Should You Buy a MK5 Volkswagen? (Rabbit Review)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 เม.ย. 2016
- A causal review of my MKV, 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit. I go through all the maintenance I have done, problems I have had, likes, dislikes, gas mileage, and finally if I would recommend a Mark 5 Volkswagen, Jetta, GTI, Rabbit, or other cars of this generation. For additional content, check out www.cashedoutcars.com!
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When I started this video I thought "Oh no, another annoying kid" and I am glad that I was wrong. Nice presentation, informed. Thank you for a well made video.
+Minnesnowtan thanks, I'm glad I didn't hold to your expectations!
Very well presented indeed, thanks for the informative video!
That's why you shouldn't assume.
I bought mine as a temporary car but man I fell in love with it. It has so much potential, power and aesthetics alike. They’re very reliable and pretty cheap to maintain too.
I should also say... these things, with the 5cyls, sound godly when an opened up exhaust is added
What kind ya think, I have an 07
itsTheRealJinx I’m running OBX headers and midpipe open. It’s ridiculously loud and it idles like a V8. Revs up and sounds like a V10
Josiah Tron damn really. How much all that cost ya?
itsTheRealJinx I think the headers were ab 400 plus shipping. I live out in Wyoming currently. And they do not fit perfectly, in order to fit onto the top studs that the old headers fit on to, the new headers need to be shaved.
Josiah Tron ok bet I’ll look into it, u got anything I can dm ya? If not it’s cool, would like to see what yours turned out like
Bought this car cash 4 years ago and I love it. I'm down with VW for life from now on. Feels like driving my old man's Audi.
Dedric There Same man al the vw cars iv had in the last 7 year's served me well vw gor life 👍
Well done. Thank you for posting this informative and down to earth review.
Best looking year in my opinion.
Late to this video lol but I’ve got an 07 Rabbit too! Absolutely love mine so far, super reliable & I’ve had tons of fun working on it and modifying it- gonna put in a catback & new wheels soon :) hot hatches ftw!!
Nice, enjoy it! I wish I kept mine, I sold it to get a GTI which was a reliability nightmare unfortunately.. these 2.5Ls sounds great with an aftermarket exhaust!
Nice video didn't slobber all over it but gave it a fair shake, nicely done. I love my Mk 5 Rabbit, best car I ever owned but it has been a slam magnet, just got rear ended while parked in front of my house a month ago, jerk drove off. I then used that as an opportunity to replace the hatch with a black one (my Rabbit is red) so it's unique and cool for that. Thanks again.
+Matthew Ridgway thanks! I just uploaded a common problems video too. I love mine despite it's problems. That sucks that it got hit but igood that you made it your own!
Also, for potential buyers, look at the 2008+ models of the MK5, that was the year they increased the hp/tq from 150/155 to 170/175, (respectively). I had one back in '08, and it was great until I totaled it. Also keep in mind the engine is a 2.5 5 cyl engine(odd, I know), but that extra cylinder compared to an inline 4 explains the lackluster fuel economy.
2008+? Last year they're made was in 2008. So the + isn't possible
@@mikeernest5747 that is incorrect. The rabbit model continued into the 2009 model year.
@@BryanHectic golf 5 is only made between 2004 and 2008.
@@mikeernest5747 then why are there 2009 models for sale all over the internet?
@@BryanHectic I work at a VW dealer in the Netherlands. I know they're only made between 2004 and 2008.
The golf/rabbit/gti is always a great choice! Sporty and practical for often very cheap! Nice video btw, got your sticker on now too so I'll send that over soon.
+Jeffrey De Rosa Yup I agree! And sounds good, I'm looking forward to it!
I have the IE Power Kit for my '07. Intake manifold, tune and cold air intake....what a difference! I also have the Black Forest stage 3 clutch and Black Forest solid engine mounts......that with coilovers make it super super fun to drive! The car makes a little over 200 whp, so more than a stock GTI makes!
Sounds like a cool build! I just bought a MK5 GTI haha
Very good - we've owned a 2007 which we bought in 2010 with 44,000 km on it and its now got 175,000 km on it (Aug 2016). This is my wife's car so its driven pretty gently. Its a solidly built car, very reliable. Agree with you on fuel economy - not bad but not great. It is a bit noisy when it first starts but is gets quite after 30-60 seconds and is very quiet once the engine is warm. The 5 cylinder engine is noisy when revved hard but it is quiet under normal use and the engine is quite low revving ~ 2000 rpm at 60 mph which makes for relaxed cruising on the highway (long legged). In general it feels like a much larger car when you are driving it - the cabin has a lot of room for what s overall a small car. Parts are not that expensive and you can do a lot of work yourself to save $ (changing cabin filters, air filters etc.) although we have had no major issues. Things replaced include the battery (CAD$110 from Walmart), one of the radiator cooling fans ($175 from Parts Source), front brake pads and rotors ($150 also from Parts Source). We change the oil every 10,000 km. The hatch back with fold down seats is great - you can get a lot of stuff in this car. I would also recommend one - even a 10 year old one which ours now is.
