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I am shopping around for a car and am looking for something with a hatchback that can fit a lot of cargo but also is good on gas. The Pontiac Vibe has really piqued my interest because of the amount of interior space for its small size. However, my question is will a regular adult bicycle fit inside it with only the backseats folded down (not the front passenger seat)? If not, do you have any other recommendations that may suit my needs? Thanks!
Normally, I would steer clear of anyone with a name like "rabid big bunny". I scare easily.
OTOH, you said "piqued my interest". So maybe you're not so scary.
Seriously, though, I can answer your question. I dunno about "regular adult bicycle" but my Cannondale touring bike, 23 in. (58.x cm) frame fits fine without removing the front wheel. I *do* have to move the front seat up quite a bit, though, so if I had a passenger and a long way to go, I'd remove it.
I don't have any other recommendation except maybe the 2003+ Ford Focus wagon. In either case, I'd recommend a stick shift. I'm on my second Vibe and really like 'em. The car also hauls two canoes if necessary, and a trailer hitch is easily attached.
My bike fits fine without removing the wheel. That was one of my requirements for this car, along with being dog-friendly (which it is!). With the plastic backs you don't have to worry about catching and ripping fabric either.
Vibe 2003 is my first car that I bought a year ago, and it is literally falling apart. I hardly ever drive my car, and I am a very careful driver. This car has had problems ever since I came home with it. First the rear window stopped working. It is not functioning at all. Now the AC is giving me grief. The air is starting cold and then the air coming out of the vent starts to get warm within 3-5 mns of driving. It is crazy. It is like a nightmare. The only reliability is the Toyota engine but everything else is so cheap and falling apart so fast. There are weird rumbles coming from the car. This car has only 50000 miles on it. The rack up top has loosended up for some strange reason even though I have never used it. I am afraid that one day I will open the door and it will come off. This was not supposed to be such a terrible experience. I was always against people'e prejudices about American cars, but now I can't help agreeing with those people. My friend has a 1998 Toyota and the AC is working so well. I can't help being envious sitting in the car with all the heat in the car and the Toyota engine doesn't do much after all when your brain is boiling in the sun (I live in Florida BTW). If I buy a new car again, it will never ever be a Vibe or a Pontiac for that matter. Now if any of you out there could give me any feedback about my AC problem, I would really appreciate it. I already did the freon and got the AC checked for problems. Tires Plus told me that there was nothing wrong with it and I still have no air and the noises coming from the door (the door starts making strange noises as well BTW) and the rack up top are becoming more and more irritating.
"Now if any of you out there could give me any feedback about my AC problem, I would really appreciate it."
There was a problem with early Vibes where the "flapper" that mixes hot & cold air would not go all the way to "cold," therefore always mixing hot air in. This is fairly simple to fix.
For details, go to genvibe -- website has the obvious name, but Edmunds does not allow links to competing websites -- and do a search.
"I already did the freon and got the AC checked for problems."
I have no idea what that means. Never mind, get the flapper fixed or do it yourself.
The Vibe is one of the least troubleprone model on the market today. Your mileage obviously varies. It happens, and I understand it's frustrating. At least you're bearing up under the strain...
Thank you for your response, Mathias. I will have to take my car to a shop because I am a woman and there is no way I could change that flapper:-) However, I learned one more thing about the components in my car, and I can at least tell the people at the shop about the problem. How much do you think it would cost to fix this problem just so that I can tell if they are giving me the right estimate? Also, somebody told me that there could be a leak somewhere in the AC that lets the freon gas out little by little and this causes the AC not build up enough pressure to cool the air, and if this is the case, then this leak will need patching. I guess they do some kind of test to understand where the leak is. What is your comment about this? Would the AC start with cold air and then turn hot because of a leak? Or is this symptom related with the flapper for sure?
Thank you so much for helping me understand the problem.
As I understand it, the flapper does not need to be changed, just the cable adjusted. At any rate, I have no idea what it should cost, go to genvibe and look around.
Yes, there "could" be a freon (Actually, R134a) leak somewhere, but on an '03 that would be very unusal, plus you apparently had that checked.
