09 VW Rabbit vs my 07 Mazda 3 GT

[bhrm]

My family car died, a 2000 VW Jetta VR6 due to severe fail of the oil pump therefore engine got pwnt.

anyways.

as my family is die hard VW, with my mazda just being an anomoly, we picked up a 2009 VW Rabbit 4dr Auto with sport package which includes:

- 17" GTi Classic-X wheels
- 225/45/17 Continental Performance All Season Tires
- Lowered Sport Springs (think 0.5" lower)
- HIDs and Fog lights

and it all came cheaper than my own 3, and my 3 is manual not auto!

Rabbit Plusses:
- awesome handling with sport springs and wider lower stance with tires
- HIDs with self levelling
- 170hp!
- 6sp tiptronic that works pretty well
- better bucket seats
- much better interior
- cheaper than a 3!
- traction control
- 2.5L 5cyl engine is smooth and lots of low end power
- rear passenger upper air vents
- very very very roomy
- better warranty, 4 years versus 3 years on the 3
- base model has almost everything the 3 GT has

Rabbit Minuses:
- heavier than the 3 by 200lbs
- 2.5L 5 cyl engine eats more gas, not as 'fun' or quick revving as the 2.3L
- no full function trip computer
- trunk smaller than the 3
- floor mats not standard (but did get the premium mats for free!)
- no steering wheel controls standard
- brakes smaller but braking power still confident and firm
- tiptronic as with all tiptronics seem pointless, sport mode good enough and intelligent enough

In summary, the Rabbit makes for a better road tripper and daily driver with more comfort features, cruises very nicely at 100km/h at 2000rpm in 6th gear. In fun situations its awesome with tons and tons of grip, and doesn't really feel as heavy as it is. The rabbit isn't as zippy as the 3, where the 3 is great for fun, zips around corners, and would be trackable/auto-x.

photos to come.

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

Good detailed review. Thanks so much!

I used to be a huge VW fan a number of years back. However, this was based on driving VW's and Audi's when I was living in Europe for a few years. Those cars were engineered and manufactured in Germany. Here in NA, most of the VW's, with the exception of the Wolsburg Jetta and Passat I believe, are all manufactured in Mexico. Same with most of the Audi's. I have a number of co-workers and friends who drive VW/Audi's. They have encountered a lot of various build quality issues from terrible fit and finish, electrical etc. al. Many of them traded in and got something else as they were so unhappy. Other's are looking now, as their leases expire soon and I took one co-worker to see and drive a Speed3. Maybe the build quality concerns have been addressed by VW/Audi now. I don't know one way or another, but it is enough to make me seriously wary.

Also, a more equitable comparison may have been to compare the new 2010 Mazda 3 with the 2009 VW Rabbit. The VW is essentially a new model, re-styled Rabbit while the Mazda 3 has been running the same platform, with only cosmetic changes since 2003/2004.

When the 3 was originally introduced, it set the bar to beat in its class segment and it took about 2 years for its main competition like the Civic and Corolla and Matrix to catch up. One could even make a very persuasive argument that the 3 is still better than most of its competitors even without the 2010 refresh.

I know the new 3 will have a 2.5L engine option and I am curious to see more detail on specs and pricing. I have some concern with the interior styling, but I love the exterior styling of the sedan from what I have seen so far. Waiting to see what the hatch looks like. In any case, I would not be surprised to see the new 3 set a new benchmark for its class that will easily place it back ahead of the Honda's, Toyota's and VW's out there. Guess we'll see.

[Kevin@nextmod]

I believe the rabbit is made in germany.

[bhrm]

rabbit is mostly german, engine is mexico.

Only the Jetta and New Beetle is made in Mexico. Phaeton, Passat, EOS and GTi are made in Germany. And ironically the Wolfsburg Edition Jetta is made in Puebla, Mexico so it should be Puebla Edition.

Audi's are not made in Mexico at all.

