My Vibe is an 03 with 40K. Had to replace a map light at around 20K, and have other mysterious dash light and radio volume sudden changes in intensity. The most startling event is when the control panel goes suddenly black for a few seconds. So far this has only happened in the daytime. The radio (moon and tunes), will not play a cd from beginning to end without changing over to fm radio. The radio also will suddenly drop or rise in volume drastically without any touching of controls. Now the clock display has gone dark on the left side. Anyone with similar problems?
I can tell you from my personal experience the radio is junk. I would be on my third in three years except stupid GM would not stand behind the junk. So instead I deal with a radio that the display only half lights up and while braking the CDs rub inside the player. The volume control wasn't working at all until I smacked the thing and now that at least that works. I'll make do until my next car, BTW NOT GM as they will not stand behind their junk. No wonder they're going down the tubes.
Never had any other electrical problems, of course they just of the car minus the radio is Toyota.
Purchased a 2005 Vibe AWD in August. Have 3600 miles on it now but can't get any more than 18 to 19 miles per gallon. 210 to 220 miles a tank full. Is this a problem with Vibe or should I look for some other problem? Car runs great and I love it except for the miles per gallon.
Just purchased a new 2006 Vibe. Have driven it for 3 days. Thus far I am pleased overall but it does have a few drawbacks.The engine is a little buzzy and underpowered from a dead stop. The '16 alloy wheels are not the most attractive but better than wheel covers. More positive, the fuel economy has been really good. I live in an urban area and parking comes at premium at times, so the vibe has been a good choice. It's not a show stopper but the Red color and gray cladding does have appeal. Sun and sound package also helps make the car more appealing. Overall, it's fun to drive and keeps me away from the pumps at a decent price. Knowing it has Toyota quality underneath the Disco cladding also helps.
I just purchased an 06 vibe yesterday....got a great deal imo and ridded myself of an 04 envoy and 98 jeep both of which got 16mpg and am looking forward to less $$$ at the pump. One of the main things in looking at the vibe in considered was the alliance with Toyota. I considered the matrix but liked the look of the vibe. I dont know how they did it at the dealership but got employee pricing which was ended by GM got the $2K in rebates and the 3.9% financing...dont know dont care but am very HAPPY!!!
Its just not GM radios but my honda radio was junk also...I had to enter in the key code in the radio evertime i turned on the car for the radio to work and the rear speakers came out of the frame....i asked honda about the problem and they said to just keep humming tunes...my GM dealer on my envoy has stood behind every concerne or repair i needed so its not GM per say but your dealer that makes the difference...IMO of course....
Jefferson, I "spoke" with GM via e-mail a dozen times and by telephone several. They would not stand behind their products and 3 radios/CD in 3 years is ridiculous.
The 115V electrical outlet in the Vibe/Matrix is a unique feature, and I'd like to know what kinds of electrical appliances, gadgets, equipment, etc. people plug into it.
I plug my cell phone charger in to it, because the phone came with a standard "at-home" charger, but the "in car" (read DC/cig lighter) charger would have cost me $29.95. Of course, the phone only charges while the car is on, but that's enough to keep it charged.'
I've heard that people who use a laptop consistently use the plug to run those, plus if you fold down the front seat, it makes a nice "desk" for using a laptop - so long as you don't hit the brakes too hard! :-)
I plug my iPod into it - no need for the overpriced car charger attachment. I found that it was a much easier fit if I got one of those three prong to two prong converters. Otherwise the power pack was up against the console and it would fall out sometimes.
I bought a pontiac Vibe GT about a week and a half ago and absolutely love it. I could only find one GT in my area but, it happened to be the color (moonstone)that I wanted. This car has almost every option available,leather interior, moonroof, monsoon audio. I wasnt looking for all these options but, after taking the car for a test drive I HAD TO HAVE IT :O). I dont usually like to drive too much but, the car is so fun I have already gone 550 miles. It has a very powerful motor and yet my first 9 gallons of gas yeilded 232 miles. That was a combination of city and highway driving along with some TESTING of the motors capability. The transaxle came with a 4:53 gear ratio and it is not hard to get the engine up into its powerband. I read some reviews about the GT being geared high but, I think it is geared nicely (unless the 4:53's are a change for the 2006 model). The only thing that I am not completely satisfied with is the 6 speed transmission. It is a bit hard to find certain gears at times. I think I am either getting used to it or, it is "breaking in" because over the last few days I havnt had much of a problem with it. We got about 15 inches of snow here today but, I am not too anxious to take my brand new car out in a blizzard. It seemed to move pretty easily in the driveway however. All in all this is a very comfortable,roomy,quick,super handling car that somehow even manages to be economical !!! What more could anyone ask for? Patrick
Perhaps a couple of months and 1,000 miles or so in which to break the engine in? I realize it ain't the 60s anymore, but I'd stay out of the "power band" of 6,000 rpm and up for awhile...
