Convince me to buy an 05 (or what did you find wrong with other options)?

[ShadowRuleZ]

Hey all...My fiancee and I are looking for a smaller wagon (compact wagon? CUV?) pretty soon. We've been looking at several options, and I'm wondering why you choose the vibe over anything else you considered. Right now it's between the Vibe and the Mazda3 5 door. The PT Cruiser is ugly, I don't get a discount on the Matrix (I know they are the same), the Golf was to small, the Impreza wagon/Saab 9-2x are a bit to expensive, the xA looks to much like a PT Cruiser. She didn't like how the Focus ZX5 looked. Kia and Suzuki both have one, but I question their resale and quality. We've also toyed with the idea of a Protege5, but she really wants to buy new.Price was the 3 and the vibe seem to be a wash when they are optioned the way we want (with my discounts). We're going for side airbages, automatic trans, sunroof, and power goodies. The interior of the 3 is ugly with the spots, and the interior of the Vibe looks like a minivan and doesn't have a center armrest.Sooooo... what else did you consider?

[Kari]

The Vibe doesn't have a center armrest?Mine does.

[NoMerits]

For me it was the flexibility of the interior (great load capacity and cabin configurations) and the bonus of Toyota quality. Now it's just flat out a blast to drive. Hope that helps, Jim

[AKLGT]

you think the vibe has a "minivan" interior???? wow... don't feel that the slightest. of course you are looking at an auto and not a manual, so shifter location isn't a big deal for you. vibe is by far MUCH more flexible than the 3 hatchback. no doubt about that. however i believe the 3 vs a base vibe or awd vibe will have more power and torque. i like the exterior style of the mazda, but i still prefer my vibe over it no question! i can haul all kinds of things in the rear, tie down whatever i want in the rear w/ cargo ties, use the roof rack it comes with (of course you'd have to purchase the rails on the 05), plus the financing options on the vibes are awesome! you can't touch the overall pricing w/ a trix. you get toyota quality (not to mention the corolla 1zz engine was just rated as the MOST RELIABLE in consumer reports) for GM price! can't go wrong with that!

[jake75]

My take is that you can't go wrong with either the Vibe or the Mazda 3. Purchase of my 2003 Vibe was a no brainer because I got it so dirt cheap after GM card credit, rebate & discount ($13,650 before tax with at, power pkg & monotone). I also owned a 2001 PT Cruiser. If you think it's ugly don't buy it but I liked the style and it was very functional, well appointed and extremely comfortable. Downsides were fuel economy and doubts about long term reliability. PT prices are a bargain and if like me you don't drive a lot of miles the mpg is not a deal breaker. Had a Golf years ago, and the only thing that saved me was the extended warranty I bought. It was a money machine for auto mechanics.

[Big_Red]

Compared to the rest of the cars mentioned (except for maybe the Subaru), I still would pick the Vibe....wagon and all. Once you sit in one and own one, you will understand. It is a very versatile vehicle and it has standards that other cars do not (including the Matrix).

[ShadowRuleZ]

Quote, originally posted by trdvibe »you think the vibe has a "minivan" interior???? Yes, just based on the layout of the dash. The shifter being in the dash is a minivan thing. I don't think I've seen another car with it that way (shifter on the column excluded). Most vans also don't have a center console, the vibe does, but it's low enough that you can't rest your arm on it.Quote, originally posted by trdvibe »vibe is by far MUCH more flexible than the 3 hatchback. We noticed that with the floor becomd completely flat and the plastic floor that it creates. One of the very strong reasons we'd go with the vibeQuote, originally posted by trdvibe »the 3 vs a base vibe or awd vibe will have more power and torque. The biggest negative we've found about the vibe. Just seems like it was struggling to get up to speed. I'll have to take it to the extressway and see if it can get into passing gear. I wonder what it's like if I have 300 or 400 lbs of cargo in the back?[quote =trdvibe]you can't touch the overall pricing w/ a trix.[/quote]Optioned out the way we want them, with the X/S-plan on the 3 and the GM employee discount on the vibe, they are withing $200 of each other. This isn't counting any incentives. I think the Vibe had a $1500 rebate right now that I'd be able to get.Quote, originally posted by trdvibe » you get toyota quality (not to mention the corolla 1zz engine was just rated as the MOST RELIABLE in consumer reports) for GM price! can't go wrong with that!I've never had an import, so I'm not sure what that Toyota reliability means that much to me. The 3 has the Ford Duratec 2.3 in it and that motor has also been around for quite a while.Quote, originally posted by Kari »The Vibe doesn't have a center armrest?Maybe the seats are different. She really liked the seats because of the side bolsters on them, but there was no center armrest.I think we're going to test drive the 9-2x; they seem to drop down in price to right where these cars were. The saabs have a $4k rebate on them (although employee pricing might be better, I'd have to investigate).Thanks again for all your imput!

