@@joshuamoody9508 literally. 170k, and the engine is solid. Jus waiting for it to kick the dirt so I can rebuilt it and have some fun with the engine, but it just keeping going
Tip for anyone who has one of these - easy way of modernizing the audio system and at the same time the interior look - the RCD330 radio unit is pretty much a drop-in OEM replacement that has Android Auto, CarPlay, Bluetooth, USB and Aux inputs with a 6.5" touchscreen. Not sponsored I swear lol - just has been a really great addition to mine, I don't feel like I'm driving an older car at all with the smoothness of the 2.5 and the clean, dare I say timeless, if basic interior/dash.
My 2008 VW Rabbit just rolled 67,000 miles on it. I bought it new. The only problems it has is the infamous vacuum pump leak. This fix is a DIY project and I have the new gasket ready to go. In addition, I replaced the headliner because the factory adhesive was poor. The front door panels and rear side panels will also be redone in a few months due to the bad adhesive. This is very common on the MK5s. My upholstery guy does SUPERB work. The car has been very reliable for an almost 16 year old car. When I bought a new set of 17s and new tires it TOTALLY transformed the car. It actually looks newer, and of course, sportier especially with the Rabbit being white with the dark tinted glass. To make the car feel newer from the interior I will install a Bluetooth media player. I've been lagging on this for way too long! Since I will keep the car I will get the car lowered and finally upgrade the exhaust. I'm craving a new GTI but I'm taking care of the Rabbit while deciding on the GTI. Regardless, I will keep the Rabbit. Cheers.
The only new compact car in the US that I could call remotely similar in simplicity now would be a new impreza base 5mt, but that doesn't have the same high quality interior feel either.
I bought my first rabbit, an ‘09 black two door in 2020 and fell in love! So much so I found one identical in 2021 but an ‘08 with a 5 speed manual, put coilovers on it, an exhaust, custom headliner, and a bunch of stuff. Unfortunately that got totaled a month ago due to hitting a truck tire on the highway at night. I scoured hard to find another one, and have a white ‘07 two door with a manual now! I will swear by these cars as long as I live and know it will last quite a while whether I work on it or not. Thanks for the great video!
Thank you so much for this review! I’m 17 and have the opportunity to buy a 5-spd manual VW Rabbit with ~100k kilometres on the odometer for around $7,500 CAD, and because of this review I am seriously considering on buying it as my first car. There’s a couple autos with double the kilometres that cost $2,000-3,000 CAD, but I love manuals. Used to drive my dad’s 2016 Mini Cooper JCW 6-spd manual and it was so much fun. You just earned a sub. Cheers!
@@EastDallasKicks No haha someone bought it days after I posted this comment. Instead I waited for a while and bought a Mk6 GTI Wolfsburg Edition a couple weeks ago. 😁
Woah, that was way too much, good thing you didn't buy it. I'd pay like $4k max, if it's in good condition. I paid $1900 for my manual beater rabbit with 135k miles.
@@Jv9569 I should have still bought it lol. That Mk6 GTI I bought needed a new turbo and a ton of seals and gaskets in the engine bay replaced… wastegate failed. Common on turbo VWs. Was very expensive to fix. Oops! Edit: that rabbit I was talking about was 7500 canadian. Probably around 4-5k usd. 100k km which is about 62k miles.
I have the 2008 VW Rabbit 2.5 Mk5 which is the first year within the 4-year span of the Mk5 with the improved cam chain tensioners and increased hp and torque. With only 165K miles on it, it still does not burn any oil between 5K mile changes. Since I deleted the vacuum pump, I have no leaks. Wonderful vehicle. My 6-speed 09G (made by Aisin) is perfect for me. I use Sport mode on secondary roads up to 60 mph (only 2500 rpm's) and Drive on the interstate. I only use the manual tap-shift in bad weather with slick roads -- especially going downhill. I don't know why this is rated as a weak car because I can keep up with, or ahead of any other cars out there, regardless of the roads. Wonderful vehicle! By the way, it is made in Wolfsburg, Germany.
The 2008 did not have more torque. It was 170/170. The 2007 was 150/170. You can just get a Stage 1 tune on the 2007 150hp model to make it 170 like the 2008 or you can get the Stage 2 like I did and get 185hp. Granted mine now has an SRI tune and has more than 185. Just saying. BTW those tunes are just software updates done through the OBD2 port. Which is what VW did when they made the 2008's 170HP vs the 2007's 150HP. All it costs is $500-$600.
@@carlospacheco8640the 08 actually has 177 torque at the crank, not that it makes much of a difference. Personally, I would buy the integrated engineering stage 2 tune with the intake manifold.
I drive a 2010 5-speed golf. It is my first car, it has 145k miles and I bought it for 6k. It is super comfortable, fun to drive, and the engine runs like it just rolled off the production line. These might be the most reliable VWs ever made.
One of the things I love about this channel - You review everything. Not just new cars, not just performance cars, it's very refreshing to see. If you ever get your hands on a Mk6 TDI golf wagon with a 6 speed, that would be awesome!
My 2008 has 141K on it, still runs like new, and the best part is it has required almost no maintenance! I've changed the brakes once, maybe twice, and I've put over 100K on it. I even hit a deer, totaled it, bought it back and got it fixed. Only needed body work, no air bags, no suspension, just bodywork. No way was I abandoning the Rabbit.
