My $200 beater - 2003 Pontiac Vibe

[supton]

Is that rust staining on driver rear door, down from the rear handle? How is it underneath?

IMO I'd just spray that rust area above the windshield with Fluid Film, Krown or any other sort of oil. It should stop the rust from spreading, or slow it down significantly. If the windshield ever takes a crack then perhaps sand it down and fix; but otherwise... it's a beater car, right?

 

[SatinSilver]

I get those rust spots on the 05 Matrix. I spray the stains in the spring with Iron-X. Let it dwell for a few minutes and rinse. It will turn red. I also spray the sides, including the rear hatch to get rid of all the rail dust. About $20 or so on www.autogeek.net. The silver should come back to life with some tlc. I've seen some Vibes get rust under the lower plastic panels where moisture gets trapped. Sounds like you're doing all the right things.

I took the Matrix in for the airbag recall last September. Freebie.

 

[dgunay]

Originally Posted By: supton
Is that rust staining on driver rear door, down from the rear handle? How is it underneath?

IMO I'd just spray that rust area above the windshield with Fluid Film, Krown or any other sort of oil. It should stop the rust from spreading, or slow it down significantly. If the windshield ever takes a crack then perhaps sand it down and fix; but otherwise... it's a beater car, right?


It's because of rusty door handle screws, but there is no rust on rear doors.

Thanks for the recommendation by the way. Will keep all in mind!

 

[Ausfahrt]

That's a great find but.........

If I bought my wife a $200 car I'd be looking for a divorce lawyer, just sayin'.

 

[hpb]

^ I was thinking exactly the same thing! Your wife is far less fussy about cars than mine - lucky you!

 

[SirTanon]

Awesome find for $200! I'd be majorly stoked to find something like that for $200.

Who the heck junks that??

Having said that, I have one word for you:

Hubcaps

 

[Ramblejam]

Originally Posted By: dgunay
and passed safety & e-test!

That's the important part. Great deal, Dan!

 

[Ducked]

I have three more words for you (and a full stop):

are rather pointless.

 

[SirTanon]

Originally Posted By: Ducked
I have three more words for you (and a full stop):

are rather pointless.


Depends on who you talk to. I, for one, hate the look of bare black steel wheels. A basic set of hubcaps would go a long way.

 

[Ducked]

Originally Posted By: SirTanon
Originally Posted By: Ducked
I have three more words for you (and a full stop):

are rather pointless.


Depends on who you talk to. I, for one, hate the look of bare black steel wheels. A basic set of hubcaps would go a long way.


Hubcaps don't matter much either way, but I'd say the attitude they betray can matter.

There are two polar attitude classes to a $200 dollar car.

CLASS A: Hey, I've got a $200 dollar car and it works! Hussah!(Awsum!)
CLASS B: Hey, I've got a $200 dollar car and it works but I really wish it was newer and shinier and perhaps I can fool people and myself into thinking it is.

Hubcaps tend to put you in CLASS B, which is the unhappy class, with lots of pointless homework.

 

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: SirTanon
Originally Posted By: Ducked
I have three more words for you (and a full stop):

are rather pointless.


Depends on who you talk to. I, for one, hate the look of bare black steel wheels. A basic set of hubcaps would go a long way.
I don't think you want hubcaps on in the winter in Canada. They'd get all packed up with snow, ice, and slush and be a complete mess.

 

[SirTanon]

Originally Posted By: Ducked
Originally Posted By: SirTanon
Originally Posted By: Ducked
I have three more words for you (and a full stop):

are rather pointless.


Depends on who you talk to. I, for one, hate the look of bare black steel wheels. A basic set of hubcaps would go a long way.


Hubcaps don't matter much either way, but I'd say the attitude they betray can matter.

There are two polar attitude classes to a $200 dollar car.

CLASS A: Hey, I've got a $200 dollar car and it works! Hussah!(Awsum!)
CLASS B: Hey, I've got a $200 dollar car and it works but I really wish it was newer and shinier and perhaps I can fool people and myself into thinking it is.

Hubcaps tend to put you in CLASS B, which is the unhappy class, with lots of pointless homework.


Or CLASS C: This car was a great value, and I really like it, but those wheels look like [censored] and they hurt my eyes to look at.

 

[Leo99]

Originally Posted By: SirTanon
Originally Posted By: Ducked
Originally Posted By: SirTanon
Originally Posted By: Ducked
I have three more words for you (and a full stop):

are rather pointless.


Depends on who you talk to. I, for one, hate the look of bare black steel wheels. A basic set of hubcaps would go a long way.


Hubcaps don't matter much either way, but I'd say the attitude they betray can matter.

There are two polar attitude classes to a $200 dollar car.

CLASS A: Hey, I've got a $200 dollar car and it works! Hussah!(Awsum!)
CLASS B: Hey, I've got a $200 dollar car and it works but I really wish it was newer and shinier and perhaps I can fool people and myself into thinking it is.

Hubcaps tend to put you in CLASS B, which is the unhappy class, with lots of pointless homework.


Or CLASS C: This car was a great value, and I really like it, but those wheels look like [censored] and they hurt my eyes to look at.


I concur. No reason the car has to look like you paid $200 for it.

 

[Ducked]

Originally Posted By: Leo99


I concur. No reason the car has to look like you paid $200 for it.


No reason it shouldn't, either, though I suppose it'd be showing off to write "I paid $200" on it.

Hub caps don't make it look more expensive, anyway. They just look like hub caps.

 

[SirTanon]

I never said get the hubcaps to make it look more expensive. Expense has nothing to do with it. I just think the black steelies look ugly, and hubcaps would make them look less ugly.

Personally, I think this...



looks better than this...

 

[Nick1994]

SirTanon my Camry has black steelies

 

[dgunay]

Yeah those are winter tires/steelies. Tires are Michelin Xice Xi3. They are not in great condition but good for the next two winters.

That's the OE wheel, it has Uniroyal Tigerpaws on it. Found that 1 of them is non-repairable so will have to get two new tires.

 

[SirTanon]

Ah... Well that explains it then. The steelies are just the 'extras' for wintertime. Makes sense. Not the first car I've seen that runs that way in winter.




Originally Posted By: Nick1994
SirTanon my Camry has black steelies

Hubcaps

 

[Ducked]

Originally Posted By: SirTanon
I never said get the hubcaps to make it look more expensive.


But the poster I was replying to did. Hence the reply.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: SirTanon
I never said get the hubcaps to make it look more expensive. Expense has nothing to do with it. I just think the black steelies look ugly, and hubcaps would make them look less ugly.

Personally, I think this...



looks better than this...

I'd prefer the steelie look myself.

Now, some of the OEM hubcaps are decent. Some aren't. I like the OEM ones on my '99 Camry, the ones on my '11 are meh. Right now I left the caps off my '99 for the winter; maybe come summer I'll pop them back on.