+Jagshemasher yup I agree with you on the start up noise and about it's 5 cylinder. And about how it feels like a bigger car from the inside!
Nice review ! I ve got the same car in silver ! Good job 👍
Sweet! is that your Miata in your profile picture too?
I've never seen fuel doors broken on any Golf.
Keep in mind i live in EU where majority of cars are from VW group, with Golf leading sales. I mean Golf 1, that can still be seen on roads never
+GodricThe yeah there are a ton with broken fuel doors here, it's quite common on all VWs from this era near me
@@CashedOutCars same with mine, its a really fragile plastic. It popped off one day when i opened it with regular force to refill my car
They’re a pain! I’ve seen a bunch with that problem
had a black golf mk4 1,6 petrol for my first car.i did a lot to it mods inside and out.im an electronics engineer so a lot of unique mods.it wasn't the best golf but the most unique.i made the front grill keeping the vw emblem even had indicators on the door mirrors.also looked after it mechanicaly.did experience some of the issues you mentioned but they are age related minor issues. it had 150k miles and was nice too drive with no faults.i now got a touran 2006 sports rare spec with all extras in black mint inside and out.i have done some unique mods to this that you wont see in other tourans.the job has to look oem otherwise its no point imo.
Nice job, looking to buy one for my son. This helps with my decision. Cheers
Also suggest upgrading to some led headlight bulbs. Can modify the HID adapters and get something like the auxbeam h7 leds I just changed mine last week much better
Great review! I agree with a lot of your points about the MK5 VWs. I do think they're very modern looking and stylish vehicles. I also feel that the interior materials are a few classes above comparable models from their competition.
+Joseph Sadecky Thanks! And yeah I love the way they look and their interiors are great quality, and it's even better once you realize you can get them reasonably priced now!
I do feel like they're a little more maintenance heavy than a Civic or a Corolla, I wound't recommend a VW to anyone who wants a drive it and forget it car. Other than that I love mine!
+Joseph Sadecky for sure, definitely take care of them. Have you had any problems with yours?
+CashedOutCars I had to replace my rear Springs around 70k. The transmission also leaked and I thought it was motor oil. I ended up burning up the transmission at 91k back in January and had put a used one in.
I got same color 4 door one tnx for your info👍🏻
Best car I ever had .thanks
I think it's important to note that if you're the tuning type, an air intake will eliminate the engine cover since the factory intake actually uses the engine cover as plumbing for air. Basically, if you run an aftermarket intake you can say bye-bye to that intrusive engine cover.
If it's an auto the common problems are the valve body shifting but that's it, and also instead of buying the vacuum pump just buy the delete kit from usp
I have the MKV GTI, I get 27-30. miles to the gallon, and have an APR Stage 1 tune. I also got rid of that ridiculous engine cover slash intake, and got a cold air intake from ECS Tuning, between that and the stage 1 tune, power improved dramatically. I had to replace my dual mass transmission and went to a single mass, after 97000 miles. The single mass is simpler and lasts much longer, but slightly noisier after break in but worth it for longevity and lighter weight. I just replaced my biXenon headlights with a new set, don’t wait for those to just fail, and I don’t mean the lamps, but the whole fixture, as the lamps are easy to service. Failure of the fixture can be complicated by failure of the ballast and disintegration of wiring, leading to higher costs than just replacing both lights. Reconditioned lights are great new ones are better! I’ve replaced the headliner with a new one, around 78000 miles or so. Yes, these cars aren’t perfect, but you either love em or hate em. I obviously love mine, it’s a tank, very quick, handles corners like dream, and still looks great!
Yes you should....VW Golfs are the Mutts-Nuts..period!!!!....:)....I never knew the U.S. versions were a 2.5L engine....In the U.K. we only go up to 2.0 on the Rabbit....i.e.FSI. To be honest, the best one on a budget is the 2.0 GT 170 TDI....bundles of torque and power, standard 170 bhp, which can be easily tuned to a healthy & economical 210 bhp. Easily 35/40 mpg too....Bonus is the black R32-style front bumper, black-onyx-strip-trim (as oppose to metal) sometimes with dual-climate-control and optional heated-seats..personally I prefer cloth..I'd shove an Edition 30 trim in them. To protect from rust, spray black-hammerite under the arches and sills....
