GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I'm looking to buy a used car for about $6,000 or less and I 'm not sure what to get. I need a reliable work car that can also be a family hauler if need be. I checked out consumer reports and found there what to buy list informative. I would like to purchase an '03 Vibe GT, Matrix XRS (only if I am very very lucky to find one for that price), Jeep grand Cherokee, or a Subaru(which would be a 1999 or so. Any ideas on other cars that would be good or any info on these will be appreciated! By the way, I am also looking for something that could possibly used a track car for auto-crossing and some performence mods, but this is not neccasary.

+1 for the Grand Cherokee, as long as it has the V6. The V8 that you can get on the older Grand Cherokees are nothing but trouble.

I really like the Cherokee's but Consumer Reports has rated them in the "what not to buy" category. I have always trusted CR since they have not led me wrong yet, which is why I bought the Vibe

i say go with a toyota, like a 4 runner or highlander, or even the rav 4

I've been a Jeep guy for a long long time. The V6 Grand Cherokees are great. The V8 Grand Cherokees are not. If you don't need to tow alot, the Jeep Cherokee (discontinued in 2001 and replace by the p.o.s. Liberty) are wonderful. My parents bought me one new when I graduated high school, and I put 205k on it before I had to do any major repair to it.

Do you know what year Jeep changed the body style from boxy to rounded? I like the rounded look as it seems more sporty and the look lasts with age.

The Grand Cherokee body changed in 99. Don't buy a 99, they have problems. 2000 + are really good.

Thanks for the input! I really want a Cherokee and have heard good things about them, but I wonder why CR rated them low in terms of a used vehicle. I even have an aunt that works at a Jeep dealer and can get me a friends/family discount which sells the car at about cost.

They really are good cars. I loved my Jeep, and will be getting another.

Quote, originally posted by Scootman! »Thanks for the input! I really want a Cherokee and have heard good things about them, but I wonder why CR rated them low in terms of a used vehicle. I even have an aunt that works at a Jeep dealer and can get me a friends/family discount which sells the car at about cost.I assume you mean they will sell you even a used car at "about cost". Dealer's make a lot of money on used cars (compared to new ones) so if you can get what you "want", a used Cherokee, at cost (near auction price) that is a good deal. Private parties also often overprice their cars and those that are priced right sell fast so looking for one for sale by a private party can be frustrating.

Quote, originally posted by Scootman! »I'm looking to buy a used car for about $6,000 or less and I 'm not sure what to get. I need a reliable work car that can also be a family hauler if need be. I checked out consumer reports and found there what to buy list informative. I would like to purchase an '03 Vibe GT, Matrix XRS (only if I am very very lucky to find one for that price), Jeep grand Cherokee, or a Subaru(which would be a 1999 or so. Any ideas on other cars that would be good or any info on these will be appreciated! By the way, I am also looking for something that could possibly used a track car for auto-crossing and some performence mods, but this is not neccasary.From what I have observed, it would be difficult to find a 2003 Vibe (not GT) of Matrix XRS for under $6,000 unless perhaps it was extremely high mileage and/or beat up.

Thats why I said very very lucky to find one And in terms of the Jeep, the dealership does sell used vehicles at cost or close to it. My cousin purchased a 1999 Grand Cherokee with 90 k for $5,000 about a year ago.

Quote, originally posted by Scootman! ».......................but I wonder why CR rated them low in terms of a used vehicle.....................CR didn't actually rate the Cherokee low.......rather, they just report the results of thousands of surveys in which Cherokee owners rated it low.

I have a Vibe for sale, but Im too far...in Vegas

get a 1986 chrysler lebaron with the wood panels. those are classics Quote, originally posted by ProtonXX »I have a Vibe for sale, but Im too far...in Vegasyou're sellin the vibe again?? i thought you fixed it, or am i thinkin of another member from vegas... hmm

Honestly, look around and decide on the price and lowest mileage. Any used car will only be as good as it was taken care of, domestic or foreign. I hate CR and CR called themselves out on their own bluff months ago when they said their new car data for Toyota was years old, they never updated it but kept using it. So unfair! Something to that effect. I lost even more respect for that rag! JMO though...Also, CR cannot check out the car you may buy so have a technician do it! I had a 2001 Cherokee Sport on a lease. Only went to the dealer for a bad U Joint. Sister had a 1998 Subi Forester and the trans was going. She traded it in at 70,000 miles. I know not all Subis have trans issues but hers did, so be sure and check it out well. All the AWD compontents to if you go that route.

