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Volkswagen Rabbit
moparbad
Member Posts: 3,870
The VW Rabbit is back.
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Affordable German engineering has returned in the form of the VW Golf renamed the Rabbit for the US/Canadian markets.
Starting at just a hare under $15,000 dollars it competes very well with Japanese and outruns the domesting competitors.
As far as the Rabbit, a friend had one in 78 and it was small and I can't remember any problems. The new Rabbit will be a much different car. I too am anxious to drive one. If it is built anything like the GTI I drove on Tuesday, it will be a really great car.
I am calling my car dealer to find out if he knows when they will be coming. Look at this link under the Golf to get an idea of what the Rabbit will be like...I don't know which ones will come to US, but I want the 2 door and understand it is one of the choices. I doubt that we will get all those color choices, but it has been in Europe for several years so all the kinks should be ironed out. I understand they will like the GTI be built in Germans.
http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/home
Buying a VW is trade off: you give up reliability in exchange for the qualities the German (and more frequently, Mexican) engineered VW offers. Just know what you are getting in to. I'd love to own a diesel, but I haven't decided if it's worth it- it's an individual decision; just don't decide based on a couple of personal anecdotes... look closely at Consumer Reports.
The MkV Golf and GTI are built in Germany. Early indication is that they have few "problem areas" and a high degree of satisfaction with owners.
For the Diesel, you will have to wait until the low Sulfur fuel has been introduced in the US, and the car manufacturers have adjusted to the new emissions regulations (that are unfortunately set in place before the low Sulfur fuel is going to be fully available). For VW, that likely means late 2007 or early 2008 with their new high pressure direct injection Diesels.
Thanks!
Z_Man
told me that they will have approximately 6 Rabbits coming
in sometime during the 4th week of May. If I remember
correctly they had 2 two doors and 4 four doors in a few
different colors: red, black, and silver. These guys are
pretty on the ball, Berge VW in Mesa are clueless. One of
the salesman I spoke to there wasn't even aware that the
golf was being renamed as the rabbit. Duh!!! Go to Scottsdale!!!
all cars have problems, some worse than others. I would like to get one but at the price will have to wait til its 5 years old!! Bought my first rabbit new for 4389.15!!
As has been posted here many times, a Diesel will not be available initially with the 2007 model, because the government emissions regulations have changed, and the required low sulfur Diesel will take a while to be fully available, nationwide. VW has a new high-pressure direct injection Diesel that will satisfy emissions regulations. It may become available as early as the second half of next year.
You would think people who make a living selling product that costs 10s of thousands of dollars would spend a little time getting it right.
Hope your well informed Scottsdale dealer runs rings around the numptys.
We cannot get the low sulfur diesel in North America fast enough.
My favorite dealer told me the Rabbits are at the dock awaiting release, but he has no price information and no list of actual units. I asked if there would be a definite early June release, but he said Customs sometimes likes to pull a sample to test for emissions compliance (! even from a major manufacturer?) before authorizing release from the port.
He also told me the $14990 price is without the $630 destination charge (shades of Honda pricing strategies!) and guestimmated that the auto will add $1000 (which it does on the Beetle) and that a 4 door should only carry about a $230 premium (since content looks similar).
Finally, whatever "decontenting" is going on doesn't hit the stuff most of us care about - no crank windows, it's pretty much power all the way with power windows, power door locks (with remote) and power mirrors, with heated mirrors. This is all he can tell from the very limited marketing material VW is giving him at this point. He said he drove a sample at a dealer ride and says the interior is a pretty nice fabric. He said VW is asking its dealers to order one or two of the 5 speed $14990 specials since VW will be promoting them.
Can anyone help me crystal ball this a little better? If I KNOW the Rabbit will be out the first week in June I can wait, otherwise its Caliber or Impala this time around...not that that's bad...but I'd like a Golf...errh, Rabbit....
You might want to surf over to the vwvortex.com forums and watch the threads in the Golf/Jetta V forum. Beware, the forums are very active.
