I have had several vehicles in the past few years and NONE of them ever had "lighted" controls for the outside mirror and dash dimmer control!!! What should annoy you about cost cutting on the Vibe is the "lack of the extended console armrest area" and the "missing 12volt accessory in the console!!!! Once you adjust the mirrors a couple of times and use the dimmer control a couple of times, you don't need the "lighted switches.
True, unless you have more than one driver for the vehicle. My wife is 5'3, and I'm almost 6'. She drives it in the morning, I drive it at night. As for cars without lighted mirrors, etc., I would have to say my experience is the exact opposite. My previous two vehicles (Chevy Malibu and Ford Contour) both had lighted mirror controls and dimmer switches. My main point, is it just seems cheap, when we're only talking about a couple of bulbs. As for the armrest, I can see your point there, but my Vibe (2005) does have a 12v plug inside the armrest up in the far corner, plus one on the dash (bottom left) in addition to the 115AC (bottom right). Was there a third one on earlier Vibes?
You might want to take a second look at that plug in the armrest. You will find it is just a plastic plug as I did. It is a actually a 12 volt outlet in the older vibes I am told.
goodvibrations: I stand corrected. You're right, I never actually opened it to see. I do know my dealer told me it was an outlet - he obviously didn't know either. Although it doens't really matter to me one way or the other since I have yet to use any of my "outlets," it seems silly to leave the cover in there with no plug! That makes about as much sense as the "blank" button under the Recirc button on the dash, although I was curious enough to find out that spot is used for the rear defrost on the Matrix because it has a clock where the Vibe's rear defrost button is.
Since I'm at work, I don't have time to answer all your questions at the moment, but I will say this. I also drive a lot - I've already put almost 8,000 miles on my Vibe since the end of June. In addition to my work commute (40 miles each way), I've taken 4 trips of more than 250 miles and have found the Vibe to be an exceptionally comfortable ride on long trips.
As for AWD/FWD choice, I chose FWD mainly because of the cost savings and because I wanted a stick shift. I thought about AWD, since I live in Michigan, where winters can sometimes get nasty, but all of the other FWD vehicles I've owned have done fine in wintertime driving.
As for power, I drove every version of the Vibe before buying, and decided on the FWD stick shift Base. I noticed a distinct power difference between the Base stick and the Base auto. The auto seemed to slow acceleration down considerably. Of course, it may have just been how heavily I used my foot, but that was my perception. I couldn't tell any difference between the AWD auto and the Base auto. The GT wasn't worth the extra money. It actually seemed to accelerate slower, although I've heard if you take it up into the "scream zone" that's where the power really comes on.
And last - reliability. I've had some "bugs" to work out of my new vehicle, but nothing that is major. It's been in to the dealer because the power window "bezel" fell off the driver's door on the second day I had it, and I had an annoying A/C squeal. I think I hear a few minor rattles developing but nothing terribly annoying yet. My brother has a 1995 Prizm, which has the same engine (earlier version of it), and has 280,000 miles on the car with very few repairs. He almost never changes the oil either, so obviously, it's a good motor.
Hope all this helps. I said I was going to be short!
if your brother has the 1.6 litre engine? It is entirely different. They did offer a 1.8 litre. Which I believe was an earlier version of what we have now. But few got it. Seeing 280k on any car is a welcome possibility to think of.
big al: the Vibe continues to be the best AWD for the money; all Corolla parts, with the versatility of a larger SUV. The Matrix does not have the option of coming with a roof rack. Simply put, if you need to do more than get groceries, the Vibe is a good choice. If you need to worry about winter weather, the Vibe AWD is a great choice. Now the bad: while it might not be saying much, this is the worst car NUMMI has every built at the Corolla plant in California. Both Toyota and Pontiac should be ashamed. Assuming they have not improved the paint job since the '03 version, it simply is the worst paint job on the planet. Also assuming they have not changed the fabric on the floors or in the seats, it is the hardest car to vacuum and clean. Now, that's all the negatives I can give you, being one of the first owners of this car. I recently dumped my OEM battery for a more substantial one. That is not an issue any longer since they went with a better CCA battery. If the Vibe still comes with the Continental Contis, then you won't enjoy them either; they are one of the worst OEM tires I have every owned. I don't believe they are used however, and you should ask the dealer to swap them when you buy, just to be sure. If gas mileage is a main concern, and you don't need to haul anything, I'd concider MANY other small sedan alternatives. BUT, if you do need to haul, and you want the best AWD value on the road since 2003, the Vibe is your best option.