I agree with ToolGuy here. While I used to view CR as the bible, I began to question why every Toyota was being recommended, despite some problems in some areas. Turns out, they have not been consistently performing their due diligence.How long are you looking for this vehicle to last? Is it going to be a forever car or no? If you are looking for a car that may last a bit longer with good part support in the event of a breakdown, look at a civic or maybe you get lucky with an accord.I'd be cautious with a Subaru - specifically if it's a sporty model. Namely, because they tend to get driven hard. I like new Subies and Subies driven by my great-grandma, but not one that the 18 yr old down the street owned.Instead of trusting CR anymore, I'm more prone to trust edmunds.com

Thanks for the info regarding CR and I am going to check edmunds.com for further research. I leaning towards a Jeep or possibly an Accord, but I'm keeping my options open.

I wouldn't count Subaru out of the fray... I can tell you much from expierance, they rock... Getting something like a Legesy Wagon would be perfect and overall would end up having MORE room inside than a Jeep... they do MANY MANY things that trucks do, with better milage.. (strong 2.5l 4cyl)I know for a fact, i've hauled trailers, pulled many a car out of snowbanks, loaded it up with everything possible.... My car was a Impreza RS, which shares the same drivetrain as a Legasy, but it's just a litle bit smaller. Almost all the subarus, that your 6000 would buy shared the same 2.5l drivetrain, besides the WRX, which was a 2.0l turbo... Just to give you an idea....I'm not saying "GO FOR IT", i'm just saying don't discount it, quite yet... Here is a link to the LARGEST Subaru (sale section) forum out there... over 150k members strong for you to take a look at... http://forums.nasioc.com/forum...?f=89

Quote, originally posted by Sublimewind »I wouldn't count Subaru out of the fray... I can tell you much from expierance, they rock... Getting something like a Legesy Wagon would be perfect and overall would end up having MORE room inside than a Jeep... they do MANY MANY things that trucks do, with better milage.. (strong 2.5l 4cyl)I know for a fact, i've hauled trailers, pulled many a car out of snowbanks, loaded it up with everything possible.... My car was a Impreza RS, which shares the same drivetrain as a Legasy, but it's just a litle bit smaller. Almost all the subarus, that your 6000 would buy shared the same 2.5l drivetrain, besides the WRX, which was a 2.0l turbo... +1 for Subie! Back in the day, before I met my wife, my girlfriends dad would make fun of me cuz I drove a station wagon. One night he called me about 10:30 while I was out with his daughter. He asked me if I would come pull him out of a ditch. I told him I would only if he would stop making fun of my Subaru station wagon. When we found him, thinking he was in his Mazda Miata, I was very shocked to see the '87 Jeep Cherokee stuck in the ditch. Subie's are very capable vehicles. The only reason I traded my Subie for a Jeep, Jeep's are much better off-road.

I wasn't suggesting to NOT get a Subaru - I was suggesting that he should be cautious, specifically if he chooses something like an early model WRX...Most people tout Subaru's excellent handling in inclement weather as one of the reasons to get them, but that doesn't apply to me given my residence in Phoenix Metro area...we don't get snow but once every 10 or 12 years and when we do, I stay off the road because no one here knows how to drive in it.

Quote, originally posted by engineertwin2 »I wasn't suggesting to NOT get a Subaru - I was suggesting that he should be cautious, specifically if he chooses something like an early model WRX...Never thought you did mang... It just went in to a "Jeep thang" really quickly and you simply can't go doin that to a Subie guy...lol Also, being that the OP is in IL, it would behoove him to consider such a car...

Quote, originally posted by Sublimewind »Also, being that the OP is in IL, it would behoove him to consider such a car... you'd be surprised, i live in IL, and we only get maybe 1 substantial snowfall per year here, and it usually only stays on the ground for a few days. unfortunately, i rarely got to utilize my AWD vibe.

Quote, originally posted by drunkenmaxx »you'd be surprised, i live in IL, and we only get maybe 1 substantial snowfall per year here, and it usually only stays on the ground for a few days. unfortunately, i rarely got to utilize my AWD vibe.hmm... well, I would stand corrected then... lol.... It's still nice to hit the trails or the beach in a Subie, and embarrise the CRAP outta some of the 4WD guys.. lol... there is a while Subie niche that does wheeling... lol...

Well after being away from GenVibe for a few days and talking to some people who have had subaru's or jeeps my hands are tied?!?!I was leaning toward the jeep, but now I have no idea! This is what I was told about Subarus: Great until the trans goes or anything else since most parts and labor is insanely exspensive.Jeep: A little more cash with possible trans problems....anyone have any clue about these problems? Both the Jeep and Subarus I am finding have at least 95,000+ miles on them which makes it even more difficult to choose.