VW Rabbit has grown so large that VW has TWO models that are smaller: Polo and Lupo.
VW Rabbit gets a nod from CR
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Originally Posted By: Tosh
VW Rabbit has grown so large that VW has TWO models that are smaller: Polo and Lupo.
That seems to be ongoing trend in the industry as a whole. For example, Corolla used to be Toyota's smallest car. Now there's Yaris. Sentra used to be Nissan's smallest car. Now there's Micra.
VW Rabbit has grown so large that VW has TWO models that are smaller: Polo and Lupo.
That seems to be ongoing trend in the industry as a whole. For example, Corolla used to be Toyota's smallest car. Now there's Yaris. Sentra used to be Nissan's smallest car. Now there's Micra.
Look at the first Accord compared with the new upsized Accord of today. That has to be the most extreme case of a car that grew with the generations. A thirty year-old who bought one new in '75 or so is probably still in about the right demographic to buy the new one today, too!
The BMW 3-series of today weighs just about as much as the first-generation 7-series of the eighties. Yet the new 1-series is barely lighter.
The BMW 3-series of today weighs just about as much as the first-generation 7-series of the eighties. Yet the new 1-series is barely lighter.
I think, as Americans, we expect to get MORE for our money. Each year cars get MORE powerful, MORE room (even if by inches), MORE options, MORE safety...and as Jerry Seinfeld said to the flight attendant "More everything!!!!"
This is changing though. Nissan announced it was making it's cars lighter (ie smaller). The new 370Z will be smaller than the last one..the new Maxima will be smaller than the last one...
It's going to be interesting going from here on out as automakers try to shrink cars or create new smaller cars. For years, we've gotten and bought MORE...now people want LESS.
Once they downsize and realize how sloppy and big, heavy car handles...it will change everything.
This is changing though. Nissan announced it was making it's cars lighter (ie smaller). The new 370Z will be smaller than the last one..the new Maxima will be smaller than the last one...
It's going to be interesting going from here on out as automakers try to shrink cars or create new smaller cars. For years, we've gotten and bought MORE...now people want LESS.
Once they downsize and realize how sloppy and big, heavy car handles...it will change everything.
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Originally Posted By: ThirdeYe
Originally Posted By: Anduril
Originally Posted By: MrCritical
An EVO or STI approaches that kind of city mileage.
V6 Camry beats that and has more horsepower.
A V6 Camry has over 290HP and AWD? (Over 300HP in previous Evolutions)
Or were you comparing it to the Rabbit?
Yes, I was comparing it to the Rabbit.
Originally Posted By: Anduril
Originally Posted By: MrCritical
An EVO or STI approaches that kind of city mileage.
V6 Camry beats that and has more horsepower.
A V6 Camry has over 290HP and AWD? (Over 300HP in previous Evolutions)
Or were you comparing it to the Rabbit?
Yes, I was comparing it to the Rabbit.
Trouble is the new design Passat that came here in '98 was highly touted by CR in it's first years - then it slid down in reliability ratings ! And VW dealers get a bottom of the pack rating from CR too ! Not good for long term peace of mind with a new car !
Quote:
Now there's Yaris
http://www.toyota.co.uk/cgi-bin/toyota/b...ined&id=AY1_gal
Aygo, even smaller.
Now there's Yaris
http://www.toyota.co.uk/cgi-bin/toyota/b...ined&id=AY1_gal
Aygo, even smaller.
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Tosh
VW Rabbit has grown so large that VW has TWO models that are smaller: Polo and Lupo.
That seems to be ongoing trend in the industry as a whole. For example, Corolla used to be Toyota's smallest car. Now there's Yaris. Sentra used to be Nissan's smallest car. Now there's Micra.
And here I thought >I< was being Mr. Obvious.
My point was that the current Rabbit is as big as the original Acura Legend (at least it feels that way), so why isn't VW offering a smaller car (or engine) in the US, and why are people expecting good gas mileage from a big heavy car?
Originally Posted By: Tosh
VW Rabbit has grown so large that VW has TWO models that are smaller: Polo and Lupo.