Well I am feeling a bit prolific tonight so I am going to say more about the Vibe GT. I have been driving it for over three weeks now and have 1100 miles on it already. It is a very fun and comfortable car to drive. I like the GT's stiff suspension but, my wife hates it. I think she cannot stand the car because I like it :O). I have noticed a few NUANCES however - I am 6 ft tall and have the steering wheel and seat positioned where I want them. The problem is that I cannot see ANY of the gauges without TRYING to see them (including the speedometer). Also the directionals seem to stay on - it makes me feel like an old man driving down the street with my signals blinking :O). Gas mileage right now (it has been cold here in Massachusetts)is averaging 23.5 - 25.5 mpg. The GT WILL NOT TOLERATE anything but premium gas. Right now gas is pretty inexpensive but, when it goes back up to $4.00 bucks a gallon I might be sorry I traded in my 99 Elantra (Elantra got about 33 MPG). The dealer put regular 87 octane gas in the car when I bought it and it was pinging quite a bit (even driving it very easy). I put Sonoco 93 octane in it and it runs like some kind of wild animal. I have bought 3 new cars in my life before this one - a 95 Grand Am SE , a 99 Grand AM GT coup (these were basically my ex's cars) and a 99 Hyundai Elantra. I like driving the Vibe better than any one of these other cars. It is certainly quicker than any of them (ie. fun :O). However, the Hyundai proved extremely reliable and I am hoping the Vibe will be as reliable. The only other car I liked as much as this Vibe was my 67 Firebird. The Firebird was a showcar and had leather interior and beautiful paint. It only got 12 mpg had very limited interior room and handled HORRIBLE compared to today's cars. Besides I am pretty sure the GT vibe is quicker than the firebird was and I can go to BJ's warehouse and fill it up with groceries (am I getting old or, what !!! )
I'm facing a dilemma. I'm looking for a commuter car to put about 22,000 highway miles each year on. I'm contemplating a 2003 Pontiac Vibe w/ 20k miles on it for around $11k or a 2000 Honda Civic EX w/ 70K miles for $6000. I'd prefer not to have a car payment so I'm leaning toward the Civic for that reason. I also see alot of them on the road (even older than a 2000) and most of the ones I see for sale in the same year have as many as 150,000+ miles on them. The only downside is that I think it's crazy to pay almost $6k for a soon to be 7 year old car. I'm kinda drawn to the Vibe as a previous Sunfire owner. I like the sporty looks of the vibe. It's also a semi-Toyota so that's a plus. My husband would prefer me to buy the newer car but I'm at a loss as to which will be better in the long run. I'm not going to use the car for anything else but commuting. What's your take on the situation? Thank you!
If you found out that the Civic mostly achieved its mileage on the highway, I'd buy the Civic. I'd also lean towards the Civic given the fit/finish and paint problems with the Vibe. Nonetheless, 20,000 miles on a 3 year old car is increadibly low. Obviously the car has not been on the highway at all, and really has not even been broken in yet. Check the on line programs to see if $6,000 is a good price for the Civic. I'm assuming you can even offer less and see if they will take your offer? As a Vibe AWD owner since 2003, I think the Vibe is an OK car. There are many better new car options. There are also many better used car options (Toyota/Honda). I think you have found one. Have a mechanic check the Civic out first, offer them less, and drive away happy. Good luck.
Thank you for responding so quickly. The private party value is listed as $7300. He's asking $6500 & got back to me right away to say he needs to move it. I'm hoping he'll take $5500 cash for it IF it checks out well w/ a mechanic, per your suggestion. Thank you!
I would go with the Civic, if it checks out OK mechanically. I commute at least that much every year, if not more, and the Vibe is a decent commuter car. However, if you don't have any "use" for its other features (such as roominess, cargo capacity, etc.) than I would choose the Civic. You're likely to get better gas mileage, which could be oh so important if prices soar again this summer. As a commuter, you know what a bite those high prices can make in the budget!
