The Volkswagen Golf-cum-Rabbit is the kind of home-on-wheels designed for a hip bachelor or bachelorette down on their luck. Though not enough room for a family, the smartly-designed hatchbacks have always offered style and storage at a reasonable price. The four-door models are ideal for urban campers who want to curl up in the backseat but still have street cred with people who don't know they're living on the street. Price New: $17,575 (base four-door) Price Used: $5,000 and up (Mk III - Mk IV)

9.) Mazda Mazda5

The Mazda5 may seem like an unconventional choice for a live-in automobile, but it offers a lot for a little. Based on the sporty Mazda3 platform, the Mazda5 has the benefits of a small economy car: good mileage, low cost-of-ownership and affordability. It also offers some of the benefits of a minivan: sliding doors, three-row seating, fold-out table, under-floor storage and fold-flat seats. The possibility of getting one with a manual, no longer a possibility with most vans, makes it the perfect choice for a down-on-their-luck dad who still likes to drive but may have to outrun creditors. Price New: $18,665 (base) Price Used: $12,500 and up

8.) Ford Econoline

We imagine people have been jamming Econoline as long as people have been living in vans. They're cheap. They're big. They're available in a privacy-enhancing panel version. When Chris Farley's motivation speaker said he was "living in a van down by the river" he was almost certainly talking about a Ford Econoline. The panel version is the cheapest model and, though it lacks carpeting, has ample room for an air mattress or stolen love seat. A top-of-the-line conversion Econoline from the 1980s can be had with a TV/VCR combo, reclining bed, wood inserts and velour drapes. If it's good enough for Mike Watt, it's good enough for us. Price New: $23,940 (E-150) Price Used: $3,000 and up

7.) Honda Element

The Honda Element may be one of the most configurable cars available. The SUV with the soul of a Civic, the Element's seats can be stowed, laid-out or removed as necessary. All of the Honda's seats can be folded backwards to create two long, thin beds. This is the ideal living space for a close couple not willing to face the harsh elements outside of an Element. Additionally, the water resistant interior means that you can hose off the interior after it collects the various liquids of life. Those with a little extra dough can get an ECAMPER conversion for a true camper experience. Price New: $20,990 Price Used: $8,500 and up

6.) Chevy Suburban

There have been a few large SUV models in America's history, but none of them have lived as long as the Suburban, which holds the record for longest continuous nameplate in production. That's good if you're looking for parts for your new home. An increase in gas prices has caused an increase in availability and a decrease in price (the base model came with a 5.7-liter V8). Now that gas prices have dropped along with the economy, it's now even affordable to drive. At over 18-feet long, the Suburban's interior rivals some small studios. The GMT400 models from the 1990s could have come with the 6.5-liter diesel, which is perfect for long nights of idling to keep the heat running. Older models are tough and cheap while newer models get more expensive but offer more in the way of creature comforts. Price New: $40,820 Price Used: $2,500 and up (GMT400)

5.) Volvo 740 Wagon

A Volvo station wagon is a great choice for a family looking for a safe place to live and the Volvo 740 is perhaps the best balance of value and space. Nearly 16-feet long, the early 1990s models run cheap and aklthough not fast, they're quite roomy. Most importantly, the build quality and reliability of the last model years of the 740 are among the highest of any vehicle Volvo's ever built. When you get kicked out of your gated community you can also use it to sneak back in as a soccer mom and not as someone who uses a soccer ball for a pillow. Price New: N/A Price Used: $2,000 and up

4.) Dodge Caravan

What better way to celebrate your new life in a failing economy than buying a car from afailing automaker? Kids love the Caravan because of the cool features, like the fold-out table, DVD player with A/V hookup for the video games, fold-flat seats, tall roofs and many storage spaces. When the kids ask why they spend all the time at the beach and never go home just tell them it's like that vacation you took to Florida.. except it never ends. A small family could do much worse than life in a Caravan or its ritzy Town & Country brother, though we recommend a third generation if you want all of those features. Price New: $28,500 Price Used: $14,500 and up (third gen), $2,500 and up (second gen)

3.) Ford Flex

The automotive gypsy lifestyle once meant big vans or SUVs but the era of the crossover is here. Balancing van-like space and amenities with car-like handling, the crossover could be the sleeping place of choice for the next Great Depression. The Ford Flex might be the best choice for those who may soon be evicted but are currently of some means. The long, seven-seater Flex offers space, comfort and luxury in a package that looks like a house. Throw in a fridge in the second row console that can fit a six-pack of beer and you've got quite a home. Price New: $28,295 (base) Price Used: $25,000 (or even as low as $7,500 off of a repossession. How meta is that anyway?)

