With so many standard features, very few are left for stand-alone options, including sunroof (four-door only), satellite radio (four-door only), rear passenger supplemental airbag system (four-door only), and ESP. Other options include a body kit, three different wheel styles with two larger sizes available, a snowboard/ski rack, bike rack, and side graphics appliqus. With so many design options available, your Rabbit can be as individualistic as you are.
The press launch was set in the narrow cobblestoned streets of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during a time when the East Coast was being pounded by torrential rainstorms. We drove around the urban jungles of Philly, only to end up in New Jersey's mountainous region, where we visited a Rabbit petting zoo. The improved suspension definitely gave me a boost of confidence as I drove by the rain-swollen Delaware River, and on the mountain roads covered with debris. The Rabbit handled incredibly, and even on the rain-soaked road, the Continental tires did not skip (or squeal) a beat. The Rabbit showed its ability to not only handle the morning commute, but that it can carve up canyon roads and even go off-road in the mountains. With the 200-mile round trip test drive under my belt, it was time to return to the hotel, but I just wanted to keep driving all the way back to California.
It's been more than a week since I drove the Rabbit, and it has been an even longer time since I have been excited about a car. Candy White, Tornado Red, visions of a project car danced in my head. Tumbling down the Rabbit hole, one thing is clear: a new Rabbit project car is soon to appear.
2006 VolkswagenRabbit 2.5LayoutTransverse front engine,front-wheel driveEngine2.5-liter inline five, dohcfour valves per cylinderTransmissionFive-speed manual; optionalsix-speed TiptronicSuspensionF: Independent frontMacPherson strutsR: Fully independent four-link with coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers, and stabilizer barBrakesDual circuit system, vented 11.3-inch front rotors, 10.2-inch solid rear rotors, ABSDimensionsLength x Width x Height (in.): 165.8 x 69.3 x 58.2Wheelbase: 101.5 in.Curb Weight: 3,000 lb (est.)PerformancePeak Power: 150 bhp @ 5000 rpmPeak Torque: 170 lb-ft @ 3750 rpm0-60 mph: 9.0 secTop Speed: 130 mph (limited)Why we love it:Smart utilitarian design,very affordable price tagWhy we don't:Some choice options are inexplicably available only on the four-door modelThe Price Tag: $14,990