let me give you a little car buying advice from someone who sold cars. first off, go to more that one dealership and check stuff out maybe you like a vibe now but what if something else covers all the things you need but a in a better package that suites your taste. ok, with that in mind you settled on a car. when you go to the dealership NEVER bring up trading in you car..i repeat..NEVER bring it up. if they ask, say no, flat out lie..tell them "no, im going to keep my mustang for crusing" or some other bs...but only if they ask(i will come back to this part). right now you maybe asking yourself "why?"... well, you should always work a car deal and a trade in deal as TWO sepearte deals, because they are. your want to BUY a new car and SELL your old car, get it.

so once you have said no i dont have a trade go work the deal on your new car. now, if you go to an A lot, i.e. a ford, gm, chrysler, etc dealer, you will find nicer used cars. (B lots are the mom and pop lots all over the place, they get the letovers of A lots). also most used A lot cars have anywhere between $3-$4k pack( markup) on them, that doesnt mean you can negotiate that much off, but $1500-$2000 is not unreasonable in most cases. so work the deal how ever you see fit to get the price you want, but never start out at what you are really willing to pay.

ok, back to the trade, once you have the car you want and the price you want. you tell him, " you know, i think i will trade in my car." and what him squirm. because by now the salesman has gone back to the used car manager several times during the price negotiations and that manager is telling the salesman you better close this deal or the **** is goona hit the fan. now the saleman doesnt want to lose the deal over a trade in cause it gonna be his ***. I have seen and experienced this first hand. so in order to not the lose the deal you will get a better trade value on your car. and you work that like you worked the new car deal until you get what you believe is a fair price. and ladies and gentlemen that is buying a car 101...

 

wow... will remember that... that is a brilliant idea...

 

There are soo many cars that get as good mileage and have as much room as that, seriously a vibe.

If you want room for 4 comfortably with a good trunk space and good mileage, check out a corolla or civic. Similar price points, better mileage, and ALOT better looking.

 

They don't have more seating room, definately don't. I've test driven all these cars and have looked at them all.

A corrola and vibe are the exact same engine.

Again, I want room in the trunk. The vibe has plenty of that and also the seats can fold flat and has plenty of space. Also, the newer corolla's have a gross interior and are not cheaper than the Vibes, at leas the S versions.
The civics are too small, and the 4 doors are well, way to family looking. I wouldn't mind the new ones, but can't afford it.

And yes, I know all about how to buy a car. I know about trade in's, I was just giving the scoop.

 

I didnt say cheaper, I said similar prices. But also remeber resale value on a Honda or Toyota will be higher even if the Pontiac is basically a Toyota.

 

your gona look like a soccer mom

 

have you thought of a dodge caliber, way less gay looking and should be priced between 13-16 either new or used.

just a thought

 

15K are the cheapest I can find. And reliability is a major issue along with Dodge's notorious bad gas mileage.