Final Stretch - Decision Time on Buying '05 Vibe base

[wolfsburg_de]

Thanks to scherry2 and others for the helpful advice and assistance in the "Disappointed.... MSRP: $18980Invoice: $18109 (-$871)Here's where it gets a little tricky. The GM Employee price (thanks, scherry2!) is $17263 (-$1717) BUT the salesman insists that the Conquest discount ($1000) cannot be combined with the Employee price. So, it would not be worthwhile to use it. If this is incorrect, I'd love to be able to take advantage of both.Of course, if we made the purchase either with or without the Employee discount, we'd apply the $3300 in GM Card (Blue) along with the $1500 March Madness Discount.Our other alternative is to order a model to our exact specs, which means we would add abs and side airbags and lose the alloys. The downside to this is we would have to wait (6-8 weeks per our salesman), the offered price would be higher (invoice plus $150), and we would be at the mercy of whatever rebates are available when the car comes in.As it stands now, we are leaning toward making a counteroffer tomorrow, basically:Asking price if we get 4.5% interest rate, -$100 if it's 5%, and -$150 if it's 5.5%. We have a decent chunk of cash to put down, so those amounts reflect keeping our payments constant for 60 month financing.I'd appreciate feedback on the above pricing, along with whether abs and/or side airbags are valuable options to other forum members. I realize that we are the ones who need to make the decision, but it never hurts to hear "go for it!" or "don't make the same mistake I did!".

[ragingfish]

I'm not sure you can combine GM Card rebates with GM employee and/or supplier discount?Better double check!

[wolfsburg_de]

Good point about the GM card. Who would be the final word on it, the dealer, or the GM card people?

[Raven]

I'm 99.9% sure you can combine them. It would be the dealer's decision based on what they are told by GM.

[scherry2]

Man dealers i tell you..I used my GM discount, then rebates, then GM card, and trade in, then I got 0 down 0% financing and 0 for something else ( i don't remember exactly what it was)tell them if they don't honor everything you'll go to a different dealer. some dealer out there will sell you a car for your price.

[joatmon]

It's hard to believe that GM can't find one that already exists with what you want. Try a different Pontiac dealer, see if they can find what you want. The current dealer may not be looking very hard as they try to get you to settle for one they already have in stock, if you go to a different dealer with a firm requirement for those options, then the only way the other dealer will make a buck is to find the one you want. It's important to know ahead of time what features you are willing to compromise on. For example, would you buy one that had the options you wanted if it was blue instead of Platinum?Maybe you could get the dealer to swap the alloys with basic wheels from another Vibe, giving the other vibe the "dealer installed option" of alloys, and giving you a discount for taking one with the steelies. Can't hurt to ask

[Ponyota]

I used my supplier discount, rebates and they had another 500 off for some reason plus my trade. But if you can get the 0% financing go with that to. Why pay interest if you don't have to? It's like money in the bank in the long run. I agree with scherry, if they don't give it all to you, go to a dealer that will. Edit: Oh now I remember what they gave me. ... 1200 dollars in aftermarket wheels and tires. By using the supplier discount they couldn't charge me for something that they put on that wasn't an option from the factory

[wolfsburg_de]

Hmmm! If we got the same price, but 0% financing -vs- 5.25%, that would save us $20/mo! We'd rather have missing options than extra options, but I'll do some searching around. The GMbuypower site allows searching by dealership. It's a bit clunky, but that sort of legwork could pay off.

[jake75]

1) 0% financing vs. $1500 rebate - you gotta run the numbers.$16,500 after down payment less $1500 rebate = 15,000.Interest on $15,000 for 4 years at 4.5% = about $1,350. 2) As far as ordering and taking a chance on what the rebates will be - what do you think the chances are of the rebates going down as the model year draws to a close.

[wolfsburg_de]

After extensive searching of dealer inventories via the GMbuypower website, I can't find anything that matches up with what we are looking for (or even combinations thereof):19065 pwr abs19285 pwr srs19890 pwr abs srsI must have looked at over 100 different dealerships, and found NOTHING among the thousands of Vibes that matched the above, let alone in the color preferences we have. I think we'll go with the one we drove. It suits our needs, ABS isn't a deal-breaker, and the more I think about it, the side airbags are an expensive option on a car that fares very well in side impact tests without them.I'll call the dealer tomorrow and either get 0% (or other low rate) financing or have them knock some more off the price. I had already asked about swapping the alloys, but no dice.