maxx4me: Your assessment is right on. I belong to a Pontiac Vibe club and one of the biggest complaints is the PAINT. It looks great; however, it seems that the smallest pebble or big bug seems to "chip" the front end. Granted, a 3M clearshield ( the best alternative, but expensive) or CarBra would eliminate this...but... this Vibe seems more subsceptible to little chips and dings than other vehicles. From what I have read about this problem it seems the paint job is not the "thickness" as compared to other vehicle paint "thickness".One of the members took some sort of "thickness" test (don't ask me how). In fact one member had so many little chips he had the whole front end repainted (Iassume by a professional paint shop with "extra coats sprayed on) I know one thing...after all the complaints back and forth....it sure helped CarBra, ClearShield and the bug deflector aftermarket sellers. I did not see any complaints about the floor fabric (probably most have the rubber type mats "over" the OEM fabric to protect same. There has not been any complaint postings about the 2006 paint; however, I assume this is because most of the participants are still driving the 2005 and lower year model.
I ordered the higher and more substantial Toyota center console armrest from toyota parts.com for $70 due in next week. My wife was complaining 05 cost cuttting was stupid as she is short and her arm hangs uncomfortably low.
Overall very pleased with this car. MPG is low 30;s with manual. Mid 30's on trip. Not bad at all!
I will try to answer your questions based on my 2005 Base Vibe automatic. 1 Gas mileage I average city highway of 7.4 per hundred km same as my wife 2005 Honda Civic automatic 36-38 miles per gallon canadian. 2. Only have 3500 km about 2000 miles nothing done as of yet. Have not required any adjustment. 3. Service life of the vehicle should be quite good as it has the same motor as the toyota corolla. I would think 200k miles would not be an unreasonable expectation of this car. 4. I chose the automatic because of convenience, if you have children you no what I mean. You need one had free. You may sacrifice performance off the line but I have had both and for me automatics require less maintenance. As for AWD or FWD I personally would save the money and opt for FWD. Add a set of good winter tires Michelin ice and you will be fine. 5. I have not had the opportunity to take a long drive but according to others who have it seems to be quite comfortable. 6.The car feels solid, feels bigger than it actually is. I have no concerns about driving this car in the winter. 7.The Matrix would have higher resale value but if your going to put 200k miles on the car I would not be concerned. Also if you compare feature to feature you should be able to get a better deal on the Vibe so you will be ahead and probably will get better financing as well. I visited the toyota dealer and test drove the Matrix, Toyota seems a little too arrogant for my taste. With the savings and the fact that I have a toyota in everything but name I have no regrets. As I said earlier we have a 2005 Honda Civic Automatic SE and the vibe compares quite favorably. Hope this helps.
you are sooooo right about the Toyota dealership experience. They make it hard to buy anything (including parts from their parts department). As for the comfort:
1. one looses very little in gas mileage when going to an automatic these days. I'm in a city, and won't consider a clutch anymore 2. while the AWD is probably overkill for most, it does give you independent rear suspension 100% of the time. I drove the FWD, and the AWD suspension made all the difference in the world 3. the Vibe still does not come with telescoping steering, which is criminal these days. Taller drivers like myself find it hard to get comfortable with the Vibe on long drives as a result. I compensate by driving with my leg a lot (or taking my Maxx which is a much better car) 4. the Vibe has GREAT rear seat leg room for the times when you are carrying adults instead of children.
As for the paint: I'm sure I'll have the thing totally repainted by Macco some day since it looks like a golfer walked over my car enroute to the "19th tee", and since I fully expect this Corolla to go 200,000 miles.