Just had a problem like you did with the control panel going black. So far, it's been like that for 2 days now but when starting the car, the lights come on! A few times the lights will come on for about 30 seconds but then go back off again. Can't figure out what is causing them to come back on. I will probably have to bring the car in if it doesn't resolve itself. I'll write back if I find out what the problem was.
my wife has a 2003 Vibe, base model, automatic. we have driven it 30,000 miles. great little car. consistently gets 28 mpg city & 34 highway. only expenses so far--new tires @ 30,000 miles. we would recommend it highly.
Hello, I am new here. I own a 2003 Toyota Avalon. I want to trade it in for a Pontiac Vibe. I think. I just bought the Avalon last year. Owe alot on it. Want smaller payments. I drove a Toyota Matrix, but found it vibrated. So drove a Vibe, did not vibrate. Am reading all things from people regarding this car. Safe, not safe.
I just want a basic vibe, front wheel drive, power windows, cruise, and good gas mileage. When I go to trade in my car, should I ask them to come down in pricr for theirs? I am not good at buying cars. COuld use some help. When I bought my Avalon it costs me $20,000.00 in Jan 2005. Now a car dealer is saying he will only give me 14,000.00 Can they depreciate that much in 1 year? It is loaded, leather seats, etc.
wow, first lonnie, I wouldn't trade your Avalon for anything (unless it is possessed by demons, or if you are going to have to file for bankrupcy as a result of owning it). I don't believe you will be happy with the Vibe after owning one of the best cars on the road. While my Vibe AWD is still doing fine after 65,000 miles, it is bare bones basic transportation, despite the hype by many others. There are also hardware/paint/fit and finish problems, and shockingly for a Corolla, some reliability issues as well. It is good that you recognize that you are not good at buying a car. I witness that those who are not, usually make poor decisions about when to get rid of their cars as well. Don't do it. Keep the Avalon. It will last for 10-15 years. If you don't take that advice, then at a minimum, use the internet to buy your car. Internet managers almost always have the best deals. There are many on-line internet services which will canvas several dealers for you. It will ensure you get the best deal out there. Good luck.
When I bought my Avalon it costs me $20,000.00 in Jan 2005. Now a car dealer is saying he will only give me 14,000.00 Can they depreciate that much in 1 year?
Define "depreciate". Did you pay $20k with tax? Then there's $1,200 right there. The car certainly did depreciate; depending on the miles you drove and the condition it's in, it "should depreciate" $2-3,000 in one year... even with very few miles drive... more miles, more depreciation. Don't forget, any car depreciates 100% over 15 years or 200k miles, give or take, so if it was a $30k car to begin with, you can see where I'm coming from. Be glad you didn't buy a domestic...
We don't have much to work here; how many miles a year, how many miles on the car, did you roll any negative equity in when you bought it? What's your interest rate?
Yeah, you probably overpaid a little for the car, but I only say that because you say you don't know much about car buying. On the other hand, you did not overpay much because of the $14k offer... so last year it was a $17k car... you paid $3 over that, with or without the taxes...? Bingo, the spread between wholesale and retail is at $2-3k in this price range.
Unless you drive mega miles, keep the Avalon. Transaction costs are going to eat up $2k if you trade down, if not more. The payments will go up.
And in the future, buy less car or have more cash. I know everyone does it, but it's expensive to buy more than one can truly afford.
Thank you so much for the advice. When I bought my Avalon, I traded my Pontiac Bonneville in for it. My Pontiac had 100,000 miles and I owed $245.00 on it. So that is all I rolled over. But unfortunately I did finance the taxes along with the price of the Avalon. I believe they gave me 1800 for my car, not for sure.
I really have learned a very hard lesson here. The only reason I want to get rid of this, is because my payments are$406.00 a month. I have always bought all the vehicles. I by my husbands and mine. I am tired of spending all my money on cars. My husband likes the Avalon, I asked if he wanted to take over payments, not interested. So its all my fault.
Also, the Avalon is not that great on gas, and terrible in snow. But other than that, what a beauty. Has all the luxeries.
I'm just going to have to buckle up financially and face what I have done and be greatful I have a nice car. And just take good care of what I have, I guess.