I bought my 2009 jetta 2.5 for $3500 almost 4 years ago, at 178k miles. ive certainly replaced a shit ton of components but its got 286k on it now and it still runs flawlessly. ive always thought that any mk5 is hands down the best first car/ budget car as the build quality and overall driving experience is super nice for what they cost.
Owner of a 4-door 2008 w/ 175K miles (Bought used at 160K), found this review to be extremely accurate to my own experiences. Biggest complaint in it's old age is that it knocks hard when entering and leaving 3rd gear, sometimes (Though rarely) missing the shift completely and stalling out when the computer gets confused after transitioning from highways to local roads. It performs great at high speeds and I've taken it on several 100+ mile road trips without any issues. Fun car, even considering the weird plastic overly-complex replacement German parts :P
I have an Infiniti g35 and am thinking about selling it to try to get something that is a more ideal “daily.” You think your vw would be a better daily than what I got rn?
I absolutely adore these 2.5 VWs from this era. My mom has a 2010 2.5 5 speed manual Jetta in mint condition and 52k miles. Its been a peach. No issues other than a CEL that turned out to be something with the intake manifold but it was an easy fix. I cannot wait to buy it off of her!
I own a ‘07 2dr manual. I toyed for years upgrading or switching to a Mazda3, but every time I get back in, I’m so happy I kept it. Repairs are expensive, but I have had no major issues. My VW-only repair shop says the 2.5 was one of the best engines they made.
Just stumbled on this. I'll add that I have a 07 bought new in late 06. Currently 325,000 Kilometers and not a single major issue. Even has the OEM clutch in it! haha Had an alternator and an oil filter housing. Those have been the only none wear items replaced.
194k miles on mine. Bought used for $1500. Love driving this car so much. I’ve put some money into it for sure, but the engine has never given me a single problem. Runs like a charm, still feels amazing.
never knew the rabbit existed until i got mine for a good price but im in love with it. I wish the 2.5 had a bit more power but maybe i can do something about that
I bought my 09 rabbit from my mother in law for $500, I’m 6’5 350 and can comfortable fit in this things. Over the past year I haven’t drove it but in that time I had about 7 offers to buy my car . Really is a great car
I'm so happy to see you reviewing a car I owned! Drove it for over 8 years. Mine was a manual and I had upgraded the wheels to 17s and it made a significant improvement on road handling. Aside from a few paint issues that were all covered under warranty, it truly was bullet proof. The fuel mileage wasn't outstanding, but the sound of the 5 cylinder more than made up for it :) As always, options were a bit different here in Canada, with sunroof and heated seats available on both the 3 and 5 doors if you selected the Comfortline (one up from the base Trendline).
@@Realistick we still have them on current VW :) Trendline, Comfortline, Highline, Execline, which are rough equivalents to the US S, SE, SEL and SEL Premium.
Just pulled up on a year of owning a rabbit. 2008 Rabbit here Everything said above is true. Our fuel mileage isn’t the best but the engine is what makes you and everyone else smile. I live in Urban rougher areas .. it definitely turns heads esp on curvy highways
Excellent VW rabbit straight talk review !!! The look reeks high-end car not to mention the European blissful driving experience compared to 5:29 the Japanese counterparts Yes the gauge cluster is beautifully simple
My parents had a 4-door model and it was one of the first cars I learned to drive. Didn't get to drive it as much after mentioning how much fun it was, haha.
My 2008 2 door was bought new as a backup car for my wife, it has not seen much use... just coming up to 30k. When I took it to the dealership for servicing last year, the techs freaked out on how pristine it is.
Agreed, I call mine my mini van because of all the, uh, items I can keep in it. Like the aprilia V-twin motor that's been there now for about a year. Why? Because I just like it there, I guess.
These are so fun in stick form with an exhaust and intake. If you think it sounds good stock, with bolt ons it becomes an absolutely intoxicating aural experience. With bolt ons and tune I also got down to mid upper 6's to 60. I've since moved on from my 2.5 and have a new gti but I always miss the sound when I hear it. I have some vids of it on my channel. I will always love it.
