If you had it all to do over again...would you still buy it?

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 12:57 pm

Knowing what we all know now about the paint issues and other problems (though the paint seems to be the biggest), I wonder how many people would have bought another car instead of the Vibe if they had known beforehand?I know there are people out there buying them even now, with full knowledge of the issues, and that's great that they aren't being scared off, but surely some people are. Maybe some of us would have been as well.I love my Vibe...it's my baby. Would I buy it knowing what I know now? Absolutely. Would I take it and have another coat of clearcoat put on it the day I got it? You betcha.Be honest...if you had it all to do over again...knowing what you know now...would you still buy the Vibe?

Kissfan79 · Post by **Kissfan79** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 1:53 pm

Most definately. Probably the only other car I would have looked at would have been a Subaru WRX. But....the with extra room/practicality of the Vibe....not to mention the GM discount I got (grandfather retired from GM).....I could not pass it up.Jim

nate66 · Post by **nate66** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 3:22 pm

I'd still buy a Vibe, I haven't had a single problem with mine in 14,000 miles, not even paint problems.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 9:06 pm

definitely yes

Triton · Post by **Triton** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 9:13 pm

Definitely! I love my Vibe and have recommended it to others.

JustinVGT · Post by **JustinVGT** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 9:52 pm

Definitely! I love this car. I haven't had any problems at all and I am just about at 20K miles. I am worried about the clutch, but I sure hope GM takes care of this issue. The paint may be a little thin, but I haven't had any problems with it.

millster · Post by **millster** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 10:46 pm

If I had known at the time some of what I know now, I probably wouldn't have waited as long as I did before buying my Vibe. I would have gone right out and picked one up. So, I guess that would be a yes. Yes I would buy it again.

Reynoma · Post by **Reynoma** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 10:48 pm

Yes, but I probably would have waited for the perfect Base car instead of getting the GT. I think the engine is a waste for me, as I very, very rarely go above 4000 rpm.But, if my Vibe were to be totaled, would I get another one? Absolutely!

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 11:39 pm

i probably wouldn't, not because of anything to do with my blue chariot, just because it's a bit too expensive for me, it's going to make things tight when i move out of mommas. that issue aside though, i definitely would

ArcsVibe · Post by **ArcsVibe** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 5:31 am

Oh yes! This is by far the best car I have ever owned!

yank dini · Post by **yank dini** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 5:37 am

YoYo · Post by **YoYo** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 5:58 am

Yup - pretty happy with it so far (at 600 miles). Only thing I would consider is *maybe* getting a base model + supercharger instead of the GT. The insurance would be cheaper and it would be faster in the rev-range I usually use. But of course it wouldn't have 4 wheel disc brakes and the resale value wouldn't be as good.

meathead333 · Post by **meathead333** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 6:32 am

yes, but i still want a 2004 grand prix

scherry2 · Post by **scherry2** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 6:39 am

yes no question about it

slbpsi63 · Post by **slbpsi63** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 6:49 am

The only other car I would consider in today;s market is the new Mazda 3. I like the new desing and love the new interior. But yes the vibe probably would have won

GT_03 · Post by **GT_03** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 7:38 am

Being honest, No. I had a truck before, and could use a truck again. I really considering getting a 04 Dodge Ram Quad Cab 1500 w/Hemi & 20" rims

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 8:20 am

The Vibe is a very well thought out machine with lots of cool little things that add to it's overall appeal and a really great motor. Other than my 99 GMC Sierra, it's the best car I've owned. P.S. the truck doesn't get 44mpg

jake75 · Post by **jake75** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 9:17 am

Heh Heh at $5,065 off MSRP with rebates and discount I'd buy another one right now. GM may get that hard up again to have a $2,000 rebate and up my GM Card to $2,004 rebate this time from $2,003 last January. As for the paint problems, I've heard that about a lot of cars. [That GM card has been worth $5,200+ to me and my family over the years - not a bad deal.] Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you! Most of the time I get the bear! When I ordered my 2001 PT at MSRP the bear got me! But it was worth it.

savedbyzero · Post by **savedbyzero** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 9:37 am

I'd probably go with an Abyss Monotone base. Use the extra cash that I saved from going with base vs. GT to get turbo kit, wheels, springs. But, I don't have it to do all over agian...so, I'll wait for the Unichip PNP unit and get the wheels sometime...