But your right Mathias, LESS CAR or More Cash!!!! Just takes a little patience, and less instant gratification!
Can Vibe owners help me?! I test drove a Vibe with 22000 miles on it today. It is a 2005 and in great shape. However when we checked the tail pipe, wiping inside of it with a paper towel, we picked up a lot of black soot. It was not oily, just very black and sooty. My van is a 1999 and has no soot, just very little light grey, more smokey than sooty. My husbands truck is the same. Is the soot normal for these cars? Do you all have soot in your tail pipes also? If it is not normal are there any mechanics here who can tell me what would cause that? Thanks for the help!
I'm too lazy to go outside and check my car now... but swiping inside the tail pipe is one of the checks I do on used cars... so I've had my finger up a lot of tail pipes... as it were.
I doubt there's a problem with the car. In my experience, Dodge trucks put out a ton of soot, even when they're new. VW/Audis have almost none. Toyotas a little, but it varies. A certain amount of dry soot is no cause for concern.
Given how tricked out emissions systems are today, it'd be virtually impossible for an '05 with 22k miles to have something wrong with the combustion process without throwing a light. So unless you can actually produce quantities of the stuff -- as opposed to getting your hand or tissue paper good and dirty -- I wouldn't worry. It may also have more to do with he number of cold starts than the number of miles... oxygen sensors don't work the first minute or three while they're cold. So the injectors are on some sort of auto pilot during that time.
I'll try to remember to check my car ('04 26k) tomorrow. -Mathias
Thanks so much for your input. Please do let me know when you check your car. Does anyone else have any insight or experiences to share with me? I'm getting ready to shell out a big chunk of my yearly income on this vehicle.
OK. There is enough soot in the tailpipe to get a white tissue paper "pretty dirty". Which means, there is not enough solid matter to fill even 1/10 of a tea spoon, but the tissue gets black in a few spots, and very gray over an area of 2x2 inches.
That's as accurate as I can make it.
My wife's '03 Sienna is just about the same.
If the car you're looking at is a whole lot worse, either don't buy it or have it looked at carefully. But be advised that Vibes (and even worse, Matrices) are wicked expensive used... consider taking advantage of whatever rebates the General provides (conquest, bonus, cash back) and consider buying new.
Thanks for checking. I don't think the soot in the car we are looking at has enough to scrape and fill any size portion of a teaspoon, but wiping all the way around got us about a 2x2 square of black. Right now the best GM will do is $1000 total off, cash back and conquest. We don't have a GM card nor employee or supplier discount. So perhaps we could get a similar Vibe new for $19,800 or so (including destination.) This used vehicle is a 1995 certified (and still under GM warranty) for $14795. (The same model with same options new has an MSRP of about $20,300.) The payments would be considerably higher and a year longer. I don't think I can stretch that far... :confuse:
I suddenly have the problem of the dashboard lights going out, the control panel going black. Happened on the freeway without any warning, suddenly all lights went out, speed, radio, everything. Completely black dashboard. Then lights came back on, went on and off 3 times. I was scared it was electrical problem, so got off freeway and had it towed. Mechanic says alternator is fine. Happened the same the next day, now has been fine for 2 days. Any ideas?
Thanks for your suggestion, but the dashboard lights going out, didnt have to do with the parking brake being on, in my case. I was flying down the freeway at 60mph, all lights went off, then on and off 3 times, by the time I had gotten off at the next exit and pulled into a parking lot and called a tow truck. My mechanic found nothing, and could not make it do it again. alternator was fine. Happened again the following day, now has not done it in in 3 days.
Actually tried it myself and your right, not sure what I was thinking but it is strange how I had the same problem for the first time just recently. If you find out what's going on, please post.
If GM had any brains, there would not be any Saturn or Pontiac for 2007. But they don't; so there will. I see no reason to buy the Vibe if neither the GT nor AWD models are not offered, unless they put independent suspension in the only version remaining. Still, it is a car which does not stand out in a crowd, so why bother at all.
"If GM had any brains, there would not be any Saturn or Pontiac for 2007. But they don't; so there will. I see no reason to buy the Vibe if neither the GT nor AWD models are not offered, unless they put independent suspension in the only version remaining. Still, it is a car which does not stand out in a crowd, so why bother at all" -Maxx
Is it just me? What in the heck is Maxx talking about?
