End of an era - Traded in my Vibe
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 5:14 am
Bought my 03 Vibe 12/30/2002, and it finally developed enough issues that I decided it was not worth continuing to repair it.
Final mileage was 288,848. It needed a new clutch, and new cat, and major engine work to stop the oil burning and oil leaks. Over the years, the car's lack of power windows/locks and cruise control bothered me more than I thought it would when I bought it. Also, the 10 year experiment with a "Toyota reliability" manual transmission along with increasing need to drive in congested urban areas left me with a longing to only have two pedals. Still, I spent a lot of time in that car. I kept a record of every time I put gas in it and over the length of my ownership I had an overall average of 35.7 MPGs
The dealer said it will end up as a junkyard vehicle. Even though it's a Vibe, at 288K miles it had almost no trade in value. I could have kept it and parted it out, but really, aside from a few interior trim pieces, not much else there worth the hassle, certainly not enough to indefinitely put up with a disassembled car in the yard. So its gone, and I will never see it again
Anyway, this all went down yesterday, and I wanted to let you all know about it, a sort of closure for me on that car and the ten years I have spent posting about it here on genvibe.
Here is a link to a pic of (formerly) my Vibe, next to what I traded it in for
download/file.php?mode=view&id=852" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Final mileage was 288,848. It needed a new clutch, and new cat, and major engine work to stop the oil burning and oil leaks. Over the years, the car's lack of power windows/locks and cruise control bothered me more than I thought it would when I bought it. Also, the 10 year experiment with a "Toyota reliability" manual transmission along with increasing need to drive in congested urban areas left me with a longing to only have two pedals. Still, I spent a lot of time in that car. I kept a record of every time I put gas in it and over the length of my ownership I had an overall average of 35.7 MPGs
The dealer said it will end up as a junkyard vehicle. Even though it's a Vibe, at 288K miles it had almost no trade in value. I could have kept it and parted it out, but really, aside from a few interior trim pieces, not much else there worth the hassle, certainly not enough to indefinitely put up with a disassembled car in the yard. So its gone, and I will never see it again
Anyway, this all went down yesterday, and I wanted to let you all know about it, a sort of closure for me on that car and the ten years I have spent posting about it here on genvibe.
Here is a link to a pic of (formerly) my Vibe, next to what I traded it in for
download/file.php?mode=view&id=852" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Had me going there until you added the picture. A suitable tribute to her to purchase an exact duplicate in better shape! Although the replacement looks like it needs some TLC on the cladding.
At first I thought it was a pic of when you first took delivery of it back in 2003 and there was another 03 on the lot, along with the Buick Rendezvous. Based on your join date & number of posts, I'd say you are the one of the oldest "still active" members here & I thank your for your involvement to all of us. Post a better pic of your newer vibe soon with other info (mileage, options, etc.) Congrats on the "newer to you USED Vibe" and for staying in the Vibe family 
!