2.) Volkswagen Vanagon/EuroVan Westfalia

The Westfalia VWs were designed for living for, though not necessarily for extended periods of time. Offered through VW, the Westfalias were essentially a Volkswagen Vanagon or EuroVan with a camper top that folds out to create a living space. Many also came equipped with small refrigerators, stovetops, sink and other appliances. The Vanagon pictured above was created by this guy to be an all-season living space. They no longer sell the Westy here in the US new, so you'll have to find one on the used market. Price New: N/A Price Used: $6,000 and up (Vanagon) $12,000 and up (EuroVan Weekender)

1.) Dodge Sprinter

There's really nothing like a Dodge Sprinter commercial van if you have to live your life on wheels. Daddy Coppola turned one into a portable studio and we'd be proud to live in one. Based on the Mercedes Sprinter van, this is the Mercedes of commercial vans. At nearly 23-feet long, nine-feet tall and six-feet wide the cargo area of a Sprinter is a cave. Throw in a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6, 12-volt power outlet and a hydraulic jack and you're traveling the US in comfort. For real style you can convert your Sprinter into a Mercedes with a few cheap trim pieces. In extended form there's enough room in the back for a bed, small couch, table and desk. High-mileage, used cargo versions can be found at quite a reasonable price. And, we hear it may actually be bigger than Wert's entire place in Manhattan — and for 1/10th the price new! Price New: $42,170 Price Used: $14,000 More »
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Diesel enthusiasts and entry-level VeeDub enthusiasts will once again be able to frolic together when the 2.0-liter TDI debuts in the sixth generation Rabbit next fall. The rollout schedule for new VW models includes the TDI Touareg in the spring of 2009, followed by the new GTI in the summer and the other variants of the Rabbit that fall. And what about the Tiguan? Don't hold your breath for a TDI version anytime soon. More »
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While we’re were busy salivating over the 62 MPG VW Golf BlueMotion, our friends at Popular Mechanics were in Iceland putting the regular 2009 Volkswagen Golf VI through its paces. “We just improved the old car," VW’s board member for product development told them. And that’s exactly what PM found, reporting that it’s basically a Mark V with revised looks, a much better interior, new engines and better handling. Those engines are the most interesting thing. According to PM, the US market Golf VI (or the Rabbit, as it's called here) will definitely be getting the 2.0-liter TDI and maybe, just maybe, the 1.4-liter TSI turbocharged, supercharged gasoline engine that’s capable of both 0-60 in 8 seconds and returning 39.2 MPG. More »
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We're not really sure what this is, and the anonymous submitter who was kind enough to send it in can't tell us much either. What we do know is this futuristic interpretation of the Homer is part VW Rabbit and was found near Huntsville, Alabama, aka "Rocket City" and home to the Marshall Space Flight Center and Redstone Arsenal. So is this the result of a frustrated wanna-be missile engineer trying to stick it to the man, or just the product of an actual aerospace engineer overcome by hydrazine fumes once too often? Your guess is as good as ours. (Thanks Truck O-Matic!) More »
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VW's "Kleine GTI" series of ads, starting in 1984, was still going strong three years later. Those crazy Wolfsburgers went and doubled the number of valves for that year, giving America's Members Only-clad sorority girls 123 rampaging German horses under the hood. More »
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VW insiders have revealed that the company plans to launch a 2009 VW GTI soon after the release of the 2009 VW Golf. The new GTI will use a 211 HP 2.0-liter four-cylinder, gaining 11 HP over the current model, but still far short of rivals like the 2008 MazdaSpeed3 and 2009 Subaru WRX. A more powerful GTI-R model will replace the R32 and rival the Japanese competition with 265 HP and 4WD. But why is the six-cylinder model being dropped? More »
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The slow trickle of information on the new VW Golf has now become a deluge with VW releasing official information on the German Rabbit. We've already heard what the European pricing will be, and now, thanks to the press release, we can see the turbodiesel engine range will have common-rail direct-injection and be available with power levels of: 90 HP, 110 HP, 140 HP, and 170 HP. The TSI gas engines will put out 80 HP, 102 HP, 122 HP and 160 HP. Now keep in mind, that's the European engine range. Ours here in the US will likely be different. Either way, the GTI and other hot variants are still unknown. More »
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Yes, it's a German version of the 1964 Ronnie And The Daytonas song "Little GTO," and while the '84 GTI had a throttle body instead of three deuces and an extra gear on the transmission, it was just like the GTO! This ad came out around the time that the Reagan Administration said it was cool to show total hoonage in car ads again (after a moratorium on car-ad jumps and burnouts that lasted through most of the Malaise Era). These things sold like crazy in California, but by now most of them have disappeared. More »
