Beginning my search for a vibe.

[K J]

Alright, I am beginning to search for a vibe for myself.I am rather unfamiliar with these cars and am looking just for a few ideas on what to look for/look out for when searching for my new car.any years to stay away from? any problem areas to look for? any options to desire or run from?any other hints are huge.- k j

[lowincash]

are you looking to buy a new or used vibe? the 09 vibes came out earlier this year but you might get a better deal if you want the previous year ones.

[rAERRK]

i cant think of any problems to look for, or any options you wouldnt want

[Caretaker]

KJ, unless you are really low on cash (sorry lowincash), you should get the 2009 Vibe. It is a much better vehicle than the first generation. You even have a choice of the Corolla or Camry engines as well with the 2009. Without going into each and every attribute, the 2009 is safer and has MUCH better build quality. I own two: a 2003 and now a 2009. If you must go with the earlier version, you will make a good choice as well since the car is all Corolla and will last you a long time. Your best choice for the money however is the '09. Good luck.

[keithvibe]

to be honest look at a toyota matrix. There will be more aftermarket support for them than for the vibe.This applies for all model years.If you are interested in modding your car

[K J]

Im not really interested in modding it, moreover getting me to school and back, in all weather conditions... using as little gas as possible... and while not low on cash... i dont really want to buy an 09... thats more than i want to spend for a daily driver.

[Houston]

I bought my '03 Base Vibe Automatic in 2002, love it and have had no problems whatsoever. I do recommend snow tires for winter.

[Nelson]

definitely look for an upgraded stereo!

[NibCrom]

Buy a used Vibe in good condition. I would buy a 2005+.

[ehoff121]

Quote, originally posted by NibCrom »Buy a used Vibe in good condition. I would buy a 2005+.+1If you do decide to go used, I would suggest looking for one with side airbags. You will need to check this using the VIN code, as many dealers will list air bags as, "Driver and Passenger Side Air Bags" which just means the frontal air bags.http://prod.goodwrench.gmgssm....d.pdf The VIN card is a good way to narrow your search for Base/AWD/GT using the 4th and 5th position of the VIN code.SL - VIBESM - VIBE AWDSN - VIBE GTYou can do a search on AutoTrader.com and eliminate a lot of cars based on VIN alone.I would be cautious of '07s with ~30,000 miles as they could have been "program cars", i.e., rentals or corporate leases. Also, '06s and '07s with low miles could have collision repairs.2007 Vibes are base only-- no AWD or GTGood luck!

[Atomic]

My 05 base auto has been pretty much bulletproof, just oil changes and 1 set of tires so far.The base 1.8 is no rocket, but it's cheap on gas.The base stereo is kind of anemic, I would have gone for the moon and tunes had I known that it wasn't going to take up that much space in the back.Power windows and locks are extremely convenient, there's info on here for all kinds of service stuff, like checking the A/C cable for correct function.You really can't go wrong with any one of these.I'm not as impressed with the new styling, and the absence of the lift window in the rear, but I'll still probably get another one when the lease is up.

[K J]

i found an 03... 7200$... 80k miles AWD sunroof white..yay nay?im a definite fan... rode well, one owner, clean carfax.

[5speed4]

I'm curious as to what changed in 2005 that made two people recommend the 2005 or later? agree with the sentiment that the '09 Vibe is not as good looking as the first gens. I also much prefer the looks of the first-gen Vibe over the first-gen Matrix.

[musicmanmu]

Hey...did a quick look on Edmunds and based on the information you provided, $7,200 sounds like a good deal. The private party suggested True Market Value was $8,671! Must be the small car boom in this bust economy...

[Caretaker]

KJ, Carfax is a joke. I can't believe people fall for it. The commercials look great; the reality is something totally different. My Malibu Maxx was involved in a pretty good deer strike. It never showed up in Carfax. That same car (thanks to GM's finest dealership) had the axle fall off. Again, since it did not involve striking another car, did not show up in Carfax. I would NEVER drive my Malibu Maxx again, yet somebody will. Please don't rely on Carfax. If you have doubts, bring it to your private mechanic for a thorough examination. As for Vibe models, the '09 is a FAR more refined car than the previous version. I own a '03 and now an '09. I have my in-law finding out if there is any GM Delco parts in the '09 Vibe. I have not found one yet. Her firm is a primary supplier to NUMMI. As I posted before, if money is the issue, you will do fine with the previous Vibe version. I personnally would stay away from the '03. With all the fit and finish issues on the first generation Vibe, you are bound to suffer from all of them the closer you get to the '03 original. In general regarding the '03-'08: the radio sucks and may give you problems with the CD player. The LCD display will surely go dim eventually. Moreover, the paint job is the worst in automotive history (unless someone can correct me on this.... I don't believe NUMMI fixed the paint application from the rediculous '03 version). In the end, if you must have a used hatchback, get the Vibe. If not, I'd go for a Corolla; more Toyota parts.

[K J]

i got the one i was talking about. as for the carfax comment.. i know. my dad is an insurance claims adjuster and can search "iso"- with that... any time the car has been in for any body work at all- it comes up. annnd it was clean. soyeah. as for the cd player going bad... meh. ill install a new one. no biggity. as for the paint.any gm has the worst paint ever.

[ClunkClunk]

Quote, originally posted by K J »i got the one i was talking about.Congrats! I'm still on the lookout for mine. Quote, originally posted by K J »any gm has the worst paint ever. However the Vibe is particularly bad. My Regal had much thicker paint than our various Vibes, and you can clearly see many more rock strikes on the hood on my girlfriend's 22k mile Vibe, versus my 95k mile Regal before I sold it.