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Also 1 week old vibe is terrific except notice a squeak which seems to be coming from where the dash shrouds the gauge tunnels. Noise stops if I apply pressure down on dash. Otherwise fine, gas mileage 28,32 mixed but mostly city. Very happy with that. Tunes continue to impress my taste.
Thanks for the honest opinion. Just curious, which Vibe did you test drive, is it the 130 Base model or the 180 GT ?
Also, the site said I can't option a moonroof if I want a nav sys. Actually is it possible to have both options together?
I presume you own the Base Model for the Vibe ?
FINALLY - Fixed the squeak!! Not sure if some people's gauge cluster pods were making noise from different places but I finally found where my scratchy sound was coming from. On mine - when you pull the cluster out you will see a piece of the plexiglass which covers the speedo. At the bottom of this piece there is a guide piece that sticks straight out. Find where this piece lines up on the backside of the cluster. You will see that there are two plastic guides on the matching point on the inside of the cluster. Using a razor blade - cut away the plastic guides on the cluster. You will find it a little difficult because the area is curved but if you remove enough of these little guides they won't touch the piece of plexiglass that covers the speedometer. Snap the cluster back in place and no more squeak. Another fix for this is to completely shave off the piece of plexiglass that sticks out, but I would only do that if nothing else works.
* Power Package
* Side Airbags
* ABS (A must on any car, specially the Vibe)
* Automatic Transmission.
* Cruise Control
That's basically it. We do not want/care about Moonroofs or high powered stereos (The basic stereo sounded fine to us), DVD navigation systems (A waste of money, you can buy a nice home theater system instead)and any other unecessary junk, non-safety related add ons. Configured this way, the car comes out to $19,200 MSRP per GMBuypower's car configurator.
Price is a bit steep in our opinion. Another problem...it is next to impossible to locate a Base Vibe with side airbags, automatic and ABS, without the "Moon & Toons" package and alloy wheels in the whole entire South Florida area. Once this car closely approaches the $20K barrier it becomes harder to justify.
I test drove it about a month or so ago. The car is well finished and feels solid, no doubt about it. The rear seat has suprisingly good amounts of legroom, but the cargo area with the seat backs up is not that impressive. Interior materials are OK, they will hold up but with the exception of the instrument cluster, steering wheel and metal trim inserts, they are nothing special. The basic "Pontiac 100" stereo with CD player, EQ and 4 speakers is more than fine for us. Good handling, nice driving position, but rear visibility takes some use to. Base brakes felt OK but dislike the non ABS Disc/Drum arragement...unacceptable when other competitors add Disc/Disc ABS brakes (Such as VW) as std equipment on their cars from the get go. The promise of Toyota reliability and durability is also a major plus. And we already have over $1K in GM credit card points, so there we have yet another incentive to jump into the Vibe.
Other things that we are not so thrilled about the Vibe:
* Side curtain type airbags are not offered on the Vibe.
* As noted by some auto reviewers, the instrument cluster (While it looks very cool and unique) display has a tendency to washout under direct sunlight and also the round chrome rims on the instrument pods tend to create uncomfortable and even dangerous reflections in the windshield. I am not too crazy about the Red on black instrumentation either.
* We don't like the base plastic wheel covers, but we don't want to pay for alloys either.
* Front airbags are not of the "Dual Stage" type, something we find unacceptable from this GM/Toyota hybrid.
* Due to the akward steering wheel angle position, this forces the driver to position its seat too close to the steering wheel and instrument panel. This car really needs a std telescopic wheel adjustment.
* Lack of low end torque in the 130HP/Automatic base Vibe. For strict city driving is OK, but at 2800 pounds, the little 1.8L VVT-i feels overtaxed all the time. My wife's current '97 Mercury Tracer feels much stronger off the line, considering the car's engine (2.0L) only churns out 115HP, but the car is 500 pounds lighter and it is automatic. Either GM/Toyota need to increase the torque and HP to about 150HP or make the Camry's 2.2L 4 banger standard equipment. We do not need a racer, but a car that feels safe and confident when marging in the expressway, changing lanes, passing and in long road trips.
