Just saw this on Edmunds. Seemed pretty compelling.

 

Deluxe Electrical Gremlins Package STD

 

I'd go for it. Anything but the Civic for me...

 

Well, I don't know how much can really go wrong w/ a car this simple. There's no climate, complex stereo, NAV/DVD system ...

That's priced pretty competitively against the Civic. I wonder if you can actually get a Rabbit for that price from any dealership in the country. Just as it's nearly impossible to find or even order a Civic for $14,500.

M.

 

The ad IS an impressive standard equipment comparison between the two cars, but, convienently, it doesn't reflect the huge reliability difference between them. Still, I'd be hard-pressed to choose between them....the Civic is built like a Swiss watch, but I have a problem with its two-tier dash, digital readouts, quirky steering wheel, and wedge-shape front end.

 

Electrical problems.....Check
Flower Holder....Check

What can i say, the VW takes the cup-cake.

 

What VW does NOT mention in their comparison to the Civic is gas mileage. The Rabbit's EPA numbers are 22/30 and the Civic's are 30/40, a big difference. It's hard to believe the Rabbit, with a 4 Cyl. engine, gets the same gas mileage as the GS300.

 

Actually, the Rabbit has a 2.5L 5 cylinder engine, not a 4 Cyl.

 

Thanks, I missed that. Still, pretty poor gas mileage compared to the Civic. The Rabbit's 2.5L 5 cylinder engine produces 150 HP @ 5000 RPM, and the Civic's 1.8L 4 cylinder produces 140 HP @ 6300 RPM. Then compare the GS300's 3.0L V6, producing 245 HP @ 6200 RPM. I think the Rabbit's gas mileage at 22/30, exatly the same as the GS300, is pretty dismal.

 

The Rabbit/Golf/GTI whatever has been beating up the Civic in reviews, or rather winning. I prefer the vanish looks to the weird looks of the Civic. I prefer the traditional classy interior to the Buck Rogers Civic Interior. I do think the Civic looks very good from the rear.

IMO Rabbit>Civic

 

I'd take the VW over any Honda(save for an Accord [or an Odyssey when I have kids someday]) anyway...

 

that pricing is crazy...

But I didnt notice it is 2door pricing. 5 door is full 2k more expensive. While Civic sedan is only $200 more expensive. So what VW did is lower the price of low volume 3 door to market it better.

Rabbit does have stronger engine and more torque, but it is also 250lbs heavier, hence the mpg penalty.

 

If i had to choose a rice burner, daily beater - I'd take the civic, nothing to worry about.

 

The little flower-tube is in the Beetle, not the Golf / Rabbit. It was put in to bring back the memory of the car's popularity with the 60's hippies and flower-children. ( they should have also included an automatic deodorizer.....those people never took a bath ).


The mileage difference between the conventional gas-engine Rabbit and Civic is not surprising. Honda has always led the industry in conventional gas-engine efficicncy. Both cars, however, are available in even higher-MPG versions...the Civic as a Hybrid, the Golf as a diesel. VW just recently dropped some U.S.-market diesels, but newer-version diesels will be replacing them as soon as we get the low-sulfur diesel fuel soon promised.

 

I wonder if the VW diesel in the Rabbit will be competitive against the Civic Hybrid in both price and fuel economy. Nevertheless, both are pretty good values in base trim. Also, the Rabbit is available w/ a 6-speed automatic/tiptronic transmission in addition to the std 5-speed manual. I configured the 4-door wagon w/ auto 6spd and 16" alloy wheels and it came out to $19,095 - not too bad.

The pictures are from VW's website: www.vw.com/rabbit/

M.