I enjoyed this video, me being the owner of a 2006 Jetta with 210K miles on it currently. Everything you've stated is similar to the experience I've had with my Jetta so far. The build quality definitely punches above its price class, and so does the features you get for an economy car. Despite what many say about VWs being so unreliable, I disagree for the most part. You'll find many of horror stories online about any vehicle brand as negative experiences seem to hold a bigger impact on people than a positive and people are more vocal about bad experiences. The soft touch material is nice to feel, but I've found that longer fingernails and other pointy objects can definitely gouge the plastic due to how soft it is. That would be my only gripe with the interior. Personally, for me, the steering is almost perfect in my opinion besides the understeer under hard acceleration. Though, that's more because of the vehicle being FWD than the steering itself. I imagine though that the Jetta does have a handling advantage due to it having a trunk that slopes downward which keeps a closer center of gravity so to speak. One thing I felt the need to add though, specifically speaking about the 6 speed automatic 09G trans (Aisin TF-60SN) is that they are known for valve body problems. The vehicle in this video has too little mileage for this issue to appear, but you'll find a plethora of posts in online forums talking about hard shifting issues when the trans is warmed up. The most common is a hard 2-3 shift, but 1-2 and 3-4 are also known to happen as well. If you're looking to buy an automatic Jetta, Rabbit, or Passat of this generation with the 09G, please be sure to do a warm test drive before purchasing the vehicle as shady sellers will tell you that the trans is perfectly fine if you drive it for a short trip before it warms up. A bad valve body won't cause hard shifting after a cold start, it'll seem perfectly fine. A valve body job if you take it to a shop will easily run you over $1000, so it's not on the cheap side in terms of repair, but is far cheaper than buying a new transmission altogether. However, if the hard shifting issue isn't taken care of and the vehicle is driven a while in that condition, you run the risk of ruining the clutches and will need a rebuild to restore proper shifting. At that point, I would replace it entirely or walk away from the vehicle. Replacing the valve body with an OEM one unfortunately is only a band aid fix to the problem. These valve bodies are inherently flawed from the factory with bore wear issues due to the metal being too soft. You will run into the hard shifting issue again around the 100K mile mark, especially so if you don't change the fluid every 40K and are driving in a hotter climate where the fluid temp reaches higher temps. If you have this same exact trans, do change the fluid every 40K miles and it wouldn't be a bad idea to have an additional trans cooler to keep the fluid colder if you're in a much warmer environment. The gearbox itself is actually pretty solid and can last 100K and even up to 200K if it's taken care of and fitted with an upgraded valve body. Despite what some may say, these 09Gs aren't as terrible as some would have you believe; hell, I own one. I would also get the 2.5 inline-5 engine over the inline-4 2.0T. High mileage 2.0Ts are usually pretty beaten up and are on their way out in terms of wear and usually are burning oil at that point. The 2.5 is a far more reliable engine, and in my opinion, rivals even Toyota and Honda engines of the time in terms of reliability. With a 2.5 and manual trans, you pretty much have a bulletproof car that is cheaper than a Honda or Toyota.
2.5 is a bulletproof engine if you maintain it. The most I have ever done to the car is replace my oil cooler, radiator and just maintenance. It's at 140K now and is still running great.
Back in college I bought a brand new '08 Rabbit, I knew it wasn't fast, but I always found the idea that it had a 5 cyl made it somewhat unique, wish I had the money back then to add an exhaust and whatnot, unfortunately I totaled it, then got a GTI MKV.
I have a 2008 VW RABBIT 2DR. It has the aux where the armrest is located in the 4 door. I don't have an armrest. I swear when I did a 0-60 on my rabbit I smiled as well.
I have one manual and i love it keeps up with honda Sis mini coopers that are turboed this 2.5 impreses hahaha with rims change and suspension you basically have a fun touge car great car !
I love my rabbit. It’s a 2-door standard. The only annoying thing is that it didn’t come with a centre console. Other than that, it’s my favourite car I have owned!
I love my 07 but it’s such an absolute pain. got it in march of 2022, 42k miles on it. brakes were rusted out and filled with water, headlights started to peel, and the ignition coils failed around 45k miles. also has really cheap tires that heavily impact my mpg. still love my car tho :)
I have this car and has been good. The headliner is falling down a bit. The rear latch was not working properl but they remade the wiring connection. The driver side door lock needed replacing. New vacuum pump because of a tiny leak and engine valve. Otherwise been good.
Lol my ex when had this car in a 2 door manual, and it was the subsequently also the first car I had a full mental meltdown in on a hill with traffic behind me. 5 cylinder made quirky noises, fuel economy was meh even for 2010s, and that clutch was horrid on/off with no feel. But it was also the car that teed me up for my MK6 GTI 6MT (commented on your Mk8 review) and my current 440i 6MT. We beat the shit out of that Rabbit and it was still solid as a rock when he sold it. Good honest to god little car.
One of my friends who is a physician and an ultra marathon runner traded her old Mercedes tank for a Rabbit with the manual. She said it was fun to drive. I would imagine so considering the oversized, geriatric car she finally gave up.
The best thing you can do to this car is upgrade to a set of same year gti 17” wheels. The handling is night and day, smoother, responsive, and more planted. Something the factory 15” steel wheels lack.
My dd is a 08 rabbit 5speed 2.5 2 door with 127,000 and the gf has a 2010 golf 2.5 5 speed let me tell you these cars are just east to fix and fun. My hemi ram sits because of this car
@@Realistick I saw it on Craigslist and I called the guy, saw the car, took it to my mechanic and bought it in 4 hours. The prices right now are insane, even if I don’t keep it I can flip it for profit without any extra money!
I bought it with a manual a year ago and sold it 6 months later. Had a little fun but just a little. MPG is bad. Car from that era makes way to much emissions and the smell gets into the cabin because the car is low and a hatch.
