Used 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit Consumer Reviews
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After 135K Miles Some Repairs But Reliable
Kevin Lee, 08/16/2016
updated 08/22/2018
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S PZEV 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
21 of 21 people found this review helpful
This car is not an economy car but very versatile. Fun to drive. Decent horse power. Very reliable. Only one problem was considered abnormal is the seal gasket of the vacuum pump was leaking. Dealer wants $400 for the vacuum pump but only the seal O ring needed replacement (found it online for $40). Replaced both front axles due to normal wear. Replaced all belts, which is a normal maintenance. Other than those mentioned, everything is pretty much original.
- Performance
VW Golf after eight years & 110K
Craig m, 07/26/2016
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
26 of 29 people found this review helpful
This body style is now called the Golf, but a decade ago it was called a Rabbit. I liked the car, and it put up with a lot of careless use. I use my cars for short hops, pickup truck-like hauling, and 2000 mile cross-country trips. I do NOT baby them, and the Rabbit took it all like a champ. Buyers should be cautious to make sure they are happy with the fit of the driver's seat with respect to the controls, because I experienced a tendency to find myself feeling off-center on long trips. That is, I didn't feel I was sitting directly in line with the middle of the steering wheel. I think that was because of a combination of leg length and the rather tight console tunnel placement. This is designed as an inexpensive VW, so don't expect the best of anything - but I am sure that today's Golf offers some improvements over the rudimentary radio/CD player the Rabbit came with. The big attraction back then was the Electronic Stability package, which VW was the first to offer at this price point - and that worked great! If you are a believer in dealer servicing, be prepared for high routine maintenance costs, and be aware you cannot even change the air filter on this car yourself. My particular car had a few gremlins in it: the cruise control would sometimes not come on unless I re-booted the car...and I was never sure whether my interval wipers were stopping because the German engineers wanted them to, or because a gremlin wanted them to. (It didn't make much sense to me that I didn't need a clear windshield if I was stopped at a traffic light, but they quit working nonetheless.) I considered these all to be minor annoyances, though. The plastic frame that supports the radiators, headlights and sheet metal at the front end of the car can be broken in very minor collisions or road debris encounters. That's an expensive fix, and constitutes a real design flaw. But I suppose other cars of this type have similar drawbacks. The hatchback would admit an insane amount of cargo, and the car handled great in deep snow as well as deep water and misty-slick pavement. No engine issues at all. Tranny required work after 105K of hard use.
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2008 Volkswagen Rabbit for sale near you
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- S PZEV 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $4,875115 mi away
- S PZEV 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $4,450119 mi away
- S 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $6,980346 mi away
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Great quality, price and reliability
fuel4thesoul, 07/23/2012
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
13 of 14 people found this review helpful
I have 90,000 miles on my car and it has been by far one of the best purchases I have ever made. The car starts without hesitation, stops on a dime, and has great pick up. VW offers a fairly comprehensive warranty and tends to repair certain items out of "goodwill" even when out of warranty. I never take my car to the dealer(unless it a recall) and have learned how to do every maintenance or repair on my own through the various forums that VW enthusiast keep up to date. This has helped keep my costs down while being able to own a safe German designed foreign car. For those without the ability to work on their own VW I would recommend checking out the prices for services in your local area.
Love VWs
lupdemare, 02/21/2012
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
Great car, easy to handle, good in snow with Nokian snow tires on it, very good on gas. Bought it with 60 k miles. Now at 122 k with no repairs. Tires, oil, filters i.e. maintenance only. A couple of bulbs changed. That's all. Used to drive VW Passats, earlier with no major problems. The single issue is Check engine light which is turning on and off by itself. If you want a good VW buy one built in Germany.
