New Member - Hello!

Kincaid · Post by **Kincaid** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 5:22 am

Just purchased a 2009 Vibe 2.4L with the manual transmission - Liquid Platinum. I've liked the Vibe and Matrix from the start and now that I've got a daughter in college that could really use my '97 Honda Civic, I was car shopping.I ended up with these three on the top of my list, in order:1. Mazda 5 - seats six, looks cool, sliding rear doors and hauls a boat load of cargo.2. Hyundai Elantra Touring - has a bit more content then the Vibe and hauls more, but just looks like a run of the mill wagon.3. Pontiac Vibe - not liking the new Matrix so much so I've been checking these out. Sat in one (again) at the Portland Auto Show and still love it.Anyway, finances conspired against us to pull the trigger on any deal. So, I've been waiting since March. Now GM "incentivized" me by offering to let me use all of my reward points from my GM Mastercard. I got $4212 of them baby!So, went to the local dealer and got quoted $19,201 on a black GT. Didn't really want black and I wasn't loving the wheels or the seat fabric. I didn't even really want the GT wheels, either. I drove a base 1.8L and it was entirely adequate for me, but I really wanted a sunroof and the stereo. I tried to get the dealer to drop to $18,500 and they wouldn't do it. Went way up river to Longview, Washington and located a Liquid Platinum 2.4L with all the options except fog lights. The silver was my favorite color. Was quoted $19,534. Finally talked them down to $18,423 and the deal was sealed.Planning to immediately drop the car 1.5 inches or so and put on a better exhaust. Also picking up a GT spoiler for the roof. Some day I'd like to add driving lights or fogs though I'm not sure about cutting into those cosmetic vents. May add wheels and tires later - though I might actually drop a size to 16" as I like a bit more old school chunky tire look (I had 16's on my Civic and when I went back to 15's I found I liked the look much better).Looking forward to searching out all the combined knowledge of the members here!

jake75 · Post by **jake75** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 6:06 am

Yeh - that $4,212 really made the Vibe the front runner. Without that which would you have picked? I really like both the Mazda 5 and the Elantra Touring Station Wagon.

Kincaid · Post by **Kincaid** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 6:13 am

I would have gone for the Mazda 5 w/the 5 speed - then added the rear spoiler and side skirts. For all that "zoom zoom" image you can't get a 5 speed stick in anything but the basest base model.Here's a pic of me back when I was in college w/my first car. Posted it here and in the picture page. If I have a more current pic I'll drop that in here as well.

Kincaid · Post by **Kincaid** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 6:16 am

Here's a more recent picture - me and my twin daughters in Yellowstone, 2007.

Kamikaze · Post by **Kamikaze** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 6:18 am

I went from a 96 Civic to my 06 Vibe. (still have another 96 Civic, wifes)I had 16's on that as well, and in the winter I had 15" SI wheels. I really liked the 15's, but The styles of the aftermarket wheels looked better so I put the 16's on in the summer.Oh btw Welcome!

808 Vibes · Post by **808 Vibes** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 6:36 am

Welcome and congrats

lovemyraffe · Post by **lovemyraffe** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 9:05 am

Congrats on the new purchase and welcome!

kostby · Post by **kostby** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 10:23 am

Welcome to the fray!Nice Triumph TR-4. I always lusted after a Theta girl who drove a cream colored TR6. Never got an opportunity with either the girl or the car! Seeing your TR4 reminds me of an old joke:Q: Why do the British drink warm beer?A: They have Lucas refrigerators!Explanation of the punchline for those born after Mazda created the first RELIABLE 'British Sports Car', the Mazda Miata: Lucas made the electrical system for most if not all British sports cars. British sports cars are notorious for not starting when it's damp and rainy. And it's very damp and rainy in Great Britain. As far as I know, Lucas never made refrigerators, but the implication is that a 'Lucas' refrigerator would seldom be working properly, hence warm beer.