I have owned the car for 16yrs. Terrible car to make power. It's slow. Mine is modded with everything you can put on the Inline 5 except a turbo and it's still slow. The only way to actually make this platform fast is by turbocharging it or asking Integrated Engineering to build you a NA motor ($20K+). Now if you actually look at what it takes to Turbo this car without all kinds of other parts breaking you will see that it costs upwards of $10K to get it done right. As I said. I have owned and modded this car for 16yrs. Honestly not worth it if you want something fast. Just buy a GTI and tune it. Way cheaper.
i buy one for 2000$ in canada this car have alot of power but but .... when you paid only 2 the car have has some problem and are old with 240 000km paint 2/10 body 5/10 interior 9/10 rush 9/10 engine trans 7/10 and need 4 brake and one shock on front and need to weld the muffler
I remember when i saw Golf V for the first time. And hate it… Golf V was sooo „fat” in compare to Golf IV. But now I like them (even little more than Golf VI - wich was facelifted Golf V). Btw. I wish to 2.5 was available in EU :(
Single-handedly the worst car I have ever owned, I have an 07, and while it handles fairly well and feels good to drive, but I have had nonstop engine problems since buying it back in 2022
Sorry to hear that. I own an 07 I bought new, only 30,000 miles to date. It had a recall while in warranty having to do with the coil packs. The previous owner of your car may not have done the recall and that could be the problem. My Rabbit has been trouble free. I change my oil once a year with Castrol 5-40. My only gripe is the drivers seat has no lumbar adjustment, but if I lower or raise the seat back I eventually can get comfortable enough
I have Golf mk6 2.5 engine on manual trans 2011, it has disgusting rev hang. Car is too heavy for her power, 1380kg for 170hp, my best time 0-60 was 9 sec on manual 5 speed trans! (measured by draggy) It is too slow for 170hp. Fuel consumption is too much, mileage per gallon bad. This engine is absolutely ridiculous and not effective. Rev hang ruins the fun of driving. Chip tune and ecu remap does not remove this fucking rev hang.
Check out my mk6 vids. Tune erased my rev hang and I run much faster than that. 0-60 under 7 secs. though mine is 2010 with shorter gears and some mods.
Great car if the manufacturer didn't repeatedly destroy the keyfobs and continually charge you 385 bucks a reprogram that lasts about 5 months. And then they wanna charge you again. Done with vw for that reason
The 2.5 is one of the best engines VW ever made. I love mine, no issues at 103k miles. I’d love to have a beater rabbit some day
It definitely is, 153k on my 2009 and no issues!!
@@coltonweymouth5860 I have 200,000+ miles on mine and 0 issues so far, the 2.5 is a really fun engine as well, definitely has some pep to it
@@joshuamoody9508 literally. 170k, and the engine is solid. Jus waiting for it to kick the dirt so I can rebuilt it and have some fun with the engine, but it just keeping going
December 2022 my 07 is at 207k with no engine issues, ive had the common auto transmission valve body but other than that cars running strong! love em
@@dialcreates Mines is an 08 with 220k, only major issue was doing the vacuum pump delete since it was leaking pretty bad.
Tip for anyone who has one of these - easy way of modernizing the audio system and at the same time the interior look - the RCD330 radio unit is pretty much a drop-in OEM replacement that has Android Auto, CarPlay, Bluetooth, USB and Aux inputs with a 6.5" touchscreen. Not sponsored I swear lol - just has been a really great addition to mine, I don't feel like I'm driving an older car at all with the smoothness of the 2.5 and the clean, dare I say timeless, if basic interior/dash.
My 2008 VW Rabbit just rolled 67,000 miles on it. I bought it new. The only problems it has is the infamous vacuum pump leak. This fix is a DIY project and I have the new gasket ready to go. In addition, I replaced the headliner because the factory adhesive was poor. The front door panels and rear side panels will also be redone in a few months due to the bad adhesive. This is very common on the MK5s. My upholstery guy does SUPERB work. The car has been very reliable for an almost 16 year old car. When I bought a new set of 17s and new tires it TOTALLY transformed the car. It actually looks newer, and of course, sportier especially with the Rabbit being white with the dark tinted glass. To make the car feel newer from the interior I will install a Bluetooth media player. I've been lagging on this for way too long! Since I will keep the car I will get the car lowered and finally upgrade the exhaust. I'm craving a new GTI but I'm taking care of the Rabbit while deciding on the GTI. Regardless, I will keep the Rabbit. Cheers.
I feel like most "economy" cars nowadays are overly complex. I miss simple, straight forward, well built cars like this
The only new compact car in the US that I could call remotely similar in simplicity now would be a new impreza base 5mt, but that doesn't have the same high quality interior feel either.
I bought my first rabbit, an ‘09 black two door in 2020 and fell in love! So much so I found one identical in 2021 but an ‘08 with a 5 speed manual, put coilovers on it, an exhaust, custom headliner, and a bunch of stuff. Unfortunately that got totaled a month ago due to hitting a truck tire on the highway at night. I scoured hard to find another one, and have a white ‘07 two door with a manual now! I will swear by these cars as long as I live and know it will last quite a while whether I work on it or not. Thanks for the great video!
Nice.
Thank you so much for this review! I’m 17 and have the opportunity to buy a 5-spd manual VW Rabbit with ~100k kilometres on the odometer for around $7,500 CAD, and because of this review I am seriously considering on buying it as my first car. There’s a couple autos with double the kilometres that cost $2,000-3,000 CAD, but I love manuals. Used to drive my dad’s 2016 Mini Cooper JCW 6-spd manual and it was so much fun. You just earned a sub. Cheers!
