GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Hello everyone. I'm brand new to this site, but an active member on another forum for smart cars (ClubSmartCar.com). My wife and I are expecting our first baby and we are looking to purchase a vehicle that can handle a rear facing infant car seat, but that isn't a huge SUV or minvan. So far, the Vibe or Matrix seems to be a good option.We test drove a 2005 Vibe, with 5spd manual, 16" alloys, moon and tunes package, with 68K kms on it. It is red, or Lava, I guess is the colour name. This was my first time in a Vibe or Matrix and I quite liked it. We are comparing it against a 2005 Mazda 3 that is also very nice, but doesn't have quite the same room.Is there anything in particular we should be looking for on this Vibe. Any common problems we should be aware of? What would be a fair price on this car? They are asking $12,999 CDN.Also, is it easy to put in an aftermarket stereo head unit in the vibe? Is there a mounting kit or anything? A lot of the buttons on the stereo are worn out on this vibe.TIA for any comments.

Welcome!!! Knock $3K off that price, for $13K you should be able to get an 08 Vibe of a lease returned 09! I paid $16'7XX for mine brand new after taxes!

I can't say anything about the 09 and up, but the 03-08 do have mounting kits and wiring harnesses available. Since it's the moon and tunes package I would also recommend using a separate thing that converts the powerful output coming from the aftermarket stereo into line level signals for the factory amplifier to use. I believe they are called "line level converters" but I am not sure. I picked mine up for 10USD at Wal-Mart and it works great. Installation of this is not what I would call difficult as it only requires you to match the correct colors to each other on the two sides of the device. If you do end up getting one without the Moon and Tunes option, then you shouldn't have to worry about that at all as far as I know.

So I've checked out a couple of new Vibes for comparison.Could get a 2010 Base, 5spd, with 1SB equipment group, sunroof, roof rack, and XM satellite radio (no big deal on that), in carbon grey, for 20,500, before tax.Or, a 2009 Base, 5spd, with 1SA equipment group, basically no options, for 14,700 before tax.Or there's the 2005 i mentioned in my OP with moon and tunes, and all power options listed at 12,999. What would your choice be? What would you pay for the 2005? Right now any vibe is still just an option among many other vehicles, but it is looking like a good option due to the amount of space. I'm a little concerned about having to move to a larger vehicle in 3 years or so if we have more than 2 kids, and what the depreciation on a new vibe would be over that time.

You can fit 2 car seats in the Vibe. Now as for options, that is your choice. 2009 is a new vehicle and $1700 more.

Quote, originally posted by NJV »Or, a 2009 Base, 5spd, with 1SA equipment group, basically no options, for 14,700 before tax.This is what I bought. I'm not prissy for options so no a/c and power nothing is not a problem!There's lots of room for kids!

+1 on a new Vibe.I also own a 2010 1SA with no AC, power nothing, manual tranny. I paid $16,351 out the door back in early August, If you indeed can get a new $14,700 + taxes, that's a pretty good deal. I don't miss the lack of options one bit. The more important equipment, 6 airbags, ABS, Stabiltrack are all standard.

Thanks for the insight guys. Will definitely keep that in mind of the new vs used. If we do end up with a vibe I will be spending more time here for sure, looks like a great forum.Has anyone with a 2009/10 Vibe put an aftermarket HU in? The opening isn't a nice rectangle, so is there some aftermarket fascia adapter to fill in the extra space? If we went with a new base, i would probably want to upgrade the HU and speakers.Edit: Answered my second question myself: http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=39251