Vibe an old person's car?

fennrysha · Post by **fennrysha** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 1:38 am

Recently I've been seeing more older (ok I'll say "mature") people driving the Vibe. Not that it isn't great that everyone is finding and buying the Vibe but now I'm being teased that I'm driving an "old man's" car!

KSNeptune · Post by **KSNeptune** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 1:41 am

I'll just say that the sales don't comform to the predicted age group. I'm 45. Most other Vibes I've seen in my town have been driven by women, and ranging from college age to old age. I consider that a good thing. It means the design is more universally appealing. Of course I knew that the first time I saw a Vibe.KSNeptune

Sub-Vibe-R · Post by **Sub-Vibe-R** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 1:47 am

I saw that too. It is common in the class of vehicule. I saw very often older people driving P5 or Mx-3. Those car are desinged for yong people and bought by older people who want to keep a young image.

Triton · Post by **Triton** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 1:55 am

All the Vibes I have seen have all had older drivers in them except one that I seen out near Michigan State University. That must have been a student.

Frosty · Post by **Frosty** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 2:30 am

Questions:Are Mustangs, Vette's, Camaro's, Porsche's Old people's cars?Or are those cars driven by us gray hairs (no hairs) mid life crisis vehicles?Is it possible that the old people you see driving Vibes are smart fun-loving but practical individuals with excellent taste?Is it possible that people who critisize your buying decision are less informed than you?You decide..........

Frosty · Post by **Frosty** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 2:38 am

Ooopps sorry. You could smell it all the way to Quebec?If I have offended anyone living, dead, or otherwise, we will initiate a Royal Commision to study the matter.

Chris_W · Post by **Chris_W** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 2:38 am

I'm 46 so I guess I'm helping to upset Pontiac's target demographics for the Vibe. Some day I'll figure out if I'm driving a mid-life crisis sports car or a station wagen.

fennrysha · Post by **fennrysha** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 2:40 am

quote:It smells like Frosty has been eating the same thing as our friend Nova"Sarcasm sauce"Yes. This was meant to be a light-hearted topic.It doesn't bother me that the "ancients" like the Vibe.It shows they have good taste...

Frosty · Post by **Frosty** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 2:52 am

quote:Yes. This was meant to be a light-hearted topic....You know it is so hard to read tone and manner in text messages like these. I should use etc. more liberally.I was just trying to give you some ammunition to use when those jealous types try to give you a hard time about your purchase. Fennrysha, I seriously hope you didn't think I was giving you the gears

Frosty · Post by **Frosty** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 2:56 am

quote:Some day I'll figure out if I'm driving a mid-life crisis sports car or a station wagen. If Douglas Adams, Author of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" were here he might answer "yes"Does this help? In the meantime. Enjoy your Q ship

fennrysha · Post by **fennrysha** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 4:11 am

No problem.And you're right. Things like sarcasm don't translate well to text.

andrewmva · Post by **andrewmva** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 4:20 am

yeah both cars seem to have an older crowd in my area... I have not seen another Matrix in the area slammed with 19" wheels... and once people see my car...they love it... it turns heads everywhere.

kaybeejay · Post by **kaybeejay** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 6:39 am

My dad and I split the Vibe 50/50. We both share in its expenses and get to take turns driving it.Oh yeah, I am 26 and my dad is 73. So it the vibe a young peoples or old peoples car???

m4VibeGT · Post by **m4VibeGT** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 6:40 am

I'm with you Chris_W. I'll be hitting 44 soon and like the fact that with the Vibe GT, you get the functionality of 4 doors, the rear hatch that makes it easy to haul stuff -- and to top if off you have six on the floor that you can slam whenever you feels like it. So my guess is that there are a lot of intelligent drivers out there that recognize that the Vibe is one great car for the right price ... or ... like me, I have accumulated a ton of GM points and after looking at the GM car lineup, decided that Vibe is the one with the best value. BTW - 4 doors appeals to us older folks because our "mature" passengers do not have the body flexibility to get into the back seat of a 2 door vehicle.