You buy the rabbit?
@@EastDallasKicks No haha someone bought it days after I posted this comment. Instead I waited for a while and bought a Mk6 GTI Wolfsburg Edition a couple weeks ago. 😁
Woah, that was way too much, good thing you didn't buy it. I'd pay like $4k max, if it's in good condition. I paid $1900 for my manual beater rabbit with 135k miles.
@@Jv9569 I should have still bought it lol. That Mk6 GTI I bought needed a new turbo and a ton of seals and gaskets in the engine bay replaced… wastegate failed. Common on turbo VWs. Was very expensive to fix. Oops!
Edit: that rabbit I was talking about was 7500 canadian. Probably around 4-5k usd. 100k km which is about 62k miles.
I have the 2008 VW Rabbit 2.5 Mk5 which is the first year within the 4-year span of the Mk5 with the improved cam chain tensioners and increased hp and torque. With only 165K miles on it, it still does not burn any oil between 5K mile changes. Since I deleted the vacuum pump, I have no leaks. Wonderful vehicle. My 6-speed 09G (made by Aisin) is perfect for me. I use Sport mode on secondary roads up to 60 mph (only 2500 rpm's) and Drive on the interstate. I only use the manual tap-shift in bad weather with slick roads -- especially going downhill.
I don't know why this is rated as a weak car because I can keep up with, or ahead of any other cars out there, regardless of the roads.
Wonderful vehicle! By the way, it is made in Wolfsburg, Germany.
The 2008 did not have more torque. It was 170/170. The 2007 was 150/170. You can just get a Stage 1 tune on the 2007 150hp model to make it 170 like the 2008 or you can get the Stage 2 like I did and get 185hp. Granted mine now has an SRI tune and has more than 185. Just saying. BTW those tunes are just software updates done through the OBD2 port. Which is what VW did when they made the 2008's 170HP vs the 2007's 150HP. All it costs is $500-$600.
Nice. It's not fast, but it is torquey and zippy like a go cart with the manual transmission, lol. My 08 has 140k miles.
@@carlospacheco8640the 08 actually has 177 torque at the crank, not that it makes much of a difference. Personally, I would buy the integrated engineering stage 2 tune with the intake manifold.
I drive a 2010 5-speed golf. It is my first car, it has 145k miles and I bought it for 6k. It is super comfortable, fun to drive, and the engine runs like it just rolled off the production line. These might be the most reliable VWs ever made.
Man I love early 2000s VWs
Me too.
One of the things I love about this channel - You review everything. Not just new cars, not just performance cars, it's very refreshing to see. If you ever get your hands on a Mk6 TDI golf wagon with a 6 speed, that would be awesome!
Thanks, I'll add it to the list!
This is my car, white 2009 and I love it! Good car would recommend. Also we named it the bunny
My 2008 has 141K on it, still runs like new, and the best part is it has required almost no maintenance! I've changed the brakes once, maybe twice, and I've put over 100K on it. I even hit a deer, totaled it, bought it back and got it fixed. Only needed body work, no air bags, no suspension, just bodywork. No way was I abandoning the Rabbit.
I bought my 2009 jetta 2.5 for $3500 almost 4 years ago, at 178k miles. ive certainly replaced a shit ton of components but its got 286k on it now and it still runs flawlessly. ive always thought that any mk5 is hands down the best first car/ budget car as the build quality and overall driving experience is super nice for what they cost.
pregunta, cuál es el rendimiento en kilómetros por litro de gasolina?
Owner of a 4-door 2008 w/ 175K miles (Bought used at 160K), found this review to be extremely accurate to my own experiences. Biggest complaint in it's old age is that it knocks hard when entering and leaving 3rd gear, sometimes (Though rarely) missing the shift completely and stalling out when the computer gets confused after transitioning from highways to local roads. It performs great at high speeds and I've taken it on several 100+ mile road trips without any issues. Fun car, even considering the weird plastic overly-complex replacement German parts :P
I have an Infiniti g35 and am thinking about selling it to try to get something that is a more ideal “daily.” You think your vw would be a better daily than what I got rn?
I absolutely adore these 2.5 VWs from this era. My mom has a 2010 2.5 5 speed manual Jetta in mint condition and 52k miles. Its been a peach. No issues other than a CEL that turned out to be something with the intake manifold but it was an easy fix. I cannot wait to buy it off of her!
late 2009, 2010 models are also cool cuz they have mk6 golf interior pieces
@@mr_jag_ totally agree
I own a ‘07 2dr manual. I toyed for years upgrading or switching to a Mazda3, but every time I get back in, I’m so happy I kept it. Repairs are expensive, but I have had no major issues. My VW-only repair shop says the 2.5 was one of the best engines they made.
It’s exactly why I glare at everyone who cuts me off with an attitude.
Altimas and civics it’s 100s of them online.
Our cars are becoming RARE
2008 vw rabbit. 2 door manual .210k miles. No problems whatsoever...ever. great engine.
Just stumbled on this. I'll add that I have a 07 bought new in late 06. Currently 325,000 Kilometers and not a single major issue. Even has the OEM clutch in it! haha Had an alternator and an oil filter housing. Those have been the only none wear items replaced.
