Vw Rabbit 2008 72k Miles on 2040-cars
Murray, Kentucky, United States
Full 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit ReviewWhat's New for 2008Volkswagen's compact Rabbit receives a welcome infusion of power for 2008, celebrated with a modified moniker as it's now called the Rabbit S. IntroductionFor most economy cars, value is the key selling point. But with an emphasis on value, "fun to drive" and "enjoyable to own" often don't make it into the final product. With its 2008 Rabbit, however, Volkswagen aims to buck that trend. Now in its third model year, the latest Rabbit is actually the current stateside version of the company's Golf hatchback sold overseas -- a situation that harkens back to the nameplate's first appearance on our shores back in the '70s. The 2008 VW Rabbit is based on the same platform as the compact Jetta and is therefore a bit larger than the old Golf, which pays dividends in terms of generous interior headroom and legroom. The Rabbit is powered by a smooth inline five-cylinder engine and hops along more impressively this year due to a 20-horsepower bump to a more competitive 170. A stiff body structure and multilink rear suspension combine to help deliver comfortably compliant ride and handling, though the taut European character of past generations is missing in action. Enthusiasts will also lament the loss of some steering feel due to the adoption of electric-assisted power steering. Though perhaps not as fun to drive as previous models, the more powerful 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit offers reasonably satisfying performance and a spacious cabin for its size with above-average ambiance and quality. It's also well equipped, though that does mean a higher MSRP. Overall, we think most owners will find it more satisfying to own than domestic economy hatches like the Dodge Caliber or Ford Focus, though segment favorites like the Honda Civic and sporty Mazda 3 should not be overlooked. Those shopping for a two-door hatchback might also want to take a look at this year's refreshed Scion tC coupe or the stylish new Saturn Astra. Body Styles, Trim Levels, and OptionsThe 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit comes as a two-door or four-door five-passenger hatchback in a single trim level called the S. Both body styles share the same wheelbase and overall length. Standard equipment includes 15-inch wheels, air-conditioning, heated outside mirrors, power windows and locks, remote keyless entry, cruise control and a 60/40-split-folding rear seat. Two-door hatches have a single-CD/MP3 player with an auxiliary jack and eight speakers, while four-doors receive a 10-speaker premium audio system with a six-disc CD changer and satellite radio. The four-door also comes standard with upgraded cloth upholstery, eight-way manually adjustable front seats (versus six-way adjusters on the two-door), heated front seats, heated windshield washer nozzles, rear-passenger ventilation and a rear center armrest with pass-through. Optional features include 16- and 17-inch alloy wheels, metallic paint, sport and ground-effects body kits, a sunroof (four-door only) and an iPod adapter. Powertrains and PerformanceAll VW Rabbits are equipped with a 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine that produces 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. A standard five-speed manual transmission sends power to the front wheels, while a six-speed automatic with manual-shifting capability is optional. Thanks to the engine's respectable amount of torque, acceleration is brisk at lower speeds with either gearbox, and the optional six-speed automatic makes great use of the engine's power band. EPA-estimated fuel economy for the 2008 Rabbit is 22 mpg city/29 mpg highway with the five-speed manual -- a bit lower than average for this class of car. Models sold in California-emissions states earn a cleaner PZEV tailpipe emission rating. SafetyFour-wheel antilock disc brakes, front seat side-impact airbags and full-length head curtain airbags are standard on all VW Rabbits. Stability control with electronic differential lock is optional, as are rear seat side-impact airbags on four-doors. In government testing, the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit four-door scored four stars out of five for front occupant protection during frontal crashes and a top-ranked five stars for both front and rear occupants in side-impact tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the Rabbit a top score of "Good" for the protection of occupants in both frontal-offset and side-impact crashes. Interior Design and Special FeaturesThe Rabbit's well-appointed cabin is certainly one of its strengths. At night, the gauges illuminate in stylish VW blue with contrasting red needles, and all the knobs and switchgear feel as if they were borrowed from a premium-priced Audi. The three-spoke steering wheel is perfectly shaped, and multiple adjustments for the front seats plus a tilt and telescoping steering column assure a proper driving position for drivers of different sizes and shapes. Two-door Rabbits have front seats that slide forward for easy rear-seat access, though four-doors are the obvious choice if you plan on regularly carrying more than a couple adults or children. Driving ImpressionsThe 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit is tuned to provide a satisfying balance between a comfortable ride and capable, reasonably fun handling. Although not as taut and responsive through the curves as earlier generations, the current model is more refined, with reassuring, rock-solid stability and a surprisingly noise-free ride. The steering is direct and nicely weighted, but doesn't offer as much feedback as we'd prefer. |
