Noob with a long story...

[Suprtek]

For 10 years I drove a Dodge Dakota Quad Cab with the 4.7 and all the trimmings. I liked the truck a lot. However, the kids grew up and rarely went anywhere with me anymore. Gas prices were killing me and the truck was getting tired. So I started doing some research on what cars in my price range would offer good reliability, great cargo space, good looks and a fair amount of fun factor. Once I discovered the Vibe, I decided it would be hard to beat. I ended up with an '04 GT in the "burnt orange" color (I forget the factory paint name). The car is awesome and spending half what I used to on gas is just icing on the cake.

So I had the car a week and decided to have a bonehead moment. I offer no excuses for this one, I just screwed up. I backed into a stupid payphone at a gas station. It didn't look too bad but the damage ended up costing over $1200. Much to the chagrin of my insurance company, the car was repaired and all was well. I drove the car for another week and I was enjoying life...until yesterday.

On my way home from work someone decided to stop abruptly in front of me for no apparent reason. I had taken my eyes off them momentarily to glance at the upcoming light. Just as I was arriving at the intersection, the light changed to yellow. I determined that I was too close already to stop and mentally decided I was going through. When my eyes returned to the vehicle ahead of me they we already nearly stopped. I had to veer into the right turn lane to avoid them. My intent was to just continue through the intersection. Since the vehicle in front of me had stopped, a van in the oncoming lane decided to turn in front of me. I hold no malice toward them, they had no reason to do otherwise. I swiped the front end of this van which sent me further to the right towards the corner of the intersection and other stopped cars. There was no room to leave the road without hitting something. I did not want to hit another car so I ended up eating a light pole...hard. This all happened in a matter of about a second.

I don't claim to have absolutely no fault in this. It is possible that I may have been too close to the vehicle in front of me although that is not my habit. I do know that the vehicle that stopped in front of me had no good reason to be there. They had to have started braking long before the light turned yellow. My suspicion is they were attempting a left turn from the center lane even though a left turn lane was present. That doesn't really matter at this point because its over and they didn't bother to stick around. The good news is despite the fact that the light pole ended up less than a foot away from my feet, I'm perfectly fine. Not a mark on me, nothing is even sore. Bad news, I have no doubt the car is totaled.

I fully intend to try to find another one because I just fell in love with the car. It may take a while though because what I have found on line near me so far doesn't look promising. I prefer the '03 '04 models because the front ends just look better IMO. So if anyone knows of any GTs anywhere within 6 hours or so of Indianapolis, let me know? Considering what I've found so far, I'm thinking that somewhere between 5500 and 7000 for a clean car with less than 130k miles or so should be in the right ballpark. If you're still reading this, you are very patient and I thank you for your time.

[hotbug1776]

First of let me say, paragraphs.

Secondly, even the base model is a fun car with even simple upgrades, and still gets a great gas mileage. If it's the 6 speed that is keeping you from the base, you can buy a 6 speed for the base and still get good gas mileage (Japanese 6 speed has the same FDR as the American 5 speed). Supercharge or turbo and you're talking a sweet ride.

[Suprtek]

First of let me say, paragraphs.

Secondly, even the base model is a fun car with even simple upgrades, and still gets a great gas mileage. If it's the 6 speed that is keeping you from the base, you can buy a 6 speed for the base and still get good gas mileage (Japanese 6 speed has the same FDR as the American 5 speed). Supercharge or turbo and you're talking a sweet ride.

Yes, I've been guilty of the paragraph thing before. It's been corrected.

I'm not opposed at all to a base, I'm just attracted to the GT because that's what I had. I definitely want a manual transmission but a 5 speed would work fine. I'm pretty much stuck on getting a sunroof as well.

[star_deceiver]

Welcome to GenVibe!!!

Start your search at '05 and newer for stickshift base models. The '03 and '04' 5 speed manual transmissions have known bearing issues.

[Suprtek]

Welcome to GenVibe!!!

Start your search at '05 and newer for stickshift base models. The '03 and '04' 5 speed manual transmissions have known bearing issues.

Great info! I appreciate it. That's too bad though because although I think all vibes are great looking cars, the '03, '04 models are my favorite in the looks department.

[hotbug1776]

Welcome to GenVibe!!!

Start your search at '05 and newer for stickshift base models. The '03 and '04' 5 speed manual transmissions have known bearing issues.

or, get a 03 04 base, and get the 6 speed right off the bat. LOL

well, that, or get an 05 and put the older front end on it.

[Suprtek]

Here's a pic that my son took when he and his mom came to pick me up.

