New to forum (sorta), just bought an 03 Vibe

[98se5speed]

Hey group, James here from Chicago. Just bought an 03 Vibe last week, mostly for the wife, but she lets me drive it sometimes too. We had actually looked at a couple Vibes a few years ago, really liked them, but waited until we found one in our price range. A nice tax return and a bit of luck, now we have a sweet new ride in our garage. After getting our tax return, I scoured the internet for a cheap Vibe, and about all we found was a beat up 2003 at a local dealer for $7900. Guess I shouldn't say "beat up", but the interior was pretty beat and gross, AC didn't work, and a few other minor issues. They would only come down to $7300. We passed. Later that same day, we drove a 1998 Audi A4 wagon that we really liked, for only $4500. However, I think I came to my senses and avoided a used Audi after some influence from a few friends and some reading online. Was a nice car, but no Vibe. So about a week later, we came to the conclusion that we'd just wait until the right Vibe showed up (with me checking craigslist, autotrader, etc. constantly). Well, later that day, we randomly drove past this tiny used car lot a few miles from home. What did we see out front? This beauty:Actually, we were driving the same direction the Vibe was pointing, so we only saw the price on the window at the last minute. I looked at my wife and said "did that car really say $4695?" We figured it must have said $9695, but turned around to look anyways. Nope, $4695 was the price. Dealership was closed, but I got the VIN and went home to run it through Autocheck (I had subscribed since we were in the market for a new car). Well, I found out why it was so cheap... 143k miles. But one owner, and the thing looked clean as can be. So, the dealer opened Monday morning at 10am, I took the morning off work, drove the car for a few miles, and bought the car that day. Even got him to come down a bit, walked out the door at $4796. Well, since I finally got my login set up (actually, got my password reset, I registered a while ago, but never posted) here we are. I've already gotten a few sweet tips by searching on this forum, some really great info all over the place. My last car was actually a 1996 Corolla wagon... I guess I got the next available model, the 03 Vibe. So far it's been awesome to us, thing drives like new. Aside from some rock chips in the hood and a couple ultra-minor surface scratches, the car is in fantastic shape. Just got her polished and waxed this past weekend, here's a few pics afterwards. I look forward to participating in the forums. I miss my previous automotive forum addiction, maxima.org and chicagomaximaclub.net, from when I owned a 98 SE 5-speed Maxima (hence the recycled user name). Cheers!

[BlueCrush]

Welcome to GenVibe! Nice deal on the Vibe! Looks good for the mileage. It definitely pays to wait until you get what you want.

[NascarXprt]

Welcome! awesome deal! now first things first, tint that thing

[98se5speed]

Thanks. Tint for sure, but first I have a certain Pontiac radio that needs to get yanked out of the dash. Dying for a 2-din nav unit, probably won't happen for a while. I have a JVC head unit sitting around with USB input and aux input for the XM, that should work for now.

[Kamikaze]

Nice post, and with Pics! Welcome.

[hskater26]

welcome!

[abbotlex]

Welcome and congrats on the deal. Looks just like my '05 but half the price and the cooler pre-05 front end.

[98se5speed]

Yeah, plus I'm missing the lower skirt, but I go back and forth on if I like it or not. I am liking the older front end better, not so sure on the orange gauges though. Hard to read during the day, but sweet at night. We actually looked at an 05 last year, had 34k on it (so just a bit of warranty left), they were asking $13k. Wouldn't really come down despite the car being an ex rental car from an auction, so we passed. Car needed tires immediately too, they were ridiculously loud, and some cheapo brand. Our 03 came with a nearly new set of very quiet Kumho's. Not a fantastic brand, but decent.

[keithvibe]

Welcome... enjoy your new toy.

[ramenboy...]

woohoo! welcome from another chicagoan!its a fun carhey!!! that looks like mine did when i bought it!!!!

[98se5speed]

Yeah, I'm representin' the south burbs. Now if only there were some roads worth a damm around here. I got so spoiled when my friend lived in SoCal, all I'd do when I visited was take his RSX-s through the canyons above Malibu. Amazing.

[lovemyraffe]

Congrats on the new ride!

[rAERRK]

143k miles by one owner, and it ends up at a lonely little used car lot...kinda sad, like an old dog left at the pound congrats though, im sure you will love it too

[jake75]

You can be our Guinna pig to see how many miles these Vibes can really go.

[KNINE]

Welcome to the family.