I take some issue with your statement. I have a 2003 base Vibe which has over 100,000 miles on it. Although it has not been perfect (GM radio is low quality) overall the car has been excellent. Only real repair, 1 O2 sensor. Car starts every day, good ac and heat. It may not have much snob appeal but some of us do not care about that sort of thing. As far as transportation goes it is fine and if need be I'd take it cross country tomorrow without hesitation.
I picked up my new Vibe a few days ago. I was able to get the stealth grey, what a stunning color! It is really a greenish, sometimes blue-greenish, metalic color. I got the sun & sound package, anti-lock brakes, power and 16" alloys. Stuck with the two-tone for durability for the bumpers and lower doors. I LOVE IT! It's fun to drive, great on gas, comfortable, roomy, and the styling is 1st class. The only issues I have with it are the driving position, (steering wheel too far away) and the paint job! The paint is so thin (both color and clear coat) that I have already picked up scratches that go down to the primer. (Some idiot at Panera Bread opened his/her door too wide.) What a disgrace! I've owned GM cars with excellent paint finishes. They really went CHEAP on the finish, and if it gets ugly fast I am going to try my best to get GM to repaint it. We'll see. Anyone else have paint problems? If so what did you do?
The paint quality is a known issue with the Vibe since 03. My Black 05 has many scratches on it in areas where the car gets touched such as door handles, gas filler, rear hatch etc. Also chips on the hood. The Vibe paint is softer or thinner or both than other GM products or even the Toyota Matrix. Other Vibe forums have had discussions about the paint issues but I have never heard of any sucess with getting the car repainted. Some have had sucess with getting the cladding repainted on monotone Vibes. The painted cladding is even a bigger issue and I think GM even has a TSB on that.
Too bad GM didn't take care with the paint like they did with most of the other features! If I get a lot more damage without being any fault of mine I will definitely push to have the paint repaired, at least. We'll see. Oh one other thing that bugs, the heater/AC controls cannot be reached easily because the shifter is too close to them. I wonder if it is the same on the Matrix. Not very good design thinking. On a different note, some people have been saying that the power is not sufficient for passing. I pushed the pedal all the way down to pass (like the manual says when above 29mph) and it really takes off. (I have the Base Vibe.) Pays to read the manual... Happy Vibing!
IF.... they are going to put the 2.4 DOHC tojo in it, the ratings are: 158 hp@5700 and 161 ft lbs@4000 with a 5 sp auto........and same specs with the 5 sp std...from the 2007 Camry specs.......
Here's the text of a "Press Release" I found somewhere else:
"Pontiac will discontinue the GT and all-wheel-drive versions of the Vibe wagon after the 2006 model year due to sluggish sales of those models and changes in U.S. emissions standards that would have made them costly to redesign.
Pontiac will continue to offer the base-model Vibe for the 2007 model year. It may bring back the GT and awd versions with the next-generation Vibe, a spokesman says.
In a bulletin to Pontiac dealers Thursday morning, Buick-Pontiac-GMC General Manager John Larson told dealers they had until April and May to put in their last requests for the GT and AWD versions. Larson cited changes to U.S. regulatory standards as the reason.
"These changes would affect key structural components," Larson wrote. "The cost of redesign is prohibitive."
U.S. regulatory policy for 2007 has an ultralow emissions standard that the GT and awd versions did not meet. The base does meet the standard, says a Pontiac spokesman.
Sales also factored into the decision. Pontiac sold 64,271 units of the Vibe last year. That was up 9.1 percent from 2004. But dealers say the base model has accounted for the bulk of those sales.
"The GT and awd are very low-penetrating models right now," says Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson. "There's still a very good possibility we'll resurrect both of those as we look at the next generation of the Vibe over the next couple of years."
The Vibe is a joint project that GM builds with Toyota Motor Corp. at the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant in Fremont, Calif. Toyota builds the engine. Sources close to Pontiac say the NUMMI arrangement is profitable and the killing of these versions does not indicate that the relationship will end.
Comments
Never had any other electrical problems, of course they just of the car minus the radio is Toyota.
I get 22-23 mpg with my base 5sp Vibe; my wife can get 35 mpg in the summer with longer trips.
-Mathias
I curiously await your responses!
