Vibe vs. Tucson?

[bash1979]

Hi folks,First of all, I just want to say that this site rules! I've been lurking around for a while and I can't believe how many helpful people there are! Really good to see...keep it up! So...the reason for my post....I've been looking at buying a Vibe for quite some time now. At first, I had a hard time going between a Vibe/Matrix, but finally decided that I liked the Vibe better. But NOW, I'm faced with another dilemma....the Hyundai Tucson. I've been hearing some really good things, so I was wondering what your opinions are...-Has anyone looked at the Tucson before buying the Vibe? -Anyone heard anything good/bad about it?The darn thing comes loaded with so many options at such a cheap price with a pretty good warranty, so it's hard to just say no to it. Just thought I'd ask the experts!! Many thanks!!

[damronjr]

Vibe - YES!!!!Tuscon - NO!!!! Those things are hideous!Sorrento - YES!!!!

[PhillyVibeGT]

I truly believe that you get what you pay for, and Hyundai's have NO resale value at all if you would decide to trade it in.

[tnpartsguy]

Hyndai's quality has made leaps in the last few years, but their resell value is still lagging. If you decide to make a purchase, plan to keep it for the length of your contract. That said, the same would go for a Vibe. I bought mine used for less than $10K. yes, I work at a dealership, but I know this car could have been bought retail for $12k or less. ALSO, the Tucson seems more truck-like than the Vibe, so it really depends on your taste.....I like the Vibe better personally.........

[ColonelPanic]

Quote, originally posted by tnpartsguy »ALSO, the Tucson seems more truck-like than the Vibe, so it really depends on your taste.....I have to agree with you there! The Tucson definitely has this truck/SUV thing going on. Same for the Santa Fe, and that's one characteristic I'm not too crazy about. I just prefer wagons, and would never have the desire to drive some SUV... Looking at the Hyundai, I'm beginning to notice quite a bit of similarity between it and the Vibe. Looks like they give you the nice plastic floor with the seats that fold flat like the Vibe. Even the dash itself kinda reminds me of the Vibe, seeing how the shifter console sticks out of the dash instead of being mounted to the floor console. As to be expected, the Hyundai in base form absolutely blows away the Vibe in terms of standard equipment. Dual Front & Seat-mounted Side-impact Air Bags, Dual Roof-mounted Side Curtain Air Bags, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes with Anti-Lock Braking System, Traction Control System & Electronic Stability Program, 16" Aluminum Alloy Wheels, AM/FM/CD Audio System with 6 Speakers Power Windows, Door Locks & Heated Mirrors, Remote Keyless Entry System with Alarm, Cruise Control. And that's on the $17,499 base model!And the V6 is a very interesting option in a vehicle this size. Will smoke a base Vibe, that's for sure. Gas mileage is so-so, 26 on the highway with the V6. Not bad, but could be better.Based off the Elantra, I'd say this would be a decent little vehicle. Hyundai is putting out some very nice cars these days that are well worth taking a look at if you're in the market. If all goes well, I'll actually be getting rid of my Vibe later on this year in favor of the new '06 Sonata. I'm not too terribly concerned about reliability, Hyundai has improved dramatically, and I can name a few people I know who have late model Korean cars and have had way better luck with them than I have had with this Toyota product. Hyundais aren't as bad as many tend to think...As was mentioned, the resale value sucks. Then again, my '03 Vibe that had $19,300 on the sticker when new is now only worth around $9,000 on trade-in last time I checked. I'd check them both out and see which one fits your needs better. Both are decent cars. I prefer the Vibe's less SUV-ish appearance, but I think the Hyundai is by far a better deal.

[Vibe_dude]

i have driven one.......(my father-in- law has one)and i can tell u they are no hot rod.even with v6.the thing is like a box on wheels.no handling..poor conering.not to mention gas milage.very rough ride just like a truck.......stick with the vibe dude u will be much happier and more $$$$ in ur pocket too.

[fjf511]

I have to agree I test drove one before I bought my Vibe and it felt like it was going to fall over.

[Turbo5Speed]

A Hyundai has horrendous resale value and they're cheap cars (In a good way AND a bad way). On the plus side, they do have a good warranty, but I'd rather purchase a vehicle that doesn't need to be in the shop all the time, even if it IS under warranty..

[ColonelPanic]

I dunno, I've got a Vibe I can't keep out of the shop.... My philosophy: Anybody can chrn out a turd, even the almighty Toyota, as I've found with my car. Might as well get a car with more goodies without spending all that extra cash.... lol! That's how I look at it at least.I've learned my lesson. You do get what you pay for. But, sometimes you don't get what you paid for, which is about how I feel at the present. Two years into ownership, I can't say for sure if I really feel the quality of my car justified the $19K price tag.Then again, your mileage may vary. My experiences aren't the norm, from what it seems.

[goodvibe]

If you think the Vibes resale is bad, you haven't owned a Hundai. What you pay for a vehicle is the difference between purchase and resale. A loaded Vibe will turn out cheaper in the long haul.

[ColonelPanic]

Probably so, I certainly won't dispute that. The resale is pretty crappy.So like what was mentioned earlier, the Hyundai is definitely not something one would want to buy and dump in a couple of years.

