Hello.
Would the base 1.8 liter manual be significantly more fun than the automatic? Never drove a manual, but looking for a little driving enjoyment.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Depends on where you plan to drive it. If you are going to be in traffic a lot, no. If this is a car to drive for fun on weekends or if your commute is light traffic only then it could be.
Just know, with a motor that size, you'll be shifting A LOT on crowded roads.
Thanks. Good points to think about as I don't drive much, but the roads are definitely not wide open when I do drive.
You're welcome. It's not the kind of thing you usually think about, but it makes a difference on clutch wear, etc. You're looking at good vehicles between the Vibe/Matrix so there's no issue there. 
Thanks. If you don't mind, do you think I'd be nuts to be $5500 plus tax tags for an 05 with less than 50k miles and one owner very good condition, no accidents, no rust, etc? It's a base manual.
It's a vibe
I won't say its nuts, but I would shoot for $4000 for it. That would be a fair price IF it passes a mechanic inspection.
Well first of all, I personally wouldn't want one because of where I live; traffic prone California.
Those cars are pretty zippy even car enthusiasts say its "fun to drive" a manual+2.4 might have been a beast but those had problems I personally would stick to the Automatic 1.8 combo.
The automatic also gets 4 mpg better.
Was hoping for "zippy" factor. Thanks for the reply.
It depends on what years you are looking at if you are looking at something from 2003-2008 then get the automatic transmission as the manual transmissions from those years were problematic. If you are looking at something from 2008-2014 then it really doesn't matter as both transmissions were really good.
Thanks. I signed the paperwork on the 2004 manual earlier today before I read this. I'll have to keep my fingers crossed, I guess.
@billybob. Do you think I should get look to get out of the deal based on the fact its an 2004 MANUAL which you said could be problematic? Thanks. Here's what lemonsquad said about the car upon inspection:
This 2004 Pontiac Vibe is in very good running and driving condition with few flaws to note. There were no obvious indications of previous repairs due to an accident or flooding.
Exterior
There are minor misc scratches around the vehicle. Normal for mileage and most too small to see in photos. There is minor paint fade on the roof from sun exposure. This is consistent with the age of the vehicle. The front bumper shows a few minor rock chips. The wheels are in very good condition with no curb rash notable. The tires show over half tread life remaining and even wear throughout. The battery terminals are corroded. A battery service is recommend so the terminals can be cleaned. Otherwise, the engine bay is clean with no leaks notable.
Interior
There is light wear to the seats. Normal for mileage. The inner door panels show wear consistent with age and mileage. The carpet shows normal wear consistent with age and mileage. The windows and locks are manual operation but all work properly. All of the interior functions, controls, and accessories are working properly as designated.
Test Drive
I found no issues on the test drive. The engine had plenty of power and there were no misfires or smoking. The transmission shifted as designed with no harsh engagement or slipping. The steering was responsive and the suspension was firm and the vehicle handled well. There were no abnormal vibrations or odd noises. The brakes were firm with no pulsation felt. I hooked up my Scan Tool to the computer system and found no current or pending codes. All of the live data looked good with no issues reported. See below and pictures for more info.
Baby it and hopefully it will last.
Thanks a lot for the advice!
Learn to drive manual, try it out some, and then spend a bunch of money on a manual car. Not the other way around.
Thanks. I cant argue with that advice.
I would always pick a manual over an automatic. They are easier to repair and less expensive than autos.
Thank you. Also now taking into consideration traffic flow as @Mod_Man pointed out. And ultimately price. Thanks for the reply!
Manuals are always more fun. About a manual in traffic, it is yuck, but then when traffic moves, ahhhh. Does the clutch feel heavy or light? The more time in traffic, that light clutch will start to feel heavy. In heavy traffic, could keep "large gap" in front to reduce the amount of shifting.
About if the price, if the mileage is correct, and no accidents, sounds reasonable. Get it checked out by a mechanic you trust. Paying $100 may save thousands and disappointment. Like Scotty says, dont trust anyone, it may have been wrecked, flooded, stolen.
Thanks a lot for the response. I had it checked out with lemon squad, since I'm a several hundred miles away. That's the best I could do. All was good according to them. Plenty of power and handled well. No evidence of floods or wrecks, etc. I pulled the trigger just now, finally. It didn't get a steal for sure, but it's a reputable dealer that got it on a trade in so at least I'm not dealing with scammers, who seem to be everywhere. Thanks again! Hope I'll have some fun. Call it my midlife crisis.