- #2907 of 2955
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Re: 05 Vibe or 04 Civic? [maxx4me]
by steine13
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May 18, 2009 (5:51 pm)
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Replying to: maxx4me (May 18, 2009 1:09 am)
"Good luck getting a used car at those prices[..]"
I'm not looking to buy... I've got one of those, and a few months ago learned that that's what they're worth... that was Manheim information, so no, you can't buy a low-mile '07 $10, but you also can't trade it for more than $9.
$8.9 for a miley '04 is not good; I'd rather buy new. But that's me.
-Mathias
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- #2908 of 2955
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Re: 05 Vibe or 04 Civic? [steine13]
by pilgrimjs
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May 23, 2009 (8:31 pm)
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Replying to: steine13 (May 18, 2009 5:51 pm)
05 Vibe drives pretty well. No problems except needs new tires. Any recommendations for good All Season Treads. So far, dealer willing to sell for $7.9, and that's the best used car deal we've found so far. The cheaper stuff we've looked at is definitely cheaper -- worse than our 96 Saturn was before the engine blew. Toyotas or Hondas with comparable miles are $10k. We did find an 08 Vibe with 6000 miles for $13k. That seems like a good deal, but we don't really need -- nor can afford -- another car that new.
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- #2909 of 2955
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Re: 05 Vibe or 04 Civic? [pilgrimjs]
by maxx4me
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May 24, 2009 (4:19 am)
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Replying to: pilgrimjs (May 23, 2009 8:31 pm)
Now it is $7,900??? Wow, that's a great deal. As for tires, always go to tirerack.com and do your research. I always put H rated tires on my car. I currently have Michelin Pilot Exaltos on my 03 Vibe which are the highest rated High Performance All Season according to their survey results. They are great, but when my 09 OEM tires run down this fall, I'm going to go with the Michelin Primacy MXV4. They are a touch better in the snow and ice and will last longer since they are a Grand Touring All Season tire. Both are fantastic tires, but for the money, I'll go with the one that will give me more tread wear over time. Both tires are available at Costco or BJ's should you belong to one of those clubs. For less expensive tires, again, go to tirerack.com and hit the Survey Result link under the Shop By Vehicle section on the left hand side. Oh, and don't forget to take the car to your mechanic for a full inspection before buying the car.
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- #2910 of 2955
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Re: 05 Vibe or 04 Civic? [maxx4me]
by pilgrimjs
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May 26, 2009 (6:40 pm)
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Replying to: maxx4me (May 24, 2009 4:19 am)
Final price 7,740 and seems to check out well. Breaks 50% worn and needs new tires, but otherwise okay. Mechanic didn't think previous owner rotated tires, so wondering if they kept up with other maintenance. What would you recommend for a Vibe with 67k miles? I'm thinking change the transmission fluid and air filters. Anything else?
We're also new to this area and not sure where to take it. There's a local mechanic that friends recommend. He's done a good job with their high mileage Camrys (200k+).
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- #2911 of 2955
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Re: 05 Vibe or 04 Civic? [pilgrimjs]
by CapeCod
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May 26, 2009 (7:47 pm)
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Replying to: pilgrimjs (May 26, 2009 6:40 pm)
Definitely do the cabin filter.
I believe the Transmissions are solid...
I would probably have someone check the A/C...
A/C problems are always expensive to repair.
Also check for recalls not completed...
A small thing... Get the NEW flexible wiper blades front & back.
Vibes have a long front wiper stroke, good blades are critical.
Another tip: Listen to the inside defrost fan... they can be NOISY at low speeds.
Remember the Vibe is a Toyota Matrix in Pontiac clothing...
I would look for a good local Toyota dealer....
especially with the Pontiac brand disappearing !
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- #2912 of 2955
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Re: 05 Vibe or 04 Civic? [pilgrimjs]
by maxx4me
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May 27, 2009 (1:16 am)
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Replying to: pilgrimjs (May 26, 2009 6:40 pm)
Establishing a relationship with a local mechanic is always better than going to dealerships. Dealerships don't hire the best and brightest. You already know that from walking into a showroom and knowing more about the cars than the salesperson. Well, guess what types of people they hire in their mechanics bays?? Stick to a local mechanic who has a vested interest in staying in business.
