Need TCL help. Mark V Rabbit Purchase.

[Kevrend]

I currently have a 2002 VW 337 Gti, with the 1.8t. My girlfriend drives a B5 Passat, also with a 1.8t and is looking to get a 2.5L Rabbit. We found one locally as a CPO. 2009 PZEV with 18k miles, asking price $12,995.

I'm pretty happy with the price for that mileage. I'm assuming it's a lease turn-in. Anything in particular to look for? I'm not familiar with the 2.5 from a motor standpoint. I hear it's a pretty cool little motor with a good amount of pep for a N/A 4 banger, but all my experience with VW is the 1.8t. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Decahedron]

I dont have a ton of great advice, but the 2.5 is an inline five. It gets very middle of the road gas mileage for the power it gives.

[pknopp]

The 2.5 is a very capable engine. It does nothing great but it does middling really well.

I like the 2.0t far better myself but it should be a trouble free performer.

[Kevrend]

I totally overlooked that it's a 5 cylinder. Makes sense. Any issues with those PZEV auto tip transmissions?

[Aonarch]

Solid car insanely reliable for a VW.

MPG is good enough for that model year.

Google C2 Motorsports

[silverA4quattro]

The PZEV models just meet northeast and CA emissions, nothing really to look for above and beyond the regular models.

At 18K, the 2.5 would have only required normal oil changes and no major maintenance. It's due for plugs and air filter at 40K, but you got a while for that. 20K would be a cabin filter as well, takes about 5 minutes and $20 to do yourself.

That's a really solid powertrain, probably one of the most dependable VW makes.

[Jrod511]

Currently in my inventory is an 08 Rabbit 5 Speed and an 05 Jetta (6 speed auto); both with the 2.5. I love this motor! Smooth, plenty of power, decent economy (upper 20's)

The price you are looking at, for the miles, is very aggressive. I hope the car checks out for you.

[Kevrend]

Thank you all for the feedback! Makes me very excited to check it out this evening. I'm also very hopeful that everything checks out!

[2.0T_Convert]

Bolt on mods and 0-60 in the 6 second range.

Personally I find the Rabbit/Golf lacking on feature content but the power is better than most other econoboxes.

[absoluteczech]

2.5L is a very reliable engine.

[kevin FaKiN spLits]

Bolt on mods and 0-60 in the 6 second range.

Personally I find the Rabbit/Golf lacking on feature content but the power is better than most other econoboxes.

Agreed. Like em so much I have 2 08's both 5 speed. One slammed with 10.5" wide wheels just about everything short of turbo you can get, upgraded interior. Other one is completely stock for now, when I drive it I am amazed at the ride quality, as well as the interior feel. Stock its quite but so so on gas.

These are the mpgs on the highway I avg on my modded rabbit, usually in the 30's tho cruise on in 5th at 62mph

[Lwize]

My only issue with the 09 Rabbit is there's a great deal of road noise on the highway.
I haven't figured out if it's noisy tires (Goodyear Eagle crap), a lack of sound-deadening or both.

[kevin FaKiN spLits]

My only issue with the 09 Rabbit is there's a great deal of road noise on the highway.
I haven't figured out if it's noisy tires (Goodyear Eagle crap), a lack of sound-deadening or both.

Gotta be the tires. On the stock continentals, very little road noise felt and heard ib the cabin

[Exhaust Muncher]

I currently have a 2002 VW 337 Gti, with the 1.8t. My girlfriend drives a B5 Passat, also with a 1.8t and is looking to get a 2.5L Rabbit. We found one locally as a CPO. 2009 PZEV with 18k miles, asking price $12,995.

I'm pretty happy with the price for that mileage. I'm assuming it's a lease turn-in. Anything in particular to look for? I'm not familiar with the 2.5 from a motor standpoint. I hear it's a pretty cool little motor with a good amount of pep for a N/A 4 banger, but all my experience with VW is the 1.8t. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

What type of advise are you looking for exactly?

[silverA4quattro]

Personally I find the Rabbit/Golf lacking on feature content but the power is better than most other econoboxes.

I'm not sure why, certainly at least as well equipped as others in the segment, save for maybe the Focus. My 07 Rabbit had: Power recline heated seats, semi auto climate control, heated mirrors and windshield washer nozzles, 6 disc CD with sat, power win/mir/locks all standard. Pretty solid list for an economy car.

I believe the new Golfs are just as well equipped.