I do not drive a whole lot of highway miles. My wife uses it mostly around town so have not had any paint chipping issues. My only complaint is the poor paint job on the rear facia (bumper) It has a lot of "orange peel" on the mono painted trim. Every Vibe I've seen has the same problem. My car is white so not too obvious but the other colors look pretty bad. Most Matrix carsI I've seen are much better due to being built at a different plant. The rest of mono trim including the front facia is fine, smooth & shiny and well color matched.
Have a 2003 Vibe with automatic and 1.8. Car has 95000 miles and no real trouble EXCEPT the crappy, unreliable junk radio that in three years I've had 2 die. Won't replace it again and Pontiac won't stand up.
Mileage is generally around 30. Replaced front brakes and tires but that's it for "repairs". Hood is a bit chipped.
Overall I find it comfy, reliable and a decent value.
I am a new owner of a 05 Vibe. I have not worked on late model cars and the seamless dash/interior appears different from older cars where the dash was removed by screws. I would like to install a remote starter myself. Does anyone out there know how to remove the necessary dash/panels in order to do the wiring? Thanks
I'm pretty sure its the same motor, although as we both say, it's an earlier version. And yes, it's almost unbelievable (and annoying!) that he has 280,000 with very poor maintenance! We're talking maybe 5 oil changes in the life of the vehicle! Of course, at this point, the motor would probably blow if he put new oil in it - it's so used to running on sludge! :surprise:
I have a MicroSoft Word document with step by step instructions for installing the Rattler 369D in a Vibe. If you want to provide an e-mail address I will send it. The 369D is made by DEI and has been a favorite over the past few years. It is no longer available. DEI makes starters for a number of companies, Valet being one of them. The Valet 561R is still available and it is exactly the same as the old Rattler 369D. I was going to install my own but saw that Circuit City sells the 561R installed for $159 with lifetime guarantee. At that price it's not worth the hassle of doing your own install. This week 6th Avenue Electronics has the 561R advertised for $129 completely installed. Most installers will try to get you for a few extra bucks by telling you the Vibe has PassLock and it must be bypassed. Not so. Just to prove it to Circuit City I had a 97 cent key made at Walmart and it started the car fine.
Thanks mikey00. I called circuit city and because I have factory keyless entry and alarm they said I would have to replace entire system at $379 otherwise systems are incompatable. I have gotten other claims by Co's selling the remote starters on the internet and the say you can buy a system that takes into account the factory options. These cost $131. For the cost savings I would like to install myself if I was assured I could remove the dash,etc. Since I am 6ft 250lbs I cannot get in under the dash very easily without taking it apart. I am new to this forum and do not know whether this is being sent to you or to the publc forum so I won't include my e-mail at this time. Thanks! doitmy
Remote start is compatible with keyless entry but I don't know about the factory alarm. I have keyless entry and doors now open with the remote start remote which has 1000' range or I can use my original factory remotes which have a much shorter range. I can't send you the word document without an e-mail address. If you don't want to pubish yours, you may want to open a free temporary email account at yahoo or some other site.
Hey guys! Just a note about posting email addresses... We really like to have the discussion taking place on the forums here so that everyone can share and benefit, rather than behind the scenes in email.
The other potential problem with posting an email addy on a public message board comes in the form of unintended consequences. There are those out there "farming" message boards for email addresses, and it's no fun dealing with the spam that can result!
That's why we'd encourage you to set your email to 'public' if you want other users to be able to reach you. The bots farming for email addresses cannot get your email out of your profile, so that's a safe way to allow other registered users (only registered Edmunds users can view profiles) to reach you via email.
I am not sure why you had to delete the posts. Did you read them and see that we were not attempting to take any discussion offline. The only purpose was to email an installation manual. As far as someone "farming" message boards for email addresses , this was not an issue. It was a temporary email address just for the exchange of this manual. I am glad I was able to get it out before your deletion. Other more active Vibe forums are not this strict and I don't feel I violated any membership rules.
The thing to do, as pf_flyer suggests, is make the address public in the profile. In this instance, the other member could have made it public and then either left it that way, or if he'd prefer, he could have reset it to private after you got it.
That way seems easier to me than creating a whole new account for the purpose of posting an address.
This is not on topic, obviously - if you have further questions or comments just drop pf_flyer or myself an email and we'll discuss it further.
