GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Came across a 2008 Vibe base with 55,000 miles that has been sitting for 3 years. Owner states they have started it periodically over that time and it runs good. Very good condition, no leaks, no noises, no smoke. Has an automatic transmission and alloy wheels but not much more than that. The windows and door locks are manual. It will need tires and a serpentine belt which comes as no surprise. Has been under a car port so hasn't been in the desert sun. Passed smog requirements in Ca.

The owner is tired of paying on it for all those years. I offered 7 K an they said ok. The car is going to be my daughter's who is entering college next fall. I prefer the 09's and 10's for various reasons...and will eventually buy myself one, but for now, thinking this will make my daughter a great daily driver/college car.

Gonna road trip and see the car for the first time in person in the next few days. I've seen the pictures and the seller seems legit. Any reason not to consider a 2008....or this car specifically...or your expertise on Vibes in general? Please chime in!

Sounds almost perfect! The manual windows will help your daughter get strong arms, RAWR!

Nothing wrong with the 2008s. I don't know if they were affected by the ECM/PCM recall, so call your local GM dealer with the VIN and ask. Another is the window switch recall.

I bought a 2008 in August of 2013 with 75k on the clock for $8,500 and think I got a pretty good deal. I would absolutely pay 7k for one with only 55k, unless it's really rough or been wrecked/flooded or something. But I also much prefer the 1st gen, and would take an 08 over an 09 any day.

2008 is the best year for the Vibe (and Matrix) IMO. If it checks out, that is a very good deal.

I do appreciate your feedback. My daughter is way excited. She is handing down her Camry to her little sister who now has a drivers license.

I will keep you posted on what I find out. Hopefully it is as good as it sounds and appears in the pictures.

Jeff.

Nasmfell wrote:2008 is the best year for the Vibe (and Matrix) IMO. If it checks out, that is a very good deal.

Best year on an already awesome car

Definitely go for it and keep all of us posted there. Your daughter is one lucky young lady. Hope she appreciates what you're doing for her. My son liked my 2009 Vibe GT so much that we ended up finding one for him four years ago, BUT with an automatic (mine is stick). Now a junior in college and a great car for these young kids! Good luck with the sale

lannvouivre wrote:

Nasmfell wrote:2008 is the best year for the Vibe (and Matrix) IMO. If it checks out, that is a very good deal.

Best year on an already awesome car

So true There is something about the 2008 that justifies it being the best year.

Every time I see a 2008 hit the lots here with similar mileage, they're asking something like $12k for it. While these are great cars, I find it absurd to pay that much dough for a ~6-7 year old car... Especially since the original owner likely did not pay that much more for it when new. Around that time GM was discounting all of their cars to the point where they might as well have been giving them away in cereal boxes.

So that is a fantastic price on a great car!

ColonelPanic wrote:Every time I see a 2008 hit the lots here with similar mileage, they're asking something like $12k for it. While these are great cars, I find it absurd to pay that much dough for a ~6-7 year old car... Especially since the original owner likely did not pay that much more for it when new. Around that time GM was discounting all of their cars to the point where they might as well have been giving them away in cereal boxes.

So that is a fantastic price on a great car!

That's due in part to it being a Toyota under the skin. 2008 Matrixes can still go for over 10K

Nasmfell wrote:

ColonelPanic wrote:Every time I see a 2008 hit the lots here with similar mileage, they're asking something like $12k for it. While these are great cars, I find it absurd to pay that much dough for a ~6-7 year old car... Especially since the original owner likely did not pay that much more for it when new. Around that time GM was discounting all of their cars to the point where they might as well have been giving them away in cereal boxes.

So that is a fantastic price on a great car!

That's due in part to it being a Toyota under the skin. 2008 Matrixes can still go for over 10K

Laughably, a couple years ago someone paid 14k for a 2008 that had been in a minor accident though fixed at the dealer selling it. The dealer that fixed the car asked under 10k, but no takers. The car went to auction, another dealer bought it. must have did a nice mark up and sold it.

I don't know much about the 2008 Vibes but it sure looks like a good buy to me. I paid $7,000.00 for a 2004 Base Vibe with 88,900 miles on it that is like brand new. Very clean and loaded with extras. Maybe they saw me coming but I couldn't be more pleased with it. My wife feels the same as I do, maybe because I gave her my 2003 Vibe. Yes, we love our Vibe's. Enjoy your new Vibe my friend.

Nasmfell wrote:Laughably, a couple years ago someone paid 14k for a 2008 that had been in a minor accident though fixed at the dealer selling it. The dealer that fixed the car asked under 10k, but no takers. The car went to auction, another dealer bought it. must have did a nice mark up and sold it.

That drives me crazy. It's got the GM badge on it. Doesn't matter that it's really a Toyota, you're not going to sell it for 14k unless it's to someone who never researches prices ever. It's just not the market price.

lannvouivre wrote:

Nasmfell wrote:Laughably, a couple years ago someone paid 14k for a 2008 that had been in a minor accident though fixed at the dealer selling it. The dealer that fixed the car asked under 10k, but no takers. The car went to auction, another dealer bought it. must have did a nice mark up and sold it.

That drives me crazy. It's got the GM badge on it. Doesn't matter that it's really a Toyota, you're not going to sell it for 14k unless it's to someone who never researches prices ever. It's just not the market price.

Well, at the time, 2 years ago, someone did. The sell price was listed on the title of the DMV website.

The dealer even listed the car at that price on their website (Chevrolet dealer in Columbus Oh).

Nasmfell wrote:

lannvouivre wrote:

Nasmfell wrote:Laughably, a couple years ago someone paid 14k for a 2008 that had been in a minor accident though fixed at the dealer selling it. The dealer that fixed the car asked under 10k, but no takers. The car went to auction, another dealer bought it. must have did a nice mark up and sold it.

That drives me crazy. It's got the GM badge on it. Doesn't matter that it's really a Toyota, you're not going to sell it for 14k unless it's to someone who never researches prices ever. It's just not the market price.

Well, at the time, 2 years ago, someone did. The sell price was listed on the title of the DMV website.

The dealer even listed the car at that price on their website (Chevrolet dealer in Columbus Oh).[/quote

In all fairness, it was a nice car, red with the gray side cladding. Looked really nice, and was a steal at the original dealer which was a combined Buick Pontiac one, now Buick GMC

My 2 cents worth to the original question: I think this looks like a great deal! I would take it in a heartbeat.

I also would drain the old fuel because it is about 3 years old and may have developed sedimentation. i would not throw the old stuff away but filter it and mix it in with fresh fuel.

In August of 2013 I bought an 08 base with 89K a manual and no options from the local Ford dealers used lot for I think about 6.8K. So I'd call that a good deal.