Topic: Advice needed:VW Rabbit and Passat price quotes - Good deal or not really?

[Brigitte]

I test-drove both those vehicles last fall, in 5-speed, and I concur with your statements, TT.  While in the same class of vehicle, these are two very different cars to drive, IMO. 

What surprised me the most about the Rabbit were the AMAZING brakes.  They just bit instantly and stopped the car on a dime.  What surprised me the most about the Mazda 3 was the complete lack of road feel.  Very floaty ride, which I didn't like at all.

[TT]

I test-drove both those vehicles last fall, in 5-speed, and I concur with your statements, TT.  While in the same class of vehicle, these are two very different cars to drive, IMO. 

What surprised me the most about the Rabbit were the AMAZING brakes.  They just bit instantly and stopped the car on a dime.  What surprised me the most about the Mazda 3 was the complete lack of road feel.  Very floaty ride, which I didn't like at all.

 

[dorin]

You've got me intrigued now.  I think I'd like to go test-drive a Wabbit.  Which Ottawa dealership was most friendly on the test-drive front?

[PJungnitsch]

The Rabbit does have a very 'vault-like' feel. When I test drove it I remember thinking that it is an autobahn car, made to feel secure and stable at 180 km/hr plus and that driving at a regular Canadian 110-120 km/hr is far below its capabilities.

That and the 6-speed auto was excellent.

However the mechanic in me looked at the large engine 'shrink wrapped' in the tiny engine bay and gave one big shudder. But maybe it's not as hard to service/fix as it looks, or never needs attention.

[quadzilla]

You've got me intrigued now.  I think I'd like to go test-drive a Wabbit.  Which Ottawa dealership was most friendly on the test-drive front?

My SIL just bought one and I can't wait to take it for a spin. So far I've only sat in it and they do look great. I'm sure her definition of how "quick" it is and mine is a little different.

[JBrill]

You've got me intrigued now.  I think I'd like to go test-drive a Wabbit.  Which Ottawa dealership was most friendly on the test-drive front?

Citiwest VW in Bells Corners let me take a Passat home overnight when I was trying to make up my mind.  They also don't have a planned "test drive route" which allows you to take the car where you want.

Hunt Club VW is also fairly relaxed about letting you take a car out on your own.

Bytek, forget about it.  They have a definite circuit and won't let you do any real world driving scenarios like quick acceleration and sudden braking.

Of course, I have the advantage of being a balding middle aged man and not a budding young adult.  Your results may vary 

[JBrill]

Voila guys, here's my final thoughts and conclusion!

Been driving a Focus SVT 2dr for about 5 years now, and test driving the Mazda3 GT was kind of a very disappointing experience at so many levels.

I know, we can't really compare both cars since that wouldn't be a fair comparison in a way, and Mazda3 Speed would have been a better comparo candidate. But then again, the Focus SVT can't be compared with the Mazda3 Speed really, and an equivalent contender would have been the Focus RS (Euro flvaor).

After test driving a few cars in the same segment I have decided to go for a Rabbit for many reasons and below are a few listed:

- HP to weight ratio is just excellent, and that "torquie" engine is definitely a big +
- Solid build quality.
- Exterior and Interior design way better than all the competition out there (NA car market anyway), this could be a matter of taste and personal preference, but one thing is for sure the Rabbit's interior is way cooler and welcoming IMO.
- Ride felt very solid and responsive.
- You gotta love that sweet engine sound when pushing it.
- Safety features...
- FUN TO DRIVE.

Since the family will be growing very soon, I find that I still have at least a few weeks of cushion to wait and see if VW will offer other purchase incentives since their low interest offer did expire on Feb 29th.

If by then no new offers will be available, I guess I will have to bite the bullet and go for it...

When doing the math I may have gained a grand or two if I bought the Mazda3, but then again, I would have lost all the pluses listed above.

Thank you guys for all the advice and valuable input, it definitely opened my eyes and made me finally opt for what I consider the best choice for my needs and wants.

Cheers!

TT.

Good choice TT, my sentiments exactly.  The Mazda's look good on paper and even though are part of the same segment, the VW's are better vehicles on so many fronts.

[Brigitte]

Funny... A year or two ago, when people were comparing the Corollas and Civics to the Mazda, Mazda won every time (as evidenced by the fair number of Mazda 3 and Mazda 6 owners on this board). 

Now, with the Rabbit added to the mix, the results are quite different.

[Wolfe]

However the mechanic in me looked at the large engine 'shrink wrapped' in the tiny engine bay and gave one big shudder. But maybe it's not as hard to service/fix as it looks, or never needs attention.

Yabbut that's just the way it is with small cars with transverse engines nowadays.