MrRich · Post by **MrRich** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 10:02 am

O yes!After a year and 24K Km,with 0 problem!Exellent car!quote:But, if my Vibe were to be totaled, would I get another one? Maybe not.I change my cars every 1 or 2 years.Next Nissan Murano or Mazda RX8.

tots · Post by **tots** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 10:51 am

Kari -As a prospective buyer I am so glad you asked this. The paint issue has really been bugging me. It's so encouraging to hear folks' comments - seems like a resounding 'yes'. I hope that folks that have really had paint problems do chime in. Also, I hope this isn't sending the wrong message to GM - that the paint issue is not a decisive factor for buyers -- I think time will tell if the paint issue becomes the thing that makes or breaks the success of the product.

GT Guy · Post by **GT Guy** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 11:12 am

I am with Meathead on this one. Right after I bought my Gt, I helped my Mom pick out a new car. We ended up with a new Grand Prix GTP.Mom hits 80 in February. She traded in a Sedan De Ville with Northstar. Smooth ride. Prior to that she had a Pontiac SSEI. She likes some major torque of the line.

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 11:16 am

I really got to studying my front end today...and a lot of what I thought was bug guts was actually chips in the paint. So I have a lot more than I thought I did. Most are very tiny...I'll have to use a toothpick to get the touchup paint in the hole...but a couple are roughly 1/16"-1/8" in diameter. One of those is on the hood, the other is next to the Pontiac badge on the grille. Something needs to be done about this, on GM's behalf, or they WILL lose buyers, if they haven't already.

tots · Post by **tots** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 11:35 am

I can site at least one example - a co-worker's wife saw the Vibe and liked it enough to take test drive. The test drive went well. They then saw the numerous threads on this site regarding paint problems and were scared enough to say no to the Vibe and keep looking.So yes - I think it will eventually impact sales if not addressed - word of mouth is a very powerful marketing tool. As for myself - I still am torn between an emotional attachment to a fun and versatile car vs. the very real concern that the finish may be inferior to the point that I should not proceed with the purchase.

russ257 · Post by **russ257** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 11:40 am

i would i am very happy with the versitility although i might trade it in on a malibu maxx when i get some money. if those are as cool as i think they might be

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 11:57 am

I'm not sure I would say the finish is "inferior." My friend has a hybrid Honda Civic and his paint is thin as well. He is wanting a new paint job because of it. So it's not just Pontiac, it's not just the Vibe...it seems to be happening elsewhere too.

ArcsVibe · Post by **ArcsVibe** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 11:58 am

Hey Kari!Would you still have picked Neptune as your color? My first pick Shadow, but now me and the wife love our Neptune!!

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 12:21 pm

Absolutely. I ordered mine because I wanted Neptune. I it.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 12:25 pm

There's just something about the car that makes it fun. I haven't had paint problems, if I did my answer might be different.

E-Man · Post by **E-Man** » Sat Oct 04, 2003 7:44 am

Sorry to say it but NO I would not buy it if I had to do it all over again.Too many trips to the dealer to have problems (numerous rattles) that have not been fixed time and time again. I asked GM for help and got nothing - no assistance what-so-ever from them. I tried to resolve my problem through the BBB but go nowhere. I'll probably go to court now. I bought my car and should not have to live with these problems. GM sucks and the dealership I bought the car from Sucks.Just had to get it off my chest.Ed

redlava · Post by **redlava** » Sat Oct 04, 2003 11:12 pm

Oh yeah! I might have waited for the 2004 models because I want a fusion vibe. Fugures though, whenever I buy something big, two months later I see something I like better or something that is the same just cheaper. I am 99% satisified just a few little things I would have like different. But so far this is the car for me.