* Short basic bumper-to-bumper warranty.
* And finally we are not yet 100% convinced about paying MSRP sticker price for a "hot" Pontiac. This car sooner or later will join the "Rebate" and "Special" financing trends of other GM corporate models. I have no problem paying 3% over invoice, but MSRP for a product that promises not very high resales values makes it a questionnable choice at this time.
We have seen the Toyota Matrix and do care about its exterior looks at all. Add to that the arrogance of Toyota dealers in our area (Who think they are doing you a favor by selling you a Toyota) were enough to quickly dismiss it from our shopping list.
Believe it or not, we are crosshopping the Vibe with the 2002 Mini Cooper base equipped with the CVT automatic transmission. Fabulous car (Short on rear seat and cargo space) and looks like nothing else on the road. It is built like a tank, impeccable fit and finish and sports car handling (After all it has BMW 3 series suspension pieces in it).
We are leaning more towards the MINI as we see it more as a long time investment as BMW intends to keep production numbers low for this car. The MINI is expensive for a car this small. You are not paying for size, you are paying for top notch engineering, build quality, halo persona, looks and outstanding resale values, not to mention exclusivity and potential for collector car status, which the Vibe due to its mainstream market mission is simply not intended to be.
At this time I prefer the MINI COOPER over the VIBE for the following reason: (Although either car involves certain compromises and we need to decide which of those are we willing to take whether we go for the MINI or the VIBE)
* Electronic Brake force distribution (EBD), STD
* Electronic all speeds traction control, STD
* Electronic Corner Braking Control (CBC), STD
* 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS, STD
* 6 Airbags (2 front, 2 side, 4 side curtain type airbags) all with dual stage and special weight sensors, STD
* Alpine RDS stereo with single CD player and six speakers....sounds incredible!, std
* Leatherette upholstery, std (Cloth is also offered as a $0 option)
* 15" Alloy wheels, std.
* Power windows, locks and mirrors, std.
* CVT automatic transmission (May be the VIBE would greatly benefit with CVT technology due to the low end torque motor) is offered as a $1200
option.
* 4 year/50,000 mile limited warranty and 3 years/36,000 miles fully paid scheduled maintenance...a big plus!
Configured this way, our MINI would be $18,500. The only 2 options are the CVT transmission ($1200) and the metallic paint ($400), that's it. Everything else is standard.
We alredy have a large GM sedan that we bought last year and has been flawless so far. We are very happy with our GM product. So in a way we can compromise and get the MINI since we already have a big sedan for our primary car. We don;t yet have children, but are thinking about starting a family soon. Again, the big sedan was bought with this purpose in mind.
The VIBE is nice as it is more practical, but it falls short in key safety components. With the Vibe you are paying for extra set of doors, more rear seat room and more cargo room and the promise of Toyota quality, that's it.
The MINI has it all over the VIBE in build quality, safety elements, cool factor, resale and exclusivity, not to mention better warranty.
We are still deciding which way to go, but for now the MINI is more appealing to us than the VIBE. However, that might change.
Anyone wanna share more VIBE base model ownership experiences???
The Mini is pretty cool but check out the insurance on one before you decide. Can you get a Mini? They are sold out everywhere around here.