[ShadowRuleZ]

Oh, and I just thought a few other questions.Does the auto transmissions have any common problems? I'm thinking back to the Chrysler 4-speeds that are awful and suck and die ever 50k miles (no, I'm not bitter at all).Has anyone noticed that the Vibe has a bit more road noise than other options? Anyone find a way to solve this problem?

[joatmon]

I don't know what the numbers are for the other cars, but the Vibe is assembled in California with a pretty high US/Canda content percentage. Compare the domestic content on the various options, and buy american should be part of the decision. Keep the jobs here.

[ColonelPanic]

The first time I sat in the Vibe, I saw the dash, and noticed that it looked like a minivan as well. And the general consensus from friends and family alkie has been 'The inside of this thing looks like a mini-minivan!" lolThe armrest is an issue for some... The 2005 armrest is shorter than the '03/'04 due to the fact that they omitted the storage compartment inside the armrest for '05. I'm a bit on the short side, so I don't have issues with the armrest... It could be taller, but it works for me (your mileage may vary.) When I'm on a long trip alone, I will fold down the front passenger's seat and use that as an armrest instead. Speaking of long trips, I find the Vibe to be a very comfortable cruiser... The seats are absolutely great, plenty soft yet somehow still very supportive. I've taken a number of 4+ hour trips, and haven't ever really felt beat up by the time I reach my destination. Road noise is present, although it's a heck of a lot better than what my Malibu had, so I'm content with that. My car had undercoating applied by the dealer, not sure if that helps keep things quiet. I suppose you do have the option of taking apart the interior and installing dynamat in key locations...For the tranny question, overall it is a decent gearbox and *should* give many miles of reliable service. After 38,000 on my 2003, the only thing I have had to do is check the fluid. Now, if you have driven GM automatics over the last few years, I will say up front that you probably shouldn't expect the undetectable, buttery smooth shifts you'll get with many recent GM automatics. That's really my only complaint about the tranny, the shifting can sometimes be a little rough around the edges for my tastes. Now, I'm not saying it is overly harsh, or a bad transmission, just saying that it could be a bit smoother. But, it is a smart unit, it seems to know exactly what gear it needs to be in, doesn't have to sit there and hunt for the proper gear. Another added bonus is how it will automatically switch to 3rd (kicking O/D off) when descending steep hills to provide extra engine braking. I haven't had a car do that before, ususally I had to drop it out of 4th myself, otherwise it would pick up too much speed. And, kudos to Toyota for giving me a dipstick so I can actually check my fluid, something that was omitted on my 98 Malibu's automatic... The engine, well, any automatic Vibers could probably agree that we don't have to worry about giving our passengers whiplash from rapid acceleration. I went from a V6 with gobs of low-end torque to the Vibe, and that took quite a bit of time to get used to. It doesn't have much off the line, but once I get mine above 4.,000 RPM, it will get a decent burst of energy. Although more power would be nifty, I haven't really needed any more than the Vibe is capable of delivering. I tend to drive slooow and just let everyone pass me, I'm not in a hurry to get anywhere and I try to squeeze any extra MPG out of the thing that I can. Which usually gets me an average of 30 for the commute to work, and it can deliver 34, sometimes almost 35, on a long trip. It's a great engine, relatively smooth, runs very clean, and is reasonably economical. As far as reliability is concerned: This was my first "Toyota" and I plunged into ownership with the idea that "Toyota's are perfect, you'll never have any problems" since that's all I have ever heard from everyone. I have to be brutally honest here, after owning the Vibe, I can't necessairily agree with that. It has been significantly more reliable than anything I have ever owned, I'm not seeing things break on a weekly basis like I have in the past. But like anything, it can and will have problems. Even the almighty Toyota can churn out a turd or two occasionally, contrary to poupular belief. Fortunately, most of my problems have been small little things, but were things that shouldn't have been an issue in the first place. Your mileage will certainly vary, it appears as if I'm a minority here - most have had the best of luck out of their Vibes. Since the Vibe has been around for a while now, plus the experiences of the majority here, chances are very good that the '05 will be a very reliable vehicle. Just don't rule out the possibilities of problems cropping up some time or another. I made that mistake, and found myself quite disappointed when I had to bring the car in for the first time at 3,800 miles for warranty work. That applies to anything you buy, each vehicle has its own quirks and personality, so reliability is always a crapshoot. I hope I'm not sounding too critical about the Vibe's reliability, I'm just speaking from my experiences. I'm picky as heck about my cars, the slightest imperfection triggers a call to the dealer, so that probably explains a lot. Overall, this car will probably be a safe bet.What suits your needs is all up to you... I find the Vibe a great little car - roomy, practical, fun to drive, good mileage, and is very unique here - hardly any on the road. It really doesn't do just one thing great, instead it does many different things pretty darn good... Evaluate all of your options, you have many. That's one thing I didn't do with the Vibe, I just bought one at the spur of the moment without doing any research into the car. I don't regret that decision one bit, I love my car... It is a big decision, so try to not get into a car that you'll loathe. Find what's best for you, if it is the Vibe, that's great! We'll be happy to have you around! But if not, that's great too - for you have bought what you think is the best car for you.