RoundUp · Post by **RoundUp** » Sat Oct 04, 2003 11:29 pm

Sorry to hear that. Squeak and rattle problems can be tough to solve because you have to be able to reproduce it in front of someone from the dealership. I used to have a Civic with an intermittent rattle that came from under the hood. It took several visits to the dealership. The only reason it finally got fixed was because a friend was riding in the car at the time that the noise recurred. When he went to look under the hood, he noticed that the latch was loose. When I went back to the dealership with this information, they were finally able to fix it. Is your problem reproducible? Have you tried going to other dealerships that have fixed similar ratttle problems? Maybe someone here could get you in touch with the Vibe Brand Quality Manager, Jeff Strausser. Based on posts from other members who have actually met him, it sounds like he knows about every little squeak and rattle that could potentially occur with this vehicle. Good luck.

baltimore17 · Post by **baltimore17** » Sun Oct 05, 2003 5:39 am

Yes I would. The GM credit card rebate keeps me in the GM fold, and GM makes no other small, economical wagon (oops, I mean crossover SUV). Don't want no 20 MPG fuel suckers.The build quality is excellent, although I have more chips in the paint after 11 months than I had on my Saturn SW2 after 10 years. Toyota could learn something about paint from Saturn.

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Tue Oct 07, 2003 3:54 pm

well, i waited to post here because i had really think about it. i love my vibe gt, no question. there are some things i don't like (paint issues, battery issues, clutch issues, etc), but these are all things i can fix or live with. the overall value is excellent even though i paid more than others for theirs. i don't mind. the only thing i would have really had to consider would be a WRX. if i could have gotten one for $22K with 1.9% financing for 72 mos, $0 down, then i probably would have gotten that instead. with that exception, yes, i would buy my Vibe all over again, just without the factory 17" rims/wheels, and with the sunroof! (as i originally wanted)altho i have some paint issues, i'm not really worried about it. i'm more concerned with the clutch (altho i plan to replace it w/ a TRD sport clutch) and battery (cold weather= Alaska!). all things that can be replaced. i know Jeff is working on these issues as we speak. i have faith (and hope ) that he will come thru for us all!i my vibe GT! It ROCKS!

pwarren4 · Post by **pwarren4** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 2:00 am

Yes I would, definately, positively, etc.I intend to keep a good coat of wax on especially the front end to help protect from the chips I've read about here.

philndz · Post by **philndz** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 3:25 am

Yes...I would definately do it all over again...I really would have liked a WRX wagon but after all the discounts and GMcard points (a gift from my father - they were useless to him) the car was not much over 10k.....you cant beat that! The car is fantastic......its comfortable, useful, sporty and has enough potential to be very quick and nimble.....when im out of my warranty its getting a turbo.I really have no problems w/ the paint....as soon as i noticed how easily it chipped w/ the first couple of chips i got the GM bra and i use it anytime im making highway trips......a year later the front end still looks great....you just have to make sure you take it off and clean the car and the bra often.-Phil

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 3:32 am

yes, everyone out there, remember to take the bra off every once in a while and clean underneath it! ladies...

Geo · Post by **Geo** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 4:44 am

Interesting question for sure :DI love my Vibe, it was a great help in moving into my new place for College (all the hook spots, foldable seats, plastic rear area, all PERFECT) and it's a blast to drive and handles quite well. The paint issues do still bother me, and that does factor into the issue of would I get a new one.When it comes time to replace this vehicle, I would for sure do it if:1) Fixed paint issues2) Came in a Automatic Manual (TripTronic as Audi calls it, various other variations of it)3) AWD Turbo/SC Option from factor for not that much more Those are the three things that would lock it in for me. Until then, I am still greatly in love with the Subaru WRX Sport Wagon (Also love the company for their support for the main passion in my life: CYCLING!) and if I am lucky enough, perhaps one of those one day ....(I mean, how sexi is this?: I still <3 my Vibe though

dmitri · Post by **dmitri** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 4:44 am

no. id get a rsx-s

shenandoah24 · Post by **shenandoah24** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 12:41 pm

I love my Vibe!! I would definitely do it all over again....My anniversary with my Vibe is October 24th....I'm going to get her professionally detailed as a gift.

good vibes · Post by **good vibes** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 1:09 pm

hmm Well, as much as I do like my Lil Vibe I do miss haveing the haulability of a pickup, I like to d landscaping and I can't realy throw a yard of mulch in the back of it and cary large stones. But for what it is I love it. So I guess what I am saying is I would like to have a pick-up and the Vibe... Hell I want it all.

shenandoah24 · Post by **shenandoah24** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 1:11 pm

Every household needs a pickup truck....that's just how it is. But my husband wishes that I had to drive the truck and he could drive my Vibe. Poor guy...it'll never happen

