Looking to buy - couple of questions

[misterT]

I'm looking at buying a 2006 manual transmission vibe. The car has 100k miles on it and I hope to get alot more miles out of it. Reliability is really my top concern.I checked the consumer reports review of the 06 vibe and it indicated worse than normal fuel system issues. Does anybody know what those are exactly? Are there any other problems that are common to the vibe that I should know about before purchasing? Can I really expect a vibe to be as reliable as a corolla?Thanks!

[jake75]

I think you can reasonably expect the Vibe to be as reliable as a Corolla, but just remember, not every Corolla is reliable. My cousin was a used car dealer. He said that the problem today is that unlike years ago the car body still looks pretty good at 100,000 miles, but that can be deceiving. My personal feeling is that the price of high mileage cars does not really adequately reflect the wear and tear. My advice would be that unless the price is compelling, keep looking until you found something with no more than 50,000 miles.

[star_deceiver]

How much is said Vibe? Colour, options, stick/slush, AWD, GT, moons and tunes??????

[misterT]

its a base vibe - stick shift. No special options that I am aware of. They are asking $6600 but Im hoping to get it closer to 6k. I'd like a stick shift but they are very very hard to find. I'd love to buy an 09 but am trying to stick to my budget.

[j42.snyder]

Statistically, it should be a reliable car - but no two used cars are alike. Every owner treats them differently.I'd want to see as much history on the vehicle as possible - especially insurance records. I also look closely at tires and how they're worn. Even wear indicates that they were probably fairly diligent with maintenance (rotations) and didn't drive it too hard. Two fresh tires on the front only may indicate the opposite.Take it for a good test drive. Make sure the clutch take-up feels right, and that all up and down shifts work properly without any strange noises or effort. Find a rougher road, and listen for unusual noises in the suspension. (The plastic interiors always make a bit of noise - but nothing terrible. That's why radios were invented;) Brake firmly on a flat road and make sure it doesn't pull or lock up prematurely. The parking brake should work as well, if you can find a hill to try it on.Take a look under the hood and check the fluids you can see (oil, coolant, brake/clutch, and power steering). Look inside the oil filler cap to make sure it isn't packed full of sludge (lack of proper oil changes). The coolant reservoir should be fairly clear to see the coolant. If it's covered inside with a brown film - there's probably been an issue and stop leak has been added. Brake/clutch fluid should be clear, and the power steering fluid shouldn't smell burnt.If everything there passes, and you're content with the car's overall condition, then hopefully you've found yourself a nice ride that will last you for several years with proper care. ANY vehicle purchase can be a bit of a gamble - but buying something with a good track record is always a safer place to start. I work with several Vibe/Matrix owners from around that year, and I have yet to hear of any complaints. Usually just stories like "you wouldn't believe what I fit in my car last weekend".Also make sure you're happy with the firmer ride. You'll never confuse it with an older Buick for sure... which is a good thing if you like going around corners!Good luck - and keep us posted!John

[star_deceiver]

Quote, originally posted by j42.snyder »I'd want to see as much history on the vehicle as possible - especially insurance records. Maintenance records, recalls, major work reciepts... the less info, the lower the price!!!Don't forget to poke your head under the car and look at the condition of the exhaust, brake/fuel lines, unibody, ect!!!

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by j42.snyder »Statistically, it should be a reliable car - but no two used cars are alike. Every owner treats them differently.And even no two new cars are sure to be alike.Many advise having a trusted mechanic look ti over - might cost you $100. It's probably worth the cost but even they can't see/find every weakness. A part can fail at any moment without warning.

[808 Vibes]

Welcome. We've never had any fuel system issues with either of our 06's. Frosty had a bad battery very early on, replaced under warranty, that was it. Good luck

[rAERRK]

going on 70k on my 05 GT without a single issue, aside from the clutch going out around 60k. guess i cant really speak as far as high mileage or corollas go, but id say its been pretty reliable

[misterT]

decided to pass on the 06 vibe. After checking the history report its been in 3 owners hands and came up for dealer auction 3 times. Just no way to know if it was taken care of. Now looking at an 04 matrix with 50k miles and one owner. I like the vibe better too but am trying not to be picky.

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by misterT »decided to pass on the 06 vibe. After checking the history report its been in 3 owners hands and came up for dealer auction 3 times. Just no way to know if it was taken care of. Now looking at an 04 matrix with 50k miles and one owner. I like the vibe better too but am trying not to be picky.What are they asking for that one?

[misterT]

Bought the matrix last week for 8200. Really like it so far. I prefer the vibe styling but am happy with my purchase. Thanks for your help everyone

[star_deceiver]

Glad we could be of service!!! Did you get the stick???