New member to the Vibe Club

General discussions about the Pontiac Vibe & Toyota Matrix. New members, introduce yourself here!
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bonzo4ever
Posts: 63
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:57 am

New member to the Vibe Club

Post by bonzo4ever »

Hey fellow Vibe owners. Joined the club about a month ago when I tracked down a 2003 Vibe GT 6-spd at a Carmax in the Chicago area - only 44000 miles when I bought it. Needless to say, I love it. Changed the oil to synthetic and changed the gearbox fluid yesterday to Redline MT-90. Also threw in a K&N air filter (no money for the CAI, unfortunately). Looking forward to any tips, tricks, parts recommendations...pretty much any sage advice from seasoned owners. Now if only I could get out of this cubicle and go for a drive
2003 Vibe GT 6-SpeedAEM Short Ram CAIMegan Racing Strut Tower BraceComing Someday: Magnaflow Exhaust
northvibe
Posts: 7641
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 2:25 pm

Post by northvibe »

welcome!!! any pics of the gt?! how do you like the "lift" in those higher rpms?I too need to throw some redline mt in my car.....hmmm should do that soon.yeah sitting at work sucks...i want to go drive mine too!
lovemyraffe
Posts: 4288
Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2007 3:08 am

Post by lovemyraffe »

Welcome! Get those pics up soon.
March 2011 MOTMFebruary 2010 MOTM My GenVibe garage
NibCrom
Posts: 902
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:20 am

Re: (lovemyraffe)

Post by NibCrom »

I can has pics?Welcome!
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808 Vibes
Posts: 3923
Joined: Fri May 12, 2006 2:53 pm

Re: (NibCrom)

Post by 808 Vibes »

Welcome and congrats! Pics, pics, pics...just a little bit of pressure
~ ALIS VOLAT PROPRIIS ~
keithvibe
Posts: 4953
Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2006 3:52 am
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Re: New member to the Vibe Club (bonzo4ever)

Post by keithvibe »

Welcome... enjoy your stay
2010 Vibe & member of the yeargarage Email me if you need to talk to me, click my siggy and send the email threw the contact page.
MRCN RCE
Posts: 1727
Joined: Thu May 04, 2006 1:14 pm

Post by MRCN RCE »

welcome to the family.did you change the fluid yourself, or did you take it somewhere??and post pics before the rest of the mob shows up with their pitchforks n stuff
GENVIBE: THE PLACE WHERE ALL THE COOL KIDS HANG OUT05 GTK&N SRI, exedy clutch, fidanza flywheel, Neo-GensLIFT: the equivalent of viagra for your tach n speedomy garagehttp://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=24931
Blueridge9
Posts: 332
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:02 am
Location: USA

Re: New member to the Vibe Club (bonzo4ever)

Post by Blueridge9 »

Welcome to the Vibedom! It's a great car. Pictures?
Blueridge9 2004 Base, 1.8L "The Vibe is a melding of muscular looks, ..utility & economy, sportiness & road-hugging tractability." -Road & Track Magazine Sept. 2008 Pictures: http://s278.photobucket.com/user/blueridge9/library/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
ramenboy...
Posts: 2739
Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2005 1:50 am
Location: Chicago il

Re: New member to the Vibe Club (bonzo4ever)

Post by ramenboy... »

dudewelcome from chicago!have fun with it!
Image
de-badged o4 vibe
tein s-techs | 17" msr 105 wheels | 235 45 17 nexen n7000
weapon-r short ram (thanx BC!) | typeR sport pedals | LED 3rd brake
o2 triumph speed four
Zer0VIBE03
Posts: 74
Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:07 am

Re: New member to the Vibe Club (bonzo4ever)

Post by Zer0VIBE03 »

welcome also from the Chicagoland area! (I'm in Des Plaines)good pick up, and yes.. pics or ban
2003 "Lava" Vibe
CountryVibe
Posts: 310
Joined: Fri Feb 23, 2007 11:41 am

Re: New member to the Vibe Club (Zer0VIBE03)

Post by CountryVibe »

Welcome!!!
2005 GTmoons & tunes, keyhole covers, SRI,2.5" borla catback exhaust, seatbelt beep deletedWagons Rule.......Sedans Drool
bonzo4ever
Posts: 63
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:57 am

Re: New member to the Vibe Club (CountryVibe)

Post by bonzo4ever »

[IMG][/IMG] Here's the first pic I took after the first detailing - which reminds me that I need to throw a coat of wax on soon (stupid schedule interfering with my detailing!)

Attached files
2003 Vibe GT 6-SpeedAEM Short Ram CAIMegan Racing Strut Tower BraceComing Someday: Magnaflow Exhaust
bonzo4ever
Posts: 63
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:57 am

Re: (MRCN RCE)

Post by bonzo4ever »

@MRCN RCEI changed the fluids myself. Surprisingly easy, actually. I had read about some people having trouble with stuck plugs, but both the drain and fill plug in mine were simple to remove and replace. Didn't have a torque wrench to finish it off with (just as a precaution), but I made sure not to under or over-tighten them. Manual fluid pump (actually purchased from the Boating section at Wal-Mart - a fuel priming pump for outboard motors, but did the perfect job).
2003 Vibe GT 6-SpeedAEM Short Ram CAIMegan Racing Strut Tower BraceComing Someday: Magnaflow Exhaust
BlueCrush
Posts: 8272
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:47 am
Location: Twin Cities, MN

Re: New member to the Vibe Club (bonzo4ever)

Post by BlueCrush »