Volkswagen Rabbit for Sale
1981 volkswagen rabbit diesel pick up
1983 mk1 rabbit with 2.0 engine
2007 4-door used 2.5l i5 20v automatic fwd hatchback premium
2.5l cd traction control front wheel drive tires - front all-season abs a/c
2007 volkswagen rabbit 2.5 hatchback 3-door 2.5l
1980 volkswagen rabbit pickup base standard cab pickup 2-door 1.6l
Auto Services in Kentucky
Withers Imports Reprs ★★★★★
Supreme Oil Co ★★★★★
Steven`s Transmission Repair ★★★★★
Sam Swope Cadillac ★★★★★
Robke Ford/Parts Dept ★★★★★
Performance Plus ★★★★★
Auto blog
Translogic 171: EV West Karmann Ghia Electric Conversion
Wed, Feb 25 2015Translogic checks out EV West, one of the world leaders in electric vehicle conversions. Host Jonathon Buckley interviews EV West owner Michael Bream and test drives a converted 1969 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. What drives EV West to electrify classic cars may surprise some. "We're not doing this because we're the hardcore environmentalists or we're trying to save the earth," says Bream. "If we can't at least double your horsepower and torque, we won't touch the car." In fact, EV West brings a race-tested performance pedigree to back up those boasts. The company competed in the electric class at Pikes Peak, has run through the desert at Baja, and in general has successfully proved that battery-electric vehicles can compete at a high level. Have an RSS feed? Click here to add Translogic. Follow Translogic on Twitter and Facebook. Click here to learn more about our host, Jonathon Buckley. Green Volkswagen Electric Translogic Videos electric conversion ev west
VW confirms Audi's emissions test transmission anomalies
Mon, Nov 14 2016Just a week after reports that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) found an emissions cheat in some Audi automatic transmission software programs, parent company Volkswagen has come clean. As reported by Reuters, VW's response to an article by Munich's Sueddeutsche Zeitung stated that the adaptive shift functionality can "lead to incorrect and non-reproducible results." Adaptive shift programs alter the characteristics of a vehicle's transmission to suit different driving styles. Gentle driving will result in earlier shifts and lower engine revs, while hard-charging on the pedals and steering will make the transmission more responsive and hold gears longer. That adaptation can change over time or even on a short-term basis. And it can save fuel. The difference in this case is that is seems that the Audi transmissions were specifically programmed to detect emissions test conditions. As we explained in a previous article, one of those test conditions is keeping the wheel straight. Turning more than 15 degrees shuts the test mode off. According to Reuters, the US government is trying to determine whether this classifies as an emissions cheat device, although VW, Audi, and the EPA have not commented on the record. This latest accusation is separate from the larger VW diesel emissions scandal. Related Video: Image Credit: Getty Editorial Government/Legal Green Audi Volkswagen Emissions vw diesel scandal
Volkswagen plans expansion, tech center in Chattanooga
Tue, Apr 7 2015Volkswagen is expanding its growing Chattanooga, TN, factory by even more than the original plans after winning the local government's approval. The German automaker announced its intention last year to invest $900 million to add 538,000 square feet of floor space to the plant, which would add 2,000 new jobs. The company just went back to the city for permission to increase the expansion by a further 130,153 square feet for an even larger body shop. The extra construction is estimated to cost around $18 million. VW spokesperson Catharina Mette described the decision as "a cost-saving option," to Autoblog. "Taking this action now saves money while giving us flexibility as we integrate the MQB platform in the future," she said. By the end of 2016, the Chattanooga plant will begin production of VW's forthcoming crossover, which should look similar to the Cross Coupe GTE concept. VW has further plans for the research, development, and planning center near the factory. According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, some of the designers and engineers will start work at a temporary facility there next week. A permanent location will open in 2017 with a test track and space to perform crash evaluations. The engineering center is meant to speed up the rate of vehicle development to bring models to the North American market more quickly."This will be the central entity in all the US, and hopefully all of North America," Matthias Erb, who oversees the center, said to the newspaper. Related Video:






