Car shopping

[02csnow]

My dad is looking to get a new car. So today I went with him to do a little shopping. Currently he has a Chevy Cobalt, I believe it is an 06. He is debating between the 09 Vibe, 09 Matrix, 09 HHR, and a 09 XD. I am not sure on how much he owes on his Cobalt, but I am pretty much sure it is not that much. As far as discounts, he does get the GM price for being a GM member. So he is taking that incosideration when looking at the Vibe and HHR. What are your opinions on each car and what would you buy. Dont think about car payments or anything that involves finances. Base it on realibilty, styling, and appeal.

[northvibe]

the ecotec is a good engine, faster than the vibe's 1.8 and gets good mileage. HHR styling is okay, i checked out a HHR SS and it seems it may be hard to work on since the engine is just tucked into that engine bay, but it has lots of room and optionsthe vibe has updated engines, some options but i havent sat in a 09, it prolly still has the cheap interior with rattling (although you get that with most cheaper cars, the vibes price has kinda shot up). But you do get the yota engine piece of mind for some, lots of cargo room. scion Xd, idk i think its still ugly and not super functional, a honda element is more functional it seems. Matrix is the same as the vibe but priced higher...so its all styling opinions.I say HHR or vibe.

[02csnow]

Well he is looking towards the Vibe. My opinion on the new ones. They are not that great. They have added a few things that are nice, but took away alot of things that were great to have. The bad oversees the goods. I would take a Trix over the Vibe any day.The HHR he was looking at was a SS. Which that is a plus. I probably would not buy a HHR unless it was a SS.The XD too me is a decent car. It has the 1.8 in it just like the Vibe and Matrix and etc. So you know it is a rilable engine. For the price of them and all the options you can add to it, it is well worth it.

[keithvibe]

I test drove the 09 vibe... and compairing it to my 06... i hate it... granted it does have more HP.. but it gets worse gas millage and it's smaller, and has less headroom because of the steeper slop to the "a" piller the longer rake sucks I test drove the new xd this weekend for giggles... i honestly was quite shocked. Handled well, the blind spots were few.I haven't driven the hhr... frankly because it's Freaking Ugly.. with a capital F and G... HAHAHA just my 2 cents... but i do love the ecotec.I like the styling better on the Matrix but again smaller and worse gas millage than older generations.Tell him to look at the new cobalt SS.. with the new turbo.. it's faster then the speed3.. and cheaper.. but the fit and finish is crappy.Judging from what types of cars that are listed i guess the new G8 is out...

[northvibe]

if the hhr ss is a auto, then it has 50hp less than the manual, so it will seem slower. why doesnt he get a 2008 vibe at a discount because they are trying to dump them for the 09's.fyi, the turbo cobalt barely beats the ms3, its more a driver race, since the cobalt has the no lift shift. But the balt has the heated seats and moonroof option (although the moon roof is noisy as heck)I mean it all depends on how much he feels like spending and what his needs are. does he want lots of cargo, gas mileage, speed, awd etc. honda fithonda elementvibecorollamatrixscion xDscion Xbhhrmazda 3mazdaspeed3mazda 6 wagonfocuschevy cobalt SS turbo sedan (coming soon)those all have good reliable engines, fair to good mileage for their class and cargo room.

[02csnow]

Forgot to mention that the Cobalt he has now is a SS. He just gets in his time to buy a new car. For some reason it runs in the family on my dads side to buy a new car every 2 to 3 years.He has been comparing the capacities in all the cars. Head room, cargo space, and all that.I had him sit in the HHR today, only b/c I drove one for a week as a rental car and I felt squished in there. Right away he said it was a little tight.He likes the styling of the Matrix better, but is more towards the Vibe only b/c of the discount we get.When he looked the brochure for the XD, he became really interested in all the options for them. So the way I look at it, he is more interested in options for the vehicle and getting more into the car to where he is comfortable with it.

[kevera]

For me it's between the Vibe/trix and the XD.All are decent platforms,and reliable.The mazda3(not the speed3 though) is also a good choice for him.Or I can sell him my Chevelle and he can kick the crap out all of those cars,but he'll loose gas mileage.

[02csnow]

Quote, originally posted by kevera »Or I can sell him my Chevelle and he can kick the crap out all of those cars,but he'll loose gas mileage. Forget selling the Chevelle to him, I WILL TAKE IT.

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by northvibe »if the hhr ss is a auto, then it has 50hp less than the manual, so it will seem slower. why doesnt he get a 2008 vibe at a discount because they are trying to dump them for the 09's.fyi, the turbo cobalt barely beats the ms3, its more a driver race, since the cobalt has the no lift shift. But the balt has the heated seats and moonroof option (although the moon roof is noisy as heck)I mean it all depends on how much he feels like spending and what his needs are. does he want lots of cargo, gas mileage, speed, awd etc. honda fithonda elementvibecorollamatrixscion xDscion Xbhhrmazda 3mazdaspeed3mazda 6 wagonfocuschevy cobalt SS turbo sedan (coming soon)those all have good reliable engines, fair to good mileage for their class and cargo room.Mazda 5Nissan Rouge

[ajflan]

Heritage High Roof SS! I love those!

[northvibe]

does he have the NA SS cobalt? aka the 2.4? or the 2.0 SC?well if he wants options then the xD may be the way to go, its slow but scion/toyota sure lets you customize it before you buy it. if he looked at a mazda he'd have to look at the plain 3, as the MS3 has like..2 options, Nav and home link on the rearview mirror well for the gt. No moonroof , no heated seats

[jake75]

Call me old fashioned, but I never considered lack of heated seats to be much of a deal breaker. Seems like just one more electrical thing to go wrong after the warranty is up.

[kunkstyle]

for the HHRI'd go either vibe or trix(or the 08 vibe route...)

[TJinPgh]

I voted for the xD.Unless he has a need for a larger vehicle than the Cobalt, I really can't justify the fuel economy hit he'd be taking with any of the other three, or the added cost.I realize that the new EPA estimates have the 06 Cobalt and 09 Vibe at about the same mpg, but I doubt anybody really believes that's accurate. Most people I know with Cobalts are getting 35 mpg or higher on the highway. The 09 Vibe will be doing well to get much above 30.I have to believe that the xD will do better than the 32 mpg it's rated at.The 1.8 is more than sufficient for every day driving.I, personally, wish GM would come out with a hatch version of the Cobalt. But, given the choices, I think the xD is the best option.

[02csnow]

The SS Cobalt that he has is the 2.4. He is mostly going towards GM because of the discount. So most of the other models that others have mentioned ( Mazda 3, Rogue ) he is not interested in. Right now I think he has made his mind up and is going with the Vibe. But I have a feeling he is just gonna order one.

[lovemyraffe]

Not the HHR. That is one of the ugliest on the road.

[WaveAction]

im gonna say the '09 matrix out of the 4 you've chose..but because of the GM discount, depends on how much he's willing to spend aswell..theirs some pretty nice gm cars, like the torrent, or allure..or if ya got the money..08 cts or the acadia.

[BlueCrush]

I'm diggin' the new xD.

[jake75]

My impression is that the Vibe is larger than the xD - the xD is more akin to the Honda Fit.