GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

kostby

I paid $2.799 a gallon for unleaded regular today at a Speedway station in Lafayette, Indiana, about 35 miles from home. 279-gallon IMG_5661.jpg That was 50 cents per gallon less than the Speedway station just a mile from home. I was going to Lafayette anyway today to drop off my son and pick up som...

kostby

Don't overlook vibrations coming from those large plastic panels under the front end, held in place to the chassis with only a few plastic fasteners. I notice the 'helicopter' vibration primarily at higher speeds 50mph+, when one or more fasteners are missing and the panels are loose, but if you man...

kostby

The driver's seat height was manually adjustable higher/lower using the knob or lever (depending upon the model year) on the middle left side of the seat. Apparently not all of them hold the set position as they age, however: http://forums.genvibe.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=42750&p=4917...

kostby

Have you thought about Plastidip? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlyB3FbYRRs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; https://www.dipyourcar.com/Kit-Wheels-cat/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; https://www.dipyourcar.com/home.php" onclick="window.op...

kostby

Four engine spec changes occurred on the 2003 Corolla, per Car & Driver, larger throttle-body, new intake manifold, new design catalyst, and lower final drive ratio. http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2003-toyota-corolla-road-test-review" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ...

kostby

"Who ya gonna call?" Still love the theme song by Ray Parker Jr. http://www.amazon.com/Ghostbusters-From/dp/B00136JS9E" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; There was also a Ghostbusters video game for Atari 2600 and Atari 400/800 and other 'home computer' platforms of t...

kostby

@davedyer "Are you serious? There can't really be hubcaps that can go over these? :D" Yup. Look carefully at the edges underneath the plastic wheelcover. http://cars.about.com/od/toyota/ig/2007-Toyota-Prius-Touring-pics/2007-Toyota-Prius-wheel.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href)...

kostby

Mid August update: Our average MPG calculated by the car is now up to 43.1, already about 3 mpg above what the re-revised EPA AVERAGE ratings indicate, but mpgs are still climbing, so we could achieve the original EPA estimate of 47mpg overall eventually for warm-weather driving. Winter will likely ...

kostby

Love that sliding armrest! I hope every other car manufacturer licenses/steals that idea!

kostby

Nice find! I looked at a Neptune with the 17" wheels, when I bought my 2003 Base used in 2004, but they did not offer a sunroof with the 17's the first year. Some factory concern about the 17's causing too much chassis flex with a sunroof, as I recall. But I think they later rescinded that deci...

kostby

Nice! Hyundai is building some fine looking cars, and that GT looks like a great replacement and a nice upgrade to the Vibe. Viewing some pics online, the dash instrument cluster, entertainment stack, and console of the GT look like they were done the same interior designer who did the Ford Focus, E...

kostby

Mid-July 2014 update: We achieved our first 600+ mile tank for mixed local and highway driving yesterday, our 3rd fill since purchase and just over 1700 miles. First 600 mile tank - IMG_5273med.jpg The in-car display cheerfully reports 48.1 mpg based upon 12.74 gallons, although using the actual gal...

kostby

All your (removed) are belong to us.

kostby

Pretty much every non-hybrid car mpgs ALSO drop with shorter trips, colder weather, and heavy A/C use. The mpg differences seem greater with hybrids, primarily because most non-hybrids do not have an instant or average MPG number displayed on the dash while you drive the car unless you're using a Sc...

kostby

+Even 12 years after production (May 2002), you're still amazed at how 'modern' the car looks, and how many other newer cars now on the road now use the 'high-roof-wagon/hatchback' style. +You wish Pontiac/NUMMI was still in operation, so you could buy another brand new Vibe in another 5 or 10 years...

kostby

Early June 2014 update: We've driven about 1155 miles since we purchased the car on March 26th with 133 miles on the odometer. Lifetime vehicle average MPG is up to 38.4 with about 39% of miles completed in Electric Vehicle mode, including the 133 miles before we owned it when the average mpg showed...

kostby

You'll continue to receive offers and coupons? from them until you no longer own the car. That is if you're luckyâ€¦ More likely that future generations will still continue to get offers and notices from them until the dealership goes out of business -OR- the USPS ceases to deliver mail. My mother-...

kostby

GM let Mr. GoodWrench go several years ago, and hired Mr. MBA-Wrench in his place. Mr. MBA-Wrench quickly instituted higher parts pricing and service fees designed to enhance dealership profitability, in part to offset the fact that most dealerships lose money on every new car sold, and (attempt to)...

kostby

All our staff are... committed to serving you

LOL Sounds like marketing from a bunch of cannibals...

kostby

There is rambling. And then there are Ramblers... http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/amc-pacer.jpg My late brother-in-law had an AMC Pacer, but he sold it before I ever knew him. --- One of my college roommates had a dark blue '67 Firebird convertible. Nice car. Much nicer tha...

kostby

WOW! What a great, detailed step-by-step video and explanation, Fred!

