2008 VW Rabbit

2008 VW Rabbit questions and answers

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Q: Ski Racks VW Rabbit 2008?
I have 08 VW rabbit, i put on a Thule Ski rack system, but i get water leaking from the passenger side door, has anybody had this problem before, Im thinking the sealant is not working properly but if i take to the dealership and tell them they will say warranty wont cover since they are not factory racks, which they are the same thing but havent bought them from the dealership. thnx

A: is it door leaking from seal being cut or is it thru roof where screws where drill in either way easy to repair remove add more sealant or buy new door seal

Q: The salesman at VW said that for the 1st 1k miles the car will run at 90% power. Does anyone know about this?
I got a new 2008 VW Rabbit. The salesman said that the car will run at 90% power for the first 1000 miles, after that, the car will run at 100%. Can someone explain why and what the heck this feature is all about.

A: BS to the "stopper bolt" In my 20+ yearfixing I have NEVER seen that & The salesman is a retard. You should take it easy on the car for the first 500 miles to allow for break in. Definition of Break in.....The first few hundred miles of a new engine's life have a major impact on how strongly that engine will perform, how much oil it will consume and how long it will last. The main purpose of break-in is to seat the compression rings to the cylinder walls. We are talking about the physical mating of the engine's piston rings to it's corresponding cylinder wall. That is, we want to physically wear the new piston rings into the cylinder wall until a compatible seal between the two is achieved. Proper engine break in will produce an engine that achieves maximum power output with the least amount of oil consumption due to the fact that the piston rings have seated properly to the cylinder wall. When the piston rings are broken in or seated, they do not allow combustion gases to escape the combustion chamber past the piston rings into the crankcase section of the engine. This lack of "blow-by" keeps your engine running cleaner and cooler by preventing hot combustion gases and by-products from entering the crankcase section of the engine. Excessive "blow-by" will cause the crankcase section of the engine to become pressurized and contaminated with combustion gases, which in turn will force normal oil vapors out of the engine's breather, causing the engine to consume excessive amounts of oil. In addition to sealing combustion gases in the combustion chamber, piston rings must also manage the amount of oil present on the cylinder walls for lubrication. If the rings do not seat properly, they cannot perform this function and will allow excessive amounts of oil to accumulate on the cylinder wall surfaces. This oil is burned each and every time the cylinder fires. The burning of this oil, coupled with "blow-by" induced engine breathing, are reasons that an engine that hasn't been broken in will consume more than its share of oil. PS your first service isn't due until 5000 miles. Happy driving.

Q: Would a 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit be a good first car?
I'm looking to buy my first car and the 2 door VW Rabbit has caught my attention. Would this be a good desicion? It has a lot of power for such a small car, fairly decent gas mileage, and looks like it would be easy to drive. What I don't really know is how well made they are, how reliable, and how costly is maintanence/repairs.

A: I just got a 2008 Rabbit 2 door a few weeks ago actually. It's my first brand-new car too (I'm leasing it). So far I really like it and have put almost 1000 miles on it. I got the 5-speed manual and the sport package (with larger 17" wheels) and it's pretty fun to drive. Everything in the car feels really high quality. The doors have a nice thud when you close them, not that crappy tin feel that some Toyotas and Hondas have. It also has a lot of standard features. I really don't have any complaints, except that the 2 door isn't available with a sunroof. My last car was a 1997 BMW 740i so I'm used to being somewhat pampered lol. Having said that, my BMW had a pretty big V8 in it with lots of torque and the Rabbit honestly doesn't feel like it's any slower (except less passing power is noticeable). The 5-cylinder also sounds really cool at high RPMs. Since it's so little and has a 4-wheel independent suspention, it feels sporty in corners but doesn't lack in ride quality. I'd say its the best car in that price range. As far as maintenance and repairs go, my very first car was a '98 Jetta. I beat the crap out of that thing and it still ran pretty well. The maintenance costs aren't as expensive as everyone says they are. Plus, since it's new, it's under warranty for awhile.

Q: vw jetta wheel question?
I HAVE A 2000 VW JETTA WITH 18 INCH RIMS, IM GOING TO BUY A 2008 VW RABBIT SOON AND JUST WONDERING IF THE RIMS I HAVE ON MY JETTA WILL FIT MY NEW RABBIT?

