Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

steine13

Vibe sales are down 50%.

Until just recently, there were no good incentives, and the street price had been creeping up. On a six-year-old design, no less.

Just last week, they put $1k "bonus cash" on a bunch of Pontiacs, and that helps.

The best Vibe sales were in the summer of '05, right when gas prices hit $3 for the first time.

It's still a bit of a niche vehicle; but I really like it. I was going to buy an Element, but I couldn't find a stick, at least not unless I got a loaded 4wd, that was going to cost $23-24 OTD. I'd rather have a 35 mpg car and keep my van...

The following chart comes to you courtesy of 'genvibe' and gives a pretty clear picture:

-Mathias

akangl

I'm punching in... CCBA status through Christmas is guaranteed

Congrats! At least someone bought something and it wasn't ME! :P

I'm so glad I finally found a car I can keep for a long time *listens to the snickers from the peanut gallery*. I don't want to punch my CCBA card again for a while. I'm VERY content with my Pilot.....4810 miles on it now, just purchased the 6 year/120k Honda Care ESC yesterday. Off on a 700 mile trip tomorrow.

jlawrence01

I was looking for a Vibe earlier this year. However, the best that I could find in the Chicago area was a '04 model with 80k miles and the dealer wanted $9k.

The new ones offered little in the way of rebates - maybe $500.

My brother called me from Cincinnati and found an '06 Vibe with 15k for $12 ... but it was manual.

corvette

Woa, looks like the someone had too much to drink at the office party.

She didn't look drunk, but possibly overmedicated.

Hopefully you guys can resolve who is paying without getting the lawyers involved.

That part doesn't bother me, I work at a law office, and am a candidate for admission to the bar.

roadburner

That sucks; a friend backed into my MS3, but fortunately the paint was undamaged and the local Dent Doctor was able to remove about 95% of the dent for $150.

qbrozen

... but it was manual

you say that like its a bad thing.
I think you meant to say "AND its a manual! woohooo!"
;b

qbrozen

thanks for posting your impressions, BR. I really really want to go check them out, but I feel like I shouldn't because I am nowhere near being able to even consider one. I've still got 20 months on my lease.

michaellno

Oh, man, that sucks. Been there, done that just recently.

mathias .. congrats on the new purchase. Yeah, when I got the email from GM announcing the week long sale, I had to really restrain myself from not heading off to the dealer. Could probably get into an Aura XR for $21-22K with my GMS discount and all rebates.

jolie, have fun on the trip. We're taking our VUE to Utah the first weekend of October ... a little over 500 miles each way. We'll see what kind of mileage we get. First few tanks have returned about 19-20MPG. Be nice to play around with the XM radio on the journey.

BR - we saw the C30 a week or so ago when we drove past the Volvo dealer. Wife didn't have much of an opinion on it.

lilengineerboy

I was looking for a Vibe earlier this year. However, the best that I could find in the Chicago area was a '04 model with 80k miles and the dealer wanted $9k.

The new ones offered little in the way of rebates - maybe $500.

My brother called me from Cincinnati and found an '06 Vibe with 15k for $12 ... but it was manual.

So taking a car with a tiny motor and no low end grunt at all and saddling it with a slushbox is a good thing? :confuse: Of course, I don't have to deal with Chicago traffic.

michaellno

Test drove a Vibe a few years ago. Was AWD, which only came with the automatic.

Quite pokey in the acceleration department, IIRC. Had to rev the bejeezus out of it to get it to go anywhere.

I should imagine that FWD with a stick is a different matter.

british_rover

I think we will end up getting the C30 unless the Clubman really blows me away. The more I think about it the less and less comfortable I am with getting a VW. The C30 I can buy for dead cost cause the Volvo dealer is in the family you know. A year ago I could have bought a MINI for close to cost because I a client of mine was the local MINI sales manager. Unfortunately the company that owned that dealership decided to have a changing of the guard and canned 90 percent of their sales staff at there MINI/BMW/Merc dealerships and he was one of the ones let go.

He works for a Honda dealer now but there aren't any hondas that interest me.

lilengineerboy

Test drove a Vibe a few years ago. Was AWD, which only came with the automatic.

Quite pokey in the acceleration department, IIRC. Had to rev the bejeezus out of it to get it to go anywhere.

I should imagine that FWD with a stick is a different matter.

Well, yes and no. You still have to rev it a bit to get the thing to go, but its more rewarding with a manual. If the Accord hadn't been so cheap, that would've been plan B.

qbrozen

the c30 is definitely on my "check out" list ... but that list is darned long. The C30 would be the "if i really wanted to get a new car but wanted to keep it cheap."

also on that "new car" list:
Challenger
1-series
G8
ex35
G37
Caliber SRT4 (although this is looking less and less likely since it has gone from the concept 300 hp AWD to I think the last statement was 280hp FWD)
mazdaspeed3 (probably not possible unless they add a power seat option)

The used car list is probably 10 times that length.

guss

I work at a law office, and am a candidate for admission to the bar.