That seems to be ongoing trend in the industry as a whole. For example, Corolla used to be Toyota's smallest car. Now there's Yaris. Sentra used to be Nissan's smallest car. Now there's Micra.
And here I thought >I< was being Mr. Obvious.
My point was that the current Rabbit is as big as the original Acura Legend (at least it feels that way), so why isn't VW offering a smaller car (or engine) in the US, and why are people expecting good gas mileage from a big heavy car?
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Originally Posted By: Tosh
why isn't VW offering a smaller car (or engine) in the US
A good portion (pun alert!), over 30% of the market won't fit comfortably or at all in a subcompact or micro car.
why isn't VW offering a smaller car (or engine) in the US
A good portion (pun alert!), over 30% of the market won't fit comfortably or at all in a subcompact or micro car.
The old diesel rabbit was the econo champ, from what I recall. I believe it got around 40 city/50 hwy mpg.
The Rabbit is a nice car for someone just looking for a nice, all around small car. If you're interested in fuel economy, it's not the best choice. The Yaris is probably the best small hatch right now. Many folks are getting over 35 mpg. If the hatch came in 5-door, it'd be a killer.
Just to add, I too, was discouraged by Consumer Reports ranking of the Rabbit. I'd have thought such a PC mag would have placed higher stock in fuel economy. But I guess if you don't want to FEEL like you've downsized, the Rabbit probably IS the best choice.
The Rabbit is a nice car for someone just looking for a nice, all around small car. If you're interested in fuel economy, it's not the best choice. The Yaris is probably the best small hatch right now. Many folks are getting over 35 mpg. If the hatch came in 5-door, it'd be a killer.
Just to add, I too, was discouraged by Consumer Reports ranking of the Rabbit. I'd have thought such a PC mag would have placed higher stock in fuel economy. But I guess if you don't want to FEEL like you've downsized, the Rabbit probably IS the best choice.
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Some of those original diesels lasted a long, long, time. We had a '77 gasser. It was miserable to live with. Constant exh system failures, chronic oil loss after 2 sets of replacement valve seals (1qt oil every week or 2), leaky door seals (read, 2" standing water inside after rain). Seats were stuffed w/ straw from factory...
Mike
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Originally Posted By: BrianWC
The Rabbit is a nice car for someone just looking for a nice, all around small car. If you're interested in fuel economy, it's not the best choice. The Yaris is probably the best small hatch right now. Many folks are getting over 35 mpg. If the hatch came in 5-door, it'd be a killer.
I highly doubt that a 5-door yaris would match the space in the rabbit, particularly in the rear seat/cargo area.
An economy champ it would be, but I cant imagine it being the same size.
Perhaps Im wrong???
As said before, for an around town "midsize" small car, it works great, especially as we maintain 27 MPG in city only driving. I see the rabbit as the Dodge Dakota of small cars... not big enough to be anything of real size, but not small enough to be considered one of the small cars either.
And even if they had a smaller version, Im not sure if we would have bought it (a polo, for example). A wimpier engine in the rabbit? for sure! but we looked at this car as a good cross between a station wagon and a small car. It will do good enough for a baby seat or two, and perhaps a stroller, when the time comes. We didnt want to have to fathom doing that in a 2dr yaris... yet its shorter and smaller than even its brother, the jetta station wagon, and my wife likes that.
It really is an inbetween car...
JMH
The Rabbit is a nice car for someone just looking for a nice, all around small car. If you're interested in fuel economy, it's not the best choice. The Yaris is probably the best small hatch right now. Many folks are getting over 35 mpg. If the hatch came in 5-door, it'd be a killer.
I highly doubt that a 5-door yaris would match the space in the rabbit, particularly in the rear seat/cargo area.
An economy champ it would be, but I cant imagine it being the same size.
Perhaps Im wrong???
As said before, for an around town "midsize" small car, it works great, especially as we maintain 27 MPG in city only driving. I see the rabbit as the Dodge Dakota of small cars... not big enough to be anything of real size, but not small enough to be considered one of the small cars either.