Not an economy car
paul, 01/06/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
19 of 24 people found this review helpful
The Rabbit is fun to drive and inexpensive to purchase. Handling is very good. Acceleration from the 170 horse 5 cylinder is vastly better than the approx 120 horsepower and 4 cylinders of most cars at this price point. Interior space is good compared to the small exterior. From its price and size you might think it is an economy car but it is not. Gas mileage is poor (pathetic 22 MPH after 4 tanks). Dependability ratings are not nearly as good as an Asian car either. If you think of it as an inexpensive sports car you will be happy, if you think of it as something in the class of a bullet proof Honda or Toyota you may be disappointed. Overall I am neither very happy or unhappy with it.
I knew I made the right choice.
Steve Rego, 06/01/2010
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
Well, I haven't owned it for too long, but I sure bought it for a reason. I wanted a car that was a good combination of looks, quality, performance, practicality, and comfort. This car executes all of these criterion very well. I was concerned with its fuel economy but I read on ways to increase my fuel economy (cruising in the highest gear possible, and being light on the gas, with the exception of my starts, driving 60 on the highway with cruise control enabled), I have been getting 28-30 in the city and about 35 on the highway at 60 mph. I've been getting a combined 32 mpg... good for 464 miles on a tank. It can get good economy if you want it too.
Best car I've ever had.
MiloSocks, 04/24/2019
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Just hit 200k. Bought with 30000. Original everything beside brakes and oil. Never been to the dealer since I bought it. This little car is unreal. I accelerate like a mad man from every stop light. Friends and family are always suprised by it's performance. The one con, I've probably put 20 plus bulbs into this thing and when it's 10 degrees out the heater gets pretty weak.
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Little bargain monster
Dell_Boy, 11/09/2010
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
If you want a cool looking fun to drive cheap to run runabout then this is it!! I actually traded down from a 2009 GTI with DSG to my VW Rabbit with the standard automatic and I actually prefer the drive of the Rabbit than I did to the GTI. Power delivery is obviously less but not a huge difference as it has 170bhp which has plenty up and go for me. The car is very versatile, comfortable on long journey's, love the 60/40 split rear seats to give HUGE cargo space for such a little car, 4 door's makes it a good family car with kids and cheap enough to buy out right so I have no car payments :-) I love it!!! You cannot go wrong with this well built European styling little rocket.
Excellent Car
brian1121, 02/12/2014
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S PZEV 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
Bought this car brand new when I was 16, for just under $16,000 and haven't looked back since. It's pushing 7 years and over 100,000 miles now and no problems at all. Changing the oil every 10k miles and changing brakes as needed I'm sure helped the quality remain top-notch. Quick enough for getting around town along with decent fuel economy, however I wish the mpg were a little better.
vw convert
remingtone, 03/16/2009
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I have owned a lot of cars. I used to love rwd cars and trucks and hated fwd. I love my rabbit. The interior is way better than what my friends have. It looks great, especially with my optional 5 spoke Gray wheels which sets off the look of the car. The drivers door came off set and scratched the paint, warenty fixed that in 2 days. I don't understand the brakes, every car I have owned gets brake dust all over the front wheels but on this car it gets dust on the rear wheels. I was really hard on them a couple times to see what they are capable of and the rear brakes got so hot I could light a cigarette off it. I don't understand it but I haven't had a problem with them yet.
Love my rabbit
DBLASVEGAS, 08/28/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
The first thing you need to understand about this car is. It's not the most fuel efficient hatchback out there. However it is fun fun fun to drive. If you're like me and performance is important to you, for the price you can't beat it. Drove the Civic lx, ex and Nissan Sentra. Boring by comparison. Nice cars but no power. Suspension is a little soft for me (it rides well though) but what do you want for 16,800 dollars? I have alloy wheels and iPod adapter built in the armrest (with rear seat air vents) trip computer 10 speaker stereo. The 4 door jumps in price to around 20,000 dollars. The Honda dealership wanted around 20,000 out the door for an lx Civic coupe. Rabbit was 18.
