWD minivans having an STI. Better gearbox than an S2000? o_O

VikingDJ

I'm not saying it has a better gearbox necessarily, I'm talking about how it shifts for every day driving, and how much more civilized it is on an every day hectic commute to work. It's effortless, and there's not one hint of a noise whatsoever when you shift. There's no noises in the tranny, and you can hardly hear the enginre, but you can feel the engine accelerate. There's not that rough feel. I suppose that's a sacrifce you make with a performance car. This is basically a toned down GTI. If I looked at an STI as just a fun summer car, there would be no comparison. I love my STI, but with out nasty roads, a long work commute, gas soon soaring over $3 a gallon, very uncomfortable to drive at times, loud cabin noise, ect ect, it's easy to get in a car like a Rabbit and appreciate just what you get for the money, and imagine a fully loaded economical and in my opinion better looking car. Minus the massive hp and performance, it's very fun to drive. I'd take this car any day of the week over a base model Impreza that's for sure. Interior is way better as well, with obvious much higher quality build and effort put into it..

With that said, my play money is going into my S2000, not my STI. The STI is my beater car, but it's an awfully expensive beater car at that building loads of miles fast. It's time to start checking out a more affordable car, that I can still enjoy driving on a daily basis,and putting money away into a real investment. The Rabbit happens to be one of those candidates.

Most enthusiasts and fanbois can't understand or separate a fun enthusiast car with a daily driver. I currently own two highly popular enthusiast cars, and the S2000 is my fun raw machine I have loads of fun opening up on a back road, and flying around turns with. I am not saying I'm gonna unload my STi for a base rabbit. I'm merely pointing out how this is a great car for the money, and is fun to drive. I guess the reality is that I've chosen the S2000 over the STI as a fun car, so now I'm exploring an affordable daly commuter car to offer me more comfort, more affordability. As for falling in love with a VW, I guess it's just like any rx8 owners, or fans of other cars. There's just a way about them that draws you in. FYI, those Rabbits are flying off the showroom floor. Now that I got a full drive with one, and I can objectively look at as a $17k daily driver affordable economy car like most of ou on here cannot, I am commending VW for building a very fine affordable machine. Not sure if I could ever live with only 150hp instead of 300hp, but it doesnt' make me appreciate that car any less. I simply find good in all cars, no matter what they are and what they are bulilt for. It would be nice to see others on this forum that can do same. amd not be so partial to one make or model.

juanjux

Hi. My girlfriend as a Rabbit. That's why I'm saying what I'm saying. The interior quality and materials is not bad, but is worse (for example) than in the RX-8; we're not speaking Porsche quality here. The gearbox is... mmm my mastering of english is not enought... "wobbly??", the car is noisy (then, it's a diesel), it feels heavy at twisty roads the suspension is too soft for my taste. Also, I don't feel notably more confortable on the Rabbit (Golf here) than on the RX-8, I hate being seated soo high.

But I see your point, if I needed to have a daily driver (my RX-8 is not, I use public transportation to get to work) a Golf would be one of the top 5 candidates, if only a little expensive as such (a Seat Leon, which is basically the same car with another skin but cheaper would be better in that role, an Alfa 147 is nicer and more fun but not cheaper, a Focus is worse but much much cheaper, etc.)

PS: Gas is 6$ a gallon here, and we earn less on average ;-)

VikingDJ

Well,. now you are comparing a base model Rabbit to an RX8 that costs significantly more to own. One is a sports car, the other is a nice comfortable economical daily driver. Not even in same league at all, so don't even bother comparing. I am not going to do that. I've owned an RX8, and that car was amazing and in a totally different league. It was also a boatload moe money to buy as well. Different class here. That wasn't my point. I was just reviewing my opinion on the rabbit in it's price class. If you would like to compare it to another car in the 16-18k price range, and argue what's significantly better then it, then I'm all ears. Naturally I'm not about to compare this car to something out of it's range. I was just pointing out how with my massive miles I drive, already having an S2000, that even this little old 150hp Rabbit can indeed make a nice replacement for the STI. If I didn't have an 06 S2000 sitting in my garage, then there wouldn't be a chance in hell I'd consider unloading an STI for a Rabbit. I'm talking car for the money, and after that test drive, I simply was impressed, just as I was with the GTI. IN fact I'm more impressed with the Rabbit really, because it's a lot cheaper, but feels almost as nice. There's a reaosn why these cars are flying off the showroom floor, and after my test drive, I discovered that reason. Great value PERIOD.

presequel

lol, you did not just turn this into an rx8 vs rabbit thread......right juanjux? how can you even compare the rabbit to rx8 in any aspect.

juanjux

Because he was talking about replacing an STI with a rabbit maybe?

Japan8

And where does the RX-8 fit into that conversation?

zoom44

on average europeans work less hours each day and have more days off than americans

how is spain this time of year?

saturn

Yeah, doesn't most of Europe take the entire month of August off?

Ike

They all go home in the middle of the day and have sex with their beautiful european wives and take a nap before going back to finish off their 5 hour work day. Lastly, like Lucky Charms, their food is magically delicious.

saturn

There's so many things out of that statement I want...