The procedures don't look that daunting, but I don't have ramps, so I still might have someone else do it. Now I understand what they should (and should not) be doing and charging me for!

Thanks!

kostby

PM sent with some ideas and full instructions I've used.

kostby

As promised for Colonel Panic, some ambient lighting pics... Ambient lighting is one of those 'you have to be there' experiences. Seeing the door pocket recesses, footwells, cupholders, and door handle recesses in the same color at once is geek-chic, but... Ambient lighting is standard on all SEL mo...

kostby

TWO Pontiac Vibes in North Conway New Hampshire were among the vehicles recently broken into... by bears looking for food! http://www.wmur.com/news/bear-responsible-for-car-breakins-in-north-conway-police-say/25903582#mid=19029458" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; The video is...

kostby

Of course, you could just take the car to Darlington...

: f1e313c3b7b812dc965aeb910b8fbde4.jpg (240.23 KiB) Viewed 3410 times

kostby

First fill-up: 56 days and 501.8 miles after purchase, 11.788 gallons for 42.56mpg, for 50% city and 50% highway. Our average was up to about 46mpg a couple of weeks ago, but since then we've taken several trips on I-65 at ~75mph and with the AC on, for a trip mpg of around 37.8 each time. So going ...

kostby

Clicking on the 'Contact Us' link at GM.com I found this link to contact (still active!) pontiac.com, as well as the ability to live-chat with someone from GM. https://www.pontiac.com/toolbar/contact_us.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; May not be helpful either, but can'...

kostby

Decades ago (1994, while replacing the door/window gaskets for my 1984 Rabbit Convertible) I used '3M weatherstrip adhesive' to keep everything in place: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/3m-super-weatherstrip-and-gasket-adhesive-yellow-5-oz-tube-08001/7160143-P" onclick="window.open(this...

kostby

One month update: Noticed the neat homage to the Ford Thunderbird logo in the layout of the radio/entertainment buttons: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/kostby/New-2013-Ford-C-MAXHybrid-SE_ID56779155_o.jpg Most C-MAX buyers will never see this. It is the standard radio in the SE model, withou...

kostby

And how did Ford respond to the performance 'arms race' of the time? http://www.maverick.to/grabber/71Grabber.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; My folks bought one of the very first 1971 Maverick Grabbers with a Ford 302 V8 and 3-speed automatic. (Grabber models were most...

kostby

Gas-only or diesel-only are available in Europe, but not here yet. I have seen nothing, not even wild rumors, that they ever WILL be imported, but you never know. The German C-MAX and GrandMax are available with 16 different engine/transmission configurations, including Gas, Diesel, and LPG! http://...

kostby

My take is that the "noise" level is largely due to tires/road and wind. Does the noise canceling address those at all? I'm not sure how much is active noise cancellation, how much is sound deadening, and how much is tires (Michelin Energy Low Rolling Resistance) but the car is VERY quiet...

kostby

It's also known as the Ford X-Plan discount.

Here's a direct link to just about everything you need to know:
https://www.fordpartner.com/partnerweb/ ... _rules.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

kostby

The current Toyota Prius v beats the Vibe's cargo capacity by quite a bit seats up or down, in a car about 10 inches longer. Seats up, the Prius v has 34.3 cu ft to Vibe's 19.3(2003-08)/20.1(2009/10); and Seats down, the Prius v has 67.3 vs Vibe's 54.1(2003-08)/49.4(2009/10) Of course the price for ...

kostby

A weekly update... Vehicle historical MPG (since manufacture) is up over 30 now. (It was at 19.6 when we bought the car with 133 miles on it.) We've had a number of local short trips (5 miles or less) in the 45-50 mpg range. We're at a bit over 300 miles on the odometer now, still on our first tank ...