In terms of quality issues, most of the complaints and problems came from poor quality control with parts coming from Bosch or as I like to call it, Botched. Plus the fact that the mk4 generation was overengineered with cost cuts to ridiculous items that compromised quality. Never let accountants be involved in design.

[silvermist99]

borsch/botched killed my mk4 gti. it was just problem after problem that wouldn't go away.

i have driven the mk5 rabbit, gti & base mz3 on a closed course before and imo the mazda3 provided the most feedback and felt most netural. VW steering is very refined, rubbery and slow.

the vw driving position is not for everyone, I feel like I seat way too high in those cars even at lowest setting.

you didn't mention is how much vw paint own mazda's!

[bhrm]

borsch/botched killed my mk4 gti. it was just problem after problem that wouldn't go away.

i have driven the mk5 rabbit, gti & base mz3 on a closed course before and imo the mazda3 provided the most feedback and felt most netural. VW steering is very refined, rubbery and slow.

the vw driving position is not for everyone, I feel like I seat way too high in those cars even at lowest setting.

you didn't mention is how much vw paint own mazda's!


You mean how my aunt's 93 passat paint looks better than my 07 mazda 3?

The 3 would definitely be better for track purposes but the rabbit/GTi would be awesome for road trips.

[Mafty]

nice review, i sitll like the looks of the new rabbit. my parents didnt like the rabbit as much as the 3, so here i am. im happy with the 3, but i see less vw's on the road making a bit more unique to me. every second car that drives by is a dam mazda 3.

[thermoregulate]

MSRP on the Rabbit with sport package come in line with the GT with Lux Package (about 100 less actually). And that is for a 3 door rabbit I believe. So I would say a similarly equipped 3 (GT with sunroof) would be cheaper, no? (At least according to MSRP, for the 5 door, its VW 25560 vs. M3 23795, before taxes. I don't know what you paid.)

[bhrm]

MSRP on the Rabbit with sport package come in line with the GT with Lux Package (about 100 less actually). And that is for a 3 door rabbit I believe. So I would say a similarly equipped 3 (GT with sunroof) would be cheaper, no? (At least according to MSRP, for the 5 door, its VW 25560 vs. M3 23795, before taxes. I don't know what you paid.)

when i bought my mazda 3, my 3 GT was compariable to a base model rabbit with ESP, 16" alloys. plus the 3's finance rate was 1.9% compared to 5.9.

plus 3's warranty is 3 year versus 4 yr.

all these little things add up i guess.

[bhrm]

so after a few weeks here's a few more things

- 6sp tranny and engine not "fun", too smooth too refined and enough power at 2000rpm to do everything. awesome if you like those things
- white is a terrible colour to keep clean, but awesome when it is.
- the horn is loud
- HIDs = awesome, fog lights actually have purpose unlike the 07 mazda 3's and MS3's
- no steering wheel controls
- HIDs stay on as DRL's which is stupid. going to be ordering a euro light switch to solve that.

[Go_Habs_Go]

don't forget to mention VW's 10 year warranty against perforation corrosion vs Mazda's 5 year warranty. You know that if a company gives you a 10 year warranty they are pretty damn confident that the car won't rust.

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

don't forget to mention VW's 10 year warranty against perforation corrosion vs Mazda's 5 year warranty. You know that if a company gives you a 10 year warranty they are pretty damn confident that the car won't rust.

Or alternatively, they have had serious rust issues in the past that caused perception issues with the buying public. Offering a 10 year warranty as piece of mind is one good way of alleviating those concerns.

[Go_Habs_Go]

Or alternatively, they have had serious rust issues in the past that caused perception issues with the buying public. Offering a 10 year warranty as piece of mind is one good way of alleviating those concerns.