Great, Sensible Car
Steve, 02/11/2009
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I have long wanted a VW and finally purchased a slightly used 2008 model this year. I wanted a GTI, but it was out of my price range. I've test driven both and can say that the 5 cylinder Rabbit has enough power for most drivers and pretty much all driving situations. The suspension isn't as sporty (read: body lean) in the corners, but overall very fun to drive. Interior isn't as unique/special as the GTI's but still full of features and very comfortable. Great car with great fuel economy. I get 28mpg with approx 80% highway driving.
Unlimited Smiles per Mile
davepete, 08/22/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I've owned my Rabbit now for a little over a month. Each and every day I look forward to the commute to work because the Rabbit is so much fun to drive. No problem merging onto the highway, or passing slower traffic. The ride is firm but smooth, and engine response is immediate. I test drove the Scion tC, Mazda-3, Toyota Matrix, Ford Focus, Subaru Impreza, and Chevy Cobalt. None of them could touch the Rabbit in terms of overall feel, and build quality. If you're looking for an inexpensive "fun" car, don't pass up test driving the Rabbit.
Nothing but Problems
gobills, 08/27/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
6 of 9 people found this review helpful
It started out being a nice car, but since then it has been nothing but headaches. It seems like one thing after another something goes wrong. 1st off the power windows quit working, and now the check engine light keeps coming on and VW doesn't no how to fix it. All in all this is my 1st VW and it will be my last.
Honda/Toyata guy converted to VW
VW convert, 01/04/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S PZEV 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I am 100% satisfied with my Rabbit. For me, the Rabbit was a perfect balance of economy and performance. I had considered a whole spectrum of vehicles- from a Toyota Yaris to a Mazda Mazda3 hatchback. The VW Rabbit sits somewhere in between those two models in terms of mpg and is competitive with the Mazda3's performance, though I might say the Mazda has better handling. One thing that the Rabbit, and German cars in general, have over any other car I was considering was it's awesome build quality. My Rabbit is a small car and is by no means a tank, but it feels as strong and tough as one. Hondas and Toyotas feel like tin cans compared to VW's. The Rabbit is also very zippy and fun to drive.
A Budget BMW
umfxc20, 09/15/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This car is incredible for the money. It has great power, and it's built like a rock (meaning there are NO rattles). The quality of this car is better than any other car you will find for under $20,000 (except for other VW's). The manual transmission is the smoothest shifting transmission I have ever used. I drove 60 mph on my way to college in Maine and got 35 mpg for highway driving, which was much better than I expected. Just a great car, and more VW's will be purchased in my future.
RABBIT REDUX
Phil, 11/26/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
We purchased a used 2008 VW Rabbit for my wife to drive. She went from a Jeep to a VW. We also own a 2001.5 VW Passat Wagon which we purchased new. Anyone who purchases a VW should be aware that owning a VW is an experience with potentially expensive upkeep and maintenance. Also, the service at some VW dealers has been horrendous at best. The Rabbit is a well thought out car with many creature comforts not found on other cars. It drives and rides like a German car should, is solidly built and has none of the "tinny" feel of other small cars. The doors feel solid and the 5 cylinder is strong. Just be prepared to pay for maintenance and upkeep.
240,000 and running!
lisa w., 01/13/2019
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I have driven this car for 225,000k of its 240,000k miles. Best vehicle for the bucks spent ever! really struggling with selling this dub! love love it!
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I couldn't ask for a better first car.
jdamato, 06/21/2010
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
My Rabbit is my first car and it's a fantastic car. My brother drove it for a year and then handed it down to me for a Jeep. It's really everything I wanted in a car. A good design, amazing handling and performance and very good gas mileage(just what I need for a job that's 22 miles away from my house). I haven't had any major problems yet. The only problem I had was my emergency brake wasn't disengaging all the way and it wore my back brakes really fast.
Best purchase
Christina, 08/18/2010
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This is my third car and by far my favorite. I enjoy everything about this car. You can still fit 5 adults in the car even though from the outside wouldn't think so. I haven't had any issues with the car at all. I take it to the dealership and Im treated like a princess every time I go there for whatever reason it is. Volkswagen overall has impressed with me with their product and service.
