Potential New Owner - Manual Transmission

[NibCrom]

My wife and I need a new car and the Pontiac Vibe is at the top of our list. I had some questions about the manual transmission.I have driven the 4-Speed Automatic Base model and the 6-Speed GT. I liked the auto much better. I didn't like the shifter that much for the 6-Speed. It was hard for me to tell what gear I was in. Maybe because the shifter is kind of higher and more forward than I am used to. So here are my questions:1. Is the 5-Speed shifter similar to the 6-Speed? If I didn't like the 6-Speed GT, is the 5-Speed base not even worth checking out?2. My wife doesn't know how to drive a manual transmission, so I would have to teach her to drive on this. Is the Vibe a good car to learn how to drive a manual transmission?3. If you have a manual transmission on the base model, is it not possible to have power windows and locks?Thanks for the help!

[Shadow-Vibe]

The shifter location is in the same place, but I own the auto, since I didn't like the stick also. As far as all the other question's I'm not sure. Good Luck and welcome.

[Mavrik]

Well the shifter is in the same position but the gearing pattern is a little wider apart. (I think) my 04 Vibe 5spd was fun to drive and I never had to guess what gear I was in. Then again been driving a manual for a while so I can tell what gear I am in based on engine rpm and vehicle speed. I drive without really looking at the shifter.And you can get the power window package on the manual transmission vehicle. I didn't get it because I was trying to save some money.

[RIT]

The 5-sp is very easy to learn on, and tons more fun than the automatic - plus more economic, both in 1st cost, and gas mileage. Get the stick, and I doubt if you'll regret it. But then again, I have driven manual transmission cars forever, and wouldn't want an automatic.

[isaaclud]

Brother listen....you do want the 5-speed. It's so smooth.The Vibe 5-speed is a excellent manual to learn on. I taught my wifehow to drive stick in the Vibe and she was on her own in 4 days. By 2weeks, she had it down PAT.I have had other people how drove my car comment on how nice it was.Also, I dont know how the auto people put up with how weak the 1.8l is coupled to the auto tranny....I test drove an auto and it was horrible...But the stick lets you extract the real pep from this motor....Definitely go with the stick.....PEACEISAAC

[joatmon]

You can get power windows and locks on any version of VIbe. However, since the manual transmission is often considered to be the choice for people wanting to spend the minimum on a car, sometimes it seems like the default configuration is for manual transmission cars get few optional equipments. Manuals with options are out there, but when I decided I needed to buy one, manual was more important than power windows/locks, and since I couldn't find one in dealer stock with both, I took the manual tranny over the power package.I like the manual transmisison, mostly for the slightly better MPGs, but in a car like the vibe with a humble engine, it lets me have more control over engine RPMs vs speed, I can wind up the engine past where an automatic would decide for me when to shift. Makes the car feel sportier. The Vibe 5 speed is a fair car to learn in, but certainly not the best. Since the engine has no surplus of torque, it is easy for a beginner (or a pro who isn't paying enough attention) to stall. Most of my driving is on relatively open roads. If I had to do a lot of city driving, or the times when I get into some DC gridlock, I curse the manual.It seems like in GTs, clutches can wear out early. In the 5 speeds, there are several of us who have had bearings fail. The auto tranny seems to be quite reliable.If I had to buy another Vibe, I would be torn between the manual and automatic, not sure which I would get. The shifter itself is not an issue for me. I put a lot of miles in mine, I can look at it and tell what gear it is in. I don't have any problems with placement of the shifter either. I strongly recomend finding a 5 speed to test drive before deciding on one transmisison or another, don't take our advice without checking it out in person yourself.

[tots]

Quote, originally posted by NibCrom »My wife and I need a new car and the Pontiac Vibe is at the top of our list. I had some questions about the manual transmission.I have driven the 4-Speed Automatic Base model and the 6-Speed GT. I liked the auto much better. I didn't like the shifter that much for the 6-Speed. It was hard for me to tell what gear I was in. Maybe because the shifter is kind of higher and more forward than I am used to. So here are my questions:1. Is the 5-Speed shifter similar to the 6-Speed? If I didn't like the 6-Speed GT, is the 5-Speed base not even worth checking out?tots - I have had zero problems with my 5 speed, very easy operation.2. My wife doesn't know how to drive a manual transmission, so I would have to teach her to drive on this. Is the Vibe a good car to learn how to drive a manual transmission?tots - The clutch and shifter are very easy, about as easy as it gets.3. If you have a manual transmission on the base model, is it not possible to have power windows and locks?tots - definitely, my 04 has manual tranny + power doors and locks. Pontiac hasn't changed this I hope?Thanks for the help!

