I may just be buying a new VIBE?!?

[miketothesteve]

Ok, so here's the deal, and I don't know how I missed it before... After having two people ask why I was getting a new car, my girlfriend finally asked me, what I could get for $10,000 with a used vibe... well the average used Vibe in that price range had about 80,000km and was base, and was 04-05, so pretty well no warranty left... And what would it cost for a new Vibe, well after Canadian price adjust of $3000, $13,900ish for base model...say WHAT?!?.. So that alone made me wake up to new, and then I realized my dad has a lot of un used GM points, so I can get another $1000 off, now we are at $12,900.. So it's a pretty obvious choice. Question time!Am I crazy, or is all my math correct?Does GM offer a graduate rebate of some sort?I'm considering the 2.4L over the 1.8L, because I have read a lot of people talking about the 1.8 being under-powered. For those of you with the 1.8, what do you think? For those with 2.4, do you wish you had the 1.8?And lastly, the most important decision, colors anyone?? I'm thinking the Navy Blue, Steel Blue, or Red Hot. What did everyone else get?!!

[miketothesteve]

.....the more I talk about this, the more excited I am getting....!!!

[beemerphile1]

I think you are using good logic. I am currently buying new myself after considering all the things you have.I have test driven both motors and am confident that the 1.8L is strong enough for my use and I intend on pulling a small trailer.Do some test drives and decide for yourself.

[miketothesteve]

Do you plan on buying auto or manual?

[BlueCrush]

Quote, originally posted by miketothesteve »Ok, so here's the deal, and I don't know how I missed it before... After having two people ask why I was getting a new car, my girlfriend finally asked me, what I could get for $10,000 with a used vibe... well the average used Vibe in that price range had about 80,000km and was base, and was 04-05, so pretty well no warranty left... And what would it cost for a new Vibe, well after Canadian price adjust of $3000, $13,900ish for base model...say WHAT?!?.. So that alone made me wake up to new, and then I realized my dad has a lot of un used GM points, so I can get another $1000 off, now we are at $12,900.. So it's a pretty obvious choice. Question time!Am I crazy, or is all my math correct? Yes, and Yes...lol.Does GM offer a graduate rebate of some sort? They might offer some sort of 1st time buyer discount, not sure.I'm considering the 2.4L over the 1.8L, because I have read a lot of people talking about the 1.8 being under-powered. For those of you with the 1.8, what do you think? For those with 2.4, do you wish you had the 1.8? If my 2005 AWD was offered the 2.4L option I would have taken it in a heartbeat.And lastly, the most important decision, colors anyone?? I'm thinking the Navy Blue, Steel Blue, or Red Hot. What did everyone else get? I would get the Navy Blue, but then again I'm partial to Blue as you can tell by my screen name...haha.

[jake75]

1. The 2.4L is about $700 more in the US. Obviously uses a little more gas. I have been satisfied with the 1.8L in my former 2003, and in my 2009. I never even test drove a 2.4L as I didn't want to be tempted.2. I think GM points only can transfer to someone in the same household - maybe that is your situation.3. I have not seen a GM College Grad rebate lately - your dealer would know, or do a google search.4. Color choice may be limited - IMO not worth changing what you want in regard to model and options just to get a specific color. As I got older color became less important to me so your priority might differ. I had 4 choices in Jan. - white, black, silver or carbon metallic gray. Picked the gray.

[jlq3d3]

I bought a Navy Blue 1.8 Vibe. I test drove 1.8 and 2.4. 2.4 definitely feels faster, but 1.8 is adequate and is what I bought.I printed out the college discount authorization code and gave it the dealer but he said it didn't work.

[lowincash]

i know how exciting it must feel right now lol i like that getting new car feel =Dbut yah i'm sure you'll be very happy with the 2.4L, i didn't even consider the 1.8 when i was shopping for the 09's. i got a black vibe and i'm starting to really like red hot...that car looks so nice especially in the GT form. sexy haha

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by jlq3d3 »I bought a Navy Blue 1.8 Vibe. I test drove 1.8 and 2.4. 2.4 definitely feels faster, but 1.8 is adequate and is what I bought.I printed out the college discount authorization code and gave it the dealer but he said it didn't work.Here's the deal - it is supplier price which might be higher then the current Summer Clearance prices.College students, recent graduates and graduate students2, you can receive the same discounted price GM suppliers receive on nearly all GM vehicles through the GM College Discount Program. Combine your GM College Discount with most current incentives to save even more. To receive the GM College Discount, register at gmcollegediscount.com to obtain an authorization number.2Eligible participants include college students (from any two- or four-year school), recent graduates who have graduated no more than two years ago, and current nursing school and graduate students.Excludes 2009 Chevy Corvette ZR1

[miketothesteve]

That GM College discount site is no good for me, I'm living in Canada.