DopeVibeGT · Post by **DopeVibeGT** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 7:05 am

I've seen old people driving vettes, stangs and Z's, too. Doesnt make it an old person car. I've only seen one other Vibe driving here a few times, and he wasnt old. Probably in mid 30's.

drb22 · Post by **drb22** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 7:49 am

It is true that the majority of Vibe drivers, I've seen look over 40. The same goes for Matrix owners I've seen. I am 27 and feel that I am part of the Vibe's/Matrix's target market. This being said, I do not think of the Vibe as an old or young person's car - It's just one really nice ride.

MadBill · Post by **MadBill** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 8:44 am

About 50 years ago, a GM sales executive said: "Your can sell a young man's car to an old man, but you can't sell an old man's car to a young man!"It's still true... (59 year old teen-ager)

Sputnik · Post by **Sputnik** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 8:53 am

I think why you see older people driving Vibes (besides the fact that they are cool cars!), is the fact that they are easy to get in and out of. My boyfriend's parents just bought a CR-V and I think the main reason was the height of it.

HIGHREV · Post by **HIGHREV** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 9:37 am

I am in the same boat with the GM points, I had $3000 towards any GM. find any car that will be a better deal and fun to drive than a Vibe GT. My Deal $21800 sticker -2250 gm employee discount -3000 gm card points -2000 gm year end incentive -500 gm card year end incentive $15850 plus tax & stuffI was 31 going on 40 (2 kiddies)&(mini-van) Now I am 31 going on 6-8,000.My wife doesn't get it when I say I get 30mpg sort of?

jake75 · Post by **jake75** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 10:05 am

HIREV - Your math seems fuzzy. $21,800 - 7.750 discounts etc. nets $14,050 not $15,850.

jake75 · Post by **jake75** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 10:09 am

I am 60. I was "commenting" to an illegal handicap zone parker the other day and she told me to "Mind your own business old man!" Her van had a Dept of Defense parking sticker - that's the kind of people our tax dollars are used to employ.

HIGHREV · Post by **HIGHREV** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 10:37 am

jake75- I stand corrected. Clumsy fingersMaybe I should have been a car salesman.

Big_Red · Post by **Big_Red** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 12:30 pm

I don't know about anywhere else, but there are quite a few Vibes on the road in Brampton and unfortunately/fortunately, I seem to be the youngest person driving one. However, does that make it a bad thing?...depends on who you talk to, but for me, a Vibe is the car of choice. I am glad I didn't buy a Blazer (which I was contemplating at the time)....with these gas prices...

bellwilliam · Post by **bellwilliam** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 1:00 pm

I am so happy now. I am 38 and I thought I was the oldest vibe owner

Frosty · Post by **Frosty** » Wed Feb 12, 2003 10:35 pm

quote:I am 60. I was "commenting" to an illegal handicap zone parker the other day and she told me to "Mind your own business old man!" Her van had a Dept of Defense parking sticker - that's the kind of people our tax dollars are used to employ.My lady and I have been critical of Handicap Parking Bandits for years.I have three theories. The Driver was Socially Challenged, not Physically challenged. The Driver has an challenge like M.S. that is not easily detectable. If they are using a handicap spot they should still have a handicap designation on their car, which the military vehicle might not have. Just plain rude in combination with the first theory. In this case I would call call the local base with the plate to report it. Abusing citizens is most likely a career limiting move. What does Admin think?

esjones · Post by **esjones** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 12:04 am

quote:I'm 46 so I guess I'm helping to upset Pontiac's target demographics for the Vibe. I'm 51, and the 5-speed makes me feel like I'm driving a younger person's car. I saw a Frosty Vibe last week with a REAL gray-haired guy behind the wheel. (I'm only moderately gray at this point.)

red · Post by **red** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 5:47 am

I think its a style that is appealing to a wide range of ages. I'm 45 and thought it was a good choice and price for an awd vehicle. If I lived in the southern part of Alaska I would have gotten the GT since the road/weather isn't as much of a factor. Most of the ones I see around town (including Matrices) have been closer to mid thirties and up. A few have been in there early 20's (2). Its never too old to have fun!!

jake75 · Post by **jake75** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 1:40 pm

1. This "lady" did not have ms I am sure.2. This was not military vehiile - it was a civilian employee with a DOD parking sticker.I saw a Hummer with a handicap sticker the other day. My God, you'd need a ladder to get into that sucker. When I applied for a handicap sticker for my 90 year old father I wasn't sure he qualified. I'm damn sure that half the drivers with that sticker do not qualify either.