A: can't you just measure? maybe you can go to one of those car stores that sell rims and just ask them.

Q: VW's questionable reliability.?
I'm heavily considering a 2008 VW Rabbit, but I've been a bit reluctant to actually buying one due to VW's recent reliability polls. I know that the Rabbit is made in Wolfsburg, Germany, but I'm almost certain that the recent survey didn't lie. I don't know if the ratings were low because of VW engineering or because of where the cars were assembled (Mexico). I guess my question is did VW's reliability go up like their chairman said it should with the recent models? and does the fact that the Rabbit is made in Germany change the reliability factor? Thanks in advance.

A: I spent 25 years on/off with Volkswagen in dealership service departments from 1980 till December, 2005; but still have contacts at a couple of VW dealership service departments even today, so I have a different view than some people. Firstly, let me tell you that the basic build quality that comes out of Mexico or Europe is about the same: the issue that the Mexican made vehicles have is the quality of the some of the components that are made there don't seem to have the same quality standard that the European made parts have. Volkswagen has part suppliers world wide: some of the parts come from Hungry (light bulbs), China, Chile/Angentina (some engine-transmission parts), Germany, France, USA, and other places. Its true that some items are of poor quality; the Hungry made bulbs (whether from Orsam or GE) don't seem to hold up (in the dealership I was at, for retail customers we sold US made bulbs, warranty customers got whatever VW shipped us)...but the largest issues is that many customers who have had concerns DID NOT maintain their vehicles to the requirements set down by VW in the owners manual. True to their European heritage, you MUST follow the maintanance schedule to the letter in order to obtain the desired reliability that most people want. The other issue is that you have to think like the Germans do; they don't design the vehicle with just the US in mind: many problems resulted from people not understanding the european mindset. I actually used to try to meet with the new owners for a little one to one discussion on how to operate the accessories on the vehicle before they drove off the dealership. If you can understand that German mind set, follow the maintanance schedule to the letter and can take the time to do things a certain way, then you'd be a great fit for a VW. I say this not because I some ax to grind, rather, that some people are well suited to a VW and some are not. The other factor is getting service: take it to someone who specializes in VW's, it does not have to be the dealership, but someone is familiar with VW's and their quirks. Many people have had issues with check engine lights: at the dealership I was at, we understood that certain things would fail causing the check engine to come on, so on major services or every two years, there were certain vacuum lines we'd replace so they wouldn't break and leak vacuum causing the light to come on. Our regular customers had a lot fewer issues with check engine lights than most people... that's the value of knowing the product. The Rabbit build quality is fine; the safety of ABS, Brake assist, EBD, side and curtain air bags, optional anti skid control and rear curtain air bags (4 door model for rear passengers) can make compeling case just from this standpoint alone... The Rabbit rides well, handles well when equipped with the optional alloy rims with larger tyres, and is among the quieter subcompacts sold on the market; couple this lower depreciation than most vehicles and its a purchase that makes sense for a lot of people. Still, the basic questions remains: can you follow the maintanance schedule to the letter? What is the situation with local service for your car? Does the local dealer have a good reputation? These are important questions for any vehicle, but in the case of a VW they are of the utmost importance to keeping your vehicle as trouble free as possible. Hope this helps, a car nut.

Q: vw or subaru?
i want to buy a new car... ive narrowed down to 2008 vw rabbit, and 2008 subaru impreza... vw rabbit- 170 hp, front whell drive subaru impreza 170hp, all wheel drive vw rabbit- 15,790$ subaru impreza 16,995 please help me make my decision... which one would u prefer

A: vw is always haveing some sort of recal so I say subaru.

Q: does the car manufacturer warranty include the tires?
we have a 4 month old 2008 VW rabbit with about 4500 miles on it, we were driving on the hiway today, hit a pothole going about 40 mph, and the front-right tire blew out instantly. is this covered by the car warranty?

A: If the tire had a defect it would be covered

Q: I just bought a new car, how do I break it in?
I have a 2008 VW rabbit. I was told that I had to floor it for the first 1000 miles in order to wear in the gears and valves. What is the best way to drive the car to break the car in?

A: Just drive it normally, sensibly. Vehicles have not required any special 'break-in' procedures for many years.

