Confession of an ex-Viber

General discussions about the Pontiac Vibe & Toyota Matrix. New members, introduce yourself here!
Post Reply
User avatar
joatmon
Posts: 10018
Joined: Fri Mar 21, 2003 5:19 am
Location: SMC MD

Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by joatmon »

In August '19, after 16 years 7 months and 15 days of owning a Vibe, I traded my Vibe in on a 2019 Subaru Forester.

It took me a lot of angsting about to reach the decision to stop being a Vibe owner. It wasn't about money, having gone for so long without a car payment, I was able to drop cash for the new car. Although there wasn't anything really wrong with the Vibe I had, at least nothing that pushed me across the threshhold of the car needing more repair than it was worth. But I was getting to the point where I just didn't trust it anymore. It was OK for running around town, but I didn't wnt to take it on any significant road trips. I never drove it unless i had the tool box in the back, just in case.

I bought my first Vibe, a 5-speed 03 in December 02. I really wanted the manual tranny because it got the best mpgs. It fell victim to the 03 5-speed tranny bearing issue, and between replacing the tranny at about 110K, and then the clutch again at about 250K, I ended up spending more in repair than I saved if I had gotten the slightly lower mpg automatic tranny. It also failed it's second cat, and was burning oil.

After running it up to 288K, in fall '12 I swapped it and a few $K for another 03 with 153K miles, this one an auto tranny. This second one also had power windows/locks and cruise (the first one didn't) It was even the same color (Satellite) as the first. It had recurring CELs in the P044x range, inability to put a vacuum on the gas tank for evaporative emission control, which only happened during warm weather, and I was never able to fix it. I just left my scan gague hooked up all the time, when the CEL came on, I checked the code and cleared it. It failed a cat, and I used spark plug extenders on the second O2 sensor to fool it, since the county I live in has no emissions testing. It had 239K on it when I traded it in, so I guess I drove 374K Vibe miles.

I knew that at some point I was going to need a new car, so I started visiting car dealers to see what car are like these days. I'm above average size, so head and leg room are critical. I've rented a lot of different vehicles over the years and found that while I can fit in and operate most, a lot are not very comfortable. I also wanted something that was a least somewhat quieter and smoother than my beloved Vibes, without taking a big hit on mpgs.

Although I wasn't looking to buy a new car anytime soon, the more I looked around at new cars, the more I started wanting one. In the end it was more impulsive than necessary. I've owned a number of cars, this one might be the first I've bought when I didn't actually need to.

I traded in the Vibe on the new ride. Only got token pity money for it. I would have been able to get more by either selling it myself or parting it out, but being able to cleanly cut ties to it for emotional reasons was worth money to me. I still have a variety of random Vibe parts, I'll post a list at some point in case anyone is interested. I'll also write something up for "The Others" section at some point to talk about the new ride.

I'm not fully divested in Vibes. My brother owns an 05, and my son has an 03 Matrix, I'm their tech support. The steelie wheel covers from my ex 03 are now on the 05. Been a member here for over 16 years, check it pretty much daily, that will be a hard habit to break.

Here's a pic of my old and new rides

2cars.jpg
2cars.jpg (64.33 KiB) Viewed 5914 times
Image
tpollauf
Posts: 4025
Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 11:37 am
Location: Toledo/Oregon, Port Clinton Ohio
Contact:

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by tpollauf »

joatmon wrote: Sat Nov 09, 2019 10:30 am Been a member here for over 16 years, check it pretty much daily, that will be a hard habit to break.

Nice upgrade! Just don't become a stranger around here. We need veteran members like yourself to chime in on topics and help us all out in need of repairs or other advice. Enjoy the new ride!
Image
2009 Vibe GT (manual), 2009 G8Gt, 2009 Vibe GT (auto)
2014 Silverado, 2004 Vibe GT

"everything is modifiable"
SlammedNiss
Posts: 505
Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2002 1:11 pm
Location: Chitholé, KS
Contact:

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by SlammedNiss »