[kostby]

I found the http://www.pontiac.com website listed more vehicles that buypower.com. My local dealer choses not to participate in buypower.com, but his inventory IS still listed at pontiac.com.To simplify your searching somewhat, Vibes with optional side air-bags have the number '4' in the 7th position of the VIN number. I believe that VIN numbers are listed on the http://www.pontiac.com website. You can search for models (Base, AWD, GT)(Here's the whole VIN decoding sequence)Decode your VIN:The first digit is the County of Origin: 5 = USAThe 2nd digit is the Company Built By: Y = NUMMIThe 3rd digit is the GM Division: 2 = PontiacThe 4th and 5th digit are the model: SL = Vibe; SM = Vibe AWD; SN = GTThe 6th digit is the body style: 6 = 4-door hatchback/liftbackThe 7th digit is the Restraint Codes: 2 = Manual belts w/driver & passenger front air bags; 4 = Manual belts w/driver & passenger front & side air bagsThe 8th digit is the Engine type: 8 = 1ZZ engine; L = 2ZZ GT engineThe 9th digit is a check digit (see below how to calculate)The 10th digit is the model year: 3 = 2003The 11th digit is the assembly plant; Z = Fremont, CAThe 12th thru 17th digits are the sequence number: 400001 = 1st carWhen I did a search last week, just for grins, a significant number of 2004's were still available in the midwest.I don't know if you're interested, but IIRC (if I recall correctly), both the GT and the AWD models include ABS as a standard feature.Happy hunting!

[ShadowRuleZ]

Go to another Pontiac dealer and say that you want this car this week, the other dealership is offering me this, do better.I was told the same thing about the conquest rebate and GMS pricing, but the 2nd place told me over the phone they'd do it, and they just wrote it up as two $500 vouchers. They did say that they "had made a mistake telling me that it was valid", but I'm betting they just wanted our business more than the other dealer.

[wolfsburg_de]

Thanks for all the advice so far. Hopefully, we'll be in a Vibe soon.

[Indy_Vibe]

The Vibe that you are looking should exist. I know because I am driving a vibe very similar to what you are looking for. I have a 2005 Neptune Blue Vibe with the monotone paint, power package, auto trans, side airbags, and ABS. The dealer I bought from did not have one, but was able to find two of them within their dealer trade area. Keep looking. It will turn up. As for the GM card. It is my understanding that the old card cannot be combined with the GM discount. The new card can, but has much lower earning power. An option is to convert your old card to the new card then you can use it with the GM discount. Unfortunately, the points do not convert 1:1. You will loose value by converting so you will have to figure out which option is best for you.

[ShadowRuleZ]

Ours, auto base vibe, blue, monotone, moon & tunes, side airbags, and abs, came from 2.5 hrs away. They drove it over here for us, but extended the warranty the 200 miles or so.

[wolfsburg_de]

I found plenty of automatics in my search, but very few manuals of any specification. My wife and I have gone back and forth on the one we drove -vs- finding another with abs&srs -vs- ordering one with abs&srs. We've decided that as long as the dealer comes in with a good price and finance rate, we'll go with this one. Since my wife's current car is a '93 Tercel that has been paid off for 7 years, the car payment we're looking at will be high enough, without the added expense of abs&srs.

[jake75]

While many have chided me for not having the added safety feature of ABS I figure I have goitten along fine without that for the last 41 years of accident free, ticket free, driving and it's just something else to go wrong.

[wolfsburg_de]

Well, the dealer just accepted our offer!$18980 MSRP-$980 Dealer discount-$1500 March Madness-$1000 Conquest-$3268 GM Card$12232 (36% cheaper than MSRP)+$734 PA Tax+$80 License plate transfer$13046 out the door That's not including the $300-$800 quoted for the trade-in of the Tercel.

[joatmon]

Congratulations, did you take it home yet?

[scherry2]

glad they dealt with you.

[wolfsburg_de]

We're doing the transaction on Monday. I'll post pics when we get it home.