I knew that, I was making a joke and forgot my smiley face.

I am looking at an MR2 Spyder on Saturday. I decided since my Escape is getting such measly trade in money on something new, to hang on to it and look for a fun car to take some of the load off the Escape. I am hoping to get an outrageous deal this time of the year on a convertible, as long as the sellers cooperate.

british_rover

heeh we have a similar list.

We have a dodge store in our auto group too so the SRT4 and Challenger were on my list. I don't think the Challenger is really for me and the SRT4 is going to be a handful with 280 hp and FWD.

The 1 series and G8 are two other cars I would look into but I would buy them both used. The G8 in particular will probably be a great buy used. The 1 series I am not sure on.

Infinites never really did anything for me. I have sold a bunch of them used and never really like any of them. Probably didn't help that with the exception of the M35/45 they all have had play school interiors.

kyfdx

They could put 500 HP in a Caliber, and you still couldn't give me one...

Somehow, it makes even a Neon look good.. :surprise:

qbrozen

the appeal of the infiniti for me is the price/RWD aspect.

I think the 1-series could be a great lease next year.

You are right about the G8, I'm sure. But, then again, I don't know if I'd want a used 400hp 6-speed 4k-lb sedan.

The challenger is just gorgeous. Above all the others, that one gives me goosebumps just looking at it. That's gotta count for something.

qbrozen

to each their own. thank goodness for choices, right?

kyfdx

Yup... Not liking the Caliber narrows my choices down to 3-4 dozen...

qbrozen

you really like 3 dozen different new cars?
you must share YOUR list! ;b

british_rover

I was excited about the caliber before it was released but after being in it and touching it I am just put off.

If chrysler can't get out a quality small car that gets in the mid 30 mpg range then they are doomed IMO.

kyfdx

Conversation with my wife:

Her: If my next car was some sort of Honda, would we be able to afford what you want?

Me: Yeah, if that sort of Honda is my current CR-V with 91K miles, then yeah... I could get that Porsche Cayman that I want.

Her: I was thinking more along the lines of a new Accord.

Me: Sure, we could pick up a Value Package model with no power windows and a 4-banger.. for about $17K.. that would do it.

Her: I was thinking more along the lines of a V-6 with leather and NAV.

Me: Guess I'll be driving my CR-V for another five years.

Her: Okay, it's settled then.

----------------------------

So.. I've got a big list.. It all depends on what she gets when her lease is up around Thanksgiving, '08.

[Deleted User]

Three words my friend... Lot ter y

Just remember us little people...

kyfdx

Well... that is the CarSpace Forums Host retirement plan..

british_rover

Hey maybe you should check into this guys offer...
Read the article first.

Is there a young trial lawyer out there who wants to get a good start on life? This is your baby. For just 25 percent of the gross settlement I will steer and guide you through the case. I'm tired of working. You need a start on your career, I need a start on my retirement, and the consumers, well, they'll get vouchers for $500 off another defective Chrysler. You can contact me at www.thecarconnection.com

grandtotal

Interesting parallel with the recently introduced lifetime powertrain warranty? Maybe not because the powertrain warranty expires with ownership change (after 3 years / 36000 miles).

british_rover

Thats where I saw the article on the thread discussing the lifetime power train warranty.

Also talking about VWs...

Jetta TDI due out in spring

Guess I will have to look at it as it will be cheaper then the C30. Not sure I can get over my miss trust of VW.

kyfdx

Jetta TDI Sportwagen..

That's on my list, too..

british_rover

I would really want a five door Rabbit TDI though not the Jetta or the Sportwagen.

jlawrence01

So taking a car with a tiny motor and no low end grunt at all and saddling it with a slushbox is a good thing? Of course, I don't have to deal with Chicago traffic.

How much car do I need to drive 40 mph in a long queue of cars waiting for the next light to change?

I can put up with a lot for 35 mpg.

akangl

have fun on the trip. We're taking our VUE to Utah the first weekend of October ... a little over 500 miles each way. We'll see what kind of mileage we get. First few tanks have returned about 19-20MPG. Be nice to play around with the XM radio on the journey.

Not really a fun trip, just taking little one to the doctor. We were just there a week ago, but she's sick, so he wants to see her back, possibly for a hospital admission.

IF the speed stays under 70 the Pilot will get 21-22 mpg, but if the cruise just happens to get set at 75 it'll do about 19-20 mpg. Problem with the Pilot is it likes to GO, if I don't set the cruise I'll be doing 80-85 and not even realize it. That thing is a speeding ticket waiting to happen!!!

qbrozen

weird. I wasn't interested in it until I sat in it. huh.
guess i had much much lower expectations.

my sister is still loving hers, by the way. I think my brother-in-law, on the other hand, has gotten over wanting to drive it instead of his new mazda3, though.

roadburner

my sister is still loving hers, by the way. I think my brother-in-law, on the other hand, has gotten over wanting to drive it instead of his new mazda3, though.