I’m not getting paid to say this
Mckelle Strong, 05/01/2019
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S PZEV 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
2 of 4 people found this review helpful
There’s so many good things about this car. One of them is that it has 4 doors. It’s spacious and makes it easy for people to get in and out efficiently. My car also has heated seats which is super nice for the colder months. All the little buttons and controls in the car are also way easy to figure out how to use so you don’t have to sit around wondering what does what. Something I love about my car is that it’s really fast and fun to drive. The exceleration kicks in fast and it feels like you’re driving a little go cart. The Volkswagen Rabbit is also a great car size. It’s not too small at the point where it becomes dangerous and it’s not some bulky thing either. With this car being the perfect size it makes it easy for parallel parking, reverse parking, or just your basic regular parking. Although, there are many good things about this car there are also some cons as well. One of the major cons is gas. The car itself gets great gas mileage but just to fill up the car can sometimes be pretty expensive. Since this car is a Volkswagen Rabbit you have to use Premium gas when you fill it up. Meaning, that if you were to put 20 dollars in, it would fill it up just under the halfway mark. Another con could also be the color, which is a bright red. Even though it’s super fun and flashy it also stands out to police a lot. It’s a car you could never miss so if you are driving past the speed limit or rolled a stop sign it definitely makes it easier for cops to spot you. As you can see even though there are some cons the pros definitely outweigh them. I would recommend this car to anyone who wants a car that can get them around efficiently.
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Wonderful Car
fajardog, 03/09/2009
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Having driven the wheels off my 1991 Toyota Tercel (200k miles) I really wanted a new car. I can't believe what you get for the money. Features that would be extra on any other car are standard on my Rabbit. The only option I got was the i-pod adapter. Everything else, cruise, power windows/locks, air-con and more were standard. I love the sound of the engine and I think it has plenty of power. I wish it got a little better gas mileage, but it's not too bad. I'm leasing the car now, but I think that when the lease is up and the new version comes out I'm going to buy it. As long as they keep this up I'll be a VW customer from now on.
Why buy a GTI?
Tim, 12/10/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought my Rabbit in June of '08 as a replacement for my '06 Nissan Frontier which was swallowing gas by the gallon and losing value faster than the Big 3 and couldn't be happier. My Rabbit is a great car! The 6 speed Triptonic Auto is more than I could have ever asked for. Very peppy car, will go when you want it to, at the expense of poor mileage however. I average 21 or so in the city and up to 28 on a freeway trip. Interior quality is second to none, love that German engineering.
German Zip on a budget!
Kest , 12/03/2020
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This 2.5 engine combines with a 5 spd manual shift, and sports car like handling... so often you don’t feel like you’re driving a hatchback family car.
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Great little car
stephen, 08/11/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I've had this car for about 5 weeks and put 2000 miles on it. For the price (under $18k with 170 hp, 6 speed auto & Tiptronic) you really can't beat it. 95% of the mileage is city driving, and I avg 17.9 mpg, which isn't great but I do drive quite aggressively. Overall the car feels quite well-built, and given that I used to manage a valet lot and have driven Audi, BMW, Porsche, Lexus, Jaguar, etc, that is pretty impressive, especially at this price point. In my opinion you are basically getting a GTI at an economy car price - and my insurance is far cheaper than it would be with a sports car. The only downside is the fuel economy, but if you can get past that, this car is a winner.
Great
gtv6, 08/30/2009
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This car has been perfect through 36000 miles following up on the near perfection of our previous 04 jetta wagon over 93000 miles. It is a surprisingly competent, long-legged tourer.