I would not want to make a dissertation out of this, it's a known problem on many '03's and it may very well be the problem on yours. The job requires no parts, just labor, and they'll know whether or not that was the problem.
Keep in mind, the first '03s were sold more than six years ago. Stuff like this happens. You are right, though, that a broken window regulator is unusual on a 50k car.
Nice userid. I would suggest not making yourself miserable over annoying but ultimately trivial failures on a car... it's not like the transmission failed or the car left you stranded...
Thanks for the encouraging remarks. I will be taking the car to the shop next week. I will let you know about the result so that you can inform the other Vibe owners who go through the same problem. I see a lot of your postings in the forum. I am sure people are thankful to you for your helpful responses.
I've posted this in other Toyota Forums, but since the Pontiac Vibe is virtually the same vehicle I'll post this here as well...
I am about to start a new job that requires a lot of travel and I need an inexpensive, good gas milage, low maintenance vehicle. The Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe is the vehicle at the top of my list right now, but I would like to see what others have experience while owning and driving their's.
So here are some questions and if you have an answer to any of them please let me know:
1. What is the average gas milage you have experienced both in town and while on the highway?
2. What is the maintenance record? What have been the common things to fail and at what milage did they fail? How much did it cost to repair?
3. What is the plausible service life of the vehicle? I am looking to get 200K of more and will that be fairly trouble free with routine maintanence?
4. Performance-wise how do the different motor options stack up? If you could would you recomend the AWD even though it has the lowest horsepower rating, or do you get the higher performance though front-wheel drive only engine?
5. Comfort-wise, how did you feel after a long trip? Did you long to get out of the car or was a long trip a fairly bearable experience.
6. Did you feel safe while driving the car? Meaning did you feel confident that you would be able to handle all types of weather conditions and or traffic conditions such as snow and or ice, and panic stops and manuvers? If not, in which conditons did you not feel comfortable with and would you attribute this to the car's inability or your inability to handle the condition? Example: would the car be able to handle an icy road, but you would not because you have never driven on one before?
7. And one last question. If you could, even though they are basically the same car, would you buy the Matrix, or would you buy the Vibe and why?
These are my basic questions and any advice is much appreciated. I am looking to do 2500-3000K miles a month and need to do so in fairly good comfort with out having to spend an arm and a leg at the gas pump and at the repair shop both before the 100K mile mark and after. I understand that there are parts that wear out and nothing lasts forever, but if I can get the car to go to 200K with out any major repairs, that is what I am looking for. And if I can get it to do that while maintaining some degree of comfort and style I will be happy. I just don't want to be stuck driving a fancy Geo Metro.
My 2003 Vibe is now at 88,000 miles. I will need to replace tires within 6 months (2nd set). What other repairs should I expect in the next year ??? Usually there are repairs that commonly happen ??? I'm unsure whether to trade or go another year... Gas mileage is excellent, reliable, but road noise is annoying! BTW does the 2008/09 only come in AWD ??? Thanks,
You can check your owners manual for reg. maintenance. The road noise is there and probably always will be. You have to remember, this is a 15 to $20,000 5 year NOW old vehicle....not a STS cadillac. Your tire selection will help. If you go to the Genvibe.com forums....you can probably get an idea of a good "quiet" tire to select. As far as "should I go another year or trade??"" You are probably going to get next to nothing for trade...and to the other side of the coin....Will there be any major breakdowns on your present vehicle???...That is strictly YOUR decision to make. The 2008's and 2009's come either way....FWD or AWD....your choice..
My local dealer seems to have a huge number of AWD Vibes. I had hoped the removal of cross bars and/or roof rack on newer Vibes would help quiet the ride. The noise is not all tires. I will check Genvibe.com for quiet recommendations. Probably one more year will not change Trade-in value much. Therefore I could get another year of use for $400 in tires... I was worried about front axles, etc... Thank you.
Yes, the removal of a roof rack/cross bars will help reduce road noise but only at faster speeds. Some of the GenVibe members even added "dynamat" sound type insulation in certain areas of their vehicle. The 400 dollars in tires is probably the way to go, as long as you do not incur any major costly breakdowns. Good luck on whatever you decide.