Vibe · Post by **Vibe** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 2:47 pm

Hey-Old or Young Who cares-Not Me-- The Vibe is a very fine car for both old & young.Today I had a gentleman about 65 or so ask me if he could sit in my Vibe to see how it felt. He was thinking of getting his wife one.AND EVEN--today when I got a new tire the young mechinics I overheard talking say " Man What a cool ride. So I guess the Vibe is an all around fun car for everyone. I love mine and I am 50 Years young! James Stewart (Vibe)

JimScolaro · Post by **JimScolaro** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 11:51 pm

It does not matter what age you are, the Vibe is a car for all ages. I am 49 and I bought it because it was economical, practical and sporty, plus I have 2 young children and it fits our lifestyle. If the Vibe was not available, I probably would have bought another overpriced 4 door econobox. The Vibe fills a niche in the American car market that I feel is needed, affordable and sporty transportation.Although I hope not everyone feels the same way I do, I like having a car that only a "chosen few" now own.

Faultline · Post by **Faultline** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 11:51 pm

well, I just turned 40 and welll, I have seen young and old in this car.as well as the matrix. its all good

Lorin · Post by **Lorin** » Sat Feb 15, 2003 9:37 am

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the expected demo for the Vibe was about 40. (That's me!)... Look, $20K +/- is a lot of dough for someone fresh out of college starting their first job. Question: Why does it seem like most of the people driving (new) Mustangs and Cameros are fat and bald? Answer: Because they can finally afford the car they've always wanted!In some way's it is a shame though that the Vibe's practicality is so appealing to the grey hairs. Makes me feel old(er).

VibeyWannaBe · Post by **VibeyWannaBe** » Sun Feb 16, 2003 3:04 am

Hi: I happen to like the Buick Century and that considered an "old" person's car.I say buy a vehicle you like and ignore the catergories.

Stang2Vibe · Post by **Stang2Vibe** » Sun Feb 16, 2003 3:44 pm

quote:I seem to remember reading somewhere that the expected demo for the Vibe was about 40.I haven't read anything like this, and I don't doubt that you actually did read it. I would be very surprised, however, if it was true. I seriously doubt that Pontiac with its youth driven image would set its sales target age that high. I know that the Matrix has a much younger sales target age than that, but according to the salesman who sold my sister her new Corolla S a few months ago, 40 was about the average age of Matrix buyers at their dealerships. After I bought my Vibe GT, I found out that my salesman sold a base Vibe to a 17 year old girl 2 days after he sold me mine and their sales base for Vibes was rather young, so who knows.quote:Look, $20K +/- is a lot of dough for someone fresh out of college starting their first job.I would have to disagree with this one a bit. I guess it depends more on how seriously you took college and if you researched your major rather than just picking one because it sounded easy. I know that with a B average, I can walk out of college into an I.T. career starting around $50-$60K per year. My sister, her boyfriend, my girlfriend, and one of my roommates are all pharmacy students and I know that they all can graduate college and expect to start out at no less than $60-$70K per year. If they wanted to go to Alaska and some other out of the way places for 2 years, they can expect no less than a $10-$15K signing bonus and a brand new loaded Jeep Grand Cheorkee in addition to $110-$120K per year, guaranteed. My roommate was considering doing a joint J.D. and PharmD degree program that would add 2 years to his education time, but can net him around $250K+ per year to start because so few people actually go into this program and there is a fast growing demand for these people. But the program is rather difficult. Like I said, not everybody is even going to come close to some of these figures, but the opportunity is certainly there. If I were to start out at $50K per year after college, a $20k Vibe would certainly not break the bank for me, especially at 0% interest on car loans. Afterall, I am in my 3rd year of college this year and just purchase a Vibe GT (sticker just over $22,000). I had a car to trade in and some money to put down on it, but the car and the loan are all in my name only. I work part time during school months and full time with OT during the others. I don't make great money right now, but I get the bills paid every month with a little to spare and it really isn't that terribly difficult for me.quote:Question: Why does it seem like most of the people driving (new) Mustangs and Cameros are fat and bald? Answer: Because they can finally afford the car they've always wanted!I don't know about this one either. I bought a brand new Mustang in the fall of 2000. It was a V6, but had a lot of options. I paid about $16,500 for it. I was 22 at the time I purchased it, hardly any mid-life crisis thing and I'm not fat OR bald. I have several friends and acquaintences that had new or newer Mustangs or Camaros and they were all younger than me. None of them are fat or bald either. I think the fat, bald older man is going to be driving a Porsche, Viper, Corvette, an expensive SUV, or something along those lines. Most older men who are wannabes are going to be paying over $50K for the car, be divorced at least twice, and still trying to pick up college aged girls because they think they are so cool.quote:In some way's it is a shame though that the Vibe's practicality is so appealing to the grey hairs. Makes me feel old(er).I feel this way sometimes, too. But then I just remember that's one of the reasons why I bought the GT. So, I just downshift 2 gears and let 'er rip, and then, AAAAHHHHH, I feel young again .