[JohnC]

With the Vibe comes this great web site. So buy one now!

[scherry2]

I can get you a GM in the Driveway discount. which is the supplier discount and you can use it ontop of all other discounts and rebates. did i convince you? if not check out this site http://www.gm.com/deal

[ragingfish]

Don't forget about "Lock & Roll."Secure a low interest rate now, and you get that same rate on your next purchase of a GM vehicle, regardless of market conditions.http://www.gm.com/automotive/v....html

[jake75]

In regard to pricing, the local papers list a $1,500 rebate plus a $1,000 "prodigal son" rebate for owners of non-GM Cars.

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by ShadowRuleZ »Oh, and I just thought a few other questions.Does the auto transmissions have any common problems? I'm thinking back to the Chrysler 4-speeds that are awful and suck and die ever 50k miles (no, I'm not bitter at all).Has anyone noticed that the Vibe has a bit more road noise than other options? Anyone find a way to solve this problem?Would not see any reason to suspect that the durability of the tranny is an issue. With the road noise I always wondered why anyone woudl be interested in the upgraded sound system. When my tires need replacing I am going to seek the quietest tire I can - I think that will make a difference. By the way, my minivan (T&C) has the shift lever on the steering column. As between having it on the center console like my PT Cruiser or where it is on the Vibe I prefer the design of the Vibe. In fact that was one of the things I liked about the Vibe.

[AKLGT]

Quote, originally posted by ragingfish »Don't forget about "Lock & Roll."Secure a low interest rate now, and you get that same rate on your next purchase of a GM vehicle, regardless of market conditions.http://www.gm.com/automotive/v....htmltoo bad that doesn't apply to us 03/04 vibers who got 0-1.9% financing.

[Kari]

Yep, I have 0%....woot.

[ragingfish]

Quote, originally posted by trdvibe »too bad that doesn't apply to us 03/04 vibers who got 0-1.9% financing. Well, I should mention it's not quite as peachy as it seems...you do lose any other rebates or promotions that may be offered at the time..