I believe they put dynamat on the inside of the door panels, under the trunk mat, under the floor mats and you can also get insulation to put under the hood of the car. As far as .....genvibe.com....I believe if you register then you can get to the forums...I really don't know why you are blocked for the "free forums?????
genvibe has not been working for the last 4 days. I am not a member and went to the forums every day. why now would they not allow you to read the forums?. I under stand not allowing to post unless your a member. I think their having problems with the sight
The GenVibe forums are not working for anybody - something wrong with a server or something. They were hoping it'd be back up by now, but it hasn't worked out. Hang in there and keep checking back.
Really?!?!?!?!? I have an 03 with 113,000miles and honestly I haven't had any problems, except my a/c isn't getting cold. Last year paid 1500 to replace the condensor and clutch and they want me to pay the labor cost 800 to install the warrantied one now. Was seriouly considering getting something newer. Still trying to decide. Never had anything done to it prior except tune up at 80,000, a couple of sets of tires, and consistant oil changes.
I also have 2003 Vibe. Were you ever able to overcome the cabin noise in the Vibe. I always thought it was the roof rack... noticed they removed the cross members in later models. Thought of removing them myself BUT you have to damn never remove the whole rack to get them off. Others have told me the weatherstripping at the windows is the weak link. I have noticed the weatherstripping will not remove frost or outside condensation from the windows when you roll the down then up in the morning. Maybe the sunroof adds to the noise. My other gripes have been the low speed fan noise on start up and the vibration noise at fast idle.
The cabin noise really didn't bother me, I have window visors on mine which I think help deflect some of the wind noise. Not having other issues, just replaced the battery this morning and start up is fine. My grip is the a/c really doesn't run cold, and I have to pay for someone to look at it again. I don't understand fast idle, I don't get vibration noise at going fast.Took the car to the Rockies and New Mexico the year before last and the Smokies and Myrtle Beach last year. Ran smooth as I first got it.
Saw this on previous post and copied it but couldn't find what I should take with me to a firestone shop.
took my Vibe in today and had them check the AC. I showed them the report from abelj and they looked it up. The ID 841682 isn't the bulletin number but the repair manual page for the temp cable. The mechanic was able to look up the bulletins and find it. He found the same problem on my Vibe, it was set incorrectly and allowed for warm air to mix in with the AC. My receipt reads "Adjust air/mix cable per bulletin 02-01-37-006 Cools to 43 degrees on Road"
THIS VME STATES IF HVAC SYSTEM IS NOT GETTING COOL ENOUGH TO REFER TO SERVICE BULLETIN 02-01-37-006. ( NHTSA ITEM NUMBER - 10003884 ) HVAC SYSTEM (HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING) SYSTEM DOES NOT GET COLD ENOUGH. ( NHTSA ITEM NUMBER - 10000188 )
Never mind, just took the numbers it to the dealer and they printed the tsa. Then I went to the folks who "fixed" my a/c last year. It registers 60 but really does not feel COLD, but way better than it was. This board just saved me 800.00. THANKS FOR BEING HERE !!!!!
Hi, I'm in the process of purchasing a 2004 5-speed base Vibe, replacing a Subabru Outback and was wondering if anyone has epxerience driving these on dirt roads/camping with them?
I know I am not getting the AWD so I have to be a bit careful about getting stuck, but wanted the better MPG's. I've travelled all over the world and find alot of regular cars do just fine on dirt roads. Any suggested modifications? Problems with ground clearance?
Have a 2006 Vibe and anytime it rains the power steering seems to stop working and the battery light comes on. Has anyone else experienced this and if so, what to do? thanks, kim
There should be a shield to protect the belt pulley from the puddle splash. I thought I remembered an early recall regarding this issue? Belt could also be stretched so even a slight lessening of friction due to moisture causes the slippage. 2006 is a bit early for it to be a true worn out belt issue.
