Hi! I purchased a 2009 Red Hot Pontiac Vibe GT from a private owner just last week. I've been lurking on the site for about a month now and finally registered a short time back. I'd like to share my purchase story with y'all.
It had been a 4 month process as I was looking for all kinds of vehicles. I have a Ford F150 Suprcab w/ 436K on it which still runs but my commute was killing me on gas (AVG 17 if I drive like my grandma). I started researching and found I really liked the 2nd Gen Pontiac Vibe's styling, room, and the fact that although it's uncommon and no longer produced it shares all the major components that the Matrix has, thus ensuring repairs aren't expensive. I fix everything on my truck (I dropped the rear axle last month and swapped it out in my garage one night) so I expect the same self-service with this vehicle.
After 3 months, I found 2 Vibe's I liked through KBB, a 2009 Red Hot Pontiac Vibe GT (loaded) for $12,000 and a another 2010 Orange Pontiac Vibe Base. The Orange one was in PA and a Base model. For my birthday, my girlfriend and I took on part 2 of the
http://www.pineywoodswinetrail.com/ we started in April. On the way we would stop by Sulphur Springs to check out the Red Vibe. I had been renting Cars at Advantage to test them out (plus at 5-6 dollars a day it was cheap). We rented a Nissan Versa which was OK. (We have a nice luxury car but don't like to put too many miles on it).
We stopped in Lufkin to eat some BBQ. As we got back on the road jamming out to Robin Thicke, I spotted a 2009 Red Hot Pontiac Vibe GT with a sunroof being sold next to 4 other cars at a church. It caught my attention. I drove a mile down and said we had to turn back. I scoped the car out and a gentleman walked out. He explained he sold cars on his lot for a 100 dollar commission. We test drove it, I checked everything. I mean, I got under the car, opened the rear compartments, checked the seats, the sunroof, the knobs on the stereo (per y'alls active discussion on it, and they are wonky). The car is in great shape; I asked for the price. The guy showed me the NADA (which I already knew) but the owners only wanted 8700 for it!!!!! It was a steal!!! It has 90K miles but the one in Sulphur Springs had more. I don’t normally do spontaneous buys like that (I like spontaneous activities but not purchases, I’m pretty meticulous) but being as it was my birthday I jumped on it.
I spoke with the owner and to make matters even sweeter he explained that he would be in Houston the following weekend anyways for a small comic’s meet up he attends every month. I said sweet, we can work out the deals with our credit unions during the week and deliver the car on Friday. I got my 'new' car last Friday. I'm pretty excited as I was able to finance for just 2 years since it was such a low amount I amped the payment with my CU. After I purchase it, I want to replace my truck.
Everything is OEM; no aftermarket stuff yet. It has the sunroof, Monsoon woofer, XM, etc. The owner had everything, even the original window sticker, service records, all that, even the extra key.
Vehicle: 2009 PONTIAC VIBE
Plant: FREMONT, CA
Engine: 2 LI I4
Style: GT WAGON 4DR FWD
Records: Found in our database
This vehicle has 47 installed options returned in the report. It was built February 19, 2008 as a 2009 model year.
Future Mods:
-Smoked Tail Lights
-Smoked Headlights
-GenVibe Decals on rear driver window
-Plasti Dipped Rims
-Plasti Dipped Grille Trim
-Plasti Dipped Lower Lip Strip
-K&N Cold Air Intake w/ AEM Filter
-Disable Fogs Lights / Headlights coupling (this is the one thing I hate. Our Cadillac has independant fogs and I love how it looks w/o DRLs).
Thanks to all the active posters on here, I really gotta say y'all sold me on even thinking about purchasing the car when I was doing my research. I looked at the Scion XD as well but it seemed really "tuney" , like the souped up friends Lightning McQueen has on Cars. (I have two boys who grew up watching Cars so please bear with my constant Disney/Pixar analogies and comparisons).
See y'all on the forums and I'll post more pics once I have time to upload via Photobucket.