When did your B-I-L recover from his closed head injury? I felt like I was in Hertz Purgatory on my summer vacation after they stuck me with a Caliber rental for a week. I bought my Mazdaspeed3 a couple of days after I returned. I would take the cheapest Mazda3 over the most expensive Caliber, even if the Dodge for free and had to pay for the Mazda. Well, I'd take the Dodge IF I could immediately sell the thing... :P

qbrozen

yeah, yeah, yeah. we've been here before. On this very board, IIRC.

She must have the nicest Caliber on earth, I suppose. And, for me personally, I can at least say I FIT in the caliber, unlike the mazda3.

woodyww

a new Accord, & a big list

I've been reading good things about the new Accord, but then Accords never get lousy reviews. The leather interior looks great in the pics I've seen, pretty much like a TL I think.

Would you get to drive it? no power windows on a $17K car(?).....some people like that, I guess.....Model T's had crank windows.

Porsche Cayman.....sounds like you both have good taste in cars. "The list".....someone should write an article about "The list" car nuts carry around in their brains.....

Good luck! woody

lilengineerboy

Would you get to drive it? no power windows on a $17K car(?).....some people like that, I guess.....Model T's had crank windows.

He was exaggerating. Its been 2 model designs since you have been able to get crank-em-down windows on any model Accord. There is also no DX or VP, they start at the LX.

tifighter

I know that the Cayman is technically a better car, but I would not be able to pass up a Z4 Coupe. Instant classic...

kyfdx

Yeah.. I was exaggerating about the Accord...

Actually, we prefer smaller cars, and the Accord is just about getting out of range..

I like the Z4 coupe... But, the Cayman is at the top of my list.. It looks like the ultimate form follows function machine.. If I get one, it will be debadged... It won't need a name. It will be MINE

qbrozen

someone should write an article about "The list" car nuts carry around in their brains

actually, do i get newfound car geek status if I admit that my list has found its way onto my pocketPC?

tifighter

I'll award you 3 points for that one...

qbrozen

sweet!



Disclaimer: CCB points cannot be exchanged for goods, services, oil changes, or tire rotations. They are for entertainment purposes only and any similarity to points alive or dead is purely coincidental. Each point has a monetary value of 1/100th of a cent. Offer void in Puerto Rico. Please see your CCB point retailer for complete details.

Karen_S

A reporter from a national newspaper is hoping to talk to consumers who purchased a car recently instead of waiting, fearing that prices may rise as the dollar weakens. Please reply to ctalati@edmunds.com no later than Monday, October 1, 2007 with your daytime contact info.

kyfdx

Hah!! Just what the CCBA club needs... Another excuse..

british_rover

We have had this happen on the Rovers now for the past couple of years. Normally they do the price increase at the beginning of a model year but a couple of times they have increased the base price of the cars by 500-1,000 dollars right in the middle of the MY. It happend back in Jan of 2006 and again at the end of 2006.

kyfdx

Honda and BMW do that frequently... Raising prices in January..

british_rover

I knew BMW did but never really paid attention to Honda.

woodyww

Saw 4 guys tooling around town (like entourage I guess) in a new black M6 convert today while I was house-hunting on the "North Shore" 20-30 miles above Boston. (house-hunting--the ultimate nightmare--don't get me started).

I know people have differing opinions on the E63/E64, the styling, etc., but I instantly wanted one. Maybe a coupe, maybe I don't "need" an M, but, wow.

british_rover

If you get a M6 vert then you have to leave the top down all the time.

The car is so disgusting with the top up from the back that you will have to burn the car if you see it.





A client of mine just traded in his M6 for a DB9 with a REAL manual transmission.

woodyww

Thanks for the pic & info, I'll avoid the convert., unless I move to L.A. or something. Maybe in 5 yrs. I could afford a used one, but I have a feeling I'd actually pick a 5 or 3-series wagon instead......

You know how these car fantasies go; by tomorrow I'll be onto something else....

michaellno

The L300 is acting up.

I'm getting a light on my IP that comes on intermittently. Owner's manual says that it's the security system and/or fuse related.

I noticed something quite troubling on my way to work this morning ... every time that light came on (for just a second or two), the odometer (both trip and overall) went backward! What was 10.x miles on the trip odo dropped to 7.x. This happened 3 or 4 times in my 20 mile commute this morning.

I've got an appointment at the dealer later this morning to have them take a look at it.

My question for the folks here .. how much should I be worried that they'll screw up the odometer completely? I really don't want to be left with a TMU vehicle.