A reporter is interested in talking with satisfied owners of a 2003-2006 Pontiac Vibe who are also parents. If you are interested in commenting on your experience, please reply to jwahl@edmunds.com no later than Friday, November 21, 2008 and include your city and state of residence, the model year of your vehicle and the age of your child/ren.
Thanks for your consideration,
Jonathan Wahl Corporate Communications Edmunds Inc.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name. 2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h) Review your vehicle
i have a 2003 vibe. this year at 60 mph, the steering wheel vibrates. i have not had new tires in 4 years and may need an alignment and rotation. does anyone know what the best tires are for the winter in cleveland ohio? i hate sliding on ice!
My son put Dunlop Graspic winter tires on his Scion Tc. They are absolutely wonderful in the snow. But you need to change them for the summer. You can find excellent tire ratings on www.tirerack.com. They are VERY reliable and give pro and user ratings... They actually helped him re-size the tire for the winter. Many 55profile tires do not come in snow tread... He re-sized to a 15 steel wheel to get snows. All figured out for him by tirerack.com... Wonderful site. Even if you decide to buy your tires locally....
don't ask us, ask tirerack.com Tire Rack has ratings for all kinds of tires. For me, Tire Rack's ratings have guaranteed that I will buy Michelin Primacy MXV4 tires for my '09 Vibe. I have heard that the OEM Goodyear tires are garbage in the snow. So far, on dry and wet pavement they have been excellent when cornering at high speeds; but one false slip and hello Michelin.
Three years ago I picked up 4 new cheapie Al wheels and 4 Semperit Ice Grip II tires. The original Goodyear RS-As went onto the Al and the snows onto the original steelies. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! My 2005 AWD now feels like it can climb vertical walls of ice. The Goodyears, IMO, even with full tread were UNSAFE on the roads here in Western NY where we get loads of snow. Not as much as Cleveland, but still a lot.
Each winter tire has its own strenghts and weaknesses. The best tire in deep snow may only be OK on ice. Unless you live in the boonies, I'd guess that stopping at an icy intersection is more important than a little extra off the line traction in deep snow.
And yes, the Tire Rack ratings and reviews are the way to shop.
i went to tirerack and the bf goodrich traction t/a was rated good in snow. in cleveland, we get snow in may! i have a 2003 vibe and the antenna was torn off by a garage door. where can i get a new one without going to the dealer? ALSO, has anyone notice that the windshield wipers don't move really fast? is it the motor? :P
someone on genvibe.com has an extra antenna right now. Go to Forums; For Sale/Wanted, and about 10 links down is the OEM antenna for sale by whitevibe04. Good luck
I have a 2003 Vibe GT and have some work ahead of me. My front exhaust "donut" gasket is leaking and when I look for a replacement on line it comes up with one for under 5 bucks but when i go the the manufacturer's site they say it isn't for use on the GT and don't offer one for the GT.
I wish I had never gotten the GT version. I love the shape and utility of the car. People have been amazed when I can slide a washer or drier right in the back and close the hatch. But it needs premium gas, the wide flat tires suck in snow, and the parts all seem less available and more expensive.
My clutch is now starting to slip regularly and the dealer says $1300 to replace it. I'm not sure I'm up for a job that big but I also hate putting big chunks of money into a car when I have heard the clutches are prone to give out prematurely.
Other complaints are ,as I have heard from others, the wind noise and also the blind spots.
Does anyone have any advice on the clutch or the exhaust gasket? Thanks, Jim
I have a 2009 Vibe GT and recently one of the wheel discs fell out. I went to the dealership yesterday and the service rep. was going to glue another one in along with the remaining three. However he discovered there was a service bulletin that just came out in which Pontiac is coming out with a revised wheel disc and once they come in, he will replace each one with the new type. This is to be done at Pontiac's cost...
