Should I get a vibe?

[maybeavibe]

I have a lead on a used 2003. Automatic, with two packages, Moon & Tunes and Power. Basically what I want.I'm really thinking about it - the price is right and I like the car. But I'd like to hear from owners. Is there anything I or my mechanic need to look out for?Thanks.

[AKLGT]

hmm. on the 03 auto? is it the base or awd? under warranty or no?i know some folks have had issues, but honestly, not anything huge that i can think of off the top of my head. but i have an 03 GT.check the problems and warranty forum. i know some people have had issues w/ the exhaust? sorry i can't help much more.welcome to genvibe. this is a great source of info. if you get the vibe, you'll like it. it's a great car!

[maybeavibe]

Yes, it's still under warranty.After looking at the other forums, I have to wonder about the paint. Granted, my Saturn's paint isn't terrific either but there aren't many chips in it.

[03VibeGT6Spd]

I suggest you test drive a GT before you buy a base, let it warm up then floor it and let it run up to redline before you shift. it's very addictive!When I was looking I got my GT for less then many base models, I was looking at.I would check the hood out very close for paint chips before i bought another one, I spent days fixing those things. also check out the tires those conti's are garbage!

[AKLGT]

Quote, originally posted by 03VibeGT6Spd »I would check the hood out very close for paint chips before i bought another one, I spent days fixing those things. also check out the tires those conti's are garbage!very good advice. unfortunately, both of those 2 items are non warranty. but depending on location, you might not have as much of an issue. some folks have more paint probs than others.

[Kari]

I have an 03 base with moon and tunes and power, and I've not had any problems with the car or the paint. I have a couple of small chips in the paint but nothing major, and the only issues I've had to get fixed are burned out map light bulbs. (All of my other issues, and the one covered in the rant posted below, were either caused by the factory or the dealership and are cosmetic.)Should you get a Vibe? Heck yeah!

[ToolGuy]

If it is what you want, in your price range and in great shape get it. My Vibe has never been to the dealer and the tires have 15,000 miles on them and look new. I beleive the GT's have tire issues not the base or AWD due to their softer compound. My tires have 15,000 on them and I have no issues. Have a few paint chips from highway driving (mainly used on highway) and I touched them up. Get it!

[jake75]

Today's paper: New 04 Vibe, Auto, Moon & Tunes, Pwer Pkg, Alum Wheels, $20,260 MSRP, for $16,260. Advantages new vs used. 3 yr 36,000 warranty (ask cost of a zero ded extended warranty to get an idea of what that's worth); 2 years before you have to change coolant; 3 years before you have to replace brake pads; 4 years before you have to replace tires. 5 years before you have to replace exhaust, et. etc. etc.All those things add up. If financing, new car loan rates lower than used car rates. Taking maintenance costs into account, monthly out of pocket might be same for new as for used.

[maybeavibe]

I'm getting an automatic, so no GT for me anyway

[Stang2Vibe]

Oh yes, forgot about the terrible tires. Those Continental ContiTrac Touring tires or whatever they are callled, are total garbage. My front pair lasted about 6,500 miles. I'm hard on tires, but they even performed terribly when they were new. I'm on my 3rd set of front tires, 2nd set of rears, at about 19,200 miles on the car now. I've had the map light burn out, I replaced it with a similar (but not exact) bulb and it's been fine so far. Braking is still excellent, but that is with my GT. The GT has 4 wheel disc brakes while the base uses drums at the rear. Overall, my Vibe has been an excellent car. My favorite part about it is that I've yet to have gone shopping or camping and not have room for everything. Just last week I bought a chest freezer for the basement and a bunch of groceries from Sam's Club. Had the g/f's mom with me and she bought a bunch of stuff too. I put down the rear seats and everything fit with room to spare. My mom even called me up last year when she bought a new artificial Christmas tree and it wouldn't fit in anyone else's car. No problem fitting it in my Vibe! And the plastic liner in the cargo area is quite durable too. If it were carpeted back there, the carpeting in mine would surely be torn to shreds by now. I bought the Vibe with the intention of using it, and so far it's been pretty good about rising to the challenges that I give it.