[kevin FaKiN spLits]

I'm not sure why, certainly at least as well equipped as others in the segment, save for maybe the Focus. My 07 Rabbit had: Power recline heated seats, semi auto climate control, heated mirrors and windshield washer nozzles, 6 disc CD with sat, power win/mir/locks all standard. Pretty solid list for an economy car.

I believe the new Golfs are just as well equipped.

Yes great equipment for a cheap car. I can keep door to door with a stage 1 gti, when I get my intake manifold and e85 tune recalibrated hopefully keep up with a stage 2.

[Kevrend]

Went by last night to look at the car and found it to be equipped with staggered 17" BBS RS wheels, Koni Adjustable Coilovers (pretty low right now), aftermarket stainless steel exhaust and an APR Carbonio Intake. 20k miles, asking price is $11,999. Put a $300 deposit on it for now. It felt good on the test drive aside from some vibration up front which I was trying to determine whether it was Wheel Bearings, CV Joints or just rotors. Asked dealer to look into it, and he assured me that no matter what it was, he would have it repaired prior to sale. (He actually pointed the noise/vibration out to me and asked if I felt like it might be the wheel bearings)

Here's a photo as it stands:



As far as advice, all I was looking for was real-life reliability reports from people who actually own them.

It's at a used car dealership so it only comes with a 30 day warranty, plus an additional 3 months bumper to bumper for $200. After that, I'm on my own, so I contemplated a third party warranty, such as Fidelity Warranty Service. Thoughts?

[3 Money Pits]

Pre-modded VW with front end issues... And it's only got 20k miles? I'd run so ****ing fast from that thing.

Why would one of these Rabbits be better than a brand new Sentra or Elantra?

[Aonarch]

Pre-modded VW with front end issues... And it's only got 20k miles? I'd run so ****ing fast from that thing.

Why would one of these Rabbits be better than a brand new Sentra or Elantra?

Quality of materials is way better than the others.

Also are you sure those RS's are real?

[3 Money Pits]

Quality of materials is way better than the others.

Not that...

I can almost guarantee that said Rabbit was purchased new by mommy and daddy for their 16 year old kid. Kid did something to make mommy and daddy take the car away (wreck? racing?), and here we are.

I can 100% guarantee that the car has been driven to within an inch of it's life. I'd place a bet that there's caked-on rubber in the front wheel wells.

[Aonarch]

Not that...

I can almost guarantee that said Rabbit was purchased new by mommy and daddy for their 16 year old kid. Kid did something to make mommy and daddy take the car away (wreck? racing?), and here we are.

I can 100% guarantee that the car has been driven to within an inch of it's life. I'd place a bet that there's caked-on rubber in the front wheel wells.

You asked why a Rabbit would be better than a Sentra or Elantra, the answer is quality of materials, build quality, engineering design, etc.

I wasn't talking about that Rabbit with the RS's. I would stay clear of that thing.

[Ben.Reilly]

I owned a 2006 4 door, bought brand new. Died 4 times. Engine had to be dropped and repaired twice. Got rid of it at 40k miles....

Based on my experience, these models are not reliable.

[ShadowRabbit6]

80K miles on my 2006 Rabbit....still love it, and it's been dead nuts reliable.

[3 Money Pits]

I owned a 2006 4 door, bought brand new. Died 4 times. Engine had to be dropped and repaired twice. Got rid of it at 40k miles....

Based on my experience, these models are not reliable.

Ahh, gotcha.

[gti_matt]

Google people, google!

Is this the car?
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...22161623&Log=0

How is that a "CPO" from a non-VW dealer? How is it "CPO" with a vibrating front end?

Now, google VIN WVWBA71K89W139687 and you get this:
http://www.autobidmaster.com/carfind...SOMERVILLE_NJ/

Salvage flood car. Run away.

[EUROBORA8V]

5 years and NOTHING! I mean NOTHING wrong. The best car i've owned, really solid. MPGs are in mid 20s.


vegasroad2 by Maxi_Photo, on Flickr

[pknopp]

Good looking car. Let us know if you get it.

{edit} I posted while GTI_matt was posting. Looks like he might have done you a huge favor. I didn't get the carfax but it does note 19 entries. That's a ton and if it is a flood car don't even argue with us, go get your deposit back and find something else.

[Albeezy36]

I'm at 43K on my 08 5spd.

Problems:
Interior rattles - lots of them
Replaced DS/PS door locks due to failures
Replaced ignition switch due to partial failure
Transmission leaks slightly

Some might say this isn't much, but it was my first new car purchase, so it bugs me.