First I must say it is a bit funny to cross shop these two as the Vibe is a compact tall wagon while the MINI Cooper is a subcompact hatchback. They are both fun, trendy new hatches which is why I was looking at them. If you intend to drive four people and a fair amount of luggage around on a regular basis then the MINI is likely too small since, while it is a spacious car for two people and their cargo, it is tight for 4 going much distance (3 adults are doable with the 50/50 split folding rear seat but that's about it for farther than out to lunch). I already have a midsized Saturn LW200 wagon for a family car so I found the Vibe to be a bit too much overlap for me; why get another wagon when I already have one? I really wanted something smaller and sportier and the MINI fit the bill. Details:
For handling, steering and braking, the MINI is hands-down a better car by far. I don't think you'll find a better handling FWD car actually. It is a BMW, not a Toyota. The wheelbase and track cover almost all of the car, it sits lower (feels more like a sportscar while the Vibe feels a bit like a minivan), it has a BMW Z-axle fully-independent rear suspension compared to a beam-axle semi-independent job on the Vibe, it has big (11" front, 10" rear) 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS, stability and traction control, electronic brake-force distribution, corner braking control, etc.
The base engine of the MINI is smaller, 1.6 vs. 1.8 but it feels and is faster because of the tall low gearing which reaches 100km/h in 2nd gear (I test drove 5-speeds of both) and the lower weight. With the Vibe you reach what you think is the right speed but you are actually going much slower but with the MINI you reach the desired speed and are actually going 20-30 over (watch that centre-mounted speedo!).
For gas mileage, the Vibe is better and takes regular compared to premium in the MINI so if you drive a lot, the MINI will be more expensive to operate.
The interiors are both fairly well made (not top notch either of them) and functional but I found the driver's position to be much better in the MINI. The steering wheel isn't as close, though the small footwell took some getting used to. Rear visibility was better in the MINI too.
The MINI seems much more expensive but by the time you add side airbags, ABS, alloy wheels, comparable audio, etc. to the Vibe it is close to the same price and you get less for your money IMO, except that the Vibe is a bigger vehicle. It all comes down to that really. If you want a small wagon, the Vibe will likely suit you better. If you want a small, sporty hatchback the MINI would be a better bet.
I love the leatherette. It is nice and soft and most think it is leather. It also means you can get heated seats without splurging for leather. I got a car off the lot that had heated seats as part of a package deal (wouldn't have bought them otherwise) and my wife loves them as a back massage. Sounds silly but its true.
Oh, and the insurance on the base MINI is also no problem. My MINI replaced a '95 Geo Metro and the insurance is just $15/month more with that switch.
I hope you enjoy and have good luck with whatever you get!
Before we get excited about any new car, we always make sure to check back with our insurance agent, just in case. It saves you a big dissapointment at the end.
I have a question for you, but it is regarding your MINI. I'll post it in the MINI forum as I don't want to stray off topic here.
hpulley4 : Good to hear from you again. Glad to hear you are enjoying the Mini. I have seen a couple of the road and they are very cute. I like them much better than the VW Beetles. Not surprised the Mini handles better, the base Vibe is no race car. That said, the Mini also costs a few grand more.
Also on my message center page I used to get just my bookmarks, now I get a huge list of message boards. Anyone know why this happened and how to fix this?
Any ideas on why they don't have IRS? (The Vibe OR Matrix)
Obi
How useful do you find the roof rack? How is it for wind noise compared with the Matrix?
Just curious, do you have the VIBE GT ?
Obi
Are Pontiac dealers still letting these cars go for MSRP only?
http://autozine.kyul.net/technical_school/suspension/tech_suspension21.htm
You can do a search on yahoo for torsion beam suspension. Basically it's cheap, takes little space and acts as a rear anti-rollbar controlling camber very well. Cars such as the Infiniti G20, VW GTI and Nissan Maxima have used it and are all considered good handling cars.
According to current pricing lists, the ABS brakes are $500.00 and the side airbags are $300.00. Well worth it in my opinion.
The Vibe is a very nice sportwagon. But my beef with GM/Toyota on this vehicle is that they chose to skimp on available standard and optional safety equipment. A new VW Golf/Jetta comes standard with no less than 6 airbags (2 front, 2 side and 2 side roof mounted curtain bags that extended all the way to the back seat), 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS, Traction control, etc for the price of the Vibe. Yes the Vibe is bigger, more versatile vehicle than either VW, but you get my drift.