Congrats on the new vehicle purchase. I've been actively looking for a replacement for my 03' Xrs w/ 97k on the clock. Lately my cruise control has been intermittent and I'm afraid other small things here and there will start popping up. So, I've been looking at 07-12' Rav4s as a replacement. Been pretty picky. Want either their Caribbean Red (actually a burgundy color, but that's what it's called) or Arctic White. Low miles (under 40k), OEM moonroof, cloth interior, and 4wd. Been browsing sites daily like cars.com and autotempest, but you gotta be quick on the draw when one shows up. Once I find one that falls within my constraints (and the dealer doesn't think it's worth it's weight in gold) the Matrix will be gone for good. I'll part out all the aftermarket tidbits and sell the car outright.
2003 Matrix Xrs Automatic - SOLD :'(
2011 Rav4 Sport
Bookworm
Posts: 764
Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Houston, TX

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by Bookworm »

Eventually we all end up having to get different vehicles, be it for economics, aging, or work (like me). I've been keeping the Vibes because they do so well for my work - and I end up hauling a lot of crap. That, and paying cash three years ago for an 07 with almost no repairs since? Worth it.

Glad you've been enjoying your new vehicle. (new used?)
User avatar
vibrologist
Posts: 1598
Joined: Sat May 10, 2014 8:24 am
Location: Iowa

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by vibrologist »

Congrats to your new ride, joatmon!

I have to say you are not only the tech support for your family. You are the tech support for pretty much all of us. I am glad you won't just disappear and stick around these pages. Also I am glad there is a wealth of constructive advise by you on tap right here.

I am looking forward to read about your Forester. The transition should be easy enough as you drive it daily.

Thanks for all!
Vibrologist
'05 Vibe

"It is important to know the difference between 'accurate' and 'precise' even if you are neither!"

viewtopic.php?f=30&t=43476
cptnsolo77
Posts: 1645
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2007 4:05 am

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by cptnsolo77 »

Congrats !....how do you like the subie ?

Im nearing the 4th quarter of the vibes lifespan ( 257K ) ....The Vibe has been our primary car for 12 years. Learned a LOT maintaining this car, fine tuned my skills with the vibe...going to miss the vibe when it comes time. Great car and GREATER forum... :cry: :cry: :cry:
* 2003 Vibe Auto Satellite Silver w / Moons & Tunes
* Kenwood Excelon KDC-X597
* Polk DB651-Speakers
* Soundproofcow Roadblock R sound deadening in all doors
* Drop In K & N Filter
* NGK Iridium IX Plugs
* 27 MPG City/Highway with AC on
zbyers
Posts: 1767
Joined: Thu Apr 03, 2014 6:12 pm
Location: Sheffield, Pennsylvania

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by zbyers »

Congrats on the new ride!

As others mentioned, I hope you stick around. Your contributions throughout the years have been fabulous.

PS: where did you trade in at? Brother is looking and might consider it if the dealer posts it for sale. :lol: We are only 5-6 hours from MD.
'74 Thing, '79 El Camino, '83 VW DoKa '91 Vanagon, '03 Base, 04 GT
'06 CRV, '06 AWD, '07 Base, '12 Highlander Limited, '17 Frontier CCLB

Byerscrew Garage, GenVibe Facebook, How-To Index
Everything You Need To Know About the Pontiac Vibe
KingKrab65
Posts: 162
Joined: Wed May 24, 2017 7:25 am
Location: Charlotte, NC

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by KingKrab65 »

Congratulations on your new ride. I hope it serves you well.

I also hope you hang around the forum. I know I have gleaned LOTS of valuable advice and insight on Vibes through your comments.
2003 Base Vibe
User avatar
joatmon
Posts: 10018
Joined: Fri Mar 21, 2003 5:19 am
Location: SMC MD

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by joatmon »

One of the difficult adjustments for me is that when driving and I see a Vibe, its hard not to wave at them.

Another is that I'll see a question here, and I want to but can't run out and check it on mine.