Hi
My Fleet:
'15 Ford Fusion AWD Titanium 2.0 Tutbo
'14 Lincoln MXZ AWD 2.0 Turbo
'14 Nissan Pathfinder AWD SL
'05 Pontiac Vibe AWD
MRCN RCE
Posts: 1727
Joined: Thu May 04, 2006 1:14 pm

Re: (bonzo4ever)

Post by MRCN RCE »

Quote, originally posted by bonzo4ever »@MRCN RCEI changed the fluids myself. Surprisingly easy, actually. I had read about some people having trouble with stuck plugs, but both the drain and fill plug in mine were simple to remove and replace. Didn't have a torque wrench to finish it off with (just as a precaution), but I made sure not to under or over-tighten them. Manual fluid pump (actually purchased from the Boating section at Wal-Mart - a fuel priming pump for outboard motors, but did the perfect job). nice. when i get the extra $$ to change mine out, you think maybe you can give me a hand?? i'd have no clue what i'm doing in that department
GENVIBE: THE PLACE WHERE ALL THE COOL KIDS HANG OUT05 GTK&N SRI, exedy clutch, fidanza flywheel, Neo-GensLIFT: the equivalent of viagra for your tach n speedomy garagehttp://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=24931
bonzo4ever
Posts: 63
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:57 am

Re: (MRCN RCE)

Post by bonzo4ever »

I probably could, but there's also a killer tutorial on newcelica.org (http://www.newcelica.org/forums/showthr ... did=121104)Definitely give that a look over. That's how I figured out how to do mine, and with the photos, it only took a couple of minutes of looking around to make sure I had the right bolts, and I got started.
2003 Vibe GT 6-SpeedAEM Short Ram CAIMegan Racing Strut Tower BraceComing Someday: Magnaflow Exhaust
moongdss
Posts: 331
Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2006 6:12 am
Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: (bonzo4ever)

Post by moongdss »

welcome to GenVibe!! Come to the Rally!!
Pandora the 2006 Pontiac Salsa Vibe, 17"wheelsMods: tint, "Pandora" windshield decal, front badge skull overlay, rainguards, hoodguard, Projectorz headlite covers, black painted grills, FIAMM dual-tone horns, black grafxwerks overlays, redouts, Genvibe decals, splashguards, scangaugeII, 12v console outlet, DRL interrupt and I turned off that @#$% seat-belt beep! upcoming: red interior LEDs
bonzo4ever
Posts: 63
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:57 am

Re: New member to the Vibe Club (bonzo4ever)

Post by bonzo4ever »

A few more photos. Gotta wait for a nice day to get some real quality shots.
2003 Vibe GT 6-SpeedAEM Short Ram CAIMegan Racing Strut Tower BraceComing Someday: Magnaflow Exhaust
MRCN RCE
Posts: 1727
Joined: Thu May 04, 2006 1:14 pm

Re: (bonzo4ever)

Post by MRCN RCE »

Quote, originally posted by bonzo4ever »I probably could, but there's also a killer tutorial on newcelica.org (http://www.newcelica.org/forums/showthr ... did=121104)Definitely give that a look over. That's how I figured out how to do mine, and with the photos, it only took a couple of minutes of looking around to make sure I had the right bolts, and I got started. thanks a lot, i'll definitely check that thread out. the vibe's lookin good, have you done the 5 step paint care on it yet??
GENVIBE: THE PLACE WHERE ALL THE COOL KIDS HANG OUT05 GTK&N SRI, exedy clutch, fidanza flywheel, Neo-GensLIFT: the equivalent of viagra for your tach n speedomy garagehttp://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=24931
bonzo4ever
Posts: 63
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:57 am

Re: (MRCN RCE)

Post by bonzo4ever »

Not yet. As soon as I got it I used the Turtle Wax Ice liquid clay bar, then hit it with polishing compound and an orbital buffer, then 2 coats of Turtle Wax Ice synthetic wax - Which I totally recommend. It even made the mirrors and the roof rack look like new, and it stands up to rain. If you recommend other detailing steps or products though, let me know. I've heard a lot of people recommend 303 Aerospace Protectant for the vinyl and such, but I actually like a bit of shine rather than a matte finish (guess I'm old school like that). I also use Meguiar's waxes and polishes from time to time.
2003 Vibe GT 6-SpeedAEM Short Ram CAIMegan Racing Strut Tower BraceComing Someday: Magnaflow Exhaust
MRCN RCE
Posts: 1727
Joined: Thu May 04, 2006 1:14 pm

Post by MRCN RCE »

funny you mention the 303 protectant, i've got a bottle sitting right next to my monitor as i type.you've pretty much done the 5 step, but with different products. check out the washing, waxing, cleaning forum for a ton of great tips on keeping our babies shiny. whelan is pretty much our go-to guy for any questions we have that aren't found in a search
GENVIBE: THE PLACE WHERE ALL THE COOL KIDS HANG OUT05 GTK&N SRI, exedy clutch, fidanza flywheel, Neo-GensLIFT: the equivalent of viagra for your tach n speedomy garagehttp://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=24931
ramenboy...
Posts: 2739
Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2005 1:50 am
Location: Chicago il

Post by ramenboy... »

beautiful color choice!now just drop that vibe, and it will be hot. and you'll love the slight increase in handling
Image
de-badged o4 vibe
tein s-techs | 17" msr 105 wheels | 235 45 17 nexen n7000
weapon-r short ram (thanx BC!) | typeR sport pedals | LED 3rd brake
o2 triumph speed four
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