[trb]

That is a sad picture.... such a nice color and a GT too. But welcome and glad you are OK and looking for another Vibe! One thing to consider, if you do end up with a 05-08 model, would be to pull the top console and the arm rest from your 04 since they changed to a smaller single console compartment on the later models. Lot of people grab them and upgrade to the dual compartment model.

Good luck in your insurance trials and your search for a new car.

[joatmon]

Welcome to genvibe

I don't know if I could have reacted fast enough to select the impact target so congrats on that, that's a great skill, regardless of why you needed to use it.

Keep looking on cars.com and autotrader.com for the one you want. Craigslist may have some too but it seems that people selling cars also post them on one or both of the other two sites.

If it were me I would try to find one that was as close as possible to the configuration I wanted instead of buying a different one and then modding it. Mods are great for a lot of people but I don't have the time to do much to mine beyond maintenance.

Remember that the first generation GT's required 89 octane fuel which costs more than regular.

[hotbug1776]

I don't see the problem, that should buff right out.

Sad pic there.

Ditto on stripping what you can. It does help in making your new car feel like the old one.

[vibenvy]

Welcome to GenVibe! That picture makes me cringe . Glad to hear you were not injured though. That's the most important thing. As others have said, I would continue searching for a Vibe with everything you want instead of trying to switch front ends or swap transmissions, etc. It will be easier, cheaper and less time consuming in the long run. Good luck with your search. Keep us updated.

[Suprtek]

Thanks for the good thoughts and advice everyone. If the car gets totaled, it will be owned by the insurance company so getting parts from it won't be an option. They might be willing to let me keep it, but that would reduce the amount of my settlement and make it much more difficult to buy another one. My first choice is definitely an '04 GT but since that might be difficult to find and I can't go too long without a vehicle, I may need to keep my options open.

I'll post updates as the situation changes. It'll likely be at least a few more days before I even hear back from the insurance company. Is it appropriate to continue those updates in this thread or is there a more appropriate section for that?

[zyzyix]

Hi and Welcome. Sorry to hear and see about your Vibe. Autotrader would be a nice place to start your search. There are a few near me in Cleveland Oh (even one with under 20K, though it is not a GT, but it is an '04). For some reason, here in Cleveland, the Vibes that are for sale are heavily discounted after sitting for a few weeks. Regardless of what you do, good luck in your seach, and I hope you find a nice GT soon.

[joatmon]

Is it appropriate to continue those updates in this thread or is there a more appropriate section for that?

my personal preference would be for you to keep updating this thread, because the info would be all in one place. If you get another and have a specific question about it, then maybe put that in another thread. but it really doesn't matter. On some other forums people flame you for not sticking to that forums conventions. You will find that we are pretty laid back about such things here, we're more interested in what you have to say than where you say it.

[vibenvy]

my personal preference would be for you to keep updating this thread, because the info would be all in one place. If you get another and have a specific question about it, then maybe put that in another thread. but it really doesn't matter. On some other forums people flame you for not sticking to that forums conventions. You will find that we are pretty laid back about such things here, we're more interested in what you have to say than where you say it.

Couldn't have said it better myself!

[Suprtek]

You will find that we are pretty laid back about such things here, we're more interested in what you have to say than where you say it.

Good to know! Thanks!

[zyzyix]

One thing to consider, if I recall there was a possible issue with the 03-05 Vibes with regards to oil level being read on the dipstick. I think one that read a little more oil was the fix, because Vibes of these years may have been running on slightly less oil, which may result in oil burning/use issues at higher engine mileage.

[Wingnut]

I don't see the problem, that should buff right out.

Sad pic there.

Ditto on stripping what you can. It does help in making your new car feel like the old one.

LOL!! That sucks. Oh well... Wasn't meant to be. Buy another one. I have an 04 base with a 5 speed manual. Replaced the clutch to a ACT 4 puck and have had no problems! I bought are's brand new and it is the best car I have ever had. I don't even have so much as a ding in mine!

[Suprtek]

Well the only update that I have at this point is that it appears my insurance company is being relatively generous in the settlement. So I might be able to move up quite a bit. Hopefully I can get into a newer model with lower miles.

I do have a question though. What's the consensus about the 5 speed automatic transmission and how well does it perform in "manual" mode?

[trb]

I do have a question though. What's the consensus about the 5 speed automatic transmission and how well does it perform in "manual" mode?

Well, if you are expecting it to work like a manual transmission, no, it is not. The sport mode basically lets you select a top gear, and that's about it. It is still sluggish and boring and more trouble than it is worth IMO. I really WISH I had a real manual, but I had to relent for the good of the family. I do use it to downshift and slow down at times, like when I'm approaching a slower car. Then it is already in a lower gear to pass the person in front of me when traffic clears around us. The times I have tried to start in 1st and manually shift through the gears, I usually hit the redline before it shifts to the next gear, or I forget you have to push UP on the lever to upshift. I'm used to my Mustang's 5 speed gear pattern, I guess.