As for the checkup, you are right on..........have your new mechanic do the tranny flush (BG machine). Replace the air filter and cabin filter yourself and change the oil yourself if you are so inclined. The cabin filters should be replaced twice a year if you live in a high pollen (lots of trees) area. The filter housing is behind the glove box (which you need to unhinge to get to the two plastic snaps that lower the cabin filter housing). I buy regular furnace filters at the hardware store and cut them to size; works great and saves you a ton of money.
Don't worry about the color of your radiator fluid. It started out Toyota pink, and if a flush was done every 24,000 miles as scheduled, green fluid may have been used which then mixes in with the pink, turning it all kinds of merky colors. Nevertheless, I would suggest a radiator fluid flush/drain at the time you are getting the tranny flushed.
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- #2913 of 2955
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Vibe resale value?
by pilgrimjs
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May 27, 2009 (11:08 am)
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Replying to: maxx4me (May 27, 2009 1:16 am)
One final vibe question. We're paying $7.7 for 05 Vibe that needs new tires and a little maintenance. Ordinarily, we drive our cars into the ground, but it is possible that we will only need this one for a year or two. Will we be able to sell it, given Pontiac's demise? I keep reading about plummeting Pontiac values but have yet to really see it. What do you think?
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- #2914 of 2955
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Re: Vibe resale value? [pilgrimjs]
by maxx4me
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May 27, 2009 (11:36 am)
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Replying to: pilgrimjs (May 27, 2009 11:08 am)
good lord no. You can NEVER buy a car thinking you are going to sell it. I don't care what the economy is doing, it is NEVER a good idea to throw away money on the worst "investment" you will ever make. You've done the homework; you know the car is a Corolla. If you don't think you will need it in a few years, I'd seriously rethink the purchase altogether. The value of these Pontiacs will be in the sewer very soon. I'm banking on it, so I can buy another 2009 or 2010 from people who are nervously selling off "a Toyota Corolla" simply because the Pontiac badge is gone and that GM is in bankrupcy. You are smart to say you drive the cars into the ground. I do the same. The car has to be in flames before I get rid of it. Don't go back on your word now. It merely amounts to throwing valuable money away. Either buy and keep, or rethink the entire purchase, unless of course you are Donald Trump and can affort such extravagances. $7,700 is a steal for a car that will go 200,000 miles.
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- #2915 of 2955
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Re: Vibe resale value? [maxx4me]
by pilgrimjs
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May 27, 2009 (12:42 pm)
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Replying to: maxx4me (May 27, 2009 11:36 am)
I mostly agree, but what do you do if you currently need two cars but may be moving back to the city where you only need one. Mind you, we don't know yet, and we won't be moving till next year at the earliest.
So how little will this car be worth in a year? Will I be able to get $5k for it?
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- #2916 of 2955
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Re: 05 Vibe or 04 Civic? [maxx4me]
by CapeCod
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May 27, 2009 (1:02 pm)
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Replying to: maxx4me (May 27, 2009 1:16 am)
In defense of the dealer mechanics I think 3 points need to be made. The cars and their electronics are often too sophisticated for your local mechanic. Without the pricey diagnostic equipment the local guy often becomes a part changer until he hits the right combo. Also, there are a number of recalls and service tech bulletins that the dealer has access to. Sometimes these can lead to a reduced price or even free repair, that your local mechanic would not have knowledge of. Plus the dealer repair leads to a 'reported' repair which can be important in finding patterns of part failures. After years of trusting my local mechanic I now use a 'chain' repair shop. They have about 10 service centers in my area and are a great compromise between the dealer shops and local mechanic. No more swearing, screaming, rude, and offensive locals for me. My turning point came when I was charged 3 times the retail price for an oxygen sensor... because it had to be delivered... about 1/2 mile ! 
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