Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Pontiac Vibe Prices Paid and Buying Experience
399 messages, Last post on Oct 01, 2009 at 5:39 AM
You are in the Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum. Your Hosts are car_man & kyfdx
|
Replying to: maxx4me (Jun 08, 2004 3:03 pm) As I mentioned in the other forum, I am having a big problem finding anyone to install a Receiver Hitch for the Maxx. I did find the ones online you mentioned, but have not found a place in this area that wants to install a hitch that is not one they obtain/deal with. Today, I have found no one in this area that has a hitch available for the Maxx. I am pretty confident that their will be one soon, however I figure the cost will be $200 or more. Since there is drilling, I am debating about just leaving it on the vehicle in 3 yrs. Well, today I decided to check for Trunk style bike racks and go back to the "BAD-old" trunk style (which I said I would never go back to after buying my hitch bike carrier after getting my 02 Trailblazer). To my complete surprise, none of the trunk style bike carrier manufactures that I found offer a rack for the 04 Maxx either. I check with Sirus, Yakima, etc. I couldn't believe it. Well, tonight I drove the Vibe again....trying to convince myself to consider the Vibe, since I have the roof rack to allow for extra Cargo, and a very simple and inexpensive hitch (less than $100). I really think the Maxx Lease is the better way to go, but I am really in need of a bike carrier. Any thoughts, suggestions? I am in Detroit, MI.
|
|
|
Replying to: tiger66 (Jul 07, 2004 8:53 pm) Vibe: - Corolla reliability with better Pontiac styling - the worst paint job in the history of paint jobs NUMMI should be ashamed. you will have a zillion chips and faux rust spots just like the thousands of us Vibe owners - sportier ride than Maxx - poor visibility - poor cloth seats, although the '05 apparently has fixed this - rear drum brakes are pathetic. Who thought that one up??? - roof rack that always can come in handy - plenty of hitches (from the web site I mentioned) that merely screw in, and require no drilling - easy to work on yourself, to include changing the oil Maxx - a far superior car for the money. Great value - drives more like an old man's car: great suspension, ride and feel, but is a heavy vehicle (3400 lbs) and is much slower off the line and a bit harder to stop than the Vibe. But what I like most as an old man's car is that it likes to be driven gently. If you want to take your time and accelerate, the drivetrain rewards you with a great ride. If you need to punch it, the torque from the pushrod will put you back into your seat and squeel your front tires with no difficulty - GREAT handling with the electric steering - GREAT visibility - OUTSTANDING room, front and back - simply the most versatile car built today - cast iron block push rod engine is very good, although in no way as refined as today's Japanese overhead cam engines - OUTSTANDING gas mileage for a V6 - EXCELLENT paint job - simple to work on yourself, especially changing the oil - BIG QUESTION MARK: will the reliabilty be there: stay tuned I could go on and on about the Maxx. It is an oustanding vehicle out of the showroom; no question about it. I love the car. I just hope it will be just as outstanding as the years go by. As for the Vibe, I'm glad I have another "corolla" in my driveway again, but this is definitely the worst car NUMMI has ever assembled, and I would not buy a second one. I am suprised that no one will put the Maxx hitch on for you. I recommend you look up hitch places in your area. Someone there has to be a Reese dealer since Reese is so huge. They will put it on for you. I have relationship with my mechanic going back over 12 years, so I had no problem. I know it is difficult if you don't have one you can rely on. Bottom line: pick the Maxx. If you have a family or drive adult friends from time to time, they'll thank you. |
|
|
|
|
Just returned from a 500 mi trip with my '04 Vibe driving from OH to Chicago. 600 miles...got an avg of 34 MPG driving about 75 MPH on the highway and stop 'N go of Chicago in-town traffic. Seats seem to be very durable. No problems with paint....probably the best paint job I've seen on a car in this price range. Poor visibility? No problems here. I'm 6' tall. I have the anti-locks. Brakes feel fine to me. Wish it had disks all the way around, but they haven't been an issue. |
|
| I've just begun looking into a third family car for our family of 7. We currently have a Yukon XL, which I drive, and husband drives an Acura RL. The third car will be used primarily by our oldest child, a new driver. Her commute to high school is almost 25 minutes on either the interstate or winding back roads. It seems like the Vibe would be a great car for her, but when checking the local dealer inventory around here, pickings are very slim...even at the bigger dealerships. I'm wondering if it is that way everywhere? We're in Northern Virginia. | |
|
|
|
My 18 year old son and I share the Vibe. While it's not one of the "cool" tricked out coupes he would rather drive, he finds it fine to commute back and forth to college (about 15 miles each way). It gets good MPG. It's comfy. It has plenty of room for hauling all my lawn stuff and furniture around when needed. It has Toyota Corolla mechanicals and is built in one of the highly rated manufacturing plants that is shared by both Toyota and GM. So, it's built well and should prove to be trouble free for a long time. What it isn't is fast (a good thing for a teen driver) I'd recommend it. There are plenty of '04s and '05s (only some minor cosmetic differences) around the OH area. |
|
|
|
|
There are some nice improvements to the 2005 Vibe. It has more soundproofing and an upgraded suspension - but they took out the armrest and put in a tiny Corolla CE armrest from last year. GM offered to sell me a "real" armrest for $250 plus $75 per hour installation. Does anyone know how I can get a cheaper "real" armrest?
|
|
|
Replying to: focuserror (Jul 31, 2004 8:30 am) |
|
|
|
| You could check with local salvage yards to see if any wrecked 2003-2004 Vibes come in, and transfer the console door/armrest to your car. You could offer to swap with a 2003-2004 Vibe owner. Try some of the online parts order sites, should be able to get the unit for around $150 plus shipping. | |
Base Blue Vibe with AT, 'pwr' pkg, Alum 17" wheels, ABS and monotone treatment. Initially was going for GM Supplier Disc but dealer said could not use GM card earnings then; so asked for invoice price ($11 less) and immediately agreed. Bottom line: 19,366 + 3% va tax and 23 (reg/tag) then reduced by $2000 rebate and $1000 conquest and $1000 GM card and $750 GM Card bonus. Out the door price is $15,221 and I'll do 3.6% credit union financing for 5 or 6 years. I think I did pretty well. BTW: the 2005 is on the lot with $1500 rebate and $300 higher msrp. My daughter likes the looks of the 2004 (grill) better who I bought it for. Also, my price was $640 under Edmunds TMV.
|
|
|
Replying to: i30g20 (Sep 18, 2004 7:22 pm) |
|
You are here:
Forums
Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Pontiac Vibe Prices Paid and Buying Experience
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2010 Pontiac Vibe
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
