Jaime is right. If you want a real German Rabbit, you have to fork over $30K for an A3, but that has a GTI engine. I would definitely check out the S models. With the S Touring you get everything all the lower models get plus DSC, 17" rims (I can't believe you can get these on the i model now), and optional leather. With the Grand Touring you get leather seats, trip computer, DSC, 17" rims, auto on/off HID headlights, rain sensing windshield wipers, optional Bose system and navigation.

I have an 05 S auto, and I love it. I average about 27 mpg, which is a mix of highway and city driving. When I first saw the dash lights I thought they were pretty bright, but when the headlights are off you can dim them to a more moderate output. I got use to the brightness so i just keep them at full blast. When the headlights are on you have two dim choices, along with the dimmer wheel that's on the side.

I live in upstate New York. Not quite the snow belt part, but in between NYC and Albany. We get a good amount of snow, and this car is not a champ in it. I'm pretty sure it's mostly due to the tires. I would get stuck in 1" of snow. I would drive my dad's rear drive 3-series, and with its traction control I could move in my intended path. At a stop light once, I was able to start up and drive way ahead of the two SUV's that were on both of my sides (their tires could not stop spinning). There was approx. 4" on the road. DSC+TC Is a great help in the snow. It can help avoid an accident, but like icspots said it's about the driver. Side impact airbags are standard on all models. These cars keep getting more and more standard equipment each year. I remember when it was just i, s, and SP23 and everything was an option.
Good luck with your decision.

 

exactly. however with that being said, if you are buying an A3 with all the options which once its all said and done, your looking at 40K *at least in canada*. with that you could basically buy yourself a mazdaspeed3, or a 09 Acura TSX. There are soo many more cars you could buy for 30- 40K. plus the mazda3 engine is made in hiroshima, compared to the base rabbit which is made in Mexico as i previously stated. Do what I did. Do your homework, compare ALL cars in which you would like to purchase I.E. Civic, Mazda3, Rabbit, Corolla ETC. drive them all, look at the reliability record which you can find on the internet, and then make your decision. But as I said and don't take my word for it, the Mazda3 is the best looking car out of all the small cars on the road.

 

Seems most in this board believe cars are not created equal, and that this belief applies as much todriving dynamics as itdoes toreliability.If yourdetermined to shake off input on the subject of reliability, or wherea supposed German car is actually made (no offense to Mexico), that's your choice, dog.I'd post the Consumer Reports data (which more or less affirms what JD Power says), but I suspect you'dignore it, so I won't bother. It always makes me laughwhen some newbiecomes in here for advice, and when they don't like someone's opinion or facts presented, they... well,react as shipo has.

In the end, reliability isn't the only criteria of course. If it was, I'd be driving a Corolla, because it has delivered better reliablity numbers than the Mazda3. But the Corolla was in 2007 boring (2007 being when I bought), and even the newCorolla doesn't have the curb appeal of the Mazda3 in my humble opinion.

 

Mexico, though? Are you sure? The Focus is MIM...last I heard, they were making VWs in Brazil.

 

A few comments:

[ol][*]Fact: the VW Rabbit is built in Germany (the only VW sold here in the U.S. that is made in Mexico is the Jetta).[*]The reliability of late model VW cars had come a long-long way since 2000. Is the reliability of a 2009 Rabbit as good as a 2009 Mazda3? Don't know, but I would bet the difference is not very great either way.[*]As nice as the Mazda3 is to drive, it is very much in the same ballpark as the Rabbit, however, for my tastes, the Rabbit is the better driver (by a very small margin).[*]I will grant you that the Mazda3 5-Speed transmission snicks into gear a bit nicer than the Rabbit, a trait that I have experienced in Mazda after Mazda after Mazda. Said another way, even Honda casts envious eyes at Mazda manual transmissions.[*]Funny thing, while Toyondas get trashed regularly on the Vortex site, most folks over there have a fair amount of respect for Mazda. Go figure.
[/ol]

 

Look, I realize that this is a Mazda board, however, folks, please get your facts straight before you make posts like I've read recently.

VW Rabbit Made in Germany
VW Jetta Made in Mexico
VW GTI Made in Germany
VW GLI Made in Mexico
VW Passat Made in Germany
VW Eos Made in Portugal
VW Tiguan Made in Germany (and Russia)

I do not mind a little good natured trashing of other brands, but the misinformation that has been tossed at me as a means of swaying me toward buying the Mazda3 (a car that I was already leaning in favor of) is doing nothing but making me want to buy the Rabbit instead. I am thinking that I may just leave this site before I decide on making a reactionary VW Rabbit purchase.

 

I just stated my opinion. Just because of arguments on the board should not make you base your decision on a car. As I said, do your homework compare the 2 cars. and then make your selection due to reliability, feel, handling. we dont want to make you leave due to the fact that we are being biased towards the car. This forum is quite good and there are always people that can help you out with your car and what not. But it is your choice and good luck on what you buy whatever your choice may be.

Jaimie

 

BTW amazing with the van. that actually reallly shocks me how that van has had no problems, as most of those do. keep it as say a moving van or for moving heavy or large objects. will save the car you decide to buy too.

 

shipo try and ignore the argumentative responses you find on some sites..... and they're certainly not limited to this forum alone. You seem like you're shopping for a full package (not just a single feature or review result) and want to get what fits you best. Honestly different cars 'fit' different people in different ways. There are tons of cars out there that I would personally never drive yet thousands of people own them and are perfectly happy with them. In any case buy what ends up being best for you whether that be a Mazda or not. I would personally recommend the 3 to anyone as I love mine. If you have other questions about comparisons we're more than happy to help you out as we can.

 

Funny thing about these vans, most folks do not have significant problems with them, however, urban legend says otherwise. I am a moderator on a board dedicated to the Chrysler minis, and the number of vans with two, three, and even four hundred thousand miles on them with minimal issues is impressive. In our case, we have not one but two DGCs, the old one will tip 170,000 miles in the next week or two and the "new" one is at 115,000 miles (a 2003, also bought new). The sum and total of the unscheduled maintenance that both vans have required has yet to reach the $1,500 mark (although it is very close), which if you think about it is pretty darn good for nearly 300,000 miles of driving.

As for keepingthe 1998as a Home-Depot hack, that is what we did last timewe bought a new car,the only problem was that for nearly two years, it got driven so rarely thatthe batting used for sound insulation under the hoodbecame a home for a faimly of field mice. Annoying. Ifwe do decide toconvert it from active duty to the reserves (as opposed to selling it),it will probably get driven once or twice a month for the next fifteen monthsat which pointour (now) 14 year-old gets his driving license.