Oh, and don't forget about those stupid plastic covers that most manufacturers put on top of everything in the engine bay. They clearly don't want us to even look at the engine let alone work on it ourselves. They'd probably like us to forget that there's an engine under there at all.

[PJungnitsch]

I'd say the VW was quite a bit worse than average. Partially must be due to that big 5 cylinder engine, but it could be an engineering tradition with VW. The Mazda3 has a surprising amount of room around the engine, some of it looks like it's due to the crash design.

Agree about the covers.

[DiM]

I too have been intrigued by the Rabbit with the recent price cuts but I too have been plagued by doubts of its reliability. My family has owned 2 MkIV Jettas and they claim that they've been good cars but I am still hesitant to take the VW plunge.

I think that I've read somewhere that the MkV Jettas are built in Mexico and that the Rabbits & GTIs are built in Wolfsburg? Am I just imagining this? If they are, do you think that the Rabbits/GTIs would be more reliable than the Jettas?

[Gracelesslady]

When i was talking c/ my VW dealer, i got the 4-door with comfort AND cold weather package at $419/mth for financing...

[GTI-Gabe]

I think that I've read somewhere that the MkV Jettas are built in Mexico and that the Rabbits & GTIs are built in Wolfsburg? Am I just imagining this? If they are, do you think that the Rabbits/GTIs would be more reliable than the Jettas?

There is no correlation between where a car is made and its quality, at least with VWs.
The Jetta might be assembled in Mexico, but alot of its parts are made in Germany.

My Jetta has been spotless the 2.5 years I've owned it, and after driving the C230 recently, it has made me rethink a Benz and relook at the VW lineup 

[articsteve]

Having had both a 07 and an 08 in the family here is my 2 bits. 

1.  There is a design flaw on the front doors of the 08 4 door.  Fault is down at the front corner.  TBS on it.  What happens is that as snow melts the water accumulates down at the front corner, re-freezes, and the when the door is opened the door skin actually bends outward.

2.  Avoid the 07s.  VW Canada repurchased it.  They were outstanding about it really.  However, it was conditional on repurchasing an 08. 

3.  Gas mileage is not great, but power is really there in the 08 models (this unit being a 6 speed auto).  If your only doing 20k km per year it's not a big issue IMO.

4.  Engine compartment for DIYers later on in it's life looks like a complete nightmare as alluded to by PJ.

5.  Handling, braking, ride, seats, stability program all excellent.

Conclusion:  Good car while under bumper to bumper warranty which is 4 years and 80k km.  Manual tranny probably much better bet long term than "sealed" automatic unit. 

[quadzilla]

Steve: Does the 08's get the 170hp vs the 07's 150hp? If so, did you notice any difference?

[airbalancer]

here a DIY on changing tranny fluid , get your son under the car probably time for a change
http://www.blauparts.com/vw/vw_fluid/vw_automatic_transmission_fluid.shtml
 

[articsteve]

Steve: Does the 08's get the 170hp vs the 07's 150hp? If so, did you notice any difference?

Definitely a big difference between the two years and mileage the same.

There might be a possibility that VW has programed a "break in" mode into the 08 until 1000 km.  When he first got it he was raving that the performance was no better than the 07 and then a few weeks later thought it was much better.  VW guys didn't know anything about it.

[articsteve]

here a DIY on changing tranny fluid , get your son under the car probably time for a change
http://www.blauparts.com/vw/vw_fluid/vw_automatic_transmission_fluid.shtml
 

I investigated that site when I flipped the 99 Passat last November.  The vehicle had a slight clunk occasionally on some shifts.  I took a look at the rusty pan bolts and said forget it.  Dealer wanted $400. for what amounts to a dump and fill.  Those are ZF transmissions and IMO they aren't great units.

The 08 Rabbit is a 6 speed auto and that site specifically speaks to 4 and 5 speed autos.  All I know is that very few Rabbit automatics will ever have their transmissions serviced when they should.  No surprise transmission under servicing in cars is the norm rather than the exception.

[TT]

When i was talking c/ my VW dealer, i got the 4-door with comfort AND cold weather package at $419/mth for financing...

Hey Gracelesslady, would you mind to elaborate a bit on the monthly payment that you got ,and answer the following few questions please?

1- Does the 419$/month include all charges/fees/taxes and Finance interest?
2- Is it a manual or automatic transmission?
3- Is the finance for 60 months and at 3.9%?

I am assuming that your post was about an 08 4DR Rabbit, if it isn't the case then please ignore my post.

Thank you!

TT.

[hoodlum]

You should only compare actual price of vehicle since the interest rate is the same for everyone.  Also, the amount down is a personal preference.  So how much is everyone getting off of MSRP.  Discounts on accessories excluded, since they are high in profit to begin with.

Let's compare apples with apples, something the dealers don't like to do.