I purchased a used 2003 AWD Vibe. It tracks great in heavy snow and snow covered roads but has a terrible un-nerving fishtail feel on the highway in light snow or light slush. I replaced the stock Goodyear Eagles with P5 Pirelli all season tires with pressure set at 32 front and rear. While slightly better the fishtailing continues. Last spring I had it alligned at a highly reputable place. The report showed the right rear camber to be slightly out of range. They told me it was not a problem. My mechanic suggested I first put some weight in the back of the car (salt bags) and see what happens. I filled the gas tank and same problem but am yet to put in more weight. Can anyone tell me if they've had this problem or what might be causing it? Could it be a differential problem? The car does fine other than in slightly slippery conditions. Frankly, at this point my two wheel drive windstar van is much better to drive in these conditions. I had hoped AWD would give me better traction Thank you.
I had a 2005 AWD Vibe which was good when driving along but found it would fishtail like crazy when trying to stop during icy conditions. I never did change the stock tires as I replaced the vehicle with a 2009 Vibe GT which I found to be MUCH BETTER driving in the Buffalo, New York winter weather.
The 1.8 2009 Vibes do not have a 16" wheel upgrade, just the black steel wheel with plastic spoke cover. Would the good wheels from my 03 fit on the 09 ??? Tire size remains 205/55/16 so I see no issue that way. Bolt Pattern??? I don't want the 45/17 size if I can avoid it. Also does Pontiac equip with any other tires other than GY RS-A's ???
We have an 04 Pontiac Vibe with the exact, same burnt smell coming from the engine area. It only smells after the engine gets hot but it gets more awful after drinving fro ten minutes or so. There is no leakage of any kind. We had couple of mechanics look at it but cannot find anything.
If you find out something, please let me know. I will do the same. Thanks.
I have a 2008 that I got new in April,and I started noticing a burnt smell,kind of like a cross between when a radiator gets hot and electrical.There are no leaks or any gauges going off.I only have 6000 miles on it so I am sure I am going to get the complete 36 months of warranty,so that gives me time to see if its just breaking in or what? All of my fluid levels are good,and the oil has been changed 2x.
I have a 2003 vibe with AWD that I purchased last spring. I had it all wheel alligned and the camber on the right rear could not be totally put within specs though the best allignment guy in the area told me it was ok. On slippery roads the rear end feels loose all the time.I replaced the Eagles with Pirelli p5's which are suppose to be great all weather tires. While it was better on slippery roads it was still very unnerving. My mechanic said it may be the car and advised to put some weight in the back. I put 100 lbs of salt and it now seems better though I'm waiting for the conditions when it's been bad. If this works I plan to remove the rear seat and put sandbags under it so I don't have to anchor the weight in the back for fear of flying heavy bags in an accident
I have the base FWD '04 Vibe. We have not had any problems in snow. I put Firestone Firehawks on it last year. We have a winding, steep driveway that has been snow-covered now for about a month, and there has not been one day that we haven't been able to make it up the driveway. I'm very pleased with our Vibe. We bought it used about a year and a half ago and it has been a terrific runabout for us.
"However he discovered there was a service bulletin that just came out in which Pontiac is coming out with a revised wheel disc and once they come in, he will replace each one with the new type. This is to be done at Pontiac's cost... "
The NHTSA website http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/tsbs/ does not list any service bulletins for a 2009 Vibe. Raythegerman if you could get the number from the service rep and post it we would all appreciate it.
From Generation Vibe website: They have released a service bulletin concerning the center caps falling off the '09 Vibes. 08-03-10-011: Loose orMissing Wheel Cap Repair Procedure - (Aug 22, 2008)
I just recently had the tranny fluid changed on my 05 Vibe at 60K mi. At the last oil change (66K) the mechanic (a different garage) noted that the tranny fluid was dark and should be changed. When I said, "it just was" he said to take it back and have them do it again. I checked with the original garage who then said that the "Toyota" tranny fluid is darker than the normal GM or Ford stuff. My question to the forum is, "is this true". Are Toyota fluids generally darker than others?
At the shop I've been going to this last decade and more, they told me that Toyota transmission fluid darkens very quickly. As in "you could have a factory transmission put in your car and ten thousand miles later, it'll look dark and burnt. That's just the way it is." Because I had the same issue some thousand miles after the change. I've now got 103k on the vehicle ('03 Sienna, 4sp auto) and it's absolutely fine.