ArcsVibe · Post by **ArcsVibe** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 10:24 am

Welcome to the family!

jake75 · Post by **jake75** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:10 pm

Quote, originally posted by kostby Â»Welcome to the fray!Nice Triumph TR-4. I always lusted after a Theta girl who drove a cream colored TR6. Never got an opportunity with either the girl or the car! Seeing your TR4 reminds me of an old joke:Q: Why do the British drink warm beer?A: They have Lucas refrigerators!Explanation of the punchline for those born after Mazda created the first RELIABLE 'British Sports Car', the Mazda Miata: Lucas made the electrical system for most if not all British sports cars. British sports cars are notorious for not starting when it's damp and rainy. And it's very damp and rainy in Great Britain. As far as I know, Lucas never made refrigerators, but the implication is that a 'Lucas' refrigerator would seldom be working properly, hence warm beer.Glad you 'splained that to me, Lucy. Thanks - Desi.

vibolista · Post by **vibolista** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:27 pm

You got a good deal and a fun car, but I don't know if any of us will be able to stay 'loyal' customers. Let's see how GM turns out. Might be OK. Who knows. Welcome to Vibedom! However long the ride lasts. Nice TR! Just saw one just like your's in Portland a couple of days ago. Portland, Maine. It was very straight! Looked like new. Didn't keep it?kostby joke on Brit sports cars- Very good.

Kincaid · Post by **Kincaid** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 4:30 am

Quote, originally posted by vibolista Â»Nice TR! Just saw one just like your's in Portland a couple of days ago. Portland, Maine. It was very straight! Looked like new. Didn't keep it?Nope, not only had I put a dent in almost every panel by the time I had to sell, but the engine needed a rebuild. When I took a left turn the oil pressure dropped to about zero and the blowby left a cloud of nasty black smoke. Traded it for my first new car - a 1986 Mitsubishi Mirage Turbo, also in red.thanks for the welcomes!

Mariachi · Post by **Mariachi** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 12:32 am

Welcome!!!

bull77 · Post by **bull77** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 1:03 am

Welcome to the site

Kincaid · Post by **Kincaid** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 3:08 pm

Well, the buying experience was not completely smooth. First, I forgot to give them the "bonus earnings code" and the sales mgr guy came back from running my card to tell me I was limited to $1000 off, not $4299. So, I showed him my paperwork (good thing I printed it off!) and he figured out my error. We got the code and he ran the card again and this time their computer spit out $3299. I showed him the papers again as proof it should be $4299. The guy said they ran it thru their computer and it said $3299 and suggested I could save $1000 for my next GM vehicle (no wai! My wife wants a Honda when it's her turn). He said there was an 800 number to call but that person only works M-F. I told him that despite driving an hour to his place I was willing to come back next week after he got it straightened out, but I wasn't going to leave $1000 on the table or sign anything before it was agreed that I got all $4299. Another trip to a higher up got it resolved and I now have my new car.Drives nice on the highway, has a nice solid feel to it and the stick shift is nice, smooth and direct. It pogos a bit in town due to the short wheel base I think and I wish it had higher gear ratios. Other than that I am completely happy with it. I even like the wheels enough that I don't think I'll want to replace them with aftermarket rims. I still want to drop the car 1.5 to 2.0 inches but that might be hard - I haven't found anyone making lowering springs for the Pontiac Vibe and now that it is a lame duck model (unless they decide to rebadge it as a Chevy) this may never happen.Anyway, I'll post pics when I can. She is a real beauty - I really like that silver.

Blanco_Diablo · Post by **Blanco_Diablo** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 3:29 pm

Nice another PDX vibe in the house...welcome and congrats on the new wheels!

djkeev · Post by **djkeev** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 8:35 pm

Welcome to GenVibe!Check into possible warranty ramifications before you start major modifications during the warranty period. Any significant changes you make could void out all or part of your warranty. At best the Dealer doing the service can really make you life miserable when you come looking for warranty service on a modified car.Others may have thoughts about mods and their effect on warranty coverage?Dave

Kincaid · Post by **Kincaid** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 2:09 am

Only four mods in the pipeline right now - an OEM rear spoiler (GT style), probably a magnaflow muffler and tip (not even a cat back), fog/driving lights and lowering springs.I'd guess only the lowering springs would get me any flak - and then only for something in the suspension/tires or wheels. That would be cheesy if something else was an issue and they tried to pin it on the lowering springs.As an aside, I am finding the ride in town to be just fine. I guess my first impression of "pogo-ing" was more due to the road I was on after I left the dealership.I am tried of the distance I have to reach to change a station on the radio - but exploring the XM radio is kind of fun.

New Member - Hello!

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