New Owner
Rabbit Driver, 10/16/2009
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S PZEV 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is my 5th VW, and I have to say I'm quite impressed with this generation, especially the 2008-2009 with the 170hp engine. The Rabbit offers a GREAT value when compared to it's competitors. Where else do you get 170hp, a slick interior, climate control, power everything, alarm, etc, starting at $16K!? The answer is nowhere. It's no wonder the Rabbit, and it's high performance brother the GTI win nearly every compact car comparison. People who complain about the gas mileage are comparing it to 4 cyl cars making 100-130hp and very little torque. This is a 5 cyl making 170 hp and 177 ft/lbs. The MPG is really on par with it's power output and price range.
Amazing car even after 60K miles
Jiten, 12/12/2009
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Today is the 2 year anniversary of my rabbit. I am in sales so I've put a ton of miles on it already...try 60K. I still get excited getting into the car even 2 years later. This was my first german car after owning pontiacs, chevy (mini van), mercury (villager), honda (prelude and fit), Nissan Sentra, Geo Prizm, Daewoo Nubira and Mazda Protege. Honestly this little rabbit is a whole notch above any of my previous cars. It is so solid, buttoned down and feature rich that nothing else comes close for the price. I had considered the Mazda 3 and Scion Xb but the moment I test drove the Rabbit I was totally hooked. The Germans really know how to make fantastically engineered cars. BUY ONE!!
Best car I've ever owned
odanny, 11/28/2020
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I've owned a lot of cars in my 54 years, and this one is the best of them all. I bought this car in 2013, and have put over 100,000 miles on it and have had exactly one issue with it in this amount of time: A short in the rear window wiper, which made the wiper work intermittently in off position. Rather than fixing it, I just pulled the fuse. I even hit a deer with the car, which my insurance company totaled, and I bought it back and had it repaired, because there was no way I was going to give up on something this reliable. That was last year, and it now looks better than before the accident, and runs just as well. I only wish that VW still made this car, and I cannot speak to their quality on other models, but on this one, they hit a grand slam.
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I love my car
AIMSTER, 05/16/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I never thought I would buy a VW again, but this time it was a gift. I love it! It's zippy and really reliable and fun to drive. I could use a little bit of pick up. My friends love it and my brother comes up with any excuse to borrow my car.
The Best Buy!
Curt S., 11/09/2007
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
More fun than an old 911. I have owned this new 08 Rabbit S automatic for a little over a month and 2500 miles of fun driving, some at altitude in CO. The look, the ride the cargo capacity and the performance is outstanding!If your in the market for a compact car buy the Rabbit. Having fun!
What a Wabbit!
Phoenix Guy, 02/24/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S PZEV 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This car is great fun to drive. The build quality is excellent; it has plenty of power and torque, and the manual shifter is butter smooth. I was looking for an economical hatchback that would serve as a city car and also be comfortable on long trips. A hatchback made the most sense, since the most usual passenger is a 100lb. hound. He doesn't mind that the rear windows don't open. Still, with the back seat up, the car has plenty of room for the grandkids. My only complaint is, having found the ideal seat/steering wheel combo, I can't seem to adjust the seatbelt away from my neck.
Nimble and Fun!
Jiten, 02/12/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought my Shadow Blue 08 Rabbit 2 months ago and driven it 3200 miles. I've already done a 1000 mile road trip and driven my kids to school regularly. I look for reasons to hop in the Bunny and drive. It's really fun to drive and scoots through trafic like a knife through butter. I've driven Toyotas, Mazdas, Hondas and Nissans and while they've been decent cars, nothing comes close to the Rabbit in build quality, interior design, the plethora of features on a base model and best of all the sheer fun factor.
I hate my rabbit
NMW, 10/07/2009
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
4 of 13 people found this review helpful
I have a 2008 rabbit and it only has 11000 miles, in one year i have taken my car to the dealer 5 times and each time for a different cause. This has been the most disappointing buying experience in my life, I have tried to lemon my car and the dealer has been very unhelpfull, I also had a factory person come to see my car and they just keep on making excuses.