I drive a 2009 Rabbit I bought brand new in March 2009. It has almost 76,000 miles. I had one problem with the transmission which I had fixed at a dealer for $400 in 7/15. Overall my Rabbit has been very reliable.
What was that problem? And was it an automatic?
Here's what I think about the Rabbit!
How neat is that.
I loved my Mkv GTI 2.0T. Was a good little car.
+Captain K'nuckles Good to hear! I'm hoping to upgrade to a MK5 GTI when I have the money and find a good enough deal
love my mk4 golf. saving up for a new gti
+Richard Sledge awesome! I was close to getting a MK4 but then I found this for a good deal
Thinking about buying one of these tomorrow. 5spd 130k miles 2007…
Nice car man.
youre in conneticut, so how do the rabbit handle in the snow? I need a car that will be able to handle well and confidently in blizzard conditions of Syracuse Ny and Buffalo.
With snow tires it does well. I have gotten stuck on all seasons in fairly snowy conditions. All wheel drive would probably be better but Rabbits aren't bad in the snow.
Nice informative video. Thank you! I'm considering buying a 2009 Rabbit. How is yours holding up? Any more major work you've had to do?
+thorolfgoesraiding thanks! It's holding up well, I did have my flex pipe fail but other than that it's been great.
How's the absence of the center console. I bought a 2007 Black 2dr Rabbit yesterday and the center console is something that I really hope I can get used to.
+Justin Jerome I got used to it pretty quick, there are a lot of other small storage areas within the car for things you'd normally put in your center console
I’ll keep that in mind
the oil leak is simple, just buy a vacuum pump block off plate, and its easy you could do it yourself. will save you a lot of trips to going to buy oil
don't you mean change it with a better gasket
Another minor downside is the lack of a DTE distance to empty feature for the fuel tank. Unsure why VW left this feature off. You will have to replace your blower fan motor and solenoid after 150k Miles. Every car has this issue. I also bought an eHitch and tow ball & receiver and tow with a 5x8 trailer fully loaded. With no issues! I’d like to put in a 6 speed manual tranny to replace my 5 speed. One day.
Did mk5 with 2.5 engine come with 4motion spec? Cant finde any info if 2.5 mk5’s did come with 4motion.
I don’t believe the MK5 golf or jetta did, at least in the states. To get 4 motion in a Mk5 here you needed to get the R32
I own a 07 rabbit and the transmission is starting to jump on shift hard. I was told the valve body needs to be replaced. I was quoted 1200 for the job. What do you think I should do?
+Elias M. I'd say it depends on the condition and mileage which effect the value of the car. Also it depends on how much you like the car and whether you want to keep it or upgrade haha
Having the same issue. Getting a hard shift on 3 and 5 for me.. if heard that valve problems are quite common at the 100k mark I also heard the 2007's had a recall for them but it voided after 100k miles... I am Thinking of doing the job myself but have heard it is quite a complicated job.
I have same car, but 4 door, issues starting with locks, sometimes rear hatch won’t open. This car has a good stereo,heated seats and mirrors. With snow tires the rabbit can handle the worst of New England winters.
I agree, these cars are great in the snow with snow tires!
Dunno if it's still relevant, but I had the same issue, and useing vcsd and clearing the faultcode of the hatch made it work like charm.
My Mk4 had peeling soft-touch surfaces. I loved the car, but that was one of my biggest annoyances.
Yeah very common with these. Easy to find replacements on eBay because it happens so often. I'm not sure I can be bothered replacing the light switch and window controls though.
That's pretty neat.
+Robert Madsen how neat is it?
2.5 oil leak is probably the vacuum pump gasket
Yes, cheap and fairly easy fix. The secret to access is to remove the battery first. There are several videos on this.
@@boomerguy9935 mine was just the cover. Couldnt find the seal at the parts stores so got some gasket maker and buttoned it up. Only 4 screws
Given all the black MkV golfs/GTIs in CT, you should be able to find a fuel door in a junkyard. Also, what fuel are you using. I run 93 octane in mine, and it help on fuel economy.
+Michael Patrick yeah I've found some they've just been more than I'd like to pay, I'll keep looking and I'm sure I'll find one. And I run 89, maybe I should try 93 for a tank or two and see if it makes a difference
I've got a mk5 tdi and have made a few changes such as bumpers it gets about 50 mpg so a reason I like diesels. I like the car have put an android 8" head unit, Rockford fosgate mini amp and compact 10" sub in the back that uses no space at all. I have had issues with the turbo and now the clutch is starting to make a noise but it does have 344,000kms on it
Do the seats hold you in when taking corners quickly?