[NibCrom]

Well, I decided to go with the automatic transmission. This way I don't have to teach my wife how to drive a manual. Plus my daily commute is very hilly and I hate driving a manual transmission when you have to stop going uphill. We got a 2005 Vibe with the Red monotone package!

[binary]

Not a bad choice at all. I might have made the same choice if my commute was very hilly. But it's not - 45 miles of highway... so the 5spd is a great choice for me.'05 is a good vintage. Nice to see another WI member!

[NibCrom]

Well, I suppose a picture is worth a thousand words. We need a luggage shade for the back. Are there any available besides the factory one? There was a luggage shade in one that we test drove, but it was really flimsy. Are there any aftermarket ones?

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[prathman]

Quote, originally posted by NibCrom »We need a luggage shade for the back. Are there any available besides the factory one?Yes, the factory one is pretty flimsy, but at least it does hide things back there and rolls up quickly when you want it out of the way. It was standard eqpt. up until '07 so you might find someone who's willing to sell theirs at a discount. Lots of people have also made their own more sturdy versions. Here's one thread on that and there are some others as well:http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=27516And someone was selling hard covers on eBay for awhile, not sure if they're still shown there.BTW, where is your hilly commute in the Milwaukee area? One of our Vibes resides with our daughter in West Allis at the moment.

[Mavrik]

Can't imagine the hills are more then what I drove my Vibe through here in Alaska. You should be fine

[MRCN RCE]

welcome to the familycongrats on your new baby. if i woulda had a choice, lava woulda been my first pick. i couldn't pass up the deal i got on mine, so i have platinum

[NibCrom]

I work in Waukesha (a suburb of Milwaukee) and there are at least two large hills I have to stop on while going up them on the way home, and people are always scooting up right behind me. I was really worried about rolling back into people. The red color really grew on us. Does the stock luggage rack at least hide everything really well? I didn't bother attaching the one I saw in a test vehicle.

[prathman]

Yes, the factory luggage cover does a good job of hiding things. There's a little gap at the edge, but it's hard to see anything through that. But it tends to sag a bit in the middle even if you tighten the straps as much as possible.I do remember a few hills to the west of our daughter's place although the area generally seemed pretty flat after coming from northern California. When driving her car in San Francisco I'm not too proud to use the parking brake to avoid rolling back on the steeper hills (easier on the clutch that way too).Good choice of color - ours are both red as well, one Lava and one Salsa.

[NibCrom]

Is Lava Red the technical color name?Has anyone here purchased from this seller? I'm interested in his cargo shade and cargo mat.http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...7.m29Just wondering if the quality is good. Thanks for all your help everyone!

[Botany]

I can't answer the question in term of comparing it to others, but I am very happy w/ my 5 speed (2007). As others noted, you can get power windows/locks w/ 5 speed and that option package also includes cruise control. Someone did note, and it was my experience, that it was hard to find a 5 speed w/ those options. I had to do a dealer trade, but that was no problem other than waiting a few days.Aside from being my choice, 5 speed also saved me $800 on sticker price compared to an automatic.Let us know what you decide.

[NibCrom]

As I said in the posts above, we ended up getting a 4-Speed automatic. I'm used to sitting very low to the ground when using a clutch, and the high seating position of the Vibe made it a little uncomfortable to use the clutch. I'm also used to the shifter being more flat and closer to the driver, so driving the manual transmission Vibe was awkward all around.But I really like the Vibe! My wife and I are both really happy with our choice. We're going for our first road trip this weekend!

[bull77]

Congrats on the new ride.If you're interested - I'd be willing to sell my GM cargo cover

[NibCrom]

Thanks!I actually just bought a custom cargo shade, cargo mat and fold down mat for my Vibe on eBay. I'll let you know how it turns out.

[breezd]

Congrats on the purchase! Another member in WI!! w0oT

[NibCrom]

Thanks!Where is Bristol?