Need a strategy to buy a Vibe/Matrix

[searcher]

I have to confess I have been out of the car market for many years, but unfortunately, due to the fact that my car was hit/totaled, I have no choice but buy a car.

Definitely, I'm set in getting a Vibe/Matrix. But I guess I must be lacking of the best method to approach a CL's seller. So far, I get no response I have contacted the seller email, phone number and nothing. On the other hand, the ones that responded were way off the wall, stock photos, and no communication whatsoever and even hangups.

Am I being too cynical, interpreting that these listings are nothing but a ploy to attract victims in order to take advantage of them when the go to see the car. Yes, I'm aware about meeting the seller at a public place. Just wondering.

I am motivated, ready to buy one but so far no luck. I'd hate to buy a car from a dealer, they are a bunch of crooks. I hate when their listings hide, price, mileage even contact. It makes me wonder if they are hiding. I also check Yelp, and the reviews are pretty scary.

[ehoff121]

Sorry to hear about your totaled car- hope you weren't in it at the time.

Buying a used car is really a gamble- even with perfect history records, you don't know what problems you'll end up with.

Personally, I've used web sites like Auto Trader and Car Gurus to find potential cars. Even though you say you don't like using dealers, the good ones give some kind of warranty and provide the CarFax on the listing. Any dealer that doesn't show the details of the vehicle doesn't deserve your business.

I'd avoid craigslist and ebay for exactly the reasons you've given.

[KRR]

Perhaps look elsewhere. Before I bought the '06, I was listing it for a friend on CL (for a percentage of sale price). In over a month, I had exactly *2* responses, one which when I called back never got in contact, the other from a guy who was going to be back in town in 3 weeks, and - get this - I had the car at a price nearly $1500 below local KBB, and stated/showed so on the CL ad. I guess people around here have no idea what great car a Vibe is; I know I didn't.
Try using SearchTempest.com to widen your CL search, & good luck!

[vibrologist]

Searcher: you also need a companion who is knowledgeable about cars to go with you to meet sellers.
Somebody like that guy:

no-country-for-old-men.jpg (23.15 KiB) Viewed 2777 times

[treesleavedents]

I found mine on cars.com, usually the large car selling sites will allow you to filter results by the type of seller. I would suggest that you hit up autotrader and cars.com and filter the results for private sellers only.

[ImUrOBGYN]

I purchased mine through CL and the process went great. That's just part of CL. A lot of people w/no proper idea on the selling/buying process and are clueless to customer service. The tradeoff for getting to use CL and find some great deals is learning to filter through the crap ads and the crap people.

[KRR]

The tradeoff for getting to use CL and find some great deals is learning to filter through the crap ads and the crap people.

+1 to that!

Just remembered - when I was researching this Vibe, I noticed that the car pricing guides (Edmunds, KBB, etc), have a tool for you to look at cars, searching by model.
I found an awesome Vibe down in Miami, low miles and priced *great*, that was too far away what with the one I found here in my backyard, but if I was really hungry for one, I could have taken a bus down...

[WhgVibe]

I say stay away from CL......lots of scammers on there.

[BenWA]

I say stay away from CL......lots of scammers on there.

I have bought and sold many vehicles on CL (my personal ones. not as a dealer) and it's always been a good experience. Like anything in life, you just have to use your common sense. A dealer, even a genuine GM one, can rip you off just as easily as a private party can, if you allow them to.

My Vibe I found on CL more than half way across the country. I contacted the seller and he agreed to hold the car for a day and a half so I could catch a flight down there to look at it. I explained that compared to prices here, it's worth the cost trip. He showed up to the bank a few blocks from the motel I stayed at just like he said he would (and he had texted shortly before to be sure *I* was still showing up). The car checked out when I got there and looked it over, so I bought it and drove it back home. Even with the travel expenses, it was a good price on the car and it's in pretty darn clean good condition. I made a mini vacation out of where I also got to visit friends and family in different two states after I got the car. The price of Matrix/Vibe around here in the Seattle area are inflated due to higher demand for 25-30mpg 4 door hatchbacks.

I set notifications in many major metro areas with international airports since flights are cheap between International airports (vs "regional" ones). Turns out the one I got just happened to be in the Dallas-Forth Worth area, so I was able to drive 3 hours further East to visit friends & family around Texarkana.

One time years back, I drove over 2 hours to look at a classic VW. The guy got all suspicious about the title ("I'll have get it to you later" which is dishonest seller code for "you'll never get a title") so I left without buying it. Over 4 hours of driving for nothing, but it's better than buying a useless no-title car.

[dmottv]

...I guess I must be lacking of the best method to approach a CL's seller. So far, I get no response I have contacted the seller email, phone number and nothing. On the other hand, the ones that responded were way off the wall, stock photos, and no communication whatsoever and even hangups. Am I being too cynical...

I've bought and sold a few cars and bikes on CL, with good experiences. But like you, I've had a few odd experiences: no return contact, unrealistic price, preset conditions, etc. One time, I thought was a no contact, then three weeks later, contact! Turned out he was out of state. It's all about finding the right seller and the right buyer, at the right time. Good luck!