odd car almost-buying experience. Do I want THIS Vibe??

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Mazzy21
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Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2013 3:12 pm
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan GO BLUE!! :)

odd car almost-buying experience. Do I want THIS Vibe??

Post by Mazzy21 »

So, after a full day of car shopping I have yet to drive a GT or an AWD. ~sigh~

I only found 3 that were within 75 miles, had a sunroof, and were black (which is kinda just a 'wishlist' thing but I figured I'd check the black ones out first). On my first choice the dealer wouldn't come down in price at all and his Vibe was over the price of all others listed (regardless of color) by about $2K - see ya, dude. That left one AWD and one GT. The GT was further away but I decided to go to that one first based on opinions I've gathered on GenVibe so I headed off to see it...

First I call the dealership to make sure the GT is still there. They tell me it's been shipped to another one of their dealerships. Car Guru tells me it's been on the market for a whopping 263 days!! and that it has changed in price three times. :shock: Still I go to the dealership it was shipped to...

That dealership couldn't find it. They said they never got it and to try another one of their 'ships. I leave the parking lot, see it in the back from the road, go back, and show them "it's right here in your back lot". I ask to drive it. They tell me it's in for service before they are selling it. I ask what's wrong with it. They tell me there's a sensor issue but otherwise the car runs great and that I *could* test drive it but they'd rather wait until they have it in top shape. Hmmm....

The Carfax says it has no accidents and only one owner but I'm starting to wonder how accurate Carfax might really be. I ask about the sensor issue again and they tell me that several lights are going off but that it's a 'bad sensor', nothing more. I ask if it's possible the whole computer in teh car is bad if multiple lights are going off. They say no, it's no big deal at all, they just have to replace the sensors and it'll be good as new. ?? However, I never got to drive it. :cry:

I did put a $500 deposit down on it to check it out once it's fixed AND they did do me a 'good faith' deed by telling me if they couldn't get it fixed by Wed (when I have to have my rental back) that they'd give me a car to drive until they were finished tinkering with the Vibe, but this sensor issue has me leery. They said the change in price (it went up) was because it was at their Chrysler dealership and that dealership didn't 'fix' it, they were selling 'as is' with the sensor issue and this dealership was their GM 'ship so they were fixing it and thus, the extra cost was the cost of parts/labor to replace the faulty sensor. We also haggle on price right then and I got a price I was satisfied with (pending my driving it and deciding to actually purchase it, of course), BUT right before I left the sales guy said "so this is the price we're looking at but we'll let you know if it goes up based on the cost of repairs." :evil: I responded with "If that car is one penny more I won't buy it" but really, I don't know how effective that was considering I was interested enough to put a deposit down. lol :oops:

Anyway, so I'm nervous about this sensor thing. I see on here that a '09 GT owner was having sensor problems and never figured out what the issue was (or at least the post doesn't seem to end in resolution). Part of me thinks that any given car dealer could 'fix' any number of issues and I'd never even know it so it's no biggie, and the other part of me is saying "why the hell would you buy a car that's in the shop before you even get to test drive it?"

~sigh~ I truly hate car shopping. I've never found it enjoyable or exciting. I just want to get my vehicle and get it over with as fast as possible.
KITT222
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Location: Flint, Michigan

Re: odd car almost-buying experience. Do I want THIS Vibe??

Post by KITT222 »

I'd really press on what type of sensor it is. That could be a big issue, or a little issue. Just tell them you want to know what they are replacing if you are to buy it. Then again, a test drive can make or break a car, so I'd definitely go on that. Then try out some other Vibes, too, in the meantime. Give an AWD a try, see if you can sacrifice color for a deal, try a private seller from Craigslist, expand horizons... you don't want to ge stuck with a car you're unhappy with because you didn't shop around.
Caretaker

Re: odd car almost-buying experience. Do I want THIS Vibe??