Love my Golf 5. Owned mine for 5 years and almost 30k miles, never let me down. Always thought the Rabbit name was kinda goofy.
194k miles on mine. Bought used for $1500. Love driving this car so much. I’ve put some money into it for sure, but the engine has never given me a single problem. Runs like a charm, still feels amazing.
Same! And same price! Love it. Year 2 and yes I’ve put money into it, but the engine keeps on going. 283,000 on mine! I’m going to go to 500k
Gaat dang. Please be careful loll.
At your high mileage what did you have to spend money on? Repairs or? I’m considering this exact car in the vid
Love the review. I own a 09 2 door 5 speed, with an intake, catback exhaust and 93 octane tune from United Motorsports. She's a real screamer.
never knew the rabbit existed until i got mine for a good price but im in love with it. I wish the 2.5 had a bit more power but maybe i can do something about that
I bought my 09 rabbit from my mother in law for $500, I’m 6’5 350 and can comfortable fit in this things. Over the past year I haven’t drove it but in that time I had about 7 offers to buy my car . Really is a great car
Its my first car and i still drive it to this day! Love it
I'm so happy to see you reviewing a car I owned! Drove it for over 8 years. Mine was a manual and I had upgraded the wheels to 17s and it made a significant improvement on road handling. Aside from a few paint issues that were all covered under warranty, it truly was bullet proof. The fuel mileage wasn't outstanding, but the sound of the 5 cylinder more than made up for it :) As always, options were a bit different here in Canada, with sunroof and heated seats available on both the 3 and 5 doors if you selected the Comfortline (one up from the base Trendline).
Awesome! And those are swanky names for trims, I wish we had those.
@@Realistick we still have them on current VW :) Trendline, Comfortline, Highline, Execline, which are rough equivalents to the US S, SE, SEL and SEL Premium.
Just pulled up on a year of owning a rabbit.
2008 Rabbit here
Everything said above is true.
Our fuel mileage isn’t the best but the engine is what makes you and everyone else smile.
I live in Urban rougher areas .. it definitely turns heads esp on curvy highways
Hi. I Just got a 2.5 and I really want to prolong my relationship with my car. Any heads up with the maintenance you can share?
Thanks in advance ☺️
@@veneracioniverson3564 Delete the vacuum pump before it starts leaking oil.
Wish me luck that this ends up being my first car, I meet the seller next weekend... so stoked
I guess it’s a no
Excellent VW rabbit straight talk review !!!
The look reeks high-end car not to mention the European blissful driving experience compared to 5:29 the Japanese counterparts
Yes the gauge cluster is beautifully simple
These fit on wider sidewalks & walking trails- don’t ask
My parents had a 4-door model and it was one of the first cars I learned to drive. Didn't get to drive it as much after mentioning how much fun it was, haha.
My 2008 2 door was bought new as a backup car for my wife, it has not seen much use... just coming up to 30k. When I took it to the dealership for servicing last year, the techs freaked out on how pristine it is.
I have 2008 model with 200k on odometer. Manual transmission. It still runs strong.
It's a hatchback but looks like a mini SUV,
I like the looks and utility aspect of this vehicle.
Agreed, I call mine my mini van because of all the, uh, items I can keep in it. Like the aprilia V-twin motor that's been there now for about a year. Why? Because I just like it there, I guess.
These are so fun in stick form with an exhaust and intake. If you think it sounds good stock, with bolt ons it becomes an absolutely intoxicating aural experience. With bolt ons and tune I also got down to mid upper 6's to 60. I've since moved on from my 2.5 and have a new gti but I always miss the sound when I hear it. I have some vids of it on my channel. I will always love it.
I enjoyed this video, me being the owner of a 2006 Jetta with 210K miles on it currently. Everything you've stated is similar to the experience I've had with my Jetta so far. The build quality definitely punches above its price class, and so does the features you get for an economy car. Despite what many say about VWs being so unreliable, I disagree for the most part. You'll find many of horror stories online about any vehicle brand as negative experiences seem to hold a bigger impact on people than a positive and people are more vocal about bad experiences. The soft touch material is nice to feel, but I've found that longer fingernails and other pointy objects can definitely gouge the plastic due to how soft it is. That would be my only gripe with the interior. Personally, for me, the steering is almost perfect in my opinion besides the understeer under hard acceleration. Though, that's more because of the vehicle being FWD than the steering itself. I imagine though that the Jetta does have a handling advantage due to it having a trunk that slopes downward which keeps a closer center of gravity so to speak.
