new member... lookin for a vibe

[anchorsteam]

Hey everyone!Nice to meet you, my name is 'anchorsteam'- its the beer I was drinking when I created this profile.So after 5 great years together I have decided it is time to move up in the car world from my '99 corolla, which is totally adequate for me in every way except 1. hauling capacity- I am in a band and need to pack way more stuff than I currently can- and 2. These days it requires such a regular infusion of repair $$$$ I am starting to resent it for that.After deciding I need a wagon-type car, and one that is fuel efficient, super reliable and cheap to repair, I started wondering 'where are all the corolla wagons?' After a little research, I discovered that it had disappeared to make way for the toyota matrix and consecutively, the vibe!So I have pretty much decided the vibe or matrix is the car that I want, and judging by what I can find used online, and my price range (My main question is, since Pontiac is discontinued, will it be harder to find parts for it, and thus make repairs cost way more? Or can I just tell my mech to "look for Matrix parts as well" and they will all fit? Or is the answer somewhere in between?O people who know way more about this than myself, please enlighten me!Thanks for your time,AnchorSteam

[vibenvy]

Quote, originally posted by anchorsteam »my name is 'anchorsteam'- its the beer I was drinking when I created this profile.LOL! Awesome !Welcome to GenVibe! You've certainly come to the right place to learn about everything Vibe!I am not too familiar with the 03-08 Vibes (I own an 09), but as far as Pontiac being discontinued, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Pretty much all the parts (except for some interior and obviously exterior) are the same between the Vibe and the Matrix. If anyone has to worry about finding parts, it's us 09-10 owners since the 09-10s were only around for two years. The 03-08s were around a lot longer and thus will be more plentiful in junkyards and all, making exterior and interior parts accessible for years to come.

[Serj22]

I picked my 04 up for $5k in the frozen northwest. Cars are generally way cheaper there for some reason. I must warn you though. I did buy a full drumset after getting my vibe and even with all the seats folded down, all of it did not fit in there without putting the hi-hat mostly disasembled in the front passenger seat and the double bass pedal sitting across the center console. MAybe its better to disasemble the entire kit down to the poles and all, but who does that? I sure don't. IT is a great car though.

[anchorsteam]

Quote, originally posted by Serj22 »I must warn you though. I did buy a full drumset after getting my vibe and even with all the seats folded down, all of it did not fit in there without putting the hi-hat mostly disasembled in the front passenger seat and the double bass pedal sitting across the center console.Yeah, I play guitar though... And all these models have a roof rack, right? That's where the drummer's gonna sit!

[Serj22]

Well if that's the case, my 6x12 fit in perfectly with both heads and 2 guitars stacked. Of course the 6x12 had to lay down, but still. You should be set then.

[journeyforce]

Well first off, welcome to Genvibe. The folks here are great folks with a lot of knowledge.You current car has the 1ZZ-FE 1.8l engine in it. The good news is that with the exception of a few upgrades(such as VVT-i) that is the same engine as in the 2003-2008 Vibe so parts should cost the same and the cost to work on it should be the same.You can get Toyota parts for your vibe just like your Corolla. Just use that years MatrixI find it closer and easier to order perts for my 2009 Vibe from the local Toyota dealer. I own a 2009 Vibe with the 1.8l engine. When I get parts from Toyota I order them from a 2009 Matrix Base 1.8l.2005-2008 the car was mildly revised with a better looking front end(in my opinion) that looked nothing like the Aztek. If you are in a area with alot of snow it might be better to look for a AWD VibeGood luck

[kostby]

Welcome to the GenVibe family!There are several threads (use SEARCH) about all the things we Vibe owners have hauled. Largest single item I've carried so far was a 22" snowblower, but I've routinely packed it absolutely full inside for trips taking my son to/from college.

[anchorsteam]

Nice! Pretty happy with the engine on my 'rolla, it really has not demanded much in the way of repairs in the time I've had it.AWD would be nice but I hear it taxes your mpg.. Honesty my corolla is fwd and it has been adequate for me up here, so I might still consider getting AWD but I don't know if it's a 'must'. Depends on what I can find up here I guess.

[star_deceiver]

Welcome to GenVibe!!! Hauled many things with mine... towed trailers...recently stuffed a couch in the back!

[journeyforce]

Well to save some money on your Corolla or Vibe you can get a service manual and start learning how to work on it yourself. With some practice it is very easy to work on the Corolla or Vibe and you can change your own brakes soon enough. Nothing gives more satisfaction then saving some coin and doing the job yourself and knowing it was done right

[ou.grizzly]

Welcome to the site.I was in Burlington last year at this time... Love the area and hope live there some day. If you can find a 2008 Vibe, that would be your best option I feel.

