Replacing the Vibe, thoughtfully.
A 2009 Pontiac Vibe on its last legs, two car seats to fit, and a $20K cap. This is the entry to the working file — current state, the pick, and where to find everything we've worked through.
Spiritual successor to the Vibe — hatchback utility, Toyota mechanicals, 52 mpg combined. Lands at 73% of our cap with cushion for taxes, fees, and a future Level 2 charger. Plentiful inventory in Richmond. Backup pick is a Niro Hybrid if the Prius rear seat is too tight for the car seats; an EV pivot to a Bolt EUV is on the table if Level 2 install pencils out.
See the full case →Still on the table
Next up — Week 1
- Pull credit reports
- Pre-approve financing — 3 quotes from credit unions + Capital One
- Get insurance quotes for the shortlist (rough numbers, no VIN yet)
- List the Vibe on Facebook Marketplace, honest "mechanic's special" framing
The full 8-week plan lives in Buying Plan.
Where everything lives
The Hub
Everything in one place — all seven sections, the recommendation, the five vehicles, the costs, the budget math, the process, the full decision log, and the quick reference. The deep doc.
The Shortlist
The five vehicles we're choosing between. Stats, fit notes, why they made the cut, why the Leaf / Camry Hybrid / Model 3 / Subaru did not.
Buying Plan
Eight-week timeline from listing the Vibe to keys in hand. Financing comparison, insurance shopping, inspection checklist, negotiation order.
Decisions Log
What we've decided and why. Filterable by status — decided, in progress, rejected, open. Every D-001 through D-019.
Quick Reference
"Where did we land on...?" Topic-organized lookup — budget, vehicles, insurance, inspection, incentives — each pointing to the decision that settled it.
Brand Book
The design system documented in itself. Principles, palette with HEX + CMYK, type scale, and every component the site uses.
Now
What I'm working on this week — short, dated, and only kept accurate when I sit down with the file. The site's narrowest view.
Colophon
Credits, fonts, build approach, and how this site is put together — one page that points back at every choice in the decision log.
Accessibility
Target conformance (WCAG 2.1 AA), what's in place, what's still open. Same convention as the decision logs — closed items have IDs, open ones have triggers.