- #30 of 66
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Re: New Vibe Owners - Give Us Your Report [pf_flyer]
by lostcause245
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May 22, 2007 (7:45 pm)
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Replying to: pf_flyer (Jul 16, 2006 4:31 pm)
Just bought a 2005 base Vibe with 35000 miles and really like it overall. After trading in my 2001 Aztek (with 135000 miles on it), i was really impressed with its handling and its fuel economy, the main reason for getting it. With gas jumping to $3.50 a gallon today i'm expecting to save about $120 a month! I bought it from a local dealer who tried to rip me off by offering it for $20,000. I finally got them down to what I wanted to pay for it, $13,000 (I checked book value and went down from there, and I'm pretty hard headed). There are a few things I would like to change on it, like the backwards window buttons, and an armrest that I can actually lean my arm on while I'm driving. And who ever thought that a plastic cargo floor would be practical? Being a pickup owner for most of my life, the first thing is to pull out that stupid bedliner and put something in that wont let your stuff slide forward when you stop and slide backward when you go. Solved that problem with a carpeted cargo mat. Although I am complaining about the annoyances of it, the fact is that the car is practical, roomy, very sporty to drive (I AM a pickup owner) and am happy to own it. I just hope that I can say that I was happy to own it when I'm ready to sell it. 
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- #31 of 66
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Re: New Vibe Owners - Give Us Your Report [lostcause245]
by widapit
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May 29, 2007 (8:29 pm)
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Replying to: lostcause245 (May 22, 2007 7:45 pm)
I test drove a 2006 Vibe today and was thinking of asking the dealer to get another one that I saw on the net from a more distant dealer. How can I negotiate the price from $20k down to $13k - what is the magic hard-headed technique? These are good ol' boys in a small town. They know I'm a recent widow and I don't know if they'll try to take advantage of that or not. For what it's worth, my husband did NOT have life insurance, so I'm not in much of a position to be spending a lot of money. He left me with a beautiful '99 Audi that I don't know if these guys will appreciate as a trade-in. Any advice out there? Thanks
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- #32 of 66
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Re: New Vibe Owners - Give Us Your Report [widapit]
by suydam
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May 30, 2007 (6:32 am)
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Replying to: widapit (May 29, 2007 8:29 pm)
You are looking at a '06, not an '05, first of all. How many miles? I don't think you'll be able to get one for 13k unless it has a ton of miles. Price it at Edmunds used car site and you'll see what is more likely as a price to shoot for. It certainly won't be 20k -- you could get a new one for less than that.
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- #33 of 66
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new '07 manual owner
by bzribee
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Aug 10, 2007 (12:51 pm)
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I've only had my Vibe one week. Positives: fun to drive; 40 mpg on 400 mile trip !!!!; controls are fine; dealership is great and I feel they're willing to take care of all issues; cousin detailed outside and the color has this great, deep glow--head turning--I love it. I feel I got a reasonable price; like the dark interior, love the fold flat seats including the passenger seat. Lots of space. Easy to park. Not as bad visibility as I first thought.
Negatives: seat uncomfortable in hour 2+ of driving; 2 spots on radio get burning hot after 1 hour of nighttime driving; alignment seems to be really off (pulls to left) (they told me to wait for 1500 miles as "it's set really tight"); basic radio has poor sound quality; hard to use a/c vents (very little variety in driection/flow); hate that I can't get power locks; cargo cover doesn't come and is CHEAP and almost useless; ridiculous roofrack without crossbars. Last two items I am looking for solutions--maybe other drviers will give away their crossbars or cargo cover (comes with Matrix) to use til I come up with something better. Also would like hatch to stay in locked position after opening.
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- #34 of 66
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Love the Vibe
by joe881
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Aug 18, 2007 (7:27 am)
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I purchased a new vibe in 03,it was my first new car. I have had ZERO problems. The best gas mileage I got was 39.6 mpg.
Color is black with the rear spoiler and ground effects package.
My advice would be to follow the service recommendations to avoid future problems.
My car has over 50,000 miles on it now. 
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- #35 of 66
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03 Pontiac vibe 55,000miles
by fordtrucklover
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Oct 18, 2007 (4:21 pm)
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I have owned a 2003 vibe with automatic trans since Dec 2002. We haul a 5 member family around,camping,road trips,shopping,2 carseats plus 3 children worth of jackets and lunches etc. We use this car for everything. Have had very minor problems like door handles breaking off from sitting out in the hot sun. Zero problems with ac or trans like i have read in some of the other articles. There is one thing that people are talking about that i have noticed, and that is, it does take a long time for the ac to cool the car down, but to me this is a minor problem, just change cabin filter regulary. Great car will keep forever.
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- #36 of 66
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Re: new '07 manual owner [bzribee]
by catasail
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Nov 30, 2007 (10:08 am)
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Replying to: bzribee (Aug 10, 2007 12:51 pm)
Take it in now for alignment. I have a 2005 with 23k. It also had issues with pulling and then the tire noise started. At 5k I rotated thinking that would help, it hurt instead. At 22k you could not hear the radio the tires were so etched. I would say about half worn out. Turns out the rear alignment was off and it was the rear tires wearing. GM will not cover anything now, but if I had insisted at 5k they would have. It will cost over 300 to put shims in the rear to align.
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- #37 of 66
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Re: New Vibe Owners - Give Us Your Report [pf_flyer]
by dkoopman
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Dec 22, 2007 (8:54 pm)
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Replying to: pf_flyer (Jul 16, 2006 4:31 pm)
I purchased a certified used 2006 vibe awd. I love the car as far as features and design. However, I am very concerned about the handling of the awd in patchy ice conditions. The rear end keeps fishtailing as if the car is an and rear wheel drive with slicks on. This is really disconcerting when everyone else is passing with ease while I am white-knuckling it barely doing 45 MPH. My old nissan sentra handled slick roads with ease. Any suggestions out there?
dkoopman
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- #38 of 66
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Re: New Vibe Owners - Give Us Your Report [dkoopman]
by suydam
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Dec 23, 2007 (7:40 am)
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Replying to: dkoopman (Dec 22, 2007 8:54 pm)
Check the tires on your vehicle. They may be worn or just tires that have lousy traction.
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- #39 of 66
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Re: New Vibe Owners - Give Us Your Report [suydam]
by dkoopman
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Dec 28, 2007 (9:41 pm)
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Replying to: suydam (Dec 23, 2007 7:40 am)
Just had Cooper CS4's installed. Highly rated as a good all-season radial. Handles as poorly as before. It keeps acting as if the rear drive is trying to catch up with the front. It is possible that when the awd engages it is just too aggresive?
I am concluding a snowy drive across Oregon, Utah and Wyoming...it is puzzling that it handles so lousy with brand new all season radials.
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