And even if they had a smaller version, Im not sure if we would have bought it (a polo, for example). A wimpier engine in the rabbit? for sure! but we looked at this car as a good cross between a station wagon and a small car. It will do good enough for a baby seat or two, and perhaps a stroller, when the time comes. We didnt want to have to fathom doing that in a 2dr yaris... yet its shorter and smaller than even its brother, the jetta station wagon, and my wife likes that.
It really is an inbetween car...
JMH
I'm not knocking the Rabbit at all. I think it's a great driver's car!
Just not the econo champ some people may be looking for.
Just not the econo champ some people may be looking for.
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
I highly doubt that a 5-door yaris would match the space in the rabbit, particularly in the rear seat/cargo area.
Yaris is definitely smaller when it comes to rear seat and cargo space. The 5-door versions (available in Europe) have the same amount of space as the 3-door versions. That means 1.5" less legroom in the rear and almost 6 cubic feet less of cargo space. The overall passenger volume is almost 10 cubic feet smaller. Still, considering how small it looks on the outside, the interior space is pretty impressive, especially for the front passenger.
Interestingly enough, I just looked it up, and your Rabbit has practically the same amount of interior volume as my 530i. Impressive.
I highly doubt that a 5-door yaris would match the space in the rabbit, particularly in the rear seat/cargo area.
Yaris is definitely smaller when it comes to rear seat and cargo space. The 5-door versions (available in Europe) have the same amount of space as the 3-door versions. That means 1.5" less legroom in the rear and almost 6 cubic feet less of cargo space. The overall passenger volume is almost 10 cubic feet smaller. Still, considering how small it looks on the outside, the interior space is pretty impressive, especially for the front passenger.
Interestingly enough, I just looked it up, and your Rabbit has practically the same amount of interior volume as my 530i. Impressive.
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Buying a Rabbit that only gets 24 mpg...no thanks! I'll take a Yaris any day. Those Rabbits will look good on the mechanics lift at 100 bucks per hour shop rate for all the problems they will have. I hate Volkswagens. So very unreliable.
The Rabbit is not an economy car. It's bigger and heavier than the Fit/Yaris/Aveo class, it's got more HP and torque, it's got a better suspension and brakes, it's got more standard features, and it's a lot safer in any kind of collision.
It's also extremely well priced for what you get. VW is losing money on every one they sell, but they have to offer it because the dealerships demanded something besides Jettas, Passats, GTIs, and New Beetles. The Rabbits should have very good resale value.
I suspect the 2.5-liter I5 will be replaced in the next couple years. I don't know how any manufacturer will be able to meet the new CAFE standards without turbocharging... so I would not be surprised to see a 1.4- or 1.6-liter turbocharged 3 or 4 cylinder engine in the base model.
It's also extremely well priced for what you get. VW is losing money on every one they sell, but they have to offer it because the dealerships demanded something besides Jettas, Passats, GTIs, and New Beetles. The Rabbits should have very good resale value.
I suspect the 2.5-liter I5 will be replaced in the next couple years. I don't know how any manufacturer will be able to meet the new CAFE standards without turbocharging... so I would not be surprised to see a 1.4- or 1.6-liter turbocharged 3 or 4 cylinder engine in the base model.
Originally Posted By: Dyoel182
Originally Posted By: Mucho_MPG
I hate Volkswagens. So very unreliable.
You're referring to the older mexican influenced VWs from the last generation.
As our 1986 VW jetta is coming up on 330K with OEM everything on the block.
Original alt, injectors, pumps, water pump, radiator and such.
One of the most trust worthy cars I've ever been in.
I'd drive it across the USA tomorrow if I could.
Bill
Originally Posted By: Mucho_MPG
I hate Volkswagens. So very unreliable.
You're referring to the older mexican influenced VWs from the last generation.
As our 1986 VW jetta is coming up on 330K with OEM everything on the block.
Original alt, injectors, pumps, water pump, radiator and such.
One of the most trust worthy cars I've ever been in.
I'd drive it across the USA tomorrow if I could.
Bill
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