Caretaker wrote:I think you may be in for a bit of a shock when you do drive the Vibe. I actually was not going to put that as the first comment, until I read where your friends thought the 2001 Camry was a quiet ride. I figured that generation would have been less so; but given you said it, I'll go with the thought that the '01 is pretty quiet. The first generation Vibe is NOT. I have owned both the first and second generation Vibes. The second is a bit more quiet, but nothing to write home about. Your comparison is with a cushy riding Camry that apparently had some good insulation. I think both the cabin noise and ride quality will be a downer for you. Secondly, while I know the interior appointments on the '01 Camry were quiet dull and pedestrian, you won't be going up in luxury by picking the first generation Vibe, that's for sure. Moreover, you may find the seat comfort in the Vibe a step back from the Camry. Other than that, the Vibe is an outstanding choice in its own right. I'm not sure I would recommend going for a 13 year old car, but since you didn't give us your budget, I can only guess you've done the research within your budget. If you buy the Vibe, you will certainly own one of the most versatile vehicles ever built. You'll get better gas mileage with the Vibe over your current ride and the maintenance history of the Vibe is every bit as good as the Camry. However, any time you look to buy a car as old as you are (2003), you are asking for repair bills. I don't care if a Toyota or Honda has 250,000 miles on it, if it is a late model car, I know age is generally much worse than high mileage assuming routing maintenance. For a city car that needs to take a beating with potholes, as well as your body that feels all of those potholes, I'd stick with a Camry. I think you've already proven that from your experience.
One last thought: the Vibe won't be too great if you are carpooling three other people to work or on a trip. The rear leg room is not as good as the Camry. Good luck with your choice.
Cool, thanks for the feedback Caretaker! I'm not sure how much I value a quiet ride to be honest. I guess I'll find out tomorrow if the road/wind noise bugs me when I'm taking the Vibes for a spin. Re: 1997-2001 Generation Camry; can't speak for 1999-2000, but my 2001 is smooth and quiet. Road/wind noise is something I never even thought about until I started reading about how that's one of the nitpicks of the Vibe via Edmunds, et al. I grew up in the country though, driving with the windows down, and cutting grass on a riding lawnmower for years, so I don't know why I'm freaking out about noise anyway, ha.
In regard to the car, I HAVE to get another car, lol. I guess I didn't make that clear. The hood flew completely off of my '01 Camry on a freeway (long story) two weeks ago, I managed to get it back on, but my beloved Camry is a freaking eyesore. It's safe to drive, for now, lol. But every time I look at, I get sad. Not to mention, I had to put off a first-date because I don't want to show up in a car that looks like it's been a victim of Monster Truck Show 2016.
I'm not sure I'm 100 percent with you, though, on the age-thing. You're probably not incorrect, in general, about purchasing an early 2000s vehicle, in some regards. But I think it's all about each car's particularities. For example, the three cars I've whittled my choices down to (two Vibes and one Camry Solara) have all had one owner (with the CarFax). They look like they were treated with kid gloves, garaged. (Fwiw, I live in an area where there's no snow or inclement weather, so the cars do age better here, at least aesthetically).
I'm all about the car's history and the miles. The two Vibes I'm looking at are under 120k. One is under 112k. The Solara is about the same. Two are mint/like new, and the '03 Vibe look excellent, except for a somewhat faded dark grey bumper (no biggie).
I think a car is just being broken in at 100k, lol. Heck, I drove my Toyota from about 70k to 182k with no issues. What I like even better about the three cars I'm looking at, no timing belts! Anyway, when I think of an "old car" I think of that 1979 BMW 320i I bought in college when I was even younger and dumber than I am now. That was a money pit. Anything post-2000 with a timing chain and computer stuff in it feels like a new car to me. :=) Plus, I'll be doing the "ecological thing" by not purchasing a new car ;=) Not like I could afford one anyway, but the ecological line sounds better
I figure if I can get a ride with around 110-120k, drive it 15k a year, I'll be more than happy to get 5-7 years out of it. I don't see why not, if it's a Toyota engine. My friend's 1994 Camry reached 450k two months ago and the tranny finally went out. He replaced the tranny and is still driving it. And there are stories all over the web about second generation Priuses reaching 625k as cabs in Canada, for example. I guess the moral of the story is, I have faith in a Toyota engine. Bring it on.
And I should disclaimer, I'm not cheap, my budget's 5k; again, I'm fortunate to live in area where there are a ton of cars for sale every day, so I have the veritable pick of the litter, in a matter of speaking.
Well, that's a long darn ramble, but I'll keep y'all posted on what happens! Thx again.