[AKLGT]

i've considered the tucson, sorrento, and sante fe recently in my pursuit to get rid of my gt for something awd/4wd. the warranty on the hyundai's are awesome, but as everyone else has stated, the resale is less than desireable. if you plan to keep the car/suv forever, then the hyundai's not too bad as far as initial investment/value. however, if you are like me and change vehicles every 2-3 yrs, then i'd say stick with the higher resale valued vehicle. it's very difficult to sell a used hyundai... you can buy a new one for next to nothing! i've driven the sorrento and sante fe, not the tucson yet. the v6 is only 180/190 hp i believe and could stand to use some more power. plus, the gas mileage is also a bit lacking. next winter, i'll be replacing my gt most likely with a subaru legacy gt sedan. we'll still have the functionability of the vibe (which i love!) because phil will have his still (of course because he loves his base 5 spd). you really need to figure out what you want and what's more practical for you. also consider the fun factor! vibe is much more fun than any hyundai! (maybe the tiburon is close).

[ColonelPanic]

Speaking of the Sorento, I actually sat in one the other day at my dealer's lot... Nice guys, they leave their used stuff open with the keys in the ignition during business hours. '04 Sorento, 28000 (yikes!) miles, $16,998. But it was actually kinda cool on the inside - I liked the design and layout. But I couldn't do the SUV thing, just not me. If I get sitting up too much higher than the Vibe does, I'll kinda freak out. I bet the Subie will be a good ride for you up there, btw!

[AKLGT]

yep. been drooling on one for awhile now. with my warranty ending this summer, i can't really be without that security (my job won't allow it). plus, i've been sliding all over the place in the vibe this winter. (but i think it's due to my performance parts). still awd is the way to go for my job, plus i can write off a % of the lease payments! phil doesn't like the suv/truck thing either. lol. i do.... miss my tundra alot! don't miss paying at the pump though.

[goodvibe]

That's it. Buy a used Hyundai after the hit. How much of the warranty is transferabe? They're actually reliable but I've heard the dealers rarely correct minor problems. Can't see the problem or say it's normal.

[ColonelPanic]

That's the kicker right there... In order to get the 10/100,000 powertrain warranty, you have to buy the car new. If it's used, you still end up with a 5 year/60K bumper-to-bumper warranty which is still pretty good nonetheless when comparing against Ford, GM, and many others...IIRC, a few of the others (Chrysler, Suzuki, and probably more) have warranties that aren't as long, but will transfer to the new owner...

[Shane1V]

I agree, the Tucson is great with tons of features/looks. I have done a lot of reasearch on both these vehicles, and the Tucson is way better IMO. I drove it and it has good power and handles nicely. has more room than Vibe too. I would grab it in a second, especially since a well equipped 05 Vibe is about the same in cost as a GLS Tucson.(V6)...and the warranty blows away the Pontiac one!(blows away all other warranties- Kia & maybe Mitsubishi might be the same) BUT, I really can't afford either one new, so I am looking at a 2003 AWD Vibe.The Vibe is great looking, versitile etc, but I would much prefer the GLS Tucson, except for the gas mileage. I hope the Vibe I test this Monday impresses me, I wanna join the throngs of Vibe enthusiasts here

[Shane1V]

Oh, I'm so dissappointed.I just test drove an 05 Base Vibe, silver monotone (Looked beautiful) with Moons & Tunes, Side airbags, nice 16" alloy rims, ABS, no power pkg. Price was $21500 or so. It's "ok" to drive. Base feels pretty weak really(& I want the AWD!) & the ride was not great- every road bump/irregularity is pronounced. Handled well, though, nice cornering.I just can't believe this car is the same price as a Tucson GLS! You can get a fully loaded GLS with everything this Vibe had PLUS power EVERYTHING, heated mirrors, Traction & stability control, more airbags, a much better warranty, better ground clearance for snow, great looks, & more I'm probably forgetting for about $22300. The FULLY loaded 05 Vibe will cost significantly more and not have as much room, fewer features, a much less satisfying driving experience(IMO)...It's just no comparison to me. The main plus of the Vibe is the mileage.The 05' Vibe is way overpriced.I saw mentions of Vibes costing over $27G's!! Thats ridiculous for this type of car!It's a nice looking little sporty wagon, It would be a great value if they brought down the price significantly.I'm REALLY dissapointed. I was hoping I would be buying an 03 AWD Vibe Monday Think I'll wait and try to score a left over 05' Tucson late in the year for cheap.

[rAERRK]

That's way too much for a base.Our '05 GT was $21k out the door, fully loaded!

[Dave_ca]

27k USD for a vibe ? My at the time brand new 2003 Vibe GT fully loaded was under 27k Canadian! It would pay for you to shop around, thant is for sure. A note about the Kia Sportage/Hyundai Tucson- These are not sporty vehicles at all. Yes there drive is 'nice', fit and finish is awsome, and there V6 is decent, they have a very boring and uninspired drive compared to my Vibe GT. Gutless, Floating in a sea of body roll comes to my mind ;/ Plus after being spoiled with my 6 speed manual, a 4 speed auto seems so...boring!

[rAERRK]

I can't believe the stories I've been reading on here about the prices of Vibes. Sounds like the dealers are REALLY trying to make some money off of them.I guess we DID get a good deal on ours, 21k OTD. Funny thing is, we didn't even have to shop around or negociate, that was the price they gave us. They even went and got the car from another dealer out of state and delivered it for free.Guess we got a good dealer