You may also want to consider the GTI, which in my opinion has a much better engine (much more responsive, 50+hp, more low-end torque, and better fuel economy). The GTI will be available as 5-door this summer, as well.
For either version, you may have to wait a couple more weeks than beginning of June (perhaps August for the 5-door GTI), but for a purchase like this it may be worthwhile to wait.
At any rate, the Rabbit is coming in at a lower price than most people had anticipated.
I hope they deliver some automatics lightly optioned. Often people who order automatics want a lot of other stuff as well.
By the way, for now the GTI alone is outselling all Golfs (1.8, 2.0, Diesel, V6, R32) of last year. And, usually, the other Golfs far outweigh GTI sales...
six Rabbits delivered to their dealership on May 29th. There will be six of them, 2 two doors and 4 four doors, with 2 being 5 speeds and the remaining 4 automatics. Also
for anyone questioning the potential reliability factor of the Rabbit, these are rolling off the Wolfsburg assembly line, they are not Hecho en Mexico. I am looking forward to
their arrival and having an opportunity to test drive one.
Good luck to everyone who is interested in the Rabbit.
That is not good.
Was hoping that the Rabbit would be made in Puebla on the new Jetta line that supplys Jetta for North America and Europe.
No difference other than bumpers, lights, and equipment levels specific to North America. It is the same as the German Golf.
(FROM VWVORTEX)
2007 Colors:
Rabbit (same for 2 and 4 door):
Black Unit
Reflex Silver
United Gray (SOP 30 / 2006)
Sage Green
Shadow Blue
Candy White
Tornado Red
--------
Rabbit
2 Door
2.5L 150 HP 5-speed manual $ 14,990
2.5L 150 HP 6-speed automatic TBD
4 Door
2.5L 150 HP 5-speed manual $ 16,990
2.5L 150 HP 6-speed automatic $ 18,065
Destination Charge $ 630
FACTORY OPTIONS
2 Door
Tire Pressure Monitoring System $ 150
Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) $ 450
16" 'Magny Cours' Alloy Wheel Package (with 205/55 R16 all season tires) $ 400
4 Door
Power Sunroof with console and sunglasses holder $ 1,000
Rear Side Impact Airbags $ 350
Sirius Satellite Radio Service $ 375
Tire Pressure Monitoring System $ 150
Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) $ 450
16" 'Magny Cours' Alloy Wheel Package (with 205/55 R16 all season tires) $ 400
My guess is, anything beyond $350-$500 is a different configuration (e.g., ESP, alloys, and sun roof included).
I am looking for folks with experience with golf's/rabbit and family and travel..
My wife is not convinced that we will NOT enjoy travelling with this vehicle with our 3 month old ("it'll be cramped') We are not making our family any bigger than the three of us, but I want to sacrifce my SUV for fuel econ and the environment and i really like the prospect of this car (former '91 8vGTI owner here)
i need help convincing her that this will be the way to go...
Also snow experience will be helpfull as well..
fenway68
FWD cars with the proper tires can get through most inclement weather systems as well as any SUV, assuming you are driving on roads and not some mountain path.
At least there is more front to backseat room in the new Rabbit than in the old Golf, so it may work for you, but TAKE ALONG YOUR SEAT and try it before you buy.
Overall I think you are making a good choice, at least if you are looking at small cars, since the Rabbit is heavy for its size (and weight is always important for impact safety) and has standard ABS, side body, and side curtain (full length) air bags.
Having recently been in a side impact crash, I favor (1) having a door pillar next to the side of the body, since a strong body structure beats reinforcement plates in a "long" door (so 4 doors are better than 2, 2 door vehicles move door pillar to my rear); and (2) side curtain air bags (my vehicle didn't deform too much, but my head was thrown against the side of during the impact). The Rabbit 4 door is therefore better in my mind than the 2 door; fortunately ALL Rabbits have both kinds of side air bags, plus ABS which is also great. To get that kind of overall safety you have to look long and hard.