I find it amazing that if you check out the Vibe Ebay parts and accessory topic, there about 260 hits. When you type in the Ebay parts and accessories for the Toyota Matrix there are Over 600 hits.
I know there is a separate board on this topic but it doesn't appear to be very active. I am considering buying a Vibe or Matix. The only real options I want are cruise control and a roof rack. When building/pricing the two models on the internet it appears by choosing the Vibe - I'll be paying $1-2,000 more to get the rack. As the owners on this board all made the decision to choose the Vibe over the Matix are there other reasons I'm not aware of to go with the Vibe?
1. better looking exterior design 2. the fact that you CAN get a roof rack 3. more pontiac dealers than toyota dealers 4. don't have to put up with upity toyota dealers 5. potential for GM conquest rebates (when active) 6. potential for GM loyalty bonus' (when active)
-2. You can get a decent but not great aftermarket rack for Vibe and Matrix. The factory rack on the Vibe is only good for small stuff like skis or a couple bicycles.
7. Potential for GM Card rebate. In fact, put $10k down using your GM Card. There will not be a charge for this, at least not at my Pontiac dealer. Then use the rebate money ($500) on that sum when you pick up the car.
There should be no trouble with that, I checked with the dealership...
I have a "favorite" dealer that I've bought a lot of cars from. The salesman I deal with has become a personal fried over the years. I mentioned a similiar deal about a year ago & he said "no way" at least at his dealership. First of all you'd have to have a $10K or greater, line of credit on your GM card ( a lot of folks do not) to get the $500. This was not a factor in my case anyway as at the time I got my car (wife her Vibe) I had over $3000 on the card anyway. Dealer told me they will only allow a max of $1000 on a card of any type as a rule of the dealership. Some dealers may do it tho. I guess it will depend on how desperate they are to make a sale.
That's interesting. My sales lady was very clear: Any amount down on a card (over a few hundred bucks) and I would owe them 2 or 3% to cover their fees. UNLESS it was the GM Card, in which case no fee would apply, and there was no limit.
So I took that to mean that they were not charged any fees if a customer uses GM's own card, wich would make sense to me.
steine: I assumed the 2-3% transaction fee was the reason my dealership did not want to do it. I never thought GM card would waive that but it does make sense to me that they might. For some reason the dealership has a rule not to. I'll try to follow up and find out why.
Very interesting, since it is illegal to charge a transaction fee if you accept MasterCard or Visa (not sure about other cards). I process these transactions as part of my job, and both MC and Visa have strict rules that state a business that accepts them CANNOT charge any type of premium or "fee" for doing so. However, the business must pay a per transaction fee. That's why some businesses to this day refuse to take credit cards. In fact, Wal-Mart sued MC over this issue and lost. Wal-Mart no longer accepts Master Card as a result. This is also why Sam's Club only takes Discover.
So, if your dealership accepts MC or Visa for payment on anything, they cannot charge YOU a fee, although it is true that they will have to pay a fee. GM may have a special arrangement with their dealers for their card. Businesses may set a limit, like the $1000 you mentioned. The fees do add up. We pay 2.8% of every transaction that we accept, plus $.08 for each one.
I wish someone who knows would pipe up... but I don't think it comes up very often.
I'll say this: When I bought a '98 Prizm stripper in '98, they let me put $5,500 on my GM Card... at the time, I was full up for the year, so it wasn't a question of getting more rebates, just some time to rearrange money until the bill came due... this was on a $9,800 car, certainly a loss leader, and they didn't bat an eye.
My best guess is the GM Card has no fee for the dealer. But that's all it is, a guess.
I wonder if NUMMI made some sort of change to the paint job for the 2005 Vibe. I've read several posts in this forum about how horrible the paint is on 2003-2004. A couple nights ago, a semi truck loaded with gravel was coming towards me on the other side of the road. Right when he got to me, a huge pile of gravel blew off the top and smacked into my hood, fender, and windshield. Believe me, it hit hard. It was like someone throwing a bucket of gravel at you at 60mph! Anyhow, I expected the worse, but as far as I can tell, I don't see a single scratch or ding anywhere on the car. Maybe I just got lucky, but I was just curious if anyone knew if they changed anything at NUMMI in response to the 03-04 paint problems. My Vibe is Salsa (dark red).