[keithvibe]

Quote, originally posted by jake75 »You can be our Guinna pig to see how many miles these Vibes can really go.there are vibes out there that are used as taxi's and they have well over 300k on them

[zionzr2]

Quote, originally posted by 98se5speed »Hey group, James here from Chicago. Just bought an 03 Vibe last week, mostly for the wife, but she lets me drive it sometimes too. We had actually looked at a couple Vibes a few years ago, really liked them, but waited until we found one in our price range. A nice tax return and a bit of luck, now we have a sweet new ride in our garage. After getting our tax return, I scoured the internet for a cheap Vibe, and about all we found was a beat up 2003 at a local dealer for $7900. Guess I shouldn't say "beat up", but the interior was pretty beat and gross, AC didn't work, and a few other minor issues. They would only come down to $7300. We passed. Later that same day, we drove a 1998 Audi A4 wagon that we really liked, for only $4500. However, I think I came to my senses and avoided a used Audi after some influence from a few friends and some reading online. Was a nice car, but no Vibe. So about a week later, we came to the conclusion that we'd just wait until the right Vibe showed up (with me checking craigslist, autotrader, etc. constantly). Well, later that day, we randomly drove past this tiny used car lot a few miles from home. What did we see out front? This beauty:Actually, we were driving the same direction the Vibe was pointing, so we only saw the price on the window at the last minute. I looked at my wife and said "did that car really say $4695?" We figured it must have said $9695, but turned around to look anyways. Nope, $4695 was the price. Dealership was closed, but I got the VIN and went home to run it through Autocheck (I had subscribed since we were in the market for a new car). Well, I found out why it was so cheap... 143k miles. But one owner, and the thing looked clean as can be. So, the dealer opened Monday morning at 10am, I took the morning off work, drove the car for a few miles, and bought the car that day. Even got him to come down a bit, walked out the door at $4796. Well, since I finally got my login set up (actually, got my password reset, I registered a while ago, but never posted) here we are. I've already gotten a few sweet tips by searching on this forum, some really great info all over the place. My last car was actually a 1996 Corolla wagon... I guess I got the next available model, the 03 Vibe. So far it's been awesome to us, thing drives like new. Aside from some rock chips in the hood and a couple ultra-minor surface scratches, the car is in fantastic shape. Just got her polished and waxed this past weekend, here's a few pics afterwards. Am I missing something or did you just say he came down and you paid more than what was in the window?

[keithvibe]

I guess you never heard of tax and tags, and document fees.

[808 Vibes]

Welcome and congrats on the platinum!

[Amtron]

Welcome to genvibe!

[ArcsVibe]

Welcome to the site enjoy your stay

[98se5speed]

Thanks for all the warm welcomes. Yes, the price difference was after tax, title, plate transfer, etc. Essentially paid $4300 for the car before all that. Quite a steal I say. Especially after I drove it about 650 miles yesterday for work, car performed flawlessly. I've rented Vibes before with under 10k miles, I've test drove them with 30-50k, and now I own one with 144k. All of them drive the same, "like new." What a great car. Now who do we complain to about the position of the window switches? You need alligator arms to work those things. Stupid. They also need some lighting besides "AUTO" on the driver's switch. Since they're not laid out well, they're sorta hard to find at night. Minor gripe I guess, really all I could find wrong during my 9 hours in the car yesterday. I did get a lot of use out of the AC outlet though, I couldn't find my car phone charger anywhere, so I grabbed my house charger. Worked like a charm.

[vibolista]

Great find and better buy! Vibes are really for the long run. 143k and it still drives like a car with around 30k... can't complain about that. Exterior looks new. How's the interior holding up?Congrats, and welcome to the Vibe site. By the way, your car looks familiar, somehow. But I agree, it does have the better looking nose.

[98se5speed]

Yeah, I can't find a single thing about this car that says "I have 144k miles on me" besides the odometer. Engine is smooth and quiet (as quiet as any I've ever driven), trans shifts perfectly, AC blows cold (got to use it yesterday with our "heat wave"), steering and suspension are as tight as new... I could go on and on. Interior is nearly flawless. We saw plenty of these cars used with worn trim panels (especially the silver painted ones), dirty seats, foggy radio displays... this one has none of that. Looks like it has maybe 1 year of very light use. So strange that the original owners would take such good care of it, then just trade it in. No complaints though, that's how it got to me! The only real flaws I found were a light surface scratch on the driver's side (won't see it unless you're looking for it), some random rock chips in the hood (from all those highway miles), and the steel wheels were rusty (fixed with a can of black spray paint). What a champ. Car spent its first 6 years in Union Grove, WI. Wife made me go back to my 95 Nissan Quest minivan today, she said she missed her new car. I don't blame her. Was nice to have my good stereo and sunroof back this morning though.