[tpollauf]

Just now reading this post. Very sad to see one of the rare Vibes now out of circulation The 2010 color was called Ignition Orange which I wanted REAL BAD but would have lost $2500 in 2009 incentives so I went with my Red choice on my 09 Vibe GT. Don't know if anybody out there has done this yet, but I'd think the 03-04 nose would easily bolt up to the 05-08 Vibes? Yeah ??? This way you could be driving a newer Vibe but still have the front end look that many of us (including ME) prefer. Good luck

[Suprtek]

Dang! I just located a really nice 03GT with only 62K on it not too far from me. The price isn't too bad either. I just can't make myself buy one without the sunroof though.

[Suprtek]

OK, I just located an 06GT with only 54K on it right here in town. It's an individual seller and he's asking $11,000. I sent him a message offering him $9000 pending inspection. Sound reasonable?

[felixturcotte22]

OK, I just located an 06GT with only 54K on it right here in town. It's an individual seller and he's asking $11,000. I sent him a message offering him $9000 pending inspection. Sound reasonable?

looks like a good deal as long as it was well taken care of !
good luck !

[Suprtek]

looks like a good deal as long as it was well taken care of !
good luck !

It's advertised as a one owner car and the pics look good. I'm not going to even look at it unless he is willing to accept my offer because that's already more than I wanted to spend. It may be a shot in the dark. The seller would have to be willing to accept a deposit and hold the car for about a week till my check comes in. It looked like a good deal to me too so I figured it couldn't hurt to ask. We'll see!

[felixturcotte22]

It's advertised as a one owner car and the pics look good. I'm not going to even look at it unless he is willing to accept my offer because that's already more than I wanted to spend. It may be a shot in the dark. The seller would have to be willing to accept a deposit and hold the car for about a week till my check comes in. It looked like a good deal to me too so I figured it couldn't hurt to ask. We'll see!

Is this going to be your first vibe ?

[Suprtek]

Is this going to be your first vibe ?

Nope. My first one is the wrecked one pictured above...

[felixturcotte22]

Nope. My first one is the wrecked one pictured above...

oups.. i'm sorry for your car :S

[Suprtek]

Yeah, me too!

[Suprtek]

Got a lead on a 2006 GT with only a little over 50K that's really close to me. I made an offer but the seller is still holding out for a higher one. We'll see how it goes!

[Mariachi]

Got a lead on a 2006 GT with only a little over 50K that's really close to me. I made an offer but the seller is still holding out for a higher one. We'll see how it goes!

2006 GT? did they even make a GT after 2004?????? in the 1st gen model that is

[trb]

Got a lead on a 2006 GT with only a little over 50K that's really close to me. I made an offer but the seller is still holding out for a higher one. We'll see how it goes!

2006 GT? did they even make a GT after 2004?????? in the 1st gen model that is

From my research before buying my 10GT, I found that a very few GTs were made in 06. I think they were still listed in the 06 Vibe dealer brochure, I got a brochure for my son's car, but very few were sold. I would have liked an 05 or 06 GT, but every one I found was like over 1,000 miles from me.

[dewaker]

I have a 2006 GT with less that 32 thousand miles. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dewaker/se ... 01/detail/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=39424&p=470827#p470827" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[thebarber]

A couple things:
1. Sorry about your 04
2. The 03/04 front DOES look better (to me, too)
3. The 6 speed transmission bolts right up to the 1zzfe, too. I have a base vibe (with all the options) in my driveway in need of a new transmission - - c60 waiting to go in
4. 05/06 GT's are rare, but lift at 6800rpm sucks....drive one before you buy it. However there is a patch harness so toucan run an 03 ecu for 6200rpm lift
5. Don't forget GT's use 91 octane
6. There's nothing like lift, but depending on how and where you drive, a 1zz vibe might suit you better

[Sparkeyoo7]

Sorry to here about your loss..... but happy to see that no one got seriously injured. You had a rare vibe on your hands especially the burnt orange. Getting another one might be a bit of a task though because no one really wants to part with them so paying a bit more for one might be the only option when one does become available. I have an 05 base 5 speed I bought it July it has 150k yes the miles are high but I am the second owner and it is all highway and the previous owner took exceptional care of it I also plan on doing the same but maybe you will get lucky like I did and find a seller who doesn't really know the value of the vibe. I picked up mine up for 3,500$ CND I literally stole it. just be patient like I did and I am sure you will get lucky Good luck.....