[kostby]

Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Vibe!I'd echo ALL the POSITIVE Vibe comments posted here, and add a few comments on considerations that haven't been posted yet...I understand that you'd like to use your accumulated GM credit-card dollars and GM employee discounts(?), combined with current incentives, BUT there are many off-lease Vibes from early production (2002/2003) in the used-car market, so do the math and see if you might STILL do better purchasing a used Vibe (or Mazda) than a new one. I purchased a great used Vibe (built in May 2002) in Feb. 2004, with 15,000 miles and 15 months of remaining new-car warranty for about 65% of the retail price new. The best I deal could do on a new 2004 Vibe at the time was over $5,000 more, even with GM rebate and dealer discounts (I don't have GM credit-card $ or employee discounts). I saved quite a bit on license plates, excise tax and sales tax, because it's a $13,000 '2 year-old' car, instead of a $19,000 'new' car.Don't overlook the dealership experience(s) as a major factor in making your decision: One reason I went with the Vibe over a Matrix and other 'foreign' makes (Mazda, Honda, Subaru, VW...) was the close proximity (There's always a tradeoff between performance and fuel economy: What is most important over your total ownership of the vehicle? Sure, the teenage hot-rodder in me wishes I had a 350 V8 with 330 hp under the hood, but the mature accountant in me cannot complain about 27.5 overall mpg for 8,000 miles of mixed (80% city/20% highway) driving. The base Vibe with 1.8 and automatic isn't FAST, but I enjoy the sporty growl when I stand on it, and the performance is quick enough to feel safe, even when fully loaded with passengers and luggage. I couldn't find a used 5-speed in the time-frame I'd set for purchasing a car. I declined the opportunity to purchase a 6-speed GT (requires premium fuel) because the dealer was a total snake.Finally, it's always fun to shop for a new car. Enjoy the experience.

[jake75]

A new 2005 with AT, Power Pkg & monotone has a MSRP of about 19,750. Expected dealer discount of 1,000, rebate of 1,500 and perhaps a non-GM owner added rebate of 1,000 bring that down to 16,250. If you are financing, new car rates are less than used car rates. What's an extra 21 months of warranty worth? What's the first 15,000 miles of a car worth? What's having another 15,000 miles of wear and tear on tires, muffler, battery, routine service (coolant change etc.) worth. Add it all up and I think it's worth more than $3,250. That's why I prefer buying new. A dealer is lucky to make $300 on a new car. He will make $1,500 more on a late model used car used car.

[ShadowRuleZ]

Quote, originally posted by scherry2 »I can get you a GM in the Driveway discount. which is the supplier discount and you can use it ontop of all other discounts and rebates.Thansk, but I get employee pricing through a family member.Quote, originally posted by jake75 »In regard to pricing, the local papers list a $1,500 rebate plus a $1,000 "prodigal son" rebate for owners of non-GM Cars. When I went in I can get the 1500, but the 500 "conquest" (for owners of non-gm cars) wasn't eligable for gm employee pricing. There also wasn't a current graduate incentive either Quote, originally posted by trdvibe »too bad that doesn't apply to us 03/04 vibers who got 0-1.9% financing.But you can get 0 on an 05 if you waive the 1500 rebate.Quote, originally posted by kostby »BUT there are many off-lease Vibes from early production (2002/2003) in the used-car market, so do the math and see if you might STILL do better purchasing a used Vibe (or Mazda) than a new one. No used mazdas that I've managed to find so far, and she likes the new Vibe better than the old vibe (the front end), and since it's her car, it's her call. I'm just the mechanic around here so I'm mainly interested in the drivetrain quality.Another question about performance - has anyone filled the car with stuff? Or put four adults in it? I know I won't be able to tow anything with it, but if I throw 600 lbs of landscaping material in the back, what's going to happen? Can it even move?

[Kari]

There were 5 of us in ragingfish's Vibe at the Ohio rally going to Dave & Busters, and his has been dropped 3" (I think) and although it was sitting low, it did move. I'm pretty sure that stock, it can haul pretty well.

[ColonelPanic]

Quote, originally posted by Kari »There were 5 of us in ragingfish's Vibe at the Ohio rally going to Dave & Busters, and his has been dropped 3" (I think) and although it was sitting low, it did move. I'm pretty sure that stock, it can haul pretty well.LOL! Yeah, it still moved! Looking at the pics of the aftermath, I can't see how that was possible, but it still moved nonetheless. lol!I'd say, although I have never tried it, that the Vibe can handle a few hundred pounds of cargo with the driver, maybe a passenger... Probably won't be the fastest, but I think it is capable just the same...