Fairly well! They're bolstered nicely. I've rally crossed this car without issues of sliding around!
Question: you mentioned rust and dealing with it right away?
I have recently purchased a 2009 Rabbit MrkV and it's a great car. But there are signs of rust behind the front mud flap. It's only a trace right now, but it will grow over time. If you encountered such a condition, how did you deal with it?
Did you use a rust encapsulator?
Thanks
+Bear Mare at first I sanded the area down to bare metal to remove any traces of rust then primed and pained the area, which worked well for a little bit but I didn't use a chip guard so sand from the tire wore through again. Right now I put a rust stopping solution on it until I have time to properly seal it up again. I hope this helps!
There's a 12 year corrosion warranty
I take it this warranty is passed on to second owners?
+Bear Mare I just looked it up and it looks like it should be passed on, people say the process takes awhile to get stuff fixed though
+CashedOutCars yea it's definitely passed on, but the fine print says it's only for perforation which is basically from the inside out seen a few forums people saying they were denied because of "outside influences" but I've always seen a lot of people say that since Dieselgate they been accepting a lot more cars than denying. I'm probably gonna go get mine checked out soon because I have rust in the bottom of my door jam because of the black rubber pieces inside the fender trapping dirt and holding water
i have a mk5 in Europe but here we call it a golf and the car i great. I have the car for nearly 2 yers now and 25 000 km and the only problem that it had was a coolant leak from a pipe that cost 5 euro nothing else . its a 1.9 tdi i change the oil every 12 000km and it doesn't burn more than 200 ml from that oil 200ml = normal juise cup
And thank you.
It's been 5 years since this review and the current general consensus is that the first 2 years of the 5th gen (2006-2009) VW Rabbit were the worst for quality and the rest were pretty good. I just bought a 2008 2.5 Rabbit from the head technician at a local Honda car dealership who had it for 8 years with no breakdowns at all. There were a few quirks but it has 145K miles on it with no leaks, drips or oil burning. The engine is as quiet as new and the body integrity is still like new, particularly when slamming the doors. The hatch and hood strut supports are tired, so I will replace those.
I changed the oil once and that won't happen again. The stupid cartridge style oil filter is a guaranteed mess and this will go on the list of having my technician (same guy who sold it to me) will be changing the oil and filter along with the ATF fluid and filter and the coolant with the flushing system. Money well spent , as far as I"m concerned.
This is a great little car. Oh, I only paid $3500 for it. I feel like I've won the lottery.
Oh, I forgot the radio. Looks cool, sound horrible. I don't use it.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
@@CashedOutCars One other thing I love, is the strong low-end torque from this long-stroke, 5-cylinder inline engine.
If you get a cold air intake you can bypass having to use the engine cover btw
+D Nice Yup, I have stuff to make a cold air intake I just have to find the time do get around to it
+CashedOutCars yea once I put mine on I chucked the cover in the closet, actually looks like an engine now lol
Still have my rabbit till this day verging 170k an minor issues ever ever since
Me too I got my rabbit 2 years ago, its my first car and I love it. The 2.5 is extremely reliable and sounds great 👍
@@nathanelliott6770 Are they really reliable? My dad took a picture of one asking if I want it. Should I get this car? Especially for a first car?
@@Kiml_ly definitely! It’s quick too
@@Kiml_ly it’s a very fun car to drive, I promise you won’t be disappointed. Especially if you mod it like I did
@@nathanelliott6770 I do want a fun car, I might go for it then, thanks!
Should of changed the gear box oil grate ever 100 k and timing chain
Where did you get the fuel filter?
+Mac Soper I believe eBay
My tdi 140 averages 58 and will do 65-70 on run
My grandpa used to have a VW Rabbit form 1980.
Nice! I want a old Rabbit pickup
@@CashedOutCars It was actually a diesel! He said he really liked it!
I have the same problems with the locks
I just bought mine for $850 with 250k miles, I have to change the front suspension, that's it I think it was a steal!
Sounds like a pretty good deal to me! and yeah front suspension is a common problem on these..
£900 118k miles no work needed
@@conorf8091 bargain
3500AUD checking in,
Just a small detail I’ve noticed is that this gas tank is on the passenger side. Not a deal breaker, but they’re not winning a design award.
Do you have TSI engines over in America / Canada?