Great Car
Chris, 10/24/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
First, I didn't give any "10's" because something has to be literally perfect. That said, for the money, a great car. It's broken in and the last 3 fill ups have been right around the 30 mpg combined mark. I drive very conservatively and about 60/40 hwy/cty. 5 spd manual allows low rpm shifting as well. 5th gear could be taller for the highway, or a 6th gear would help out too. Car comes standard with a good number of things like remote entry. Fun to drive and well made. I'm coming from a 2006 C-Class MB, so I had high expectations. Seems to have met them so far.
No More VWs
real_kadini, 01/23/2014
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
11 of 48 people found this review helpful
This 2008 Rabbit is the 2nd Golf/Rabbit in the family since 2003. The 1st was a 1999 Golf which nickeled and dimed us to death, mostly with lightbulbs, but also other sometimes unbelievable electrical failures. The reliability ratings on the 2006 and up VWs were vastly improved over the previous years, so I took a chance and bought this one in 2010, certified, from a VW dealer with 50K miles, as a graduation gift to my daughter. She couldn't afford to operate it so I bought it back from her with 59K miles thinking it would be a good work car for 3-4 years. WRONG! (continued below)
No longer status
David, 07/31/2017
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S PZEV 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
1 of 19 people found this review helpful
Guys don't buy any VW. I had two (jetta '16 and this junk). A few days ago I was lucky to trade it for Mitsubishi. I don't know where to start... These cars are good for 20-30,000 miles only. Last German engineer died in 1982 and VW brand is dead.
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What fun!
Wheeler, 07/22/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Just bought the 2008 Rabbit. This car drives and handles like a much more expensive sports sedan. Corners flat and has super good brakes. The 6 speed tiptronic trans is flawless and will provide excellent highway miles. The Rabbit has to be one of the best performance buys for a small sedan on the earth today. Typical excellent VW fit and finish on par with BMW and Audi.
Finally, a BMW hatchback available here
Remsen, 12/29/2007
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S PZEV 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I can not believe that VW can make a car with this much substance and performance and sell it profitably for the $15,500 I paid. This car has a similar driving dynamic to the BMW I used to own (that's a high compliment). You look at this car from the outside and think "nice little economy car" and you drive it and think "holy cow, this is a BMW hatchback."
The perfect combination
chuck54633, 09/04/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S PZEV 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car is the perfect compromise of all the requirements I have for a vehicle. I wanted something more fuel efficient and smaller than the truck I was driving, it had to be comfortable, fun to drive, and have room for my dog. I looked at every 4 door hatch on the market, especially the fit, versa, and the Astra. The Rabbit is the only vehicle in that group that feels like a real car. It feels like a budget BMW with comfortable seats, an excellent driving position, and a wonderful 6spd automatic. OK like most other people I wish it got better mpg, but you do have to consider the solid safe car you are driving. I'm seeing 25+ mpg in mixed spirited driving. You can do better with practice.
Great little car
Mark, 01/04/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Searched for over 3 months to replace an aging Jeep. I wanted a hatchback for its space and size. We looked at the Fit, Versa, Mazda3, Mini, Caliber and numerous others. The finish and quality of the Rabbit was the best. The performance is outstanding, I love the turn radius and size. With my old cherokee, I had a little extra space in my garage. With the Rabbit, I have even more with the same responsiveness and HP as the old 4.0L inline 6 in the Jeep with significantly better gas mileage - it doubled. The dealership I purchased it encouraged naming it, so we now call it Rascal! (after Elmer Fudd wascally wabbit)
Rapid Rabbit
Galileo, 07/31/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S PZEV 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I am a grandmother of five. Drive for pleasure and business. This car is precise, concise and fun. Great turning radii and very responsive. Extremely comfortable seats and easy on the eyes dashboard. I drive a lot of back country roads. The tiptronic offers the fun of a manual transmission and the flexibility of an automatic. I handed my Honda Fit over to one of my kids. The comfort of the Rabbit was impossible to resist. Heated seats and partially electronic, they are easy to adjust precisely. The car feels solid and centered and leaves me fatigue free. I am averaging 26-28 mph and the car is not broken in yet. Sound system is solid and satellite radio subscription is free for a tryout.