2005 Vibe still has the same paint issue as previous years. My 05 has numerous scratches everywhere it gets touched, door handles, hood , rear hatch, gas door. My previous car a 2000 Alero was the same color and had basically the same exposure and received no scratches over its life. The 05 paint issue is discussed on the many Vibe forums.
Mikey00....Does the Matrix have the same paint problems as the Vibe. I assume they are both built at the NUMMI plant in Califronia and share the same paint areas??? I follow the Vibe forums and it seems that the "thin" paint is one of the leading complaints on the Vibe forums....but I don't follow the Matrix forums.
mikey00:The matrix has always been assembled in Canada, The Vibe @ the NUMMI plant in California along with the Corolla.From what I've seen there is a difference in the paint quality between the two. I have a 2003 Vibe and the paint is just so-so. My biggest gripe being the paint on the plastic front facia and rear bumper is very thin and has no gloss compared to the finish on the main body, so-called " orange peel" I looked at a whole bunch of cars @ the dealership, all colors, and they all had the same problem. I was told by my nephew (who works for Delphi, poor guy) that this problem comes from the supplier of the plastic cladding / facia components and is not directly the fault of GM. The parts come prepainted from the supplier and they just can't seem to get their act together. I guess GM thinks the paint on them is "just good enough" and is willing to ship them out that way.
My car is white and the problem is not too evident but looks like crap on some of the metallics and especially black. The black bumpers look like they have been painted in someone's garage with a spray can !! LOL ! Otherwise I love my Vibe. At almost 30K miles now it's been a gem.
Since that link is pointing at a post that had to be removed, I need to use this opportunity to make a request about adding images to your posts. Images that are about 500 pixels wide or less are absolutely fine, but images that are larger than that start to push the message area under the right sidebar and make it difficult to read the postings here.
If you have a large image that needs to be seen full size to truly be appreciated, a better solution is to post a link to the image rather than insert it in your post. That way, others can view the image in a separate window and we avoid the margin problem.
This is apparently a problem with a lot of Vibes. Remove the bin. Clean the pivot areas. Put a couple of small strips of duct tape on the pivot areas (layer the strips). This forces the bin higher so the latch grabs more securely. Worked for me!!
turn the plastic lugs counterclockwise until they are all loose (which you have already done). Now pry the cover from the metal rim, as you would any hubcap. The plastic lugs are simply there to keep the cover from falling off at speed.
I bought a 05 Vibe with a window sticker that states roof rack included. I "built" the 05 Vibe at least 6 times on the GM web site. It did not have cross bars as an orderable option. The next day I called the dealer and he said only side rails were included. He also mentioned all vibes had been shipped this way.(BIG DEAL) GM has tried to redefine the term roof rack. According to it's definition roof rack(side rails included) means no cross bars. I contest that this is comparable to wheelbarrow,red,includes wheel, and then when you go to pick it up they hand you a wheel and state it did not say handles included. This is absurd. I notice they have removed any mention of the roof rack inclusion on the 06 web page and added a "utility bar" option. It appears to me they have changed the definition of roof rack as two separate pieces in one case but then use roof rack when it is to their advantage. I have complained to the Attorney General in Washington and if I don't get results I will take them to court on principal. This type of word play has gone on far to long in the automobile industry. Has anyone out there had any luck with this problem?
I have just run across your post and my wife has a 2005 vibe that I am planning installing a remote starter and would like to view a copy of the installation procedure you have. Would it be possible to get a copy emailed to me. Thanks A. Ozon
I haven't purchased a new car in 18 years but now I believe I will. Have found an out of state Dealer that has an 05 Vibe with Moon & Tune, Prem, Monotone appearance Pkg, Pwr Group Package, 4 speed auto trans. & 16 Aluminum Wheels.
I am quoted $17,700 not including tax. What say you on this DEAL?
Comments
Once you adjust the mirrors a couple of times and use the dimmer control a couple of times, you don't need the "lighted switches.