Yea they got em but in the 2.0 variety
Oh okay. The 1.2 / 1.4 TSI is better than the 2.0 TSI.
Lol no way man that 2.0tsi a champion the 1.4tsi and 1.8tsi are similar it's just the 1.8tsi has more top end power!
Shimon La Hee' Yes, but the 1.4 TSI has 150bhp and 250NM + awsome fuel economy, which is very important in europe due to gas prices being 3x as it is in america.
So how does your Rabbit handle during spirited driving (body roll, acceleration, braking, etc)?
+Paul Callaway As for body roll it has quite a bit, especially compared to my Miata. It's not like a boat though, its still a great driving experience. It accelerates pretty well. It's not the slowest or the fastest but it's enough to have fun, and it'd smoke my miata [for now ;)]. The brakes are also really good with a lot of initial bite. I hope this helps give you a good idea for what you're looking for!
4-door mk5 Golfs are rare?
Not super rare, you see them a good amount but I do think there are more two doors, at least in my area.
CashedOutCars I got a 3 door mk5 04 plate , built in Germany 👌
Just bought a mk5 and live in kind of a bad area.. i hope i dont run into locking issues 😂
Got a 2lt gt fsi with no turbo this year . I've never regretted not listening to my dad this much. The car is a money pit. Has all the problems in the world. But it's nice to drive. Sooo I'm gonna make it into a beast
I get about 31 mpg
5 minutes of your time is all it takes to replace the gas door.
What part of Connecticut you from?
+D Nice North West
+CashedOutCars that's what's up I'm from Groton
D Nice I'm from New Haven. It's nice to see the CT bros making videos
Golf vs rabbit vs gti obviously gti is the best but all three are nice
I get 30 mpg with my bunny all day.
Getting 55-62mpg with my mk5 GtTdi
Riccardo Pelc-wesoly How so high? I have gt mk5 140. Any mods?
I get 33 MPG in my 1.4 VW polo, that's city driving!
+ThatGuyNamedScott. C Wow that's pretty great! A lot better than my Rabbit for sure.
CashedOutCars also is the 2.5 in this car from an Audi? Because they love using the 2.5 engines!
+ThatGuyNamedScott. C hmm I'm actually not sure but now that you said that I'm going to look into it
Expensive car to maintain, not a gas saver, I had to get my transmission rebuild around 3k$, oil leak means vacuum pump which cost around 340$ plus 300$ of labor cuz transmission has to be move apart, I have to do extra work to close my car, it’s a great car n sporty at the same time 5 cylinder semi standard with sports mode but to expensive to maintain, I have a 2007 model gray with 121k miles
Dutchboy where did you see the transmission needs to be moved apart? You could just replace the gasket which makes it a $30 fix..
I have been using 2.2 oz of pure acetone and my MK5 Rabbit on a tank full and mileage went up to 25mpgs. You are welcome to check my channel where I am posting videos every week showing the results.
The answer is yes you should
Lol 22mpg my 2001 Tahoe gets about 11-12mpg haha
I now have a MK5 GTI and it gets 30 consistently.. it's impressive!
@@CashedOutCars yeah I own a mkv gti too as my second car actually owned it for 11 years since new and have gotten around 28mpg even up to 31 on the highway
Haha yeah my 2001 Ford Expedition (which recently got totaled) it got 7.3 mpg but that was because I straight piped it
Struts should always be replaced in pairs. 22 mpg is awful..
If a manufacturer can’t even get the door locks sorted what does that say about the rest of the car
It’s probably one of the ugliest cars of the modern era but it looks like it’s fun to drive
My dad usto have that car and iys so loud with music
Hi, oil change every 2,000 Miles Is totally unnecessary and is only a waste of oil and money. Ten thousand miles, oil and filter, is absolutely correct.
Don’t need to change oil every 3 months
3,000... Miles. He said he changes it every three thousand miles by dude. And that's pretty typical oil change period.
3000 miles lol, i do mine 15,000km and UOA says all good.
+Super_Slav you definitely can run oil for a lot longer than 3,000 miles depending on the brand I just like changing mine regularly
CashedOutCars I have a VW 1.4 TSI ea211 motor.
you are changing your costly synthetic oil way too early, min is 5-7k
Check out my car!
Just letting everyone know it's a golf not a rabbit !!!!!
+mike davies gotta love it when people know so much more about what car I have than me! It's a Rabbit in the United States.
CashedOutCars
yup exclusive to north america lol gotta love know it alls
Its a Rabbit
mike davies it has a rabbit logo right on the back next to the 2.5 emblem. Dumbass
Ummm you mean a 2 door golf.... soo a rabbit