[ToolGuy]

Quote, originally posted by Stang2Vibe »Oh yes, forgot about the terrible tires. Those Continental ContiTrac Touring tires or whatever they are callled, are total garbage. My front pair lasted about 6,500 miles. I'm hard on tires, but they even performed terribly when they were new. I'm on my 3rd set of front tires, 2nd set of rears, at about 19,200 miles on the car now. You are hard on tires and you should rotate them evey 5,000 miles... Otherwise you will always be buying fronts first and then rears like you did. But I believe the GTs are softer compound then the base and softer will wear faster. My tires have 15,000 miles, rotated every 5,000 and aired up to the proper spec. No issuse.

[ColonelPanic]

I own a 2003, base/auto which I bought new in 01/2003. Almost 35,000 miles on it right now...Mechanically, it has been very reliable. No problems with the engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, etc... The majority of issues my Vibe has had have all been stupid little things - radios, lighter sockets, A/C adjustments, a couple very minor water leaks, some rust under the weatherstripping around the rear window, and the A/C switch had to be replaced because the backlighting was out... Things like that. Aside from oil changes every 3K and tire rotations at 6K, I've also bought a new set of tires at 26K and got the coolant flushed at 29K. That's about it, so far. Just bought a GM extended warranty to cover me until 87,000 miles. The Vibe isn't a bad car... Just have your mechanic give it a good look, and check to see that you can get service records for it. As long as the previous owner at least changed the oil in it, you probably should be ok.

[Stang2Vibe]

I do check my tire pressure once or twice a month, I'm always more careful about it during the change of seasons when the temperature changes. As for rotating the tires, I've yet to have a set of them last long enough on the Vibe to rotate them. At 5K miles when the fronts are worn to the treadbars, it's kinda pointless to rotate them. In fact, the only car I've owned that tires lasted on long enough was my '94 Geo Tracker. I think they actually saw 15,000 miles.I thought that the base and GT both used the same 16" Continental tires? The optional 17's on the GT were a performance Goodyear tire that was particularly soft because it was a performance tire. The 16" Conti's are a touring tire. I hate touring tires. They are generally designed to give a soft and quiet ride. I could care less about either. My radio is usually up too loud to hear the tire noise and I'm not 80 years old so I don't need a soft ride. I need tires that will bite and actually turn when I turn the steering wheel. I have the pair of Conti's that were on the rear of my Vibe up on the front wheels now (set of snow tires from last winter on the rears). The other day I was out shopping and it rained while I was inside. On my way home, I was making a right turn and the car just plowed the tires and would not turn even though I had the steering wheel turned almost all the way to the right. There was no debris on the road and the surface was only damp, not flooded and no standing water in that area. These tires just plain suck. I almost hit a guardrail head on. That one ranks up there with the time in perfectly dry, sunny weather that the Vibe slid sideways on me on an on-ramp approach. Came inches from scraping the Jersey barrier to my left. This car just doesn't want to turn for me when pressed, and the tires are a major contributer to that.The 17" Z-rated Futura tires that I bought from Pep Boys for my Mustang were probably the best tires I've ever had so far. They are performance tires and performed VERY well in all weather conditions except snow. I used them for about 8,000 miles on the Stang and they all acutally have more than 50% treadwear remaining! I want to put them on my Vibe, but I have to buy some nice 17" wheels first.But in the sum total of things, yes, I'm very demanding of my tires. I drive harder than most people so I expect that. But my problem is that not only do I feel that those Conti's wear prematurely, but I also feel that they are dangerous because they suck in wet weather and aren't much better in dry weather.

[cspmeinkc]

My 2005 GT has BF Potenza's they are a ok tire, quiet.But they are very soft, and i see getting new ones at around 20,000 miles. With a tread wear of 240 they are not going to last long.....