Had the Vibe at least offered side curtain airbags, std ABS, traction control we would have more seriously considered one.
I am not dissing the Vibe/Matrix. They are very nice vehicles, but my critism of their lack of key safety equipment for the price is well founded.
If you believe that ABS, side airbags, etc are a waste of time or money so be it. But if I am buying a small car under 3,000 pounds, I expect that vehicle to beef up its safety equipment and make no excuses or compromises in the name of "Cost".
I drive a 3,500 pound large American sedan every single day. Not a single problem. However, we also want small "City" car to complement our current family sedan. Sure my 3,500 pounder sedan will be much safer than any other vehicle that weighs 1000 less, that's physics, no and ifs or buts about it.
Driver skill also is an important component in road safety. But keep in mind that you could be a Juan Montoya behind the wheel and that will not prevent you from another stupid clown running into you.
Also, the way a small car is built and constructed also plays a great part in how it will perform on a crash. You'll be surprised to find out that some Expeditions, Suburbans and Tahoes do not exhibit great crash protection performance. Remember that most trucks are exempt from federal mandated safety standards that currently apply to cars. So essentially you might be safer in any car than a SUV.
Having said all this, I still find the Vibe's standard equipment list lacking in comparison to other similary priced compact/subcompact offerings in the market. If I can get a freaking VW Golf with 4 wheel disc/ABS brakes and 6 airbags standard, why doesn't the Vibe/Matrix, made by the world leader in transporation products (Toyota/GM) skimps in std safety equipment???
Just a pair of front airbags, lap/shoulder belts and 4 headrests simply don't cut it into a vehicle that costs nearly $20K. ABS and Side airbags are optional and add $800.00 to the bottom line. Traction Control, side curtain airbags, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Cornering Brake Control and Vehicle stability control are not even offered....what's up with that??
The Vibe is a very nice vehicle and have been following it since it was unveiled at the 2001 NAIAS show in Detroit last January, but I am dissapointed that GM/Toyota only concerned themselves about adding the very minimum amount of safety equipment, instead of matching or besting the best thir competition has to offer!
Anyway, nothing that any of you needs to get so defensive about. The truth hurts I guess.
It appears that the more safety features offered, the more people drive like they are invincible (it gives many drivers a false sense of security). "Good driving practices and common sense disappear."
If you feel these additional features are absolutely necessary, do the obvious and buy another vehicle. I don't think GM/Toyota will miss the business. You have already concluded that the MINI and Golf are better. Why don't you buy either one and move on. Heck, why not buy an armoured tank.
Incidentally, I'm not being defensive, just expressing my opinion (as you did). The truth is in the eye of the beholder (truth is one thing, perception is another). Good luck with your decision.
Conratulations on your brand new spanking Vibe GT !
Did you get the Monotone option ? Any tints ?
However I am still disappointed enough to pass on this. Pontiac and Toyota, if you are reading this and you want to sell me this car, these are my gripes:
• The engine is too small... put in a 2.2 liter.
• The mirrors don't fold... On my next car, I insist on foldaway mirrors so I can get around my car in the garage. Stop being so cheap with your cars.
• Lose the tacky chrome on the dash and make the gauges regular mechanical type, not laser beam red electonic or whatever they are.
•How come the doors automatically unlock when you pull the handle in the Matrix, but not the Vibe? I really like the auto unlock feature that GM cars don't have. I'm used to it, driving Chryslers and Volvos. Now Toyota has it.
• Put a real cargo cover in there, not some stupid looking piece of window shade vinyl sagging between the wheel wells.
• The steering wheel is TOO FAR AWAY from the driver and cannot be adjusted closer.
• The arm rests in the doors are useless, your arm falls right off.
I don't know why I bother complaining here... but maybe if someone from Toyota or pontiac reads this, they can get a clue.
Revka
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