Good point but Mazda themselves may need to start giving out that 10 year warranty on future models to gain buyer's confidence back...I think the rash of corrosion issues on early 3's does not bode well. It's a really serious problem with a lot of early model 3's here in Quebec as I know it is in Ontario too. I'm just hoping it was limited to the 2004 and 2005 models. :-(

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

Good point but Mazda themselves may need to start giving out that 10 year warranty on future models to gain buyer's confidence back...I think the rash of corrosion issues on early 3's does not bode well. It's a really serious problem with a lot of early model 3's here in Quebec as I know it is in Ontario too. I'm just hoping it was limited to the 2004 and 2005 models. :-(

No dispute there. :) I was surprised to learn of the corrosion issues as having owned several Mazda's, I haven't ever had rust issues. My wife's 2005 hatch is rust free, other than some light surface rust on the steel components in the underbody. I do not rustproof either, but am meticulous with cleaning and waxing my cars. I had Mc_Guyver (Dan) up at my place on the weekend to help me install my Hella Supertones on both cars, and we chatted about the rust issues briefly and he even looked for it in the usual places on my wife's car. He can attest to it having zero rust issues.

Hell, even my old 2000 Protege only had some small surface rust on the bottom inside of the door panels and it was 8.5 years old and had 235,000km of hard driving on it. It was also the primary winter car.

Anyway, like you, I hope the rust issues in the 2004 and early 2005 are not endemic to other model years and are simply a batch or other related manufacturing quality problem.

[Go_Habs_Go]

glad to hear your wife's 3 is rust-free! :)

I'm hoping my 3 has many years of rust-free happiness ahead of it too! Just sucks to have to 'worry' about that on a brand new car.

Anyway, I've had it rust-proofed, I always check for rock chips and I'm going to do my best to take care of it this winter (regular washings) and then, "che sera, sera" as they say in Italy! No sense wringing hands over what you can't control...rust never sleeps!!

[sas]

I also was thinking to buy VW Golf.
I wanted Golf Crossover with Dual-Charged engine.
The price was bit high and I had to wait 3 monts.
As result,I took Mazda and not sorry about it.
By the way, here in Europe, I got 12 years rust warranty on my 2008.05.
Don't know, on what they are hoping.

[Go_Habs_Go]

IAs result,I took Mazda and not sorry about it.
By the way, here in Europe, I got 12 years rust warranty on my 2008.05.
Don't know, on what they are hoping.

12 YEARS??!??!! WOW that's incredible...is that all over Europe or just certain countries? Where in Europe are you from?

[sas]

In Baltic States. I also was surprised and re asked the dealer.
Think it was market trick. I don’t believe it and even not
checked it in contract until now.
Checked .Yes ,12 years

[Go_Habs_Go]

lucky you, guess you really don't have to worry about corrosion issues on your car if you have a 12 year guarantee!

[sas]

I afraid the number on paper can’t to protect my car.
It will be hardly to prove that rust on 8-10years car
is not my fault. There is loophole -“rust-through”.
But anyway, this is first not galvanized car giving such
warranty in our climate.

[Starbucks]

so just the switch would fix that?? and there is nothing else to it??


so after a few weeks here's a few more things
- HIDs stay on as DRL's which is stupid. going to be ordering a euro light switch to solve that.

[bhrm]

so just the switch would fix that?? and there is nothing else to it??

Euro Switch plus changing the setting through VAG-COM the diagnostic OBDII reader and editor.

There's alot of settings and customisation stuff through VAG-COM or the dealer's systems.

There's alot of neat things if I had the time, patience, money like adding:
- rain sensors
- light sensor for automatic headlights
- Winter Traction driving mode (for 2nd gear starts, traction control off on starts and resumes in motion)
- putting the car in reverse will tell the power mirrors to point down when parking in tight spots
- electromechanical steering tightness adjustment
- and much more

[Starbucks]

- putting the car in reverse will tell the power mirrors to point down when parking in tight spots


that's cool and useful... do you have a VAG-COM??

Is Mazda 3 that customizable too?

[bhrm]

that's cool and useful... do you have a VAG-COM??

Is Mazda 3 that customizable too?

I don't have a vag-com.

Mazda 3 as far as i know doesn't have something set up to allow for customization. Like our DRLs require some fuse and wiring work.

VW has it I believe for better global rollouts into different markets which may have different regulations, packages and tastes.