I doubt my Vibe went anywhere except to an auction or a junkyard. A 16 year old car with a quarter million miles from a defunct brand doesn't have much retail value. Traded it in in Springfield VA. But if you run across an 03 Vibe with VIN ending in 0431X, let me know
Image
Caretaker

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by Caretaker »

You bought at Sheehy instead of from our bud Jack Fitzgerald, huh? Smart purchase. Right now the Crosstrek is my #1, although I have not sat in a Outback in a long time. I need to see if the Outback's center console is as restricting as every other of today's cars. The more I sit in my Vibe every day, the more I scoff at the junk that manufacturers continue to come out with that require a shoe horn to get into. Pontiota made a big mistake ending the Vibe's run. With a few changes in components and a change to their parts subcontractors, they could have made a near flawless car.
Bookworm
Posts: 764
Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Houston, TX

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by Bookworm »

Caretaker wrote: Tue Nov 12, 2019 2:28 pm You bought at Sheehy instead of from our bud Jack Fitzgerald, huh? Smart purchase. Right now the Crosstrek is my #1, although I have not sat in a Outback in a long time. I need to see if the Outback's center console is as restricting as every other of today's cars. The more I sit in my Vibe every day, the more I scoff at the junk that manufacturers continue to come out with that require a shoe horn to get into. Pontiota made a big mistake ending the Vibe's run. With a few changes in components and a change to their parts subcontractors, they could have made a near flawless car.
From what I've read, the people in charge of the bailout gave GM _no_ choice in the matter. "Pontiac not making a profit? Cut it."

About the most they could have done (and probably _should_ have done) is move the Vibe to another line, at least if they could show that it made money. I mean, Ford had the Escort AND the Mercury Lynx - at the same time.
User avatar
joatmon
Posts: 10018
Joined: Fri Mar 21, 2003 5:19 am
Location: SMC MD

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by joatmon »

Caretaker wrote: Tue Nov 12, 2019 2:28 pm You bought at Sheehy instead of from our bud Jack Fitzgerald, huh? Smart purchase. Right now the Crosstrek is my #1, although I have not sat in a Outback in a long time. I need to see if the Outback's center console is as restricting as every other of today's cars. The more I sit in my Vibe every day, the more I scoff at the junk that manufacturers continue to come out with that require a shoe horn to get into. Pontiota made a big mistake ending the Vibe's run. With a few changes in components and a change to their parts subcontractors, they could have made a near flawless car.
The subaru dealer closest to me is ourisman in Waldorf, but I had an unpleasant high pressure experience there. Sheehy was farther, but they had the best price on one with the color and options I wanted, and having decided to spend money beforehand, it was a pretty painless buying experience. I didn't go out of my way to use or avoid Fitzgerald, but "doing it the Fitz way" sounds like a euphemism I'd have to look up on urban dictionary.

Depending on a somewhat arbitrary guess as to my overall average speed in the Vibe, I sat in that same chair for between 7000 and 10000 hours. Impossible to not compare that to any other car I sit in, and while I'm getting more used to the Forester, its still different enough to not quite feel like "my" car yet.

Bookworm wrote: Tue Nov 12, 2019 7:55 pm From what I've read, the people in charge of the bailout gave GM _no_ choice in the matter. "Pontiac not making a profit? Cut it."

About the most they could have done (and probably _should_ have done) is move the Vibe to another line, at least if they could show that it made money. I mean, Ford had the Escort AND the Mercury Lynx - at the same time.
I don't have any insight into GM's profitability of the Toyota NUMMI partnership, but it ran for 25 years, from the last of the Nova's through the Prizm and then the Vibe, so I assume they did make some money off it. I also assume that there were a lot of very complex factors involved in deciding to drop the NUMMI partnership, while unfortunate they ended it, I am glad I wasn't the one who had to make the hard decision.
Image
1zzgt
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Aug 12, 2019 3:16 pm

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by 1zzgt »

Congrats on the new ride, I have an outback and an impreza in the drive, just dropped a 6 speed in my 04 vibe, the 5 spd has issues, Got snow get Suby, spring thraw crank up the Vibe :D
User avatar
Blanco_Diablo
Posts: 1089
Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2007 1:03 am

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by Blanco_Diablo »

Hey Joatmon, I’ve also been looking to replace my vibe (in the next 6 mos or so), curious if you have had any noticeable windshield glass cracking/breaking issues on your Forester? From my research, it’s a great vehicle but windshield replacement paired with need to recalibrate the eye-sight system when it happens is preventing the new Forester from making my final test drive list. Also, how do you feel about the auto start/stop feature?

Appreciate any insight you can share!
User avatar
joatmon
Posts: 10018
Joined: Fri Mar 21, 2003 5:19 am