[anchorsteam]

allright.. the search is on! An 07 vibe just appeared on craigslist, 81k miles, auto and FWD (pretty much what I'm looking for) for $9500 (I decided I am not gonna go over $10000). Does that sound like a fair deal assuming the car is in great shape (as the ad says)?Might be looking at this today or tomorrow. Thanks

[anchorsteam]

well, no one asked, but I'll update ya anyway... The car looked great, its a shiny red vibe with a rack and a tow hitch, premium sound package, had no real issues and the owner is willing to be flexible with the price. I'm gonna have my mech check it out on monday and pending that, I think I'm gonna buy it!

[journeyforce]

It is a decent price. Book value on Kelly Blue Book for a private sale with the car listed as good condition is $9520.I will make one suggestion, when you buy it get the transmission fluid changed first thing. It has 81,000 miles on it and it also has a tow hitch on it so it might have been used to tow things. It cannot hurt to change the trans fluid to be safePost pics when you get it. The more I look at the 2005-2008 models the more I should have bought one instead of my 2009

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by journeyforce »It is a decent price. Book value on Kelly Blue Book for a private sale with the car listed as good condition is $9520.I will make one suggestion, when you buy it get the transmission fluid changed first thing. It has 81,000 miles on it and it also has a tow hitch on it so it might have been used to tow things. It cannot hurt to change the trans fluid to be safePost pics when you get it. The more I look at the 2005-2008 models the more I should have bought one instead of my 2009Why so? The safety options on the '09 at no increase in price seem to me to have been well worth it. I looked at a new'08 and decided the numbers were not right. Then all of a sudden in Jan. 2009 the 2009 numbers were right.

[journeyforce]

I park next to a 2008 all the time at home in the overflow lot(I should remember to take a pic of them for that parking next to other Vibe post on this forum) The 2008 actually looks better in my mind now that I am looking at one all the time. I also like how the 2003-2008 models have the ability to open just the glass on the tailgate instead of needing to open the whole tailgate.Then there is those pointless windows on the C-Pillar on the 2009-2010. What is the purpose of them. They amplify that blind spotI also think the sides of the 2009-2010 (at least the base version) look plain. I don't agree with a lot of cladding on some of these Pontiacs in the past but by 2008 the cladding was toned down to a tasteful sporty look.When I got my Vibe there was a white 2008 Vibe on the same lot with power everything including sunroof. It had 8000 more miles on it and was about $1000 more. I should have bought that one instead.

[anchorsteam]

Alright! Got the price talked down to $8k due to a few services needed (new tires, trans fluid change, and some brake work) but otherwise my mech checked out the car and it is in good shape.The owner is also taking care of the PCM recall, which he hadn't had done yet, and getting the windshield replaced (big ugly streak on it)...And then I'm gonna buy it! I'll have pictures up soon. Should have the car this week.Next order of business will then be to get an mp3-compatible stereo installed, which will be sweet with the monsoon subwoofer in the back!

[Wolfman213]

Congrats on your soon to be purchase!! Sounds like you are really getting a good deal and great that the current owner is getting those things taken care of for you as well.

[journeyforce]

Are you looking for a stereo for your iPod/iPhone? Look in to the followinghttp://www.pac-audio.com/produ...ID=36ORhttp:/ ... ID=24These two devices will plug into the back of your radio and let you retain the factory look and the Monsoon system. It will also allow you to control your iPod/iPhone through the radio. There is also http://www.pac-audio.com/produ...ID=45If you are just looking for an AUX portCheers I have the USAspec for my 2009 Vibe but I have a PAC system in my Aura

[anchorsteam]

Cool! thanks for the info journeyforce. So how does the sound quality compare in those two?The PAC just looks like a 1/8"-RCA cable! I'm sure there's more to it than that...

[journeyforce]

Which PAC the one for the AUX or the one for the iPod? Both of the PAC units have a wire that plugs into the radio from a small box that you hook the RCA cable in it. This box controls the abilities of the unit and in the case of the one for the iPod, it also charges itI thought they would offer a PAC PXAMG which has both an iPod connector and also a RCA (for using something as a AUX) both can be used at the same time(in my old Focus I had the Sat radio as AUX and the iPod)The USAspec device has both a iPod connector and an RCA port. The device charges the iPodThe sound on these devices are very good and are CD quality if not better. There is no static and no other issues. The nice thing is you can hide the device and control it with the radio buttons (as long as you are getting one for an iPod)You can get the devices for cheaper then listed on eBay. If you are looking for a simple effective device to allow your car radio to play an MP3 player then get one of these devices. I got it because I did not want to advertise I had an iPod or a fancy radio in my car and also because at least on the 2009 it requires add ons to allow the aftermarket radio to work in the car due to the integration of GM systems

[anchorsteam]

she's mine! picked the vibe up yesterday and love it so far. can't wait to go for a drive today.journeyforce, i've done some research on audio systems, looks like the ipod2car is the way to go... which is the same thing as the PAC PXDP if I'm not mistaken?Found some good prices online so I'll probably go with that.Getting tranny fluid, rotors & brakes done on tues. anything else I should look out for?Thanks for all the help folks!

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[journeyforce]

Nice Vibe. Yes that ipod2car setup will workGood luck