What a bargain !
robert peter, 01/12/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought the car 5 days ago so I can't yet speak for the reliability and the quality. But so far its a great car to own. I bought the car stripped except for the alloy wheels. But stripped the car has just about all I need. The 8 speaker stereo is great. The car rides very comfortable, it hugs the road, and the 5 speed manual is about the smoothest I've ever driven! There is some road noise mainly from the 16" tires as at a full stop in traffic the engine is very quiet. Also the AC/heat tends to get loud when cranked up but hey, the car cost $15K. My biggest problem is with the 2.5L engine is avoiding a ticket!
Good little car
Mike, 06/05/2009
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
After about a year with my Rabbit, I can finally write a review. The Rabbit is a fun little car to drive, with a lot of pep. The 6 speed tiptronic transmission is a lot of fun and very unexpected in such a low price car. The interior and build quality constantly amaze me after having Fords, Pontiacs, Chevys. The 2.5 engine doesn't mind being revved, and sounds pretty good when doing it. Although, it is a fairly thirsty little car, as I average 17 in city driving. It replaced a Crown Vic which was getting 12, so I can't complain that much. Not a bad car in winter either, never got stuck once with a good set of snow tires.
Love it!
alena, 01/14/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have always been a VW fan, so I was heart broken when my 97 Jetta was totalled, and I had to make a new purchase. The 08 2dr Rabbit is perfect for me. I find the car suits all of my needs. It's perfect for getting to school and work in the Metro area (great for those small parking spots downtown). I love the interior decor, and am a fan of the change in cupholder size.
The Car or Me
V WE, 07/31/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S PZEV 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have only had it for 5 days and wish I would have got an automatic. The motor seems lazy between idle and 1200 r.p.m.s , so I stall it quite often on takeoff. I have owned quite a few sticks in my life and never had such a problem. I love everything else about the car though. once I am moving it drives great and has plenty of power. I have owned some beetles over the years, a 63, 65, two 66's,a 68 and a 74. I always told my friends, If you can't drive a vw stick you will never be able to drive a stick period. So, is it the car or me ?
Good Rabbit
Steel66, 10/08/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S PZEV 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is a great car,with a powerful engine.I own the 6 speed tiptronic transmission which matches great with the engine, giving me the feeling that I am driving a more expensive car
Great Looking Car, Terrible Gas Mileage
LosAngelesBunny, 07/06/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 4dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My experience is a lot like Sharon's. My decision was between the Honda Civic and VW Rabbit, and I ultimately decided on the Rabbit as I preferred the look and it seemed more fun to drive. I really should have put more stock into the gas mileage. I mostly do all my driving in the city - pure stop lights and traffic the whole way to work and back. I'm seriously averaging between 10-17 MPG in the city. I can't tell you how stressed out I am about this. Instead of enjoying this gorgeous little car I loathe having to drive anywhere because all I can think about is the gas mileage. I've been told there is a break in period but if I could do it again I'd get something else.
Great 'dub
petesgarden, 08/22/2009
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I upgraded from a 1999.5 MKIV Golf GLS to this 2008 2.5 2dr Rabbit. Awesome car. 16000 trouble free miles over my 1st year of ownership, great get up and go, great ride. Not as much storage space as before and the interior is not as refined as previous models, but still way nicer than the same priced JDM or US cars.
Simply Amazing
wedgedgravy, 06/10/2008
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
You can read all the other reviews for how drivers like this car. They are correct, its sporty, fun, quick, and comfortable. Mass production is not art very often but the styling of this vehicle is beautiful. It is a total expression of minimalism. Everything is understated. The lines are beautiful from any angle. The interior is incredibly simple, yet amazingly feature rich. The controls are very simple to operate, basically allowing for full operation using two dials and two levers. The grace and nimbleness this car exudes while exhibiting its prowess are unbelievably sexy. If you are in the hatchback market, save yourself time and purchase this vehicle.