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by wolfsburg_de »Well, the dealer just accepted our offer!$18980 MSRP-$980 Dealer discount-$1500 March Madness-$1000 Conquest-$3268 GM Card$12232 (36% cheaper than MSRP)+$734 PA Tax+$80 License plate transfer$13046 out the door That's not including the $300-$800 quoted for the trade-in of the Tercel. 1. Gotta love that GM Master Card!2. Also kudos to the State of PA. In Ohio you pay sales tax on the amount before the rebates, so Franklin Cty, Ohio would have tax of 18,000 x 6.75% = $1,215. I think Ohio even taxes the "document fee/lice plate tfr.".3. If they offered $300-800 for your Tercel, you can probably sell it for $1,000 minimum.

[Ponyota]

Congratulations on your new Vibe purchase! I know you'll be very pleased with it.

[21Rouge]

Quote, originally posted by wolfsburg_de »I found plenty of automatics in my search, but very few manuals of any specification. My wife and I have gone back and forth on the one we drove -vs- finding another with abs&srs -vs- ordering one with abs&srs. We *just* ordered a similar config: Neptune Blue 5 speed with ABS and Power Package and Side Airbags. But unlike you we will have to wait.

[wolfsburg_de]

Tonight is Vibe night! A coworker bought my wife's '93 Tercel and the financing is all arranged for the Vibe to be picked up at 6pm. Pics and a full report to come!

[Mr. Poopypants]

WOOHOO! Congrats. Another PA Vibe owner. Where is Lansdale?

[wolfsburg_de]

Lansdale is about 15 miles North of Philly. Where is Irwin?

[jason1466]

I am in a pretty similar situation. I ordered my Vibe a few weeks ago and will have to decide between [GM Supplier Discount + Factory Rebate] OR [Factory Rebate + Conquest + GM Card + Bonus Certificate/Cash (all of these cannot be used with GMSupplier I have read and been told)].However, I have seen that GM Card will only allow a max of $1000 to be used on a Vibe. How did you get them to apply $3300? Thanks for sharing your pricing info. I will do the same as soon as I get the car into the dealer and decide which route to go, although it looks like GMS is easily the loser. TIA

[Baltovibe]

Quote, originally posted by wolfsburg_de »Well, the dealer just accepted our offer!$18980 MSRP-$980 Dealer discount-$1500 March Madness-$1000 Conquest-$3268 GM CardWhen I looked at the Pontiac site, it appears they are offering a $2000 rebate through 3/31/05. Why did you only get $1500?http://www.pontiac.com/current...IONAL

[Ponyota]

I believe that the rebate included a bonus cash of 500 dollars depending on what financing you choose through GMAC.

[wolfsburg_de]

When we started shopping, the discount was $1.5k. When we sealed the deal at the end of last week, it was $2k ($1500 march madness plus the $500 "mystery discount"), which we got. Our final breakdown was:$18980 MSRP-$980 Dealer discount-$1500 March Madness-$1000 Conquest-$3268 GM Card-$500 Mystery discount$11732 (38% cheaper than MSRP)+$704 PA Tax+$80 License plate transfer$12516 out the door (-vs- $20199 at MSRP with no discounts)We put $5000 down and ended up with $147/mo. for 60 mo. at 5.75%

[jason1466]

wolfsburg_de,I think you missed my post above, but I just looked at gmcard.com and got this... Thank you for your vehicle selection. As of 03/29/2005, a maximum of $1,000.00 in GM Card Earnings can be redeemed on a 2005 PONTIAC VIBE. Check back often for the latest information on the maximum amount of Earnings you can redeem on an eligible new GM car or truck. Any ideas how they allowed you $3300? If not, I guess you are just lucky.

[wolfsburg_de]

The card we used was a GM "Blue" card. GM changed the way their cards worked a while back, but customers were given the choice of either keeping their old card (points earned slowly but with no limit on how many points you could use on a vehicle purchase) or trading it for a new card (points earned faster, but with limits on how many points you could use on a vehicle purchase). The best thing to do is call the number on the GM card and insist on talking to someone who can tell you specifically which program you have and how it pertains to your planned purchase.At first, I thought we would be limited to $1000 as well, and frankly, that wouldn't have been enough to push us over the edge to buy the car.

[jason1466]

Ah, that's what is meant by "Blue" GM Card. Mine is newer and whitish so $1K max and no GMS pricing for me for sure. Thanks again for clearing that up. Now I just have to hope that Conquest survives into April or the regular rebate increases when my car gets here in 2 weeks, not that I'm worried