On my Vibe, it's a non-issue 'cuz it's a stick... like everyone should get when it's available ;-> -Mathias
I checked the work order on my car and it lists bulletin 08-03-10-011A and that is for the revised new caps that replace all your caps (lost or still on the vehicle)....Hope this helps.....
Thanks for you input to my post Suydam. I had my alignment rechecked by the same reportedly reputable garage. They found they had used the wrong specifications when doing the allignment. They seem to have used the front wheel drive specs. They realligned for free using the correct specifications and the car performs on ice and snow terrifically. I just wanted to post this to alert other all wheel drive Vibe owners that mis-alignment can cause serious fishtailing problems, even on slightly slippery roads, to the point of being extremely dangerous. I suggest anyone experiencing fishtailing problems have the alignment checked before purchasing new tires. Clearly my alignment was the issue and not my tires.
Comments
I scare easily.
OTOH, you said "piqued my interest". So maybe you're not so scary.
Seriously, though, I can answer your question. I dunno about "regular adult bicycle" but my Cannondale touring bike, 23 in. (58.x cm) frame fits fine without removing the front wheel. I *do* have to move the front seat up quite a bit, though, so if I had a passenger and a long way to go, I'd remove it.
I don't have any other recommendation except maybe the 2003+ Ford Focus wagon. In either case, I'd recommend a stick shift. I'm on my second Vibe and really like 'em. The car also hauls two canoes if necessary, and a trailer hitch is easily attached.
-Mathias
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
Vibe 2003 is my first car that I bought a year ago, and it is literally falling apart. I hardly ever drive my car, and I am a very careful driver. This car has had problems ever since I came home with it. First the rear window stopped working. It is not functioning at all. Now the AC is giving me grief. The air is starting cold and then the air coming out of the vent starts to get warm within 3-5 mns of driving. It is crazy. It is like a nightmare. The only reliability is the Toyota engine but everything else is so cheap and falling apart so fast. There are weird rumbles coming from the car. This car has only 50000 miles on it. The rack up top has loosended up for some strange reason even though I have never used it. I am afraid that one day I will open the door and it will come off. This was not supposed to be such a terrible experience. I was always against people'e prejudices about American cars, but now I can't help agreeing with those people. My friend has a 1998 Toyota and the AC is working so well. I can't help being envious sitting in the car with all the heat in the car and the Toyota engine doesn't do much after all when your brain is boiling in the sun (I live in Florida BTW). If I buy a new car again, it will never ever be a Vibe or a Pontiac for that matter. Now if any of you out there could give me any feedback about my AC problem, I would really appreciate it. I already did the freon and got the AC checked for problems. Tires Plus told me that there was nothing wrong with it and I still have no air and the noises coming from the door (the door starts making strange noises as well BTW) and the rack up top are becoming more and more irritating.
There was a problem with early Vibes where the "flapper" that mixes hot & cold air would not go all the way to "cold," therefore always mixing hot air in. This is fairly simple to fix.
For details, go to genvibe -- website has the obvious name, but Edmunds does not allow links to competing websites -- and do a search.
"I already did the freon and got the AC checked for problems."
I have no idea what that means. Never mind, get the flapper fixed or do it yourself.
The Vibe is one of the least troubleprone model on the market today. Your mileage obviously varies. It happens, and I understand it's frustrating. At least you're bearing up under the strain...
Good luck,
-Mathias
Thank you so much for helping me understand the problem.
Yes, there "could" be a freon (Actually, R134a) leak somewhere, but on an '03 that would be very unusal, plus you apparently had that checked.
I would not want to make a dissertation out of this, it's a known problem on many '03's and it may very well be the problem on yours. The job requires no parts, just labor, and they'll know whether or not that was the problem.
Keep in mind, the first '03s were sold more than six years ago. Stuff like this happens. You are right, though, that a broken window regulator is unusual on a 50k car.
Nice userid. I would suggest not making yourself miserable over annoying but ultimately trivial failures on a car... it's not like the transmission failed or the car left you stranded...