[jake75]

Here the additional Conquest Rebate is $1,000, not $500, Even at $500 I wonder if that rebate plus the typical dealer discount might not result in a lower proice than the GM Employee Price. At $1,000 I suspect it would.

[GMJAP]

I noticed you said side airbags is a requirement, so I assume you're interested in safety. A good part of what made my decision on the Vibe over a Mazda 3 was that the Vibe has superior safety ratings - an extra one to two stars all around. Just remember even side airbags aren't gonna do a whole lotta good if the other car comes through the door.Per the center armrest, I'm 5'11 and put in the old-style, higher cover and it's quite comfy.Also, the Vibe is rated to haul/tow 1500lbs. If you search the forums for "hitch" you'll find a number of threads related to towing which may give you an idea of practical hauling ability. I haven't packed mine up yet, so I couldn't say...

[kostby]

Quote, originally posted by ShadowRuleZ »Another question about performance - has anyone filled the car with stuff? Or put four adults in it? I know I won't be able to tow anything with it, but if I throw 600 lbs of landscaping material in the back, what's going to happen? Can it even move?Check out these threads -->vibe can haul...http://forums.genvibe.com/zero...age=1 700 lb swingsethttp://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=8895

[ShadowRuleZ]

Well, we drove the 9-2x today and decided it was to expensive for what you got, and still had less cargo room. I then "borrowed" a mazda3 from the dealership and drove it to the pontiac dealer and got them to park a vibe right next to it. The salesman couldn't stop laughing and was checking out the 3 as well (sitting in it and such).When you get the two side by side, there is a lot more space in the vibe. The floor is flat (doesn't slope upward like the 3) and the rear window opens (the only one we drove that did that).So later today we're going to go find us a Neptune 05 to buy. I'll probably be back with a (removed) I'M A N00BIe!!Oneneo! this weekend.

[kostby]

Congrats on your wise decision! If the weather's nasty, you can use http://www.pontiac.com to pre-match Vibes matching your wish list by dealer or zipcode. Last year it didn't do an exact match for desired equipment package, but at least it let you browse dealer inventory for Vibes.{EDIT}I just tried it. You can select year, Vibe model (Base, GT, AWD), and search by Zip code, city/state, or dealer name. Happy haggling!Then you can view replica price stickers to see the equipment.BTW there's an '05 Neptune with Moon & Tunes, Power Package, Automatic, and 16" Alloy wheels shown for my local dealer in Lebanon, Indiana, list $20,865.00 Also shows a Salsa, Fusion Orange, and a Lava equipped exactly the same.

[ShadowRuleZ]

So here's the one we found, it's supposed to be shipped to our local dealer by Friday.Base Vibe NeptuneAutomaticMoon and TunesMonotoneABS/Side Air Bags16" alloys and the bling bling exhaust tipPower Group PackageMSRP was 22,200. It came out quite a bit lower than that.

[ColonelPanic]

Congratulations! And awesome choice of color, if I don't say so myself. Looking forward to seeing you around here!

[boxed_in]

Congratulations. We traded in a PT Cruiser that had 78,000 miles on it. We started getting all sorts of electrical trouble and the transmission was acting up. Being the Vibe is made by Toyota I'm not expecting the same dismal reliability I had on the Cruiser.

[sylvainber]

the 3 is zippier and sportier to drive vs a base but the back seat is more cramped and the cargo configuration is less flexible according to reviews i've read (edmunds, mt, etc.). Also , the 3 was reviewed as noiser at highway speeds.

[tnpartsguy]

Congrates! I wanted an '05 FWD in Neptune, but I got such a killer deal on the Abyss AWD '03 I could NOT turn it down. (Approx $10k trade difference on an '03 that had been treated very gently, not smoked in, but had 44K miles). if I were going to buy a new 05 Vibe, you basically are buying my car!!