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The combination of a fuel-sipping diesel engine with plug-in hybrid technology is something that hasn't really been utilized — until now. This is the Volkswagen Golf Twin Drive Concept, and it looks even more promising than VW's late Golf TDI Hybrid from Geneva. Evidently, the Twin Drive can be run in electric-only mode for a range of up to 30 miles using an 82 HP electric motor. But, there's also a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel that makes 122 HP which can take over once the batteries have been drained. When the two powerplants combine, you become Captain Planet have a parallel hybrid with about 174 HP. The range is aided even further by regenerative braking to charge the batteries, and start-stop technology that shuts the engine off when idling in traffic. But is all of this just a techno' showcase? Or will it actually be made available for normal people to save fuel with? More »
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While woefully lacking in the mid mounted 500 cubic inch Cadillac engine and scissor doors department the first tandem axle VW Caddy we discovered had, this one succeeds in another area - it's an actual Rabbitamino. If you look carefully at the hind end of this one, you can see the telltale signs pointing out this started life as a VW Rabbit and was chopped up into the masterpiece you see today. We're also digging the extra clean super-long wheel well and cool canvas bed cap. Unfortunately, this came from actual photographs in the Hemmings archives so you know all we know, still, this would make a kick-ass motorcycle carrier. More »
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If ever there was a project hellish enough to merit actual purchase consideration based solely on the novelty of the car in question, this Volkswagen Rabbit Limo is right up there. Just reading the description you can almost feel the flames of hell licking at this guy as he tries to convince someone to purchase a stretched Rabbit with rusty floors and a rotten interior that hasn't run since 2002. This one is definitely for the pure of heart, but hey, only $750! Description and more pics below. More »
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We were expecting some wacky stuff here at the Geneva Motor Show, but a VW pickup on hydros? What the what? Sure why not, the crazy part was the 8 switch Vee Dub was sitting next to a dropped Ferrari F40, which we thought was illegal to begin with, but what do we know. What does that say about us that both Spinelli and I walked right past the F40 like it was invisible? In any case, too bad this example wasn't seen at SEMA or some state fairground where we would have been no doubt treated to a couple of tasteful poses. More »
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The '79 Volkswagen Rabbit (that's a Golf to you shifty-eyed foreign types) probably didn't accelerate very rapidly with Mr. Chamberlain aboard, what with its 71-horsepower engine and all. But it has enough headroom- somehow- to accommodate a 7-footer. Wait, did we say 71 horsepower? Make that 48 horses for the Diesel Rabbit! More »
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After all these months of DOTS, we've only seen two water-cooled VWs (a Rabbitamino and a Quantum). The island is buzzing with air-cooled Beetles (so many, in fact, that I could probably show nothing but Type 1s in this series for a solid month), but what happened to all those Rabbits? They used to be everywhere! And let's not even talk about Dashers and Sciroccos. So, I've been keeping a lookout for vintage water-cooled Wolfsburg machinery, and was rewarded with a few more Rabbitaminos and this 4-door '83 Rabbit. More »
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Volkswagen has located the oldest living Volkswagen diesel. No surprise it was found in California, near Bakersfield, where it wasn't forced to undergo the perfect storm of corrosive forces: road salt, humidity and Amherst students on a mescaline binge. The winning model is from the Rabbit's first model year in the US, 1977. It sports a 1.5-liter oil burner producing an achingly low 50 horsepower, though its curb weight was around that of a new Touareg's spare tire. The car's owner gets the use of a Touareg V10 TDI for six months, possibly for hoonage in the Mojave. The publicity stunt (ca-ching) hearkens the launch of the 2009 Jetta and Jetta wagon TDI diesels in the US in the first quarter of 2008. [via German Car Scene] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=290055&view=rss&microfeed=true From up close, the turbocharged W12 engine Volkswagen shoehorned into its GTI W12 concept car is probably a visceral experience, not unlike that millisecond before a jungle cat grinds you into meat by-product. In this video, you won't see the steroidal hare perform any feats of strength, like jumping over buses or dodging 75mm antitank rounds. It's all about the motor in all its whooping, coughing glory. Good morning. – Mike Spinelli More »
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Once again I've hit the not-so-mean streets of Alameda to find the day's Down On The Street car. Today we're going with another import: an early-80s VW Rabbit Pickup Diesel, or, as we Jaloppers like to call them, a Rabbitamino... More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=263157&view=rss&microfeed=true It wasn't enough for H.R. Engineering to merely perform one of its signature front-to-rear-drive conversions on this Volkswagen Rabbit (Golf Mk1). Under this hood is bolted a turbocharged Suzuki Hayabusa engine producing 350 hp. Apparently, as expected, the one-off is quite a handful — and it yells quite loudly, indeed. Maybe the next step is a call to Mr. Hartley for a V8. – Mike Spinelli More »