[bull77]

Quote, originally posted by miketothesteve »That GM College discount site is no good for me, I'm living in Canada. when we got our vibe in 05 we got a discount for recent grads...can't remember for sure but it was either 600 off or 1st 2 months paid.

[ned23]

Quote, originally posted by bull77 »when we got our vibe in 05 we got a discount for recent grads...can't remember for sure but it was either 600 off or 1st 2 months paid. No, you're not crazy. I traded my 2004 in on a 2009. It had 58k miles. The dealer gave me $8500 for the 04 vibe and I spend 11.5k to get the 2.4L, 2009 Vibe. My vibe was priced on the lot at around $11k, IIRC.So, if you were to sell your vibe directly you could probably get a new one for around 10k or even less.

[Kincaid]

I test drove both the 2.4 and the 1.8. If I could have got the 1.8 with a sunroof and some other options I would have. It was plenty quick enough for me. The options were just a bit more important than the gas mileage.My favorite colors are the silver and the blue. The blue seems pretty rare. The red looks good - especially when clean! But I think it (or maybe the gray) will be the most prevalent color out there.BTW, saw a 2010 Vibe in the orange color and I did not feel the love there. Not "electric" enough for my taste.

[808 Vibes]

Another BLUE lover here. Sadly, warranty almost up. *sniff* I wanted to cry when I made 35,000 yesterday. Think I'll go back to taking DaBus LOLAnyways the 1.8 is good enough for me, and I live up hills.

[ned23]

Quote, originally posted by Kincaid »I test drove both the 2.4 and the 1.8. If I could have got the 1.8 with a sunroof and some other options I would have. It was plenty quick enough for me. The options were just a bit more important than the gas mileage.Ditto, except no dealers were ordering 1.8s in any condition except stripped-down or "mostly stripped-down" and they said a special order could take 80-120 days.

[star_deceiver]

Quote, originally posted by ned23 »Ditto, except no dealers were ordering 1.8s in any condition except stripped-down or "mostly stripped-down" and they said a special order could take 80-120 days.There were lots of both 2.4's and 1.8's but only 1 without slush in the tranny.

[ou.grizzly]

Paid $13,000 for my used 2008 Vibe with 26,000 miles on it and GM Certified back in December of 2008.

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by ned23 »Ditto, except no dealers were ordering 1.8s in any condition except stripped-down or "mostly stripped-down" and they said a special order could take 80-120 days.I don't know what "mostly stripped down" means - at several Columbus area dealers there was until recently a lot of 2009 1.8L with at ac and power package. a combination having a msrp of $19,480. Since you can't get the sunroof and abs, 6 airbags and stability control are now standard, not much more you can add to a 1.8L. You can always buy Aluminum wheels.

[bikeman1]

We have both a 2.4 and a 1.8. A lot of which you prefer should be based on things like -- where do you drive? (no hills or mountains -- the 1.8 is fine) Do you like to downshift? (in 3rd gear the 1.8 will go up most anything) Do you prefer extra fuel economy or extra power? With two, we have one for long trips over the mountains (like driving across the Allegheny Front at Seneca Rocks....) and one for those long boring trips across Ohio (sorry Buckeye friends...)

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by bikeman1 »We have both a 2.4 and a 1.8. A lot of which you prefer should be based on things like -- where do you drive? (no hills or mountains -- the 1.8 is fine) Do you like to downshift? (in 3rd gear the 1.8 will go up most anything) Do you prefer extra fuel economy or extra power? With two, we have one for long trips over the mountains (like driving across the Allegheny Front at Seneca Rocks....) and one for those long boring trips across Ohio (sorry Buckeye friends...) I have driven the West Virginia Turnpike [I-77] in trips from Columbus, OH to Wilmington. NC in my former 2003 1.8L. Never had any major problem going up the hills. Best not to use cruise as it tended to downshift a lot. Ten years ago when I had a 2.4L Plymouth SWB Voyager I had a problem. at times maintaining more than 50 mph going up some of those hills.My 3.3L V-6 in my SWB T&C has no problems.I might try my 2009 1.8L Vibe on our next trip there.

[bikeman1]

The I-77 trip is really gorgeous (2 tunnels) but has few steep grades, and we've done it in the 1.8 many a time....taking I-68 across or US 33, its nice to have the 2.4. I gotta say that in our limited time with the 2.4, it was a very good decision (given that we do lots of mountain driving). Its highway gas mileage is almost as good as the 1.8. Peppy little engine.Sorry for the diss on OH roads jake ....but you gotta admit that taking I-70 across will not seriously threaten to crack the "top 20 scenic drives" list anytime soon....they put roads like 470 around metro areas just to wake people up...