Sub-Vibe-R · Post by **Sub-Vibe-R** » Sun Feb 16, 2003 11:22 pm

There's not a lot of Vibe in my area but I seems to be the youngest Vibe owner. Most of them has gey hairs and a hat.I don't care about other Vibe owner, I love mine.

Lorin · Post by **Lorin** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 12:43 am

"I would have to disagree with this one a bit. I guess it depends more on how seriously you took college and if you researched your major rather than just picking one because it sounded easy. I know that with a B average, I can walk out of college into an I.T. career starting around $50-$60K per year. My sister, her boyfriend, my girlfriend, and one of my roommates are all pharmacy students and I know that they all can graduate college and expect to start out at no less than $60-$70K per year. .... Like I said, not everybody is even going to come close to some of these figures, but the opportunity is certainly there. If I were to start out at $50K per year after college, a $20k Vibe would certainly not break the bank for me, especially at 0% interest on car loans. Afterall, I am in my 3rd year of college this year and just purchase a Vibe GT (sticker just over $22,000). I had a car to trade in and some money to put down on it, but the car and the loan are all in my name only. I work part time during school months and full time with OT during the others. I don't make great money right now, but I get the bills paid every month with a little to spare and it really isn't that terribly difficult for me."Its interesting that you would select Pharmacy for an example salary range. They have the highest median starting salary in the most recent survey from Purdue, but only a very small number of students are graduated each year (compared to engineering). A Vibe should be within grasp of a Pharmacy major - but wait! What about those student loans? A person's financial strength exiting college depends, in part, on how much they had to pay out of their own pocket vs. student loans, scholarships, contributions from mom & dad, credit card problems, bar bills, etc. etc. You may find this survey interesting, although there are many such others on the web. https://www.cco.purdue.edu/student/salarymay02.shtml. For the most realistc numbers, be sure to look at the Median column, because there are always people with special abilities, experience, or connections who can get higher salaries than the average joe. Not to rain on your parade, but $56K (for a CS major) doesn't stretch as far as it might seem once a person exits college. Add a spouse, (decent) house for the spouse, car for the spouse, baby to put in the house, and pretty soon it's: SPOUSE: Outta the house (get to work)! LOL! This, of course, is just one of many possible life situations, and yours may turn out completely different. The two points I'm making here are 1) starting salaries have a way of shrinking once your post graduation expenses start increasing, and 2) not everyone has the option of the 'great' salaries of the Pharmacy or IT fields. Others have to build their jobs - oops, careers - for many years before a Vibe fits easily in the ol' budget. Examples: $36 K for a Management major or $44 K for an Accounting major. When working on my PhD in Engineering at Purdue, we used to enjoy discussing the salary surveys and how much richer we would be than with our $1000/month grad student stipend. But I gotta say, its still a fur' piece (a little Hoosier lingo) from Bill Gates!A final observation (you'll indulge a 40 year "old man" just a little longer, won't you?) - I hope you like to study, because in the IT field, the half life of knowlege is very brief and you will need to plan on a lifetime of study to keep up with changing technology. I've been in the IT field for several years (Hey, Purdue Engineers are great problem solvers!) and have loved almost every minute of it. Good luck to you in your endeavors!

