Crappy resale/trade-in already on the VIBE...

[NY Pete]

What a buzzkill. I checked on KBB.COM today just to see if the value is holding up at all on these cars, and unfortunately I was not surprised by the outcome. My car's original MSRP when I bought it in late February '03 - $18,530 Trade-in value as of now (17,000 miles) - $10,750 SHEESH! that's sad. I know everything's being rebated and stuff now, but to lose almost 50% of its value in less than a year? I got mine out the door for closer to $14,700 plus tax, but even with 4-year payments I'm already practically upside down! Argh! To hell with putting a $3000 supercharger on a car that is already worthless - that's like throwing good money after bad... I guess my only solace is the 35mpg this thing knocks down on the highway - that's already saved me a couple hundred dollars...Pete

[ragingfish]

I'm hurting more: $9865 US. I lost value because of the body work I had done after my accident, and I'm guessing having put on 28000 miles in just a year took a lot out of the value.I did a value estimate on an identically equipped and identical conditon Matrix, and it was only $10415. Only a $600 difference.Of course, that's trade-in.If I were to sell to a private party (which is unlikely), I could get $11,865. Not too bad IMHO.

[jake75]

Only reasonable way to look at it is what it cost you (not counting tax) less current trade-in value. $14,700 - 10,750 = 3,950 divided by 17,000 miles is 23 cents a mile depreciation. I think that's near normal for 1st year. I try to keep them 3 years and based on my $13,650 cost if I get 50% of that the net cost will be $190/month. Actually I think I will get about $9,500 as it will only have about 24,000 miles which is $115 a month or aboout 17 cents a mile.

[Merzbow]

I don't care about the re-sale. I love the car and I think it's worth it.

[Jahntassa]

I agree with Merzbow...I bought this car with the idea to keep it at least ten years. Same as the last one...But the resale value does suck...can't deny that!

[Reynoma]

Quote, originally posted by Merzbow »I don't care about the re-sale. I love the car and I think it's worth it. Here, Here...well said, well spoken.

[sylvainber]

bear in mind that depreciation is worst the first year and only 'slows down' between the 3rd and 5th year.i drive my cars almost into the ground (after my accident in december, i hope i can only mean this figuratively...). After 5 years, the rate of depreciation is much slower, the car is paid for and the long term maintenance should not be too bad for another 2-3 years on a toyota-based model.those 3-4 years (from 4-8) are the least expensive in terms of ownership. trading the car in that period is making a nice reliable used vehicle available and forfeiting (in some ways), the best years (albeit the 'thrill is gone' ones) of owning the car.you can probably tell i have a utilitarian view of car ownership. i read a couple of years ago that by keeping a car until it's blue book falls below any single large repair (e.g. under 1000-1500$), you can save something around 100,000$ over your driving lifetime (the article also recommended buying cars used (2-3 years old, from a 'proven reliability' brand - say toyota/honda) and keeping it 5-7 years.this is my first new car (circumstances dictated my choice when my old (9 yrs, in top shape) aspire was totalled when a little granny zonked out through a red light... i love the vibe (i had already pre-selected it to replace my aspire in fall '04 (in french, aspire is a derivative of 'vacuum cleaner'...lol).my goal is 10 years with this one

[tots]

Think about the reasons you bought your Vibe. For me every drive is a pleasure - the car stands out, and doesn't guzzle gas like so many needles SUVs on the road. If you hang on to it for years - and you should be able to - resale won't matter as much.

[Caretaker]

From a seller's viewpoint, there is no used car market. There hasn't been one for over 4 years. I feel sorry for anyone who buys a car based on emotion, and then desires to sell the thing within 4 years. Everyone should go into a showroom thinking they will keep the car at least 10 years. If you can't live with it that long, don't buy it. Nonetheless, the time to shop for your next car is the day after you have bought your new one. Why? Because you need to always be prepared for the worst (accident/deer destroying the car); remember, except for boat owners, this will likely be the second largest purchase you will ever make. Therefore, make a smart, informed decision. Always think about keeping your car 10 years.

[Kari]

Private party value on mine is $14,475...about $2000 less than what we paid with the GM discount.Trade-in value is $12,425.Not too bad, but I have very low mileage at 10,200 and I've had the car since Oct. 2002.

[msmyer]

Yeah, mine's paid off so I going to start making money on it! I'm goin' to drive it until it falls apart!

[AKLGT]

i have a long way to go before mine's paid off.... wish i was in the same boat as you!

[NY Pete]

Yeah, well, this is what hurts - before I bought the Vibe, I actually had a Mini Cooper S on order. I waited months and months and still had some time to wait (waiting list was about 8 months around here), and then decided to get the Vibe because owith the discounts it was way cheaper, and far more useful. But, as we all know, the Vibe doesn';t have nearly the cache as a Mini Cooper S. So my Mini would have been $21,499 before tax - and resale on IT right now happens to be $19,975. ARGH. My fiancee likes my Vibe though, so we'll keep it around for at least another year anyway. Maybe I'll concentrate on souping up our Jetta since I can add +35hp and +80 ft/lbs torque just by popping in a $500 chip, forget this $3000 s/c crap...Pete

[Sub-Vibe-R]

I took a look in the Canadan Black book and I compared the resale value between the Matrix and the Vibe.I took a exemple my Vibe and a Matrix XR, with the same equipment as mine and both with 17 000km.Here the resultVibe: between $12 594 and $14 234Matrix: between $13 978 and $14978So, the resale value is almost the same... all depend on the condition of the vehicule