Post by Caretaker »

CarFax is a big ZERO. Forget that it even exists. Way too many accidents are not finding their way into the database. Move on and forget it exists. My search for a Vibe or Fit has centered on individual owners. I just don't trust dealerships at all. If I have to move on to a Camry or Accord given how many are out there for sale, I'll be able to find one with my name on it, sold by an individual seller who will tell me the truth about their car way before any dealer will. Dealerships have no clue about the cars they are selling, especially when it is a used car. I want to look someone in the eye and have them demonstrate that regular maintenance was done and that their eyes don't get shifty when they understand that I am putting my one and only son/daughter behind the wheel of their car as if their life depended on it.
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ColonelPanic
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Re: odd car almost-buying experience. Do I want THIS Vibe??

Post by ColonelPanic »

A "sensor issue." :lol: Sounds like a typical dealer response for when they don't know what is wrong with it but want to convince you it's an easy fix. Then, you buy the car and replace the "bad" sensor and your nightmares are only just beginning since that didn't fix the problem...
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Mazzy21
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Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan GO BLUE!! :)

Re: odd car almost-buying experience. Do I want THIS Vibe??

Post by Mazzy21 »

Thanks fellow Vibe-ers. I was already having serious second thoughts last night and by this morning dropped the idea entirely. I did find another (black, sunroof, GT - and I'm kinda diggin' the GT I have to say :) ) that I was wavering on yesterday because it's listed at just under $15K, which is higher than most, but it has very low mileage (30K), is certified, and is truly in excellent shape. I didn't WANT to spend $15K on a car they don't even produce anymore, but I'd rather spend a little more and get another great Vibe than save only maybe $1,000 and end up with a lemon.

You guys have been a huge help through this whole process and I can't wait to finally be the new owner of another VeeBay (or maybe this new one will get a new name since the "VeeBay" was my old one - I'll have to think on that. :D )
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vibenvy
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Re: odd car almost-buying experience. Do I want THIS Vibe??

Post by vibenvy »

My mom and I have been nothing but happy with our 2009 GTs since the days we brought them home 4 years ago. Keep us updated ;)!
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09vGT
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Re: odd car almost-buying experience. Do I want THIS Vibe??

Post by 09vGT »

I have 108,000 trouble free miles on my '09 GT! The GT is definitely the way to go on the second generation Vibes (awesome style) 8-)
Mazzy21
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Re: odd car almost-buying experience. Do I want THIS Vibe??

Post by Mazzy21 »

That dealership called me back and said the problem was an O2 sensor. I researched it last night (mostly on here) and it seems when a car throws an O2 sensor code that really there's another problem - at least that's what I walked away with from what I read. The dealership called me three times yesterday assuring me that it was "only" a faulty O2 sensor and that the car runs great. I'm not gonna buy it, but I have to say, each time they call me it is SO tempting to take it. They did me well as far as price point. They are offering it to me at 12550 on the road (about 3-4K cheaper than anywhere else). It has 70,000. But I just keep reminding myself of what I've read and how a deal isn't a deal at all if the car ends up in the shop over and over again from a problem that can't be found/fixed. ~sigh~

So instead I will be calling a place three hours away today, trying to haggle a price over the phone, and go for pick up this weekend. Did I mention the 'O2 sensor' car is just down the road? Ugh!! I'll say it again - I truly HATE car shopping! :|
Salsa Guy
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Re: odd car almost-buying experience. Do I want THIS Vibe??

Post by Salsa Guy »

What is the O2 code? That will tell us a lot. If it's a P0420 that points to a faulty CAT which can be $$$. If it's a P0171 then it could be just a simple air leak. There are many different O2 codes and very few are truly just a faulty Sensor
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Mazzy21
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Re: odd car almost-buying experience. Do I want THIS Vibe??

Post by Mazzy21 »

They didn't tell me what the code was and after I got off the phone with them it occurred to me that I should have asked. Regardless, I'm not buying it so it won't be my issue to deal with. It sucks that ultimately someone else is going to buy that car though and think that Vibes are crappy cars if/when they have problems with it. I'm coming from being a previous owner with well over 100K miles and not a single problem so I know what a great little car it is. Hopefully, for the sake of whoever the new owner will be, I just passed up a good deal instead of them getting a really bad one.
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