Lastest auction purchase, 2005 Pontiac Vibe
- Thread starter GON
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Looks like a possible winner. Might be just too old and too many miles for a flipper.
How does one go about driving a car like this home. Do you get a temporary tag before you go, or ???
How does one go about driving a car like this home. Do you get a temporary tag before you go, or ???
I'd try the drive back w/some pre-trip prep back at home and some wrk on the other end. I
service the matrix/vibe wkly (3 or 4 of them) and it is a good car. 15 hrs coast - to far MT border
is not a big deal if the right prep is done. Ur a big boy so will not school you. I'd try it. The most
wrk might B the prep (people skills more than mechanics) not the driving~
Good Luck, I'm jealous
8^ )
service the matrix/vibe wkly (3 or 4 of them) and it is a good car. 15 hrs coast - to far MT border
is not a big deal if the right prep is done. Ur a big boy so will not school you. I'd try it. The most
wrk might B the prep (people skills more than mechanics) not the driving~
Good Luck, I'm jealous
8^ )
GON
$100 Site Donor 2024
Pics are taken when the vehicle gets "inprocessed " at the auction lot. Pics are a great way to see how long a vehicle has been at the auction lot. Most delays in auctioning a vehicle is waiting on the title to arrive at the auction house.
GON
$100 Site Donor 2024
The real issue is to have insurance coverage. I use USAA, so I can get covered, with written proof, instantly. Washington state offers temp tags.
GON
$100 Site Donor 2024
I studied the pictures. The car has steel rims all around, just the driver rear wheel cover got smashed in the accident. Pulled the carfax, Montana car its entire life. Pulled a build report, only "special" option is the car has a engine block heater from the factory. I wasn't thrilled with the published oil change intervals, but nothing I can do about that. Seems the prior owners were into 10k oil changes.
I think the back seat is dirty from the accident. The car appears to have slid off the road, based on speculation form the carfax report. The right side of the rear bumper has a hole in it. A Ebay search found a handful of these bumpers in the right color readily available.
Looking at the driver and front passenger seat, looks like the car may have been cared for by a responsible party. I am going to risk flying out and driving back. I will bring a jump pack and a tire inflater. The trip is a little under 500 miles. The big issue is flights are very expensive.
this is one of the 'preps" I meant. U cant talk w/some 1 out there as to drivability? They made their money,
I'd be willing to chat a min, several times. (But... obviously, I'm an odd ball) but NOT "unique" (in this).
aahahaha
I'd be willing to chat a min, several times. (But... obviously, I'm an odd ball) but NOT "unique" (in this).
aahahaha
GON
$100 Site Donor 2024
No,it's auction house and they won't answer a thing. it is their business model. I wrote to two mechanics with listing on the Missoula craigslist, provided detail on what I was wanting done. My message was well written and provided clear details.
One repsins.was." I charge $65 an hour", and nothing more. The other response was "I am to busy and have no place to store it".
So, dug deeper into why it was being auctioned, a one car accident. Looked at the maintenance records, and looked at the rear left wheel. Came to the conclusion more likely than not the car was driveable when it got in a accident. Making the assumption the damage is cosmetic.
Have a ticket to fly out Monday morning to Missoula. Not a cheap ticket. About 500 mile drive from Missoula to Tacoma, and the auction house is just three miles from the airport. If things go ok, should make it back to Tacoma same day.
WoW, ppl just want the buck, "gimme da money'n get odda here."
I once hada guy (like this) give me a hand'n put on 4 tires. Sent him what he said it cost'n drove 4 hrs home.
One guy I know flys out, rents a truck drives to the site. If needed he goes to the nearest twn to get a trailer, tows home. If
not returns truck, drives home (Chicago to TX, seeks the fox mustangs to restore, sell in Chitown).
Best of luck, will stay subscribed (as curious AND sending good vibes).
I once hada guy (like this) give me a hand'n put on 4 tires. Sent him what he said it cost'n drove 4 hrs home.
One guy I know flys out, rents a truck drives to the site. If needed he goes to the nearest twn to get a trailer, tows home. If
not returns truck, drives home (Chicago to TX, seeks the fox mustangs to restore, sell in Chitown).
Best of luck, will stay subscribed (as curious AND sending good vibes).
GON
$100 Site Donor 2024
Pt, thanks. I have done that route andozen or so times. But memory is keeping me from the details. Wish I had your memory.
took a Flathead hitch hiker from WA all the way to MT (3 states!)
(asked him Y: "Just a dance") ona July day. Nuff hail fell fora free
loada ice for my cooler (I90).
(asked him Y: "Just a dance") ona July day. Nuff hail fell fora free
loada ice for my cooler (I90).
Road trip! Always up for an adventure. Safe travels and I hope not too eventful 
New united motor manufacturing
y'all already covered the NUMMI part... the Vibe is basically a Matrix Cosplaying as a Pontiac. Both are essentially Corolla wagons.
The Vibe's were built at NUMMI, Matrices, somewhere in Canaidia...not sure if it was BC, or Ontario...
it's 95%+ Toyota, with a few GM components thrown in to mess things up.
My buddy put 120k on an '03 from 2010-2020, bought it summer of '03, w/120k mi. parked it summer 2020 when he picked up a 2012 Mazda 3
biggest problems he had (not caused by the accident it was in beforehand) were the blend door actuator stripping teeth, and clicking, HVAC blower only worked on HIGH( and yes we replaced both the blower motor,and the resistor.) he'd replaced the starter at least 3 times, but that could be from the shoddy accident repair...
and after 15 +yrs, and 200k mi, the ECU has an intermittent failure... some times it's fine, sometimes, no run...
and yes, the battery is basically wedged between the headlight, top rad hose, and air box. factory tie down is literally the same 2 j hook bolts and rubber/plastic handle universal deal you can buy in any parts store.
some burn oil, some don't. the filter (Fram **4967 for reference, is basically a Shorter **3416, and the **3600 may even clear..points straight down) with 4.5 qts of your finest 5w30.
SammyChevelleTypeS3
$50 site donor 2023
I love these. I still have a soft spot for them. We test drove a MT version years ago and was sold on it, but it was for my ex and she wanted something taller and ended up in an escape. And this one looks repairable. At least with the manual, it was a well-balanced driveline-to-vehicle.
So was the 95 Corolla I crushed last year (or the year before, I forgot). I remember it had like 45% Japanese content and 55% US, the power train was made in Japan, radiator was Harrison, interior US I assume. There was some minor plastic trim problems and the rear brake light harness melted in the contact but other than those minor problems, very reliable. I think the US vehicles were not designed well (the last 5% like plastic flashing and rigidity were horrible back in those days, almost like you have to buy a Buick if you want something with Corolla's fit and finish, but assembly was not too far off in comparison in the early 2000s.
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Looks like the half inch longer GT oil filter fits the regular model…
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Wix 57145 GT 3.4 inches
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