Q: Talk me out of buying a VW (Rabbit/Jetta)?
I am looking for a new (to me) vehicle. Preferably late model w/ low miles. The practical side of me is looking at Civics (2006 and up body style) and Corollas (2003 - 2008 Body Style). I am also looking at other models, but those are the trusty go-to's. I can't help but be tempted by a late model VW Rabbit / Jetta. They are pretty feature packed for their price and I like their appearance, but I keep reading discouraging posts online from owners of these cars, with cautionary phrases like "I love mine when it's not in the shop." or "They are notorious for electrical problems and expensive to repair". On the "best" end of the spectrum I am reading posts such as "They will treat you will if you keep up with a rigorous maintenance schedule." Also their fuel economy isn't as ideal as the Civic/Corolla, so that's a negative right there. What's your advice?

A: You have an interesting situation: The Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and (though you haven't listed it) the Mazda 3 vs. the VW Rabbit/Jetta/Golf. Firstly, all three of the vehicles have good strong points and weak points, it depends upon the balance between features, price and driving style. I assume from your listing that you are talking about purchasing a used vehicle, because if you're talking about a new one, that would change what I'm writing here. The VW has a nice interior, good driving dymanics and safety features that are either optional or not available on the others. It has comfortable seating for 2 adults, a smallish rear seat, average luggage space and (for base editions anyway (other than the 2.5 liter 5 cylinder) the lowest standard horsepower of the above vehicles. The fuel economy is on the low side and parts and service are the most expensive of the lot. It does have low depreciation (good resale value), a fair number of aftermarket performance parts, and a somewhat weaker dealership body. The Honda Civic, has a good balance between ride and handling; its softer riding than the VW's, has less grip, is noiser, can be somewhat spartan in the interior and a lot people don't care for the "space ship" split instrument panel with the speedometer on the top. It does have a higher price used than the VW's, but also has among the highest resale percentage of any car sold in the US. Fuel economy is second only to the Toyota Corolla, is among the cheapest car to maintain (lots of spare parts available ) and has a large following in the aftermarket performance area. Engines are smoother and more willing to rev than the VW units and the manual transmission is among the slickest shifting. The Toyota Corolla is the world's best selling automobile; there's a reason for that: one of the most reliable cars on the road... Handling is the weakest of the three: soft riding, low tire grip, a tight rear seat area, no hatchback design models, and an engine that isn't happy at higher rpm's. Balance this against the highest fuel economy, good (but not great resale value), a car well suited to driving in traffic with a minimum of effort, but a poor road car for high speed driving. The Mazda 3, is an interesting vehicle: almost as expensive (new) as a Civic, but with excellent driving dynamics. It truely deserves the "zoom, zoom" label it has in the ads. Firmer ride than the VW, but not quite harsh, the 2.3 motor is rough at high rpm's, and only delivers average fuel economy (lower than the other Japanese vehicles, matching the VW). Matches the VW for available features (at least new one's do), with a quality finish inside and out that is equal. Comfortable for 4, tight for five, smallest trunk of the group. Its the sport car of the group:, parts and service better than the VW, but not as inexpensive to run as the Toyota or Honda. More dealers than VW, less than Toyota or Honda. With the VW, if you're purchasing used, you need to be sure that the vehicle service has been performed to meet or exceed the manufacturer's requirements. A lot of the problems that some owners have had are because they did not follow the factory recommendations and/or they did not have a VW specialist service the vehicle. European vehicles in general, have to be serviced by someone who understands the engineering quirks that they have and can deal with them. In the dealerships I've been in, I've always made it a point to tell people what needs to be done to prevent trouble later, based upon our experience with the vehicle. If people followed our advice, then in general, they had a lot less concern with issues like the check engine lights than most people and for the most part, avoided unscheduled repair visits. The serving persons need not be a dealership, but someone who understands the vehicle!!! This is so important, I cannot overstate this at all! The Japanese cars are much less prone to having or needing a specialist to service them. There is more price competition among them, so service tends to cost less, this is especially true of the Civic and Corolla. Finally, if you choose to have dealer service, Honda and Toyota have better factory service technical support than VW. From my personal experience, Honda and Toyota are very good in this regard, ( I cannot comment on the Mazda, I haven't worked in Mazda dealership in a long time), while VW is on the weak side. This is just based upon my personal experience; I have actually driven all of these vehicles at one time or another (mostly as rentals)... but your experience may differ. If possible rent each of the vehicles for the weekend if possible, do your own comparison. In my area, Enterprise Rental actually has all three vehicles available to rent... hopefully, that's the case where you are... Hope this helps, a car nut.