One thing I felt the need to add though, specifically speaking about the 6 speed automatic 09G trans (Aisin TF-60SN) is that they are known for valve body problems. The vehicle in this video has too little mileage for this issue to appear, but you'll find a plethora of posts in online forums talking about hard shifting issues when the trans is warmed up. The most common is a hard 2-3 shift, but 1-2 and 3-4 are also known to happen as well. If you're looking to buy an automatic Jetta, Rabbit, or Passat of this generation with the 09G, please be sure to do a warm test drive before purchasing the vehicle as shady sellers will tell you that the trans is perfectly fine if you drive it for a short trip before it warms up. A bad valve body won't cause hard shifting after a cold start, it'll seem perfectly fine. A valve body job if you take it to a shop will easily run you over $1000, so it's not on the cheap side in terms of repair, but is far cheaper than buying a new transmission altogether. However, if the hard shifting issue isn't taken care of and the vehicle is driven a while in that condition, you run the risk of ruining the clutches and will need a rebuild to restore proper shifting. At that point, I would replace it entirely or walk away from the vehicle. Replacing the valve body with an OEM one unfortunately is only a band aid fix to the problem. These valve bodies are inherently flawed from the factory with bore wear issues due to the metal being too soft. You will run into the hard shifting issue again around the 100K mile mark, especially so if you don't change the fluid every 40K and are driving in a hotter climate where the fluid temp reaches higher temps. If you have this same exact trans, do change the fluid every 40K miles and it wouldn't be a bad idea to have an additional trans cooler to keep the fluid colder if you're in a much warmer environment. The gearbox itself is actually pretty solid and can last 100K and even up to 200K if it's taken care of and fitted with an upgraded valve body. Despite what some may say, these 09Gs aren't as terrible as some would have you believe; hell, I own one.
I would also get the 2.5 inline-5 engine over the inline-4 2.0T. High mileage 2.0Ts are usually pretty beaten up and are on their way out in terms of wear and usually are burning oil at that point. The 2.5 is a far more reliable engine, and in my opinion, rivals even Toyota and Honda engines of the time in terms of reliability. With a 2.5 and manual trans, you pretty much have a bulletproof car that is cheaper than a Honda or Toyota.
Great Review, Really nice video quality, compelling host.
2.5 is a bulletproof engine if you maintain it. The most I have ever done to the car is replace my oil cooler, radiator and just maintenance. It's at 140K now and is still running great.
Back in college I bought a brand new '08 Rabbit, I knew it wasn't fast, but I always found the idea that it had a 5 cyl made it somewhat unique, wish I had the money back then to add an exhaust and whatnot, unfortunately I totaled it, then got a GTI MKV.
I have a 2008 VW RABBIT 2DR. It has the aux where the armrest is located in the 4 door. I don't have an armrest.
I swear when I did a 0-60 on my rabbit I smiled as well.
My dad bought me one yesterday. Only 59k miles super good condition. Only $9900 after tax and fees!!! Thx dad 😭
Omg where?! I’ve been looking for one for quite some time
@@beccacarlsen7506 I got sooo lucky. Just when I was looking for a car that one popped out. Got it at Pomona, CA
Drove a 60k mile 08 2 door rabbit hatch, was very quick for what it was
I have one manual and i love it keeps up with honda Sis mini coopers that are turboed this 2.5 impreses hahaha with rims change and suspension you basically have a fun touge car great car !
I have same car with the same color. But I paid 1500 for mine. Not quit the same shape. But man I love it. Just hit 283,000 miles
I love my rabbit. It’s a 2-door standard. The only annoying thing is that it didn’t come with a centre console. Other than that, it’s my favourite car I have owned!
I love my 07 but it’s such an absolute pain. got it in march of 2022, 42k miles on it. brakes were rusted out and filled with water, headlights started to peel, and the ignition coils failed around 45k miles. also has really cheap tires that heavily impact my mpg. still love my car tho :)
got mine for 600$ it’s got 233000 on the dash and been dailyed for 5 months
I have this car and has been good. The headliner is falling down a bit. The rear latch was not working properl but they remade the wiring connection. The driver side door lock needed replacing. New vacuum pump because of a tiny leak and engine valve. Otherwise been good.
Lol my ex when had this car in a 2 door manual, and it was the subsequently also the first car I had a full mental meltdown in on a hill with traffic behind me.
5 cylinder made quirky noises, fuel economy was meh even for 2010s, and that clutch was horrid on/off with no feel. But it was also the car that teed me up for my MK6 GTI 6MT (commented on your Mk8 review) and my current 440i 6MT. We beat the shit out of that Rabbit and it was still solid as a rock when he sold it. Good honest to god little car.
Fair reviews as always.
Love my Rabbit so fun to drive. Giving it to my son next year . Great first car for him . For Work & School. Thanks great video
did the US never get the rabbit with the sport package, had projector headlights, 17in rims lowering springs
What does the five speed manual rev at on the highway?
One of my friends who is a physician and an ultra marathon runner traded her old Mercedes tank for a Rabbit with the manual. She said it was fun to drive. I would imagine so considering the oversized, geriatric car she finally gave up.
LOL Geriatric? Mercedes runs over VW' s in every department!
Try comparing apples to apples.
No matter, you keep plugging along in your Yarus! lol
The best thing you can do to this car is upgrade to a set of same year gti 17” wheels. The handling is night and day, smoother, responsive, and more planted. Something the factory 15” steel wheels lack.
if you ignore ability to filter out road bumps, that is. big wheels ALWAYS ride harsher over the bumps.
My dd is a 08 rabbit 5speed 2.5 2 door with 127,000 and the gf has a 2010 golf 2.5 5 speed let me tell you these cars are just east to fix and fun. My hemi ram sits because of this car
Really great video but the sunroof wasn’t just available on the four door the coupe have it as well I own one myself
Thank you, which country are you in? US always gets weird configuration limitations.
can I buy this exact car from you? I love the color and model
Ok so how many rpms should I shift at
I literally just bought this car for 2,500 dollars. Manual and Borla exhaust!