As for AWD/FWD choice, I chose FWD mainly because of the cost savings and because I wanted a stick shift. I thought about AWD, since I live in Michigan, where winters can sometimes get nasty, but all of the other FWD vehicles I've owned have done fine in wintertime driving.
As for power, I drove every version of the Vibe before buying, and decided on the FWD stick shift Base. I noticed a distinct power difference between the Base stick and the Base auto. The auto seemed to slow acceleration down considerably. Of course, it may have just been how heavily I used my foot, but that was my perception. I couldn't tell any difference between the AWD auto and the Base auto. The GT wasn't worth the extra money. It actually seemed to accelerate slower, although I've heard if you take it up into the "scream zone" that's where the power really comes on.
And last - reliability. I've had some "bugs" to work out of my new vehicle, but nothing that is major. It's been in to the dealer because the power window "bezel" fell off the driver's door on the second day I had it, and I had an annoying A/C squeal. I think I hear a few minor rattles developing but nothing terribly annoying yet. My brother has a 1995 Prizm, which has the same engine (earlier version of it), and has 280,000 miles on the car with very few repairs. He almost never changes the oil either, so obviously, it's a good motor.
Hope all this helps. I said I was going to be short!
If gas mileage is a main concern, and you don't need to haul anything, I'd concider MANY other small sedan alternatives. BUT, if you do need to haul, and you want the best AWD value on the road since 2003, the Vibe is your best option.
Your assessment is right on. I belong to a Pontiac Vibe club and one of the biggest complaints is the PAINT. It looks great; however, it seems that the smallest pebble or big bug seems to "chip" the front end. Granted, a 3M clearshield ( the best alternative, but expensive) or CarBra would eliminate this...but... this Vibe seems more subsceptible to little chips and dings than other vehicles. From what I have read about this problem it seems the paint job is not the "thickness" as compared to other vehicle paint "thickness".One of the members took some sort of "thickness" test (don't ask me how). In fact one member had so many little chips he had the whole front end repainted (Iassume by a professional paint shop with "extra coats sprayed on)
I know one thing...after all the complaints back and forth....it sure helped CarBra, ClearShield and the bug deflector aftermarket sellers.
I did not see any complaints about the floor fabric (probably most have the rubber type mats "over" the OEM fabric to protect same.
There has not been any complaint postings about the 2006 paint; however, I assume this is because most of the participants are still driving the 2005 and lower year model.
I'm not asking you how, but I can probably tell you how:
http://www.elcometer.com/international%20index%20pages/international/Coatings/index.htm
Cool stuff.
-Mathias
Thanks
Overall very pleased with this car. MPG is low 30;s with manual. Mid 30's on trip. Not bad at all!
1 Gas mileage I average city highway of 7.4 per hundred km same as my wife 2005 Honda Civic automatic 36-38 miles per gallon canadian.
2. Only have 3500 km about 2000 miles nothing done as of yet. Have not required any adjustment.
3. Service life of the vehicle should be quite good as it has the same motor as the toyota corolla. I would think 200k miles would not be an unreasonable expectation of this car.
4. I chose the automatic because of convenience, if you have children you no what I mean. You need one had free. You may sacrifice performance off the line but I have had both and for me automatics require less maintenance. As for AWD or FWD I personally would save the money and opt for FWD. Add a set of good winter tires Michelin ice and you will be fine.
5. I have not had the opportunity to take a long drive but according to others who have it seems to be quite comfortable.
6.The car feels solid, feels bigger than it actually is. I have no concerns about driving this car in the winter.
7.The Matrix would have higher resale value but if your going to put 200k miles on the car I would not be concerned. Also if you compare feature to feature you should be able to get a better deal on the Vibe so you will be ahead and probably will get better financing as well. I visited the toyota dealer and test drove the Matrix, Toyota seems a little too arrogant for my taste. With the savings and the fact that I have a toyota in everything but name I have no regrets.
As I said earlier we have a 2005 Honda Civic Automatic SE and the vibe compares quite favorably. Hope this helps.