Q: 2008 rabbit or mazda 3?
Ok i need an opinion. For months i have been looking at these cars and this week i finally drove them. for the mazda it drove great the clutch was easy and the cnages were smooth, really nice quality interior, almost everything i need, exept it doesnt have standard side airbags or abs (itouring). The rabbit (S 2 door) i really liked how it looked and the fact that it has a bunch of standard features and a long warranty, but something was wrong when i drove it. the clutch was kinda tricky, but i guess is because i havent really driven stick for a long time, but the real rpblem was that i was driving in a small street city and i felt that the gears are too short, i mean i was doing 40 and i had to change to 4th gear ......this is a 170hp car why do i have to drive at 4th gear at 40 mille and hour?! I have given the vw the benefit of the doubt so i will drive it again an see waht happens. I was also considering the civic but the price is kinda high for. Plz an opinion???? THX

A: I also change to fourth gear at 40mph with my Mazda protege. That is normal. When the rpm gauge gets between 3-4, that is when you are supposed to change gears. Both cars are reliable and fuel efficient. The rabbit has more space. But, if you feel it is easier to drive the mazda 3, then get a mazda 3.

Q: Volkswagen RABBBBBBIT?
im trying to get 2008 vw rabbit 2door with no options, how much would it coast me before and after tax and all that good stuff, i wont be having trade in. also if you bought a rabbit how much did u pay total

A: I'm not getting down on you, but I se questions like this all the time. I'm just wondering why you wouldn't just call or email a dealer and ask them this very same question. Very odd.

Q: Looking at a Toyota Rav4 and a VW Rabbitt at respective Dealers?
Does anyone own either vehicle and any thoughts on what a reasonable price would be for either? Rav is a 2007 base model, with 26k (leased to a company before) Rabbit a 2008, is next model up, so more extras ie cold package, comfort package, sunroof. Also what would be the problems to consider with either vehicle?

A: I was a new car toyota certified salesman. Toyota rav 4 is a better car then vw rabbit. Toyotas have a great reputation, higher resale and are the #2 manufacturer in the world and will beat GM for #1 spot soon. Dont worry about leased miles. For value, go to kbb.com and look at trade in value and this is what a dealer will pay for a car. then look at retail and this is what they will try to sell it to you for. Try to negotiate the best deal. Get your own finance rates first at your bank before you go to the dealer. Dealers can add up to 3% higher to a loan and get away with it, so you could pay more for a car and more for interest rates. Shop around for the best Rav 4 and dont be afraid to walk out of the dealers showroom. you must negotiate hard or walk vote me for the best answer

Q: What When my car is started for the first time, there is a "ping" noise coming from the back of the car.?
I have a 2008 VW rabbit. There is a noise that comes from the back of the car. It is ping sound but it is actually sounds like someone hitting a nail with a hammer from far away. Any ideas as to what the sound is?

A: Go back to the dealer since your car is still under warranty. Back brake or axle could be defective.

Q: would u suggest i buy a 2008?
VW RABBIT? Whos had a bad experiance with this car? are VW reliable? do they last many years?

A: NO! One of the worst products on the market and expensive to repair.

Q: did you buy a new volkswagen/vw lately?
i'm about to get a 2008 rabbit in a few days (they're ordering a black one from another dealer) and they wouldn't budge on the price. they said 17,200 and gave me 10k for my trade. is this a good deal? they originally only stated 9k for the trade. so i'm wondering how flexible are other dealers? has anyone else gotten them to sell for much below the msrp? (i think the sticker was over 18k because they put some kind of guard on the pain and fabric, plus security somethingoranother)

A: If you have a choice, shop around. Sometimes if they are doing a dealer trade they won't budge on the price. If you go in and they give you a quote on this car (color, fabric, engine options you want) you could take that paper to another dealer and say this is what XXX (insert dealers name) said it was going to run me. A lot of times they will do whatever they can to beat that price. If you don't want the clear bra or scotch guard, tell them. they can't charge you for the crap they installed if the customer wouldn't have asked for it to begin with.