DopeVibeGT · Post by **DopeVibeGT** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 1:58 am

Only problem with judging peoples ages by the amount of hair on their head or how many grey hairs one has is it doesnt work well. Most of the kids today get bald head haircuts, so they look old anyway. LoL And I know a few guys who are in their mid 20's that have a far reaching forhead. But, one thing that gives away the elderly is those hamburger hats, what ever they are called. LoL "Oh no! We're behind a hat!"

Lorin · Post by **Lorin** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 3:48 am

I remember when the only totally bald guy I had ever seen was Telly Savalas in Kojak! hahahahaha

Stang2Vibe · Post by **Stang2Vibe** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 5:40 pm

quote:Its interesting that you would select Pharmacy for an example salary range. They have the highest median starting salary in the most recent survey from Purdue, but only a very small number of students are graduated each year (compared to engineering).Sorry Lorin, I knew nothing about the Purdue survey and certainly didn't base my response upon its' findings. I mentioned Pharmacy because of all the people with whom I am related to or closely connected with who are currently in pharmacy school. The vast majority of my girlfriend's friends are also pharmacy majors. In all honesty, I myself would never choose Pharmacy for a major primarily for two reasons. One--I have next to no interest whatsoever in a career in any medical or medical-related field. Two--the majority of pharmacy students seem to think that they are God's gift to the world and have segregated themselves apart from the rest of society because they think they are somehow better than everyone else. Sadly, this convoluted view of the world is promoted by the Dean of the pharmacy school here, as I witnessed it personally in a speech he gave in front of my girlfriend's entire pharmacy class and all their parents. He made it a point to make specific mention of students like myself, the allegedly "lowly" class of students, who merely attend business school or another school here. These "other" students were depicted as being drunk on any given night and alluded to them as generally lacking in class. Meanwhile, he was drunk out of his mind while he gave this speech (in our school's chapel, no less) and greeted parents at a reception afterwards with slurred speech and reeking of alcohol. Even better yet, he was temporarily suspended as Dean of the Pharmacy School a few months after this incident and sent into a mandatory rehab program for abusing controlled substances. And this man is a registered pharmicist, Dean of the Pharmacy School, and sits on the board of a large national pharmacutical company. Yet he makes bundles of money--his home is valued by our county at about $800,000 (that's not a typo and I know this because our county's property assessments are public records that are accessable online). I wonder where all that money comes from??? But I am the plague on society for being a mere business student at a school with the highest national business school accreditation level possible that only about 200 universities in the US currently maintain. These are some of the reasons that I consider pharmacy students here as no better than myself.quote:What about those student loans? A person's financial strength exiting college depends, in part, on how much they had to pay out of their own pocket vs. student loans, scholarships, contributions from mom & dad, credit card problems, bar bills, etc. etc. Well, let's take my girlfriend and I for an example here. Assuming we graduate with our degrees and get married, that would give us a conservative estimated annual income of around $120,000 right after college. I currently pay some of my tuition out of pocket, as does she. My father died when I was seven, her father died when she was 17, so contributions from our families are minimal. My mom is currently working as much as she can as an independent contractor, her mom works part time seasonally and is dependent primarily on her and her deceased husband's retirement funds to get by. My stepdad makes a good amount, but is currently unemployed, and since I am not his child, he refuses to financially support me (or my sister) in any way with our tuition, even though his income and retirement funds are counted against us for tabulating financial aid elegibility. When I turned 24, I was able to claim myself as financially independent of my parent(s) for financial aid persuant to federal law (even though I was essentially independent since I was 18, but they don't care about that--the law is the law). So, I and my girlfriend qualify for a good amount in grants and low interest deferred loans to cover the rest. The hospital where she works is currently working on a loan forgiveness program with our school. She has much more in student loans than I do, so if she remains employed by them and agrees to work for them for two years after graduation, they will pay off all her outstanding student loans. She is still elegable for a signing bonus and pay rate negotiation in addition to the loan forgiveness. I will be able to pay off my student loans the day I graduate thanks to funds that my grandparents left to me for just such a purpose. So our student loan debt will be minimal to none after graduation, assuming all goes well. We both have good credit and no outstanding credit card balances--we both pay them off when we get the bills. We don't go on lavish spending sprees with our credit cards because we both realize that we are college students living on limited budgets right now. She has maintained over a 3.5 cumulative