GonzagaVIBE_03 · Post by **GonzagaVIBE_03** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 3:58 pm

Nope! I like my Vibe, but I wished I had waited a little bit because there are some other cars that I would have seriously considered: Acura RSX, TSX, Honda Accord Coupe, Pontiac Grand Prix, GTO, Chevy Trailblazer, Toyota Solara, and a few others. I kinda got caught up in the Vibe and bought it without really thinking about it. Don't get me wrong, I like the Vibe, But I think there are other cars out there that would better suit my needs and longterm like of the style of the car. I have also had a lot of problems with my Vibe, which makes it hard to like a car. I also bought the AWD drive model, and it so slow with no torque. It is scary to pass on a two lane highway because it feels like the car is going nowhere.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 4:16 pm

Only reaosn I have a Vibe is because my Sunfire was totalled...so if that hadn't happened, I'd still be driving that, and would not be here. Damn I love and miss that car.That aside, if I had to do it again, would I, and the answer is, perhaps.There are a few things I don't like about it:* no trunk! I MISS having a trunk!* the paint. this is a serious issue, and if i had known the state my paint is in now, I would've turned away.* i think i stand out TOO much. been pulled over more in this car than any other car I've owned. And no, my driving habits are no worse -- actually, i'm a more careful driver in this car than i was in the last 3.* i miss being low -- can't take tight turns or swerve out of the way of another car without feeling like i'm gonna roll.On the other hand:* i love the styling* versatility and hauling capabilites are unparalleled in any car I've ever owned or considered* this baby can MOVE for a 4 bangah!* i'm not just another one in a sea of similar fish* few problems in the time i've owned it -- those i've had have either been caused by me, minor insignificant things, or easily fixed. Hence, I have to leave my decision at -- perhaps.

ag1f · Post by **ag1f** » Thu Oct 09, 2003 10:56 pm

It seems like everybody but me likes the Vibe. I would never buy one again and probably net even a Pontiac. This is the worst car that I have ever owned.Storage space is so cramped. The dash is almost invisible when the sun shines. The navigation system is really bad.Even worse is the inability to find anybody at Pontiac to contact.All thumbs down.

JustinVGT · Post by **JustinVGT** » Thu Oct 09, 2003 11:27 pm

[QUOTE]Storage space is so cramped. QUOTE]Sorry to hear you are so dissapointed with the Vibe, but I do wonder how you can say storage space is so cramped. This is a compact car with tons of storage space. I have easily carried many large items in my Vibe (kayaks, camping gear, bikes, large floor standing speakers, etc). The Vibe can carry almost as much as SUVs of a larger size (CRV, Escape, etc.). I'd like to know what you are comparing the storage space to, saying it "is so cramped". Don't be comparing it to a big ugly SUV like the Ford Excursion LOL. Just remember, you bought a car based off the Corolla platform. It offers a ton of space for a compact, but does not have the capacity of a large SUV or minivan (I know you didn't say that, but I would like to know what you are comparing it to).

ag1f · Post by **ag1f** » Thu Oct 09, 2003 11:58 pm

I am comparing it to any car that can hold golf bags. The day I bought the car I found out that my golf bag wouldn't fit in the back unless I took out some of the clubs. I had a small ford before and a small mercury before that.If you want to seat four then all the space is in the back and you can't carry golf clubs and luggage. You can't even get in the luggage for four people.

RoundUp · Post by **RoundUp** » Fri Oct 10, 2003 1:54 am

Which Ford and Mercury models are you talking about? You have to be comparing apples to apples. I've travelled in a number of smaller sized cars and have never been able to fit 2 suit cases in the trunk or hatch area, much less luggage for 4. (Focus, Neon, Cavalier, Kia Rio, Sunfire, Civic, Swift). One suit case always ends up in the back seat. The only one with a somewhat impressive trunk space for its size is the Malibu. Of course that is more of a mid-size car.

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Fri Oct 10, 2003 2:01 am

>if you put it on the roof rack, it will fit

ag1f · Post by **ag1f** » Fri Oct 10, 2003 6:15 am

I have had a couple of Ford Escorts and the equivalent in Mercury. More than twice as much storage space and easy to store golf clubs.