I don't think a Rabbit 4 door will be "cramped" so much as "intimate." I have mostly owned small cars, with one minivan, one "cute ute" (a Honda CR-V) and one Impala thrown in for variety. In some vehicles you can't reach across to unlock a door or even to access the glove box. In smaller vehicles with a large bodied passenger, you literally feel too close to each other. Since the passenger in this case will be your wife, and since many new moms sit in the back with baby anyway, there will be plenty of room. One big plus of the hatchback design of the Golf, is that if you leave out the rear package tray, you wife has "reach over" acces to all the extra junk a baby needs, in the trunk/hatch area (I'd actually try to put the package tray on the floor of the trunk so you can use it for security/privacy when you need it; I'd also privacy tint the rear windows.)
The problem that arises with small cars in general, and moms and small cars in particular, is that women seem to have a strong protective instinct that tells them to be in one of the larger, if not largest, vehicles on the road. They are mentally comparing size all the time, and a Rabbit just isn't that big nowadays. My wife, for example, drives the Impala now, ya know, not me! And she is all of 5 foot tall and the kids are very small (2 & 9). But she feels better there, and I'm happy to take a high mpg, Rabbit style vehicle to work.
BTW, depending on which SUV you have, your "total safety" quotient may actually go up...although SUV's almost always fare better in crashes with other cars, they are involved in more single accident crashes (roll-overs, mainly) and their roofs are notorious for collapsing in on their occupants. The Rabbit is a tough little egg....
(The best way to sell your wife on it, is to tell her you'll get her an SUV next year when the new models have been in production for a while and gas prices have stabilized, then you can use the Rabbit for commuting... it worked for me... last time but not this time!)
I hope they computer info is correct and they didn't put a beige interior in the car.
I hope it has more driver leg space than the Civic I test drove last week.
Jonathan
1. Canadian VW website
2. KelleyBlueBook
fob666: any initial idea of what the fuel economy is like? Do you have a stick or auto?
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
As for the essential differences, the four door has a full console with rear seat vents, a fold-down armrest and pass through in the rear seatback, driver and passenger seats with more adjustments, nicer seat materials, and of course, the convenience of four doors. But once past the sunroof and alloys, the price difference was something like $2400. While I liked the added features on the four door, I think I would go for the base two door, and dress it up with the alloys, and do it in something other than black. I did like the silver on the four door.
If you drive it, check out how much the center stack impedes the space for your right leg. My right leg was making intimate friends with that thing the whole time I was driving. Not sure if it would become uncomfortable after an hour or more of driving. It wasn't a comfort problem on my 10-minute test drive.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Also some fun with the Jetta crashing into various objects..pretty cool!
Gas mileage rating was 22/30, which is not stellar, but I am willing to bet the highway figure can be bettered.
Both cars were locked, and I was in a hurry. I had just come out of the showroom, where I sat in a GTI for the first time. I was impressed with the quality of fit and finish. I am 5'9, but with a long torso. Once positioned comfortably behind the pedals, I wished I could have raised the steering wheel about a half inch more, so that it did not quite clip the gauges in my line of sight. I sense that I might be prone to ever so slightly lowering my head while driving. There was good headroom under the sunroof, and good room with plenty of foot room (under the front seat)in the back, unlike a Subaru Legacy for example.
I am very happy with the lease payments: $265 CDN/month cheaper than what I was paying on the Passat Wagon we returned last month.
Chapman VW in south Scottsdale has 6 Rabbit's posted on their internet inventory, but I am not sure if they physically have the cars. Good luck to everyone!!!
Also, I had a chance to drive a friend's 2006 GTI this past weekend and what a little
pocket rocket!!! Handling was excellent on both the California highways and winding roads
and there is plenty of room for tall folks. I am 6'5" tall and weigh 255 lbs. and I had more
than enough room. In fact, if the seat was all the way back, it was to far. I actually had to
move the seat forward a little bit.
The reason is simple: the 1.4-liter TSI engine offers just as much performance as the 2.5-liter I-5 engine now in the Rabbit but with likely much lower fuel consumption. VW will probably have to slightly lower the compression to around 9.7:1 to accommodate US-market 87 pump octane gasoline, so the US-market engine will probably be rated at 160 bhp SAE 08/04 net.