GPA throughout college so far (which puts her in about the top 10% of the pharmacy school), so she qualifies for and receives several scholarships (which also do not have to be repaid). Yes, in some ways we are in a more fortunate situation than most college grads, however, I cannot give the credit to fortune alone. Neither of us is a genius, but we are not particularly lacking in intelligence, either. Our interests and strengths lie in different areas, which make us a good functional couple. Where she is better at things like organizing, studying, etc., I am better at analyzing/interpreting and networking (as in making professional contacts, not necessarily computer networking). So together, we make a well-rounded and reasonably well educated pair. Therefore, any future success we may have can be credited to our own abilities and hard work not the winds of fortune.quote:Not to rain on your parade, but $56K (for a CS major) doesn't stretch as far as it might seem once a person exits college. Add a spouse, (decent) house for the spouse, car for the spouse, baby to put in the house,...Oh, tell me about it here. I am the one who wants the big family and she is the one already out looking at $400,000+ houses. While spending that much on a house right out of college is certainly going to be out of our reach (I am a realist, not a dreamer), I think that it is a reasonably attainable goal within 15-20 years after graduation (adjusted for inflation, of course). Out of college, we could probably manage a $100,000-$120,000 house in our area, and move up into the $180-$200K range after about 5 years, assuming again that all goes well. I am the one who really likes the nice cars and will probably be buying new ones every 2-3 years. She, on the other hand, is perfectly happy to drive a Honda Civic until it dies. Again, a balance that works in our favor.quote:Examples: $36 K for a Management major or $44 K for an Accounting major. I could be quite happy starting out with $36K per year after college. Afterall, my mom got by for about 13 years as a widow with 2 young children and a mortgage on a 4 bedroom home in a decent suburb with less than that. Half way through that period, her company moved out of town and she was laid off, so she had to work part time and put herself through school at the same time. I can't say that I've ever lived in abject poverty, but I've been through some tough times. How would you feel as an early teenager knowing that your mother was going to bed hungry some nights so that you and your younger sister would be able to eat? I know that feeling. My mother would have never admitted it at that time because she didn't want us to feel bad for her or our situation. She tried her best to make sure everything was as normal as possible for us. When I was old enough, I took a part time job at a fast food restaurant working 2 days per week at minimum wage. I used to take about half of my pay and sneak it into my mom's purse at night
while she was studying (she would have never accepted it if I had offered it to her). Many people I knew were sneaking money out of their parents' purses and wallets for things like junk food, clothing, going to the movies, and other entertainment. Here I was sneaking money INTO my mom's purse so she would have enough money to buy lunch while she was at work/school or to buy gas to get back and forth (I used to sneak it in every couple of days so she wouldn't notice). As for my girlfriend, she doesn't come from a wealthy background either. She (ironically) grew up about a half-mile from me living in a small 3 bedroom house in a family of 6 (total). They had to give up their dining room to convert it to a bedroom so that there was a place for everybody to sleep. Her dad worked for the US Bureau of Mines conducting research on experimental explosives. He died from cancer that was probably related to things he was exposed to at work. We have both had our hard times to get through, and I'm sure that more will lie ahead. But at least nobody can say that our futures were handed to us and not earned.quote:A final observation (you'll indulge a 40 year "old man" just a little longer, won't you?) LOL! You obviously haven't been a part of this forum for very long. You would have noticed by several of my other posts, particularly those that involved political debate, that I will GLADLY indulge anyone (regardless of age) for as long as they return the indulgence . I am well known to go on at great length regarding topics that I hold dear (hence, I was dubbed the "King of Long Posts" by some of our members). I greatly enjoy intelligent debate and practice it almost daily whether the other participants are willing or not. Consider yourself fortunate, most people will only give you their two cents worth, I usually give you about two hundred dollars worth. LOL. I may be relatively young, but I am not relatively stupid.quote:Good luck to you in your endeavors! I sincerely thank you for your well wishes and kindly extend the same to you. Please do not take me the wrong way, for I truly have no self-acknowledged enemies in these forums. I consider you all as friends through a common interest. I reserve the right, however, to disagree with people from time to time and to express my disagreement in a responsible and appropriate manner. I even enjoy getting in over my head sometimes in debates and disagreements, as it is the way that I learn best. If all my classes were taught this way, I'd have straight A's. Unfortunately for me, course instructors tend to use less interesting methods of education and my grades suffer for it. Again, best wishes to you, my friend, and I look forward to reading your contributions to this website.