Overall it's been a good car. Gas mileage is as stated - meh. I've just did 40K service myself, and it's plenty easy. Hardest part of working on this car so far is getting the dang engine cover off!

Kind of on the fence if I'd recommend the car or not. As far as engine reliability goes, it's been problem free for me so far. I'll sell it for something nicer someday, but for now it makes a good safe car.

[3 Money Pits]

80K miles on my 2006 Rabbit....still love it, and it's been dead nuts reliable.

You sure?

Hey everyone.I have an '06 Rabbit with 51XXX miles. About a month ago I was coming home from work and my car felt like it was misfiring and the check engine light came on. It almost felt like a failed coil pack on a 1.8T. I had to leave for a month on short notice the next morning (I'm in the Navy), so while I was gone I ordered all new coil packs and spark plugs. I went outside today to try to start it up (so it's easier to remove the engine cover) and it wouldn't even turn over. I jumped it from my wife's car, and it finally started, but it still felt like it was misfiring, and I could smell fuel. Could all this be caused by a failed battery, or am I looking at much deeper problems? Please help. The dealer is already closed for the weekend and I need to do something here. Thanks guys.

My Rabbit went into the shop yesterday, felt like it was misfiring real bad. Turns out to be the #2 injector stuck wide open. It's gonna be $440 to fix because it's not covered under warranty. Anyone ever heard of that happening at only 55,000 miles??

So the rubber gasket around the base of my antenna gave up the ghost today.

Injectors failing, body trim parts falling off, all before 80,000 miles. Yup, "dead nuts reliable" all right. Thank you for your service, though.

[EUROBORA8V]

Injectors failing, body trim parts falling off, all before 80,000 miles. Yup, "dead nuts reliable" all right. Thank you for your service, though.

I could find you a Camry with a list that is worst. Overall most people have no problems with them. Same goes with MKV Jettas that had some differential problems at first (i think due to the fact that 2.5 has too much torque for that 5 speed). Not an issue on newer ones.

[3 Money Pits]

I could find you a ______ with a list that is worst.

I'm sure you could. I could too. Just pointing out the fact that internet anecdotes aren't always to be believed.

[spoonie]

152,000km on mine.

Unscheduled fixes:
Headlamp bulbs, tail-light bulbs (twice)
Driver-side CV boot ripped, axle OK, boot replaced
Rear pads/rotors replaced (was only expecting pads, this is an appliance car)
Airbag light after recall performed - gonna blame the mech on this one. Will rectify next visit.

Otherwise, pretty darn good, and leaps and jumps better than any honda, bmw or any other car I've owned.

It's probably fair to say that cars manufactured today have much better QC generally - regardless of initial cost.

[mhjett]

Pre-modded VW with front end issues... And it's only got 20k miles? I'd run so ****ing fast from that thing.

Why would one of these Rabbits be better than a brand new Sentra or Elantra?

Google people, google!

Is this the car?
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...22161623&Log=0

How is that a "CPO" from a non-VW dealer? How is it "CPO" with a vibrating front end?

Now, google VIN WVWBA71K89W139687 and you get this:
http://www.autobidmaster.com/carfind...SOMERVILLE_NJ/

Salvage flood car. Run away.

If that's it, DO NOT BUY.

If you want to research 2.5L Rabbits/Golfs (and Jettas for that matter), read this 3-page thread from about a week ago; pretty much covers everything:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...t-owner-QUALMS

[EUROBORA8V]

I'm sure you could. I could too. Just pointing out the fact that internet anecdotes aren't always to be believed.

There are always cases where even a dead reliable car has problems. It happens. But can we say that a car is reliable if majority have not had any problems with it? Yes we can. Trying to speculate on a single bad case is not a good idea.

I remember that the dealer was my second home during the MKIV era. It changed for me in 2006 when i entered an MKV era. I am just judging by the line of cars that i see at VW service while passing it on the way to/from work.

Not trying to be a fanboy as i do realize and know how VWs could be money pits. But it did really change with MKVs and on.

[3 Money Pits]

There are always cases where even a dead reliable car has problems. It happens. But can we say that a car is reliable if majority have not had any problems with it? Yes we can. Trying to speculate on a single bad case is not a good idea.

And I never speculated about anything other that the history of the specific car in the OP.

A dead reliable car that has problems is not a dead reliable car.