I've heard that people who use a laptop consistently use the plug to run those, plus if you fold down the front seat, it makes a nice "desk" for using a laptop - so long as you don't hit the brakes too hard! :-)
I dont usually like to drive too much but, the car is so fun I have already gone 550 miles. It has a very powerful motor and yet my first 9 gallons of gas yeilded 232 miles. That was a combination of city and highway driving along with some TESTING of the motors capability. The transaxle came with a 4:53 gear ratio and it is not hard to get the engine up into its powerband. I read some reviews about the GT being geared high but, I think it is geared nicely (unless the 4:53's are a change for the 2006 model). The only thing that I am not completely satisfied with is the 6 speed transmission. It is a bit hard to find certain gears at times. I think I am either getting used to it or, it is "breaking in" because over the last few days I havnt had much of a problem with it. We got about 15 inches of snow here today but, I am not too anxious to take my brand new car out in a blizzard. It seemed to move pretty easily in the driveway however.
All in all this is a very comfortable,roomy,quick,super handling car that somehow even manages to be economical !!! What more could anyone ask for?
Patrick
Perhaps a couple of months and 1,000 miles or so in which to break the engine in? I realize it ain't the 60s anymore, but I'd stay out of the "power band" of 6,000 rpm and up for awhile...
Other than that, congratulations.
-Mathias
I have noticed a few NUANCES however - I am 6 ft tall and have the steering wheel and seat positioned where I want them. The problem is that I cannot see ANY of the gauges without TRYING to see them (including the speedometer). Also the directionals seem to stay on - it makes me feel like an old man driving down the street with my signals blinking :O).
Gas mileage right now (it has been cold here in Massachusetts)is averaging 23.5 - 25.5 mpg. The GT WILL NOT TOLERATE anything but premium gas. Right now gas is pretty inexpensive but, when it goes back up to $4.00 bucks a gallon I might be sorry I traded in my 99 Elantra (Elantra got about 33 MPG). The dealer put regular 87 octane gas in the car when I bought it and it was pinging quite a bit (even driving it very easy). I put Sonoco 93 octane in it and it runs like some kind of wild animal.
I have bought 3 new cars in my life before this one - a 95 Grand Am SE , a 99 Grand AM GT coup (these were basically my ex's cars) and a 99 Hyundai Elantra. I like driving the Vibe better than any one of these other cars. It is certainly quicker than any of them (ie. fun :O). However, the Hyundai proved extremely reliable and I am hoping the Vibe will be as reliable. The only other car I liked as much as this Vibe was my 67 Firebird. The Firebird was a showcar and had leather interior and beautiful paint. It only got 12 mpg had very limited interior room and handled HORRIBLE compared to today's cars. Besides I am pretty sure the GT vibe is quicker than the firebird was and I can go to BJ's warehouse and fill it up with groceries (am I getting old or, what !!! )
I'm facing a dilemma. I'm looking for a commuter car to put about 22,000 highway miles each year on. I'm contemplating a 2003 Pontiac Vibe w/ 20k miles on it for around $11k or a 2000 Honda Civic EX w/ 70K miles for $6000. I'd prefer not to have a car payment so I'm leaning toward the Civic for that reason. I also see alot of them on the road (even older than a 2000) and most of the ones I see for sale in the same year have as many as 150,000+ miles on them. The only downside is that I think it's crazy to pay almost $6k for a soon to be 7 year old car. I'm kinda drawn to the Vibe as a previous Sunfire owner. I like the sporty looks of the vibe. It's also a semi-Toyota so that's a plus. My husband would prefer me to buy the newer car but I'm at a loss as to which will be better in the long run. I'm not going to use the car for anything else but commuting. What's your take on the situation? Thank you!
I just want a basic vibe, front wheel drive, power windows, cruise, and good gas mileage. When I go to trade in my car, should I ask them to come down in pricr for theirs? I am not good at buying cars. COuld use some help. When I bought my Avalon it costs me $20,000.00 in Jan 2005. Now a car dealer is saying he will only give me 14,000.00 Can they depreciate that much in 1 year? It is loaded, leather seats, etc.
Can anyone help?
Thank you.
Lonnie
I would look into a private sale on the Avalon to get the most money.
Define "depreciate". Did you pay $20k with tax? Then there's $1,200 right there. The car certainly did depreciate; depending on the miles you drove and the condition it's in, it "should depreciate" $2-3,000 in one year... even with very few miles drive... more miles, more depreciation. Don't forget, any car depreciates 100% over 15 years or 200k miles, give or take, so if it was a $30k car to begin with, you can see where I'm coming from.