kostby

Glad that everyone is OK! Wow. If you haven't already done so, that sounds like a serious event that should be reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA.gov). Reporting it won't fix your damaged car or bring you money, but it might lead to an investigation, and eventually...

kostby

Here's a quick comparison of '03 Vibe Base,'03 GT, '09 Vibe 1.8 '09 2.4 VibeGT, Toyota Prius v, Ford C-MAX, and Subaru XV from Edmunds.com stats

: Screen Shot 2014-04-15 at 12.18.25 AM.png (77.39 KiB) Viewed 21274 times

kostby

The C-MAX can be about 1.5 seconds faster to 60mph than my '03 Base automatic, 8.1 seconds versus about 9.5 seconds, according to road tests. But quick acceleration and hard braking comes at the expense of MPG. As it does in any car, really. So the power and torque are absolutely there WHEN you need...

kostby

That totally looks like Toyota is jealous of the new 'vette... Or is Chevy totally jealous of the new Prius??? I wonder how the Prius rates in sinkhole performance? Any rumors on when and where they'll build the National Prius Museumâ€¦ :lol: Anyway, rumor is that the 4th-generation Prii will achie...

kostby

Few if any of the pieces are attached with 'bolts' for several reasons: 1. Speed on the assembly line. 2. Lack of easy access to the upper side of whatever the panel attaches to, making it difficult to place some fastener there and hold it in place while tightening. 3. Potential for the fasteners to...

kostby

Thanks, Kincaid! --- I had a long post all written here, just getting ready to hit 'Submit' when the power blinked off. Gone in an instant! --- I noticed the tires looked 'a little low' the other day, but it is our first car with 17's. I checked with my digital gauge: Fronts 32.5 psi Rears 33 psi Th...

kostby

The lawsuit claims that certain Toyota, Scion and Lexus vehicles equipped with electronic throttle control systems (ETCS) are defective and can experience unintended acceleration. As a result, the suit pursues claims for breach of warranties, unjust enrichment, and violations of various state consu...

kostby

Happy Twelfth Birthday, GenVibe! GenVibe is the model of internet forum excellence! We're a friendly, welcoming, engaged user community who share a common passion for our vehicles, surely, but we're also an online community of of individuals who care deeply about one another. We come here to share c...

kostby

Got a chance to drive my wife's new C-MAX yesterday afternoon for a 50 mile round trip. It was perfect 'hybrid' weather: 55 degrees, so AC wasn't needed, sunny, so heater wasn't really needed, 55 mph posted speed limit, flat or gently rolling terrain, little traffic, and a smooth 2-lane rural state ...

kostby

Platinum White 2013 C-MAX Hybrid SE with package 201a and fixed-glass panoramic roof. Two-tone dark/medium gray cloth interior trim. Photos were originally posted by the dealership on their website. Final assembly on 4-10-2013 in Wayne, Michigan. Purchased new from Bill Estes Ford, Brownsburg, India...

kostby

Quick C-MAX MPG update: Got to drive my wife's new C-MAX to the bank and back yesterday. The bank is about a half-mile from home, so the entire trip was in EV mode, and the gas engine never started. Boy, is that ever QUIET! At the end of every trip, the car displays the instant trip MPG. Results for...

kostby

Even if you're not in the market for a Hybrid, take a look at the Ford C-Max as a Vibe replacement. IMG_4007med.jpg We just purchased this brand new 2013 SE for my wife today to replace her 1996 Taurus. We found one with all the options we wanted and a dealer who was ready to move it out thousands b...

kostby

Jake, according to this chart on the Subaru website , there's not a huge amount of difference in interior dimensions among the 2015 Forester, 2014 CR-V and 2013 RAV-4. I think the 2014 RAV-4 was redesigned. Also, consider the source, Subaru. The CX-5 probably is larger, which is why it isn't include...

kostby

The only thing that comes to mind about the '03 Vibe GT and XRS's is that a number of early owners were reporting clutches needing replacement by 50,000 miles or so. If the XRS still has the original clutch, that might be a significant negotiating point to lower the price further. Though not much in...

kostby

And here's the link to find the applicable year Pontiac Owner's Manual in case your car didn't come with oneâ€¦
http://www.pontiac.com/owners/owner_res ... nuals.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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