New VW Rabbit... I think i want one

[bryanthompson]

I'm really diggin' the new VW Rabbits (http://www.vw.com/rabbit/index.html), and would like to unload the stratus.... so I'm thinking maybe about trading it in and maybe leasing a rabbit. I only drive about 25 miles per week, so maybe leasing could be the way to go. I haven't really put a ton of thought into it.

[HardDrive]

Why? Why oh why would you do that?

My 99 beetle was a good car for about 50k, then it literally started falling appart. My sisters 2005 beetle convertable has been at the dealer repeatedly. To this day, water drips in under the dash when it rains, and they are clueless as to where its coming from.

Perhaps when VW gets their ***** together in the quality dept.......

[bryanthompson]

oh, hrm... well, I don't have any experience with the newer VW's. I've wanted a Jetta for a long time, but The Rabbit looks more like my style.
Do you just have bad luck or is this a serious problem?

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Wasn't '99 the first year of the Mexican-made Jetta/Golf/Beetle platform?

Consumer Reports shows the '99s had horrible reliability but that it improved steadily over the years.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Yep:

[speeder]

How is it different from the Golf?

[dd74]

Originally posted by speeder
How is it different from the Golf?

It's made on the bad side of Mexico.

[bryanthompson]

crap, now I'm sad. oh well...

[84porsche]

I would at least check it out. I kind of like it and thought about getting one for my mom. I have an 03 Jetta and to be honest the engine has been reliable. The interior things are what bother me. Faulty things that I have run into in 3 years all covered under warranty -

1) Wiper motor failed (replaced)
2) Sunroof jammed (i knew this before I left the lot) (repaired)
3) Plastic box latch cracked (replaced)
4) Clutch pedal squeaks (repaired)
5) Passenger Seat Frame Cracked (awaiting parts now)

Not perfect reliability but I am still a fan of VW and would buy another one.

[84porsche]

All cars have problems but if you want reliabilty with no style get a Toyota IMO. I sacrafice reliability for performance and fun and I love my VW so much so that I am thinking in the next couple of years of switching to the Touareg.

[dd74]

Well, I do like the GTi:


This is better though (faster, lighter, handles better and cheaper):

Edmunds says it handles like a rear-drive BMW...

[layzee]

I find it pretty surprising that Rabbit is a stronger brand in the US than Golf. Always seemed like a dumb name to me. Kinda fits an old Mk1 Golf with 50hp diesel, but not a mk5.

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by 84porsche
All cars have problems but if you want reliability with no style get a Toyota IMO.

+1

Volkswagens are great when they're working, but my A3 Jetta has been the pits reliability wise. Friends with A4s have had tons of electrical issues as well. It's tough, they are great cars to drive, but IMO not great cars to own.

Issues I've had in the past 2 years (does not include what I consider to be standard fix & replace items.. starters, batteries, exhaust etc. )
- Lost reverse
- Axle seals leaking, resulting in losing 5th gear
- Turbocharger seized
- ongoing, nonstop electrical gremlins
- AC has been fixed twice, not working again
- Door handles breaking... I rarely have all 4 working at once
- Body trim falling off
- Door hinges wearing out

Last week the car caught fire because of a short in the heater fan. Sparks, smoke and melted plastic... fuse didn't even blow. The garage said "Wow, lucky you saved it, usually they burn to the dirt." Nice!

Yeah, this is on a 10 yr old car with 180k miles (300+k kms). I've had Hondas, Toyotas and Mazdas with equivalent or more mileage that never, ever had issues like this.

Plus, you should see the receipts from the original owner's first 5 years. Crank pulley came loose!

[Rot 911]

When did VW's reliablilty go down hill? I owned a couple of older Rabbits (82&84) and while they were definitely econoboxes with underpowered engines they just seemed to last forever.

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by Kurt V
When did VW's reliablilty go down hill? I owned a couple of older Rabbits (82&84) and while they were definitely econoboxes with underpowered engines they just seemed to last forever.

I've heard it was with the A3s... '93-98.

FWIW, I had an 87 Jetta with 370k+ miles, and it was a fantastic, reliable car. I drove it 25k miles/yr and would take it on 1500 mile trips without hesitation.

[Jeremy Cottrell]

I checked out the new GTI. It drove well, but for $35K, I can think of some other cars I would rather have.

[}{arlequin]

if they made the new rabbit look EXACTLY like the old one but w/ all new motor/ac/brakes/components etc. i'd buy it in a heartbeat. oh, and no power ANYTHING. thanks vw

[Jeremy Cottrell]

I originally went to see the Rabbit, hoping it would be a smaller lighter version of the Golf. When I learned it was the same Mk5 chassis, I checked out the GTI, then gagged at the price.

[deathpunk dan]

The mk5 GTI is surely the best one since the 92 16v.

I'd rather spend 9,000 on a used SVT Focus than 23k on a new GTI.

YMMV.

[speeder]

That Focus is probably built better and more reliable down the road.