jake75 · Post by **jake75** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 1:52 am

It is true that the starting salaries for Pharmacists are generous - but there are few pay advancements aside form inflation. A pharmacist with 20 years experience is worth no more to a chain drug store than a newly graduated registered pharmacist just out of school. IMO pharmacists are one of the most overtrained professionals going and it serves to keep the supply scarce and thus the starting salaries high. About 1960 the curriculum went to 5 years, and recently to 6 years. It's like requiring every piper cub pilot to be certified to fly a 747. My wife has notied that she has met very few pharamcists that didn't want to be doing something else. As for this pharmacist, I went to law school.

Lorin · Post by **Lorin** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 11:06 am

"In all honesty, I myself would never choose Pharmacy for a major primarily for two reasons. One--I have next to no interest whatsoever in a career in any medical or medical-related field. Two--the majority of pharmacy students seem to think that they are God's gift to the world and have segregated themselves apart from the rest of society because they think they are somehow better than everyone else. "Oh My! Somehow that doesn't surprise me. At Purdue, it was the engineers, and especially in Chemical engineering where that arrogant mindset was encouraged. Its really a reflection on the lack of maturity of the professors, many of which are social misfits (nerds). I hope I've grown out of that by now, but it takes a while after years of being told how special you are to be at Purdue, the 5th ranked Engineering school in the country, hardest program, blah blah blah. Wonderful. Now show me the money! I was thrilled at the time to get straight A's during my Masters program, and crushed to get a B working on my PhD. All those years in engineering school, and where am I? I have become a statistic of one of the many who don't work in their degree. Where? Information technology! Why? The dough is better! And you know what? Here on the east coast, they are really into all these small po-dunk private schools, and people have hardly even heard of Purdue! There are so many things in your post I could comment on! But, I'll bring this back around to age, maturity, and VIBE OWNERSHIP!! (D@mn, I'm good! I should have been professor! ) Your well written and insightful post demonstrate that in the same way that "Choosy mothers choose Jiff", sensible, thinking, reasonable, bright, mature people choose Vibes! After all, if a Purdue Engineer chooses a Vibe....aaarrrgh! Almost had a relapse back to my undergrad days!

Stang2Vibe · Post by **Stang2Vibe** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 4:19 pm

Jake--Your summary of most pharmacists is true--but only for one segment of the pharmacy profession. Remember, not all pharmicists stand around all day counting pills and processing insurance forms. The segment you describe is fitting of retail pharmacists--the people my girlfriend can't stand because they stand around and count pills and process insurance forms all day. She works in hospital pharmacy and is in the first semester of her 4th year. When she is at work, she has to perform some complicated tasks like making I.V. solutions and chemos. On days that she is lucky, she gets to work the hospital's pharmacy robot (delivery tube system) and deliver narcs and other meds to the floor nurses. Her brother, who is also a pharmacist, is the manager of the Home Infusion department of his company. He has to be up to date on new drug therapies that are constantly coming out and he also has to catch all the mistakes that the people who work under him make. He has to carry at least $1 million in malpractice insurance just in case. He makes a good buck. He also teaches a 5th year pharmacy course here at our university. And yes, pharmacy is a 6 year program (went to 6 years here in 1997), but some colleges/universities have developed a new advanced program for students who are in the top of their class who can apply for an intensified program that allows them to finish in 5 1/2 years. The full 6 year program (or 5 1/2 year advanced program) is for the PharmD degree. You can still go for the regular 5 year program to get a RPh degree. However, the RPh degree is becoming obsolete because just about all phamacy students go for the full 6 years and the PhamD degree is now being required by most hospitals just to be a staff pharmacist. Let us not forget the research pharmacists who are usually the most brilliant PharmD's. They are the ones that work with the doctors and chemists and labs to develop and test new drugs and new ways to use existing drugs. Yes, there is much arguement that a Pharmacy Tech can do just about everything that a retail pharmacist does, and there is a serious look being taken at that proposition right now. A few states currently allow PharmD's to perscribe certain classes of drugs. There is also a push to force all states to change their laws to permit this. This would result in a pay increase across the board for all practicing pharmacists because they would now have to carry their own malpractice insurance. As for pharmacist never getting a pay increase, at least in hospital pharmacy this is not true. My girlfriend is a pharmacy tech/intern at her hospital and she has been working there for about 10 months. She has already gotten 2 pay raises and is up for a third in about 2 more months. Their hospital policy for staff pharmacists I believe is generally a pay raise once every 2 years or so. If you step up the pharmacy ladder, such as going from staff pharmacist to a pharmacy manager, you can get a substantial increase. If advancement is not possible at your facility, there are always many opportunities elsewhere for an experienced hospital pharmacist.