Moostafa29

Nice, yeah the Rabbit looks like a nice little car.

dillsrotary

why don't rabbits make noise while they're having sex???? they have cotton *****

saturn

Hahaha, awesome.

RotoRocket

iTrader: (1)

VW really missed the whole "point" with the new Rabbit, IMO.

With gas prices at $3+, and maybe head to $4, they design a compact with the gas mileage of a midsize.

The Rabbit gets about 25mpg, which is about the same as the Jetta 2.0T or Passat 2.0T.

Worse yet, but a Rabbit (4 door) with decent options pushes 20k.

VikingDJ

My dad is a gas mileage freak. I'll let you know what he gets. I'm almost certain he'll get over 30mpg on highway, and about 24-25 city easily. That's about 1mpg less then his 01 model he traded in, but also with 35 more hp and about 50 more feet of torque which is highly noticable. And for 17 grand, you get a lot of nice standard features including heated seats 8 speaker 6 disc mp3 cd disc changer, all power options or course, engine immobilizer key, abs, 6 airbags, ect ect. Stability control was only $450 extra which is a pretty nice price IMO. I can only go by my opinion, and for 18 grand total with the stability control and alloy wheel package, he got himself quite a nice car, and he's absolutely thrilled. You'd have to drive one to really know whether you think the car is worth it or not. I just hit reality sometimes when I'm watching myself take a 30k STI and driving it into ground like it's a toyota corolla. It just seems so unfair to the STI to treat it this way, and take it right to the grave yard ( I drive 25-30k miles per year). I doubt I'll make the trade, but I think my next daily driver will be a VW.

Japan8

So you'd say that a GTI makes for a great daily driver? I know this is about the Rabbit, but I just thought I'd toss that out there. Especially with the Mazdaspeed 3 coming out... how do you think the GTI measures up?

VikingDJ

That's a good question. The Rabbit is a tamed GTI , much like the the WRX is a tamed STI, and the Base Impreza is a tamed WRX, so it's all good. As of now, I'd take a new Rabbit over the new Civic, and a Mazda 3. When we are talking GTi vs Civic Si vs MS3, I have no idea. the MS3 is gonna have quite a bit more mower then the other two, so in that category it would likely win. I'm gonna have to go test drive the Civic SI, before comparing it to the GTI. I don't like making comparisons without having driven a car first. We'll see.

tx-rx

Having moved from a Jetta IV 1.8t to an RX-8 I cannot be happier. I was a VW driver for a long time starting with an '81 rabbit deisel, then a short break to a 74 datsun 260z (which I modified a lot- fun car) then back to an '84 rabbit GTI (lots of fun, also modd'd) then a VW fox , after that a Jetta III GT and finally the '01 Jetta 1.8t. I have had good luck with the VWs and was impressed with the reliability & workmanship up until the last Jetta. It was a neat car, but I constantly had problems with the engine management system (audi 1.8t cars had them too) and the interior dash & controls had a "rubbery" coating that could not stand up to Texas heat and peeled and was easily scratched. The exterior paint seemed to scratch easily too. Other than that, the 1.8t was an excellent engine. It pulled strong from down low in the rpms all the way up.

My RX-8 is a much nicer car than the VW, as it should be. It took me a little bit to get used to rear wheel drive and the different power range of th RX, but I would not go back to a VW anytime soon. When you start adding on options to the VW the $$ is not too different from an RX-8 even with the MT sport package. I also looked at the 350z & mustang GT before deciding on the Mazda, the mazda was the best deal overall. The RX is fine as a daily driver for me

tjbourgoyne

That reminds me, what do you see when the Pilsbury Doghboy bends over? Doghnuts

Winfree

Thanks for the Rabbit review. A car for chores is almost a necessity because you hate to put 6 cub scouts with icecream in an 8! Gas milage is now the real kicker - with war jitters, possible Gulf hurricanes, and the desire to make profits, the price of gas is a real sharp issue!

saturn

How is that Bunny Girl hasn't posted here yet. I would think she'd be all over a car named Rabbit.

juanjux

In Madrid, very hot. 95-107F most summer. Then it's 20-40F in winter. It's much better on coastal places.

I don't think spaniards work less hours than americans on average, most people I know work about 10 hours a day (and getting paid 8.) Some days a lot more, of course... except people working for the state, they really live very well (mostly). No, we don't make "siesta" in work days, that's something for the weekend.

We have 22 days of holidays a year, it's a little hard to get "all august" like someone said and the christmas and such with 22 days a year hehe.

MikeW

I looked at a rabbit nee golf.
148 hp sucks, the 4 valve head is set up like a 2 valve head (it is a bold faced lie to say it is the same as the Gallardo's) revs to only 5800, power peaks at 5000.
The old Volvo S40 2.4 I5 makes 20 more hp, same torque from a smaller older engine.
Maybe Volvo will chop 1 cylinder off the new inline 6 for a 190hp I5.
The rear lighting of the rabbit is a joke, what happened to amber turn signals and positively signalling brake lights.
The 6 speed automatic is nice, but has WAY too short gearing, but where is the twincharger 1.4TSI engine? and maybe the double clutch transmission.
and $15,000 is the stick stripper 2 door, like what was previously stated $20,000 out the door isn't hard.