Congrats, great price
@@Realistick I saw it on Craigslist and I called the guy, saw the car, took it to my mechanic and bought it in 4 hours. The prices right now are insane, even if I don’t keep it I can flip it for profit without any extra money!
@@andreblackaller3560 Definitely, glad you had it inspected, id be weary of anything remotely close to that price right now!
@@Realistick exactly my thoughts man, similar Rabbits go for 5,000 or more in this market.
I bought it with a manual a year ago and sold it 6 months later. Had a little fun but just a little. MPG is bad. Car from that era makes way to much emissions and the smell gets into the cabin because the car is low and a hatch.
I just picked one up that needs a couple hundred dollars of parts for 1000$ cad. (Roughly 700$?)
Also, it's a loaded comfort line 4dr. Heated seats, sports package etc. I got super lucky with this find 🙏
that looks gunsafe gray to me. but i still want one.
The best thing about not being Keanu Reeves is being Keanu Reeves.
Aux is in center console not glove box
Not true, it was definitely in the glove box of my car, maybe it depends on body style or year on its location.
@@Realistick literally own a 08 rabbit same color 4 door, must be because mines stick
Great car and if you want to make good power it’s not that hard to do
I have owned the car for 16yrs. Terrible car to make power. It's slow. Mine is modded with everything you can put on the Inline 5 except a turbo and it's still slow. The only way to actually make this platform fast is by turbocharging it or asking Integrated Engineering to build you a NA motor ($20K+). Now if you actually look at what it takes to Turbo this car without all kinds of other parts breaking you will see that it costs upwards of $10K to get it done right. As I said. I have owned and modded this car for 16yrs. Honestly not worth it if you want something fast. Just buy a GTI and tune it. Way cheaper.
@@carlospacheco8640 the only way to make power is with turbo, but the engine can handle tons.
@@carlospacheco8640 even a built N/A only makes hp in the 200’s
i buy one for 2000$ in canada this car have alot of power but but .... when you paid only 2 the car have has some problem and
are old with 240 000km
paint 2/10
body 5/10
interior 9/10
rush 9/10
engine trans 7/10
and need 4 brake and one shock on front and need to weld the muffler
I remember when i saw Golf V for the first time. And hate it… Golf V was sooo „fat” in compare to Golf IV.
But now I like them (even little more than Golf VI - wich was facelifted Golf V).
Btw. I wish to 2.5 was available in EU :(
Best vw engine is 1.9 TDI
I wish we could get that here in the US with the Rabbit!
@@Realistick that engine was on the mk3 and early (pre 2003) mk 4's
@@ryanm.3681 Oh, that's nice I just would really like a diesel in the rabbit here (mk5)
2.0 is up there as well. It's a shame that they discontinued that engine for the MK5.
13:06, ironic you talk about reliability when there is a Range Rover with seeming failed suspension.
If anything, I talk reliability because there are too any cars like that Range Rover with numerous issues!
Man they didn’t give us anything on the two doors lol. Wtf
Single-handedly the worst car I have ever owned, I have an 07, and while it handles fairly well and feels good to drive, but I have had nonstop engine problems since buying it back in 2022
Sorry to hear that. I own an 07 I bought new, only 30,000 miles to date. It had a recall while in warranty having to do with the coil packs. The previous owner of your car may not have done the recall and that could be the problem. My Rabbit has been trouble free. I change my oil once a year with Castrol 5-40. My only gripe is the drivers seat has no lumbar adjustment, but if I lower or raise the seat back I eventually can get comfortable enough
Come drive my jetta, same engine with a 5 sp, and 215/65/16 AT tires with a 3in lift you WILL be smiling than, as long as i fix the dumb clutch first😮
"Not as comfortable as a Jetta" Broooo they're the SAME car in this era
Dating websites for dog owners.....I'm dead🤣🤣🤣
When vw didn't make cheap shit.
This was unfortunately the beginning of that era. One could even argue that the Mk4 was the start.
For the most part that's true, I guess, but my '09's interior is falling apart and it really sucks. Other than that, the car is tits.
I have Golf mk6 2.5 engine on manual trans 2011, it has disgusting rev hang. Car is too heavy for her power, 1380kg for 170hp, my best time 0-60 was 9 sec on manual 5 speed trans! (measured by draggy) It is too slow for 170hp. Fuel consumption is too much, mileage per gallon bad. This engine is absolutely ridiculous and not effective. Rev hang ruins the fun of driving. Chip tune and ecu remap does not remove this fucking rev hang.
Poor guy! Do you need a Xanax or a Vespa??
Check out my mk6 vids. Tune erased my rev hang and I run much faster than that. 0-60 under 7 secs. though mine is 2010 with shorter gears and some mods.
@@basslover352 nice mods!👍
VW made in Mexico and those made in China nd Germany are with no match in the quality.
Great car if the manufacturer didn't repeatedly destroy the keyfobs and continually charge you 385 bucks a reprogram that lasts about 5 months. And then they wanna charge you again. Done with vw for that reason