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A lot of us gearheads talk a big game a lot of the time, to borrow a phrase from the late, great Vonnegut, "So it goes." When on the topic of stupid sized engines in stupid sized cars (which are usually inversely proportionate), dropping a 500-cubic-inch Cadillac V8 into "X" teeny, tiny car invariably ends the debate. "Yeah, damn, that would be sweet." I put forth the Rabbit Pickup (or Rabbitamino around these parts) as a girly car entry into the Loverman's daily Q a couple of days ago, but was forced to face my folly the same day after seeing the truck/car towing a stonkin' woodchipper down Telegraph Road. One Google search later and here you have it, mini-car-amino nirvana. A tandem-axled, Caddy-powered, German-American hybrid... with scissor doors! Based on the pic after the jump, I have absolutely no idea how the powertrain works, but I'm betting that invisible golden unicorns transmit the power to all six wheels by way of telepathy.–Ben Wojdyla More »
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Volkswagen showed off its "Thunderbunny" concept at the SEMA show last November, tempting crowds of hatchies with promises of post-R32 hareiness (ouch). Of course, now we know V-dub is introducing a new R32 in the US this year. So what of the bunny? According to VW blog UK MkIVs the Golf RS above was on display at a VW corporate event. Insiders say the RS will see a limited production run of 500 to 900, with a debut expected for the Frankfurt or Essen shows later this year, ahead of a market launch in mid-'08. As for what may be under the hood. Could this be the "R36" everyone's been talking about? After all, are those not Passat R36 wheels? – Mike Spinelli More »
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If you thought the story was over when Volkswagen announced its latest R32 hot hatch was coming to the US, you were wrong, dammed wrong. All that loose talk about an R36 model may be accurate. Spies say this prototype is the upcoming, 300-hp Golf R36, sporting VW's 3.6-liter VR6. Haldex four wheel drive and DSG-gearbox will complete the ground action. Of course, the odds that this monster is coming to the US aren't in our favor. But that won't stop the betting. – Mike Spinelli More »
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Our first run-in with a Volkswagen Rabbit diesel, sometime in the late 1970s, began and ended with the phrase, "Mister, I think your car's on fire." In the ensuing decades, the company's oil burners, now designated TDI, grew more prevalent, despite a few hiccups regarding quick-burnout glow plugs, tightened emissions controls and varying sulfur content. Now, the company's looking for the oldest running VW diesel in the US, which as Edmunds Inside Line points out, will likely be a 1977 Rabbit (12,393 were sold that year). The winning owner will get the use of a 2007 VW Touareg V10 TDI for six months. Not that they'll need it. Anyone who could keep a Rabbit Diesel running for 30 years could probably build his own car out of coffee cups and discarded lawn furniture, presumably at will. – Mike Spinelli More »
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GTI! Redeem thyself! And in its fifth iteration, the heated up Golf/Rabbit/Golf/Rabbit VW hatch seems to have done just that with the world's motoring press, and the lads and lasses at Automobile are apparently not immune to the car's charms. While the Automobiles don't quite lavish the praise on the DSG that Farago does, they do call it "the best automatic-type transmission we've ever driven." For more superlatives and a rundown of what they've thought of GTIs past, ve haff posted ein link below. – Davey G. Johnson More »
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Rabbit, a Japan-based Porsche tuning shop, wants to put you in a Pagani Zonda for $50,000. Sound like a scam? Ok, so it's not a real, AMG V12-powered Pagani Zonda, but the Rabbit PG-Z will indeed play one on TV (if that's your thing). Using the Toyota MR2 as a starting point, the Rabbit bunch is creating the PG-Z to be a veritable Zonda doppelganger. They're only in the prototype stages — that's a hand-built wooden prototype in the picture, says AutoWeek — but the're serious about rendering it for real. They're just showing it off to gauge interest. Interested? [Gallery] – Mike Spinelli More »
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We've now seen it all. We thought that VW's attempt to tie the iPod in with the Beetle was the highest into the musical stratosphere the company reprsenting Deutschland would go. We were wrong. VDub's now decided you don't just want to listen to music in your car, you want to create it — and that's why they're starting an ad campaign and first-of-its-kind musical giveaway in coordination with guitar maker First Act, Inc. Beginning today and running through the end of the year, any customer who purchases a Jetta, Jetta GLI, GTI, Rabbit, New Beetle and New Beetle Convertible, as well as select 2006 models — will receive a completely customized First Act GarageMaster electric guitar that will play seamlessly through the car's existing audio system. Each First Act GarageMaster electric guitar will: More »
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