Be glad you didn't buy a domestic...
We don't have much to work here; how many miles a year, how many miles on the car, did you roll any negative equity in when you bought it? What's your interest rate?
Yeah, you probably overpaid a little for the car, but I only say that because you say you don't know much about car buying. On the other hand, you did not overpay much because of the $14k offer... so last year it was a $17k car... you paid $3 over that, with or without the taxes...? Bingo, the spread between wholesale and retail is at $2-3k in this price range.
Unless you drive mega miles, keep the Avalon. Transaction costs are going to eat up $2k if you trade down, if not more. The payments will go up.
And in the future, buy less car or have more cash. I know everyone does it, but it's expensive to buy more than one can truly afford.
-Mathias
I really have learned a very hard lesson here. The only reason I want to get rid of this, is because my payments are$406.00 a month. I have always bought all the vehicles. I by my husbands and mine. I am tired of spending all my money on cars. My husband likes the Avalon, I asked if he wanted to take over payments, not interested. So its all my fault.
Also, the Avalon is not that great on gas, and terrible in snow. But other than that, what a beauty. Has all the luxeries.
I'm just going to have to buckle up financially and face what I have done and be greatful I have a nice car. And just take good care of what I have, I guess.
But your right Mathias, LESS CAR or More Cash!!!! Just takes a little patience, and less instant gratification!
Thank you again!
Lonnie
I doubt there's a problem with the car. In my experience, Dodge trucks put out a ton of soot, even when they're new. VW/Audis have almost none. Toyotas a little, but it varies. A certain amount of dry soot is no cause for concern.
Given how tricked out emissions systems are today, it'd be virtually impossible for an '05 with 22k miles to have something wrong with the combustion process without throwing a light. So unless you can actually produce quantities of the stuff -- as opposed to getting your hand or tissue paper good and dirty -- I wouldn't worry. It may also have more to do with he number of cold starts than the number of miles... oxygen sensors don't work the first minute or three while they're cold. So the injectors are on some sort of auto pilot during that time.
I'll try to remember to check my car ('04 26k) tomorrow.
-Mathias
There is enough soot in the tailpipe to get a white tissue paper "pretty dirty". Which means, there is not enough solid matter to fill even 1/10 of a tea spoon, but the tissue gets black in a few spots, and very gray over an area of 2x2 inches.
That's as accurate as I can make it.
My wife's '03 Sienna is just about the same.
If the car you're looking at is a whole lot worse, either don't buy it or have it looked at carefully. But be advised that Vibes (and even worse, Matrices) are wicked expensive used... consider taking advantage of whatever rebates the General provides (conquest, bonus, cash back) and consider buying new.
-Mathias
-Maxx
Is it just me? What in the heck is Maxx talking about?
-Larry
Perfect timing - just when gas is getting more expensive they feel it needs a larger engine. :confuse:
"Pontiac will discontinue the GT and all-wheel-drive versions of the Vibe wagon after the 2006 model year due to sluggish sales of those models and changes in U.S. emissions standards that would have made them costly to redesign.
Pontiac will continue to offer the base-model Vibe for the 2007 model year. It may bring back the GT and awd versions with the next-generation Vibe, a spokesman says.
In a bulletin to Pontiac dealers Thursday morning, Buick-Pontiac-GMC General Manager John Larson told dealers they had until April and May to put in their last requests for the GT and AWD versions. Larson cited changes to U.S. regulatory standards as the reason.
"These changes would affect key structural components," Larson wrote. "The cost of redesign is prohibitive."
U.S. regulatory policy for 2007 has an ultralow emissions standard that the GT and awd versions did not meet. The base does meet the standard, says a Pontiac spokesman.
Sales also factored into the decision. Pontiac sold 64,271 units of the Vibe last year. That was up 9.1 percent from 2004. But dealers say the base model has accounted for the bulk of those sales.
"The GT and awd are very low-penetrating models right now," says Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson. "There's still a very good possibility we'll resurrect both of those as we look at the next generation of the Vibe over the next couple of years."
The Vibe is a joint project that GM builds with Toyota Motor Corp. at the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant in Fremont, Calif. Toyota builds the engine. Sources close to Pontiac say the NUMMI arrangement is profitable and the killing of these versions does not indicate that the relationship will end.