Cheers -Mathias
All the best,
Berna
I am about to start a new job that requires a lot of travel and I need an inexpensive, good gas milage, low maintenance vehicle. The Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe is the vehicle at the top of my list right now, but I would like to see what others have experience while owning and driving their's.
So here are some questions and if you have an answer to any of them please let me know:
1. What is the average gas milage you have experienced both in town and while on the highway?
2. What is the maintenance record? What have been the common things to fail and at what milage did they fail? How much did it cost to repair?
3. What is the plausible service life of the vehicle? I am looking to get 200K of more and will that be fairly trouble free with routine maintanence?
4. Performance-wise how do the different motor options stack up? If you could would you recomend the AWD even though it has the lowest horsepower rating, or do you get the higher performance though front-wheel drive only engine?
5. Comfort-wise, how did you feel after a long trip? Did you long to get out of the car or was a long trip a fairly bearable experience.
6. Did you feel safe while driving the car? Meaning did you feel confident that you would be able to handle all types of weather conditions and or traffic conditions such as snow and or ice, and panic stops and manuvers? If not, in which conditons did you not feel comfortable with and would you attribute this to the car's inability or your inability to handle the condition? Example: would the car be able to handle an icy road, but you would not because you have never driven on one before?
7. And one last question. If you could, even though they are basically the same car, would you buy the Matrix, or would you buy the Vibe and why?
These are my basic questions and any advice is much appreciated. I am looking to do 2500-3000K miles a month and need to do so in fairly good comfort with out having to spend an arm and a leg at the gas pump and at the repair shop both before the 100K mile mark and after. I understand that there are parts that wear out and nothing lasts forever, but if I can get the car to go to 200K with out any major repairs, that is what I am looking for. And if I can get it to do that while maintaining some degree of comfort and style I will be happy. I just don't want to be stuck driving a fancy Geo Metro.
I will need to replace tires within 6 months (2nd set).
What other repairs should I expect in the next year ???
Usually there are repairs that commonly happen ???
I'm unsure whether to trade or go another year...
Gas mileage is excellent, reliable, but road noise is annoying!
BTW does the 2008/09 only come in AWD ???
Thanks,
As far as "should I go another year or trade??"" You are probably going to get next to nothing for trade...and to the other side of the coin....Will there be any major breakdowns on your present vehicle???...That is strictly YOUR decision to make.
The 2008's and 2009's come either way....FWD or AWD....your choice..
I had hoped the removal of cross bars and/or roof rack on newer
Vibes would help quiet the ride. The noise is not all tires.
I will check Genvibe.com for quiet recommendations.
Probably one more year will not change Trade-in value much.
Therefore I could get another year of use for $400 in tires...
I was worried about front axles, etc...
Thank you.
The 400 dollars in tires is probably the way to go, as long as you do not incur any major costly breakdowns. Good luck on whatever you decide.
I've always suspected noise was from top of windshield or sunroof.
BTW I keep trying the Genvibe forums but always get error code...
Turned off firewall... still got error code.
Maybe an issue with Vista ???
I can view the site fine, just can not view forums ???
I have an 03 with 113,000miles and honestly I haven't had any problems, except my a/c isn't getting cold. Last year paid 1500 to replace the condensor and clutch and they want me to pay the labor cost 800 to install the warrantied one now. Was seriouly considering getting something newer. Still trying to decide. Never had anything done to it prior except tune up at 80,000, a couple of sets of tires, and consistant oil changes.
Not having other issues, just replaced the battery this morning and start up is fine.
My grip is the a/c really doesn't run cold, and I have to pay for someone to look at it again.
I don't understand fast idle, I don't get vibration noise at going fast.Took the car to the Rockies and New Mexico the year before last and the Smokies and Myrtle Beach last year. Ran smooth as I first got it.
took my Vibe in today and had them check the AC. I showed them the report from abelj and they looked it up. The ID 841682 isn't the bulletin number but the repair manual page for the temp cable. The mechanic was able to look up the bulletins and find it. He found the same problem on my Vibe, it was set incorrectly and allowed for warm air to mix in with the AC. My receipt reads "Adjust air/mix cable per bulletin 02-01-37-006 Cools to 43 degrees on Road"
THIS VME STATES IF HVAC SYSTEM IS NOT GETTING COOL ENOUGH TO REFER TO SERVICE BULLETIN 02-01-37-006. ( NHTSA ITEM NUMBER - 10003884 )
HVAC SYSTEM (HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING) SYSTEM DOES NOT GET COLD ENOUGH. ( NHTSA ITEM NUMBER - 10000188 )
This board just saved me 800.00.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE !!!!!