[joatmon]

Quote, originally posted by silverawd26 »Most of the Vibe's that came with Conti Tires have had problems. With the exception of Joatmon who got like 45,000 miles out of his without even a tire rotation.I rotated the tires, but not as often as recommended. Maybe that was the trick. Also, mine has had good alignment from day 1, which helps both tire wear and fuel efficiency. Enough other people have had problems with any of the stock tires that they should be checked out before you buy used.

[kostby]

I purchased a used 2003 Salsa two-tone Base automatic with 22,000 miles in February of this year. It was built in May, 2002, so despite being a '2003' model, it's a bit over 2 years old. . It has the 16" alloy wheels, Moon & Tunes, Power Package, and 6-disc changerOriginal sticker was just over US$19,000. I paid US$13,100 from a Pontiac dealer, although the car was not GM Certified Used.I now have 27,xxx miles on it, and have had no significant problems. I still have the original Conti's, although I intend to replace them before winter. The main reason the prior owner (GM employee) traded it was that the tires were wearing out!Nicks and chips in the paint are annoying, but hardly a deal-breaker for me. Few 2-year old cars will be flawless, and I wasn't willing to pay for 'flawless'. I drive it and I use it. Wear & tear happens.

[jake75]

NEW 19,100 - 2000 rebate - 1000 disc = 16,100.USED 2 year old 22,000 miles = 13,100 needing tires.One can only afford what one can afford but IMO the new one is the better deal.

[ColonelPanic]

Quote, originally posted by kostby »I still have the original Conti's, although I intend to replace them before winter. The main reason the prior owner (GM employee) traded it was that the tires were wearing out!That's funny! I'm the exact opposite... Somehow I've ended up giving someone out there a new set of tires on every car I've ever traded in. My Contis still had decent tread on them at 26,000. I ended up with a flat out on the interstate, by the time I was able to find a safe place to change the tire it was too late... Had no tread at all left on it. Ended up just buying four new ones instead of having one new and three worn tires. Got a decent trade-in allowance on the good 3 Contis, so they weren't too bad off I suppose.

[jake75]

I am surprised that used tires with 26,000 miles were worth anything in trade at all. There are a couple 0f used tire places around here - I feel sorry for the poor who buy them - the cost of mounting and balancing is probably more than the tire.

[ToolGuy]

Quote, originally posted by silverawd26 »MiVibe....Most of the Vibe's that came with Conti Tires have had problems. With the exception of Joatmon who got like 45,000 miles out of his without even a tire rotation.All I can say is my tires OE Conti's, are brind new looking with 15,000+ miles. Funny how mine are just fine and lots of others have issues and no one can explain it, I must have the special tires. (a friend of mine has no issues too) Based off that looks like I wil be getting 50,000+ out of my Conti's and no one can explain it! Maybe I will take pics with mileage along the way. I will check them tonight again because they may be wearing as I type! Later, (Red Vibe with Conti's that do not need to be replaced... Joatmon and I rule!)

[Mr. Poopypants]

I had the GY Eagle RSAs THEY SUCKED. I got my Vibe in Sept, in the winter, the tires froze and wouldn't grip a friggin thing. They ended up wearing out by March or April.

[drunkenmaxx]

Quote, originally posted by MiVibe-ToolGuy »All I can say is my tires OE Conti's, are brind new looking with 15,000+ miles. Funny how mine are just fine and lots of others have issues and no one can explain it, I must have the special tires. you must be gifted, i bet that's it. or, wait, maybe it is the power of the corvette that saves your tires!

[ToolGuy]

Quote, originally posted by drunkenvibe »you must be gifted, i bet that's it. or, wait, maybe it is the power of the corvette that saves your tires! Yeah not trying to be a smart (removed) and I have no reason to lie. If mine were crap I would say so and since my wife drives it to Detroit 3 days a week I would not put her in worn tires, especially in the snow. I constantly maintain or over maintain my vehicles; small fleet!

[Mr. Poopypants]

Quote, originally posted by drunkenvibe »you must be gifted, i bet that's it. or, wait, maybe it is the power of the corvette that saves your tires! Who has a corvette?