1. one looses very little in gas mileage when going to an automatic these days. I'm in a city, and won't consider a clutch anymore
2. while the AWD is probably overkill for most, it does give you independent rear suspension 100% of the time. I drove the FWD, and the AWD suspension made all the difference in the world
3. the Vibe still does not come with telescoping steering, which is criminal these days. Taller drivers like myself find it hard to get comfortable with the Vibe on long drives as a result. I compensate by driving with my leg a lot (or taking my Maxx which is a much better car)
4. the Vibe has GREAT rear seat leg room for the times when you are carrying adults instead of children.
As for the paint: I'm sure I'll have the thing totally repainted by Macco some day since it looks like a golfer walked over my car enroute to the "19th tee", and since I fully expect this Corolla to go 200,000 miles.
believer
Mileage is generally around 30. Replaced front brakes and tires but that's it for "repairs". Hood is a bit chipped.
Overall I find it comfy, reliable and a decent value.
Since I am 6ft 250lbs I cannot get in under the dash very easily without taking it apart. I am new to this forum and do not know whether this is being sent to you or to the publc forum so I won't include my e-mail at this time. Thanks! doitmy
The other potential problem with posting an email addy on a public message board comes in the form of unintended consequences. There are those out there "farming" message boards for email addresses, and it's no fun dealing with the spam that can result!
That's why we'd encourage you to set your email to 'public' if you want other users to be able to reach you. The bots farming for email addresses cannot get your email out of your profile, so that's a safe way to allow other registered users (only registered Edmunds users can view profiles) to reach you via email.
PF Flyer
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That way seems easier to me than creating a whole new account for the purpose of posting an address.
This is not on topic, obviously - if you have further questions or comments just drop pf_flyer or myself an email and we'll discuss it further.
Thanks!
2. the fact that you CAN get a roof rack
3. more pontiac dealers than toyota dealers
4. don't have to put up with upity toyota dealers
5. potential for GM conquest rebates (when active)
6. potential for GM loyalty bonus' (when active)
The factory rack on the Vibe is only good for small stuff like skis or a couple bicycles.
7. Potential for GM Card rebate. In fact, put $10k down using your GM Card. There will not be a charge for this, at least not at my Pontiac dealer. Then use the rebate money ($500) on that sum when you pick up the car.
There should be no trouble with that, I checked with the dealership...
-Mathias
believer
My sales lady was very clear: Any amount down on a card (over a few hundred bucks) and I would owe them 2 or 3% to cover their fees.
UNLESS it was the GM Card, in which case no fee would apply, and there was no limit.
So I took that to mean that they were not charged any fees if a customer uses GM's own card, wich would make sense to me.
-Mathias
believer
So, if your dealership accepts MC or Visa for payment on anything, they cannot charge YOU a fee, although it is true that they will have to pay a fee. GM may have a special arrangement with their dealers for their card. Businesses may set a limit, like the $1000 you mentioned. The fees do add up. We pay 2.8% of every transaction that we accept, plus $.08 for each one.
I'll say this: When I bought a '98 Prizm stripper in '98, they let me put $5,500 on my GM Card... at the time, I was full up for the year, so it wasn't a question of getting more rebates, just some time to rearrange money until the bill came due... this was on a $9,800 car, certainly a loss leader, and they didn't bat an eye.
My best guess is the GM Card has no fee for the dealer.
But that's all it is, a guess.
-Mathias
My car is white and the problem is not too evident but looks like crap on some of the metallics and especially black. The black bumpers look like they have been painted in someone's garage with a spray can !! LOL ! Otherwise I love my Vibe. At almost 30K miles now it's been a gem.
believer
steine13, "Toyota Matrix vs. Pontiac Vibe - Compare Notes" #226, 6 Nov 2005 9:44 pm
-Mathias
If you have a large image that needs to be seen full size to truly be appreciated, a better solution is to post a link to the image rather than insert it in your post. That way, others can view the image in a separate window and we avoid the margin problem.
Thanks!
PF Flyer
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News & Views, Wagons, & Hybrid Vehicles
It's all fixed now... -m
regards believer
Thanks A. Ozon
I am quoted $17,700 not including tax. What say you on this DEAL?
I'm interested!