Stang2Vibe · Post by **Stang2Vibe** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 4:27 pm

Lorin--It must be true what they say about great minds thinking alike. Excellent choice on your Vibe's model, color, and options !Perhaps the "Neptune Intellectual Society" could be created and we could be two of its' founding fathers???

Myself · Post by **Myself** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 3:42 am

It's very easy to get in and out of, when I picked up my grandmother to go to the store she loved it. The seats are comfy, the belts in front are easy to use. I completely understand the 60-plus age group.I also see a lot of thirtysomething women, the "soccer mom" group. With kid-seat tiedowns, child safety locks, and a power window disable button, this car is built for families! I think it caters very well to the folks who need a minivan but wouldn't get caught dead driving such a vehicle. Midwife crisis? The integrated inverter is also really handy for folks who need aerosolized medications on a semiregular basis. A friend of mine is putting together a solar-charged power pack for his sister to run her inhaler while on a camping trip, and he was joking that all she needs is to stuff a Matrix into her backpack.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 4:09 am

Well, I like my Vibe, and I don't care if other Vibe owners are younger than me or not. Just glad to live in an time when such cars are possible. I mean, back when I was growing up, they hadn't invented cars yet and if you had to go to town for supplies, you had to hitch up a team to the wagon. The stage ran at four horsepower. Hatchback was a kind of union suit.

macrosonic · Post by **macrosonic** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 8:55 am

Most of the vibe's I've seen around here have been driven by people in their mid-20's to mid-30's. As far as the vibe's "image" i think that's a good age because it's still young but not high-school / college young. It's more like a mature-young. heh heh. Of course I'm totally biased because that's my age. No offense to those still in college of course... WE just know how to keep our posts on-topic. But like others have already said, it doesn't matter. I mean, it's not like when I'm 70 I'm going to decide to look for an "old man" car. You just buy what you like, what fits your needs and style. I want a car that has lots of versatility but is still sporty. I want a swiss-army-knife-car. The vibe fits, and it looks cool. you don't need to be a specific age to appreciate that.

wildvibe · Post by **wildvibe** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 9:04 am

my grandpa bought one and he is 86 lol

micheles_bad_vibe · Post by **micheles_bad_vibe** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 10:22 am

yank dini · Post by **yank dini** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 3:04 am

Funny thing here in Detroit. You have the young folk driving older person cars (i.e. BMW, Cadillac, Benz, Lincoln)And the older folk driving younger person cars (i.e. PT Cruisers, Vibe, Miata)Weird

rjj2ndpt31 · Post by **rjj2ndpt31** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 7:07 am

As a PT Cruiser owner I hear that a lot."Your driving a old persons car".I'm 31 years old and and I love my car so I do not mind the teasing.The main thing is that you enjoy driving your vehicle. And the PT Cruiser and The Matrix/Vibe was targeted towards the Generation X and Y.These vehicles however have a fan following of all ages Heck you could say the Mustang,Camaro and Firebird are old persons cars,but young and old people buy it And teenagers think 25 is old anyway so yes,I could be driving an old persons car LOL Richard II