I know I am not getting the AWD so I have to be a bit careful about getting stuck, but wanted the better MPG's. I've travelled all over the world and find alot of regular cars do just fine on dirt roads. Any suggested modifications? Problems with ground clearance?
thanks,
kim
Thanks for your consideration,
Jonathan Wahl
Corporate Communications
Edmunds Inc.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
They are absolutely wonderful in the snow.
But you need to change them for the summer.
You can find excellent tire ratings on www.tirerack.com.
They are VERY reliable and give pro and user ratings...
They actually helped him re-size the tire for the winter.
Many 55profile tires do not come in snow tread...
He re-sized to a 15 steel wheel to get snows.
All figured out for him by tirerack.com... Wonderful site.
Even if you decide to buy your tires locally....
Tire Rack has ratings for all kinds of tires. For me, Tire Rack's ratings have guaranteed that I will buy Michelin Primacy MXV4 tires for my '09 Vibe. I have heard that the OEM Goodyear tires are garbage in the snow. So far, on dry and wet pavement they have been excellent when cornering at high speeds; but one false slip and hello Michelin.
Three years ago I picked up 4 new cheapie Al wheels and 4 Semperit Ice Grip II tires. The original Goodyear RS-As went onto the Al and the snows onto the original steelies. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! My 2005 AWD now feels like it can climb vertical walls of ice. The Goodyears, IMO, even with full tread were UNSAFE on the roads here in Western NY where we get loads of snow. Not as much as Cleveland, but still a lot.
Each winter tire has its own strenghts and weaknesses. The best tire in deep snow may only be OK on ice. Unless you live in the boonies, I'd guess that stopping at an icy intersection is more important than a little extra off the line traction in deep snow.
And yes, the Tire Rack ratings and reviews are the way to shop.
Good luck.
I wish I had never gotten the GT version. I love the shape and utility of the car. People have been amazed when I can slide a washer or drier right in the back and close the hatch. But it needs premium gas, the wide flat tires suck in snow, and the parts all seem less available and more expensive.
My clutch is now starting to slip regularly and the dealer says $1300 to replace it. I'm not sure I'm up for a job that big but I also hate putting big chunks of money into a car when I have heard the clutches are prone to give out prematurely.
Other complaints are ,as I have heard from others, the wind noise and also the blind spots.
Does anyone have any advice on the clutch or the exhaust gasket?
Thanks,
Jim
Last spring I had it alligned at a highly reputable place. The report showed the right rear camber to be slightly out of range. They told me it was not a problem. My mechanic suggested I first put some weight in the back of the car (salt bags) and see what happens. I filled the gas tank and same problem but am yet to put in more weight.
Can anyone tell me if they've had this problem or what might be causing it? Could it be a differential problem? The car does fine other than in slightly slippery conditions. Frankly, at this point my two wheel drive windstar van is much better to drive in these conditions. I had hoped AWD would give me better traction
Thank you.
Also does Pontiac equip with any other tires other than GY RS-A's ???
If you find out something, please let me know. I will do the same. Thanks.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
The NHTSA website http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/tsbs/ does not list any service bulletins for a 2009 Vibe. Raythegerman if you could get the number from the service rep and post it we would all appreciate it.
08-03-10-011: Loose orMissing Wheel Cap Repair Procedure - (Aug 22, 2008)
Because I had the same issue some thousand miles after the change. I've now got 103k on the vehicle ('03 Sienna, 4sp auto) and it's absolutely fine.
On my Vibe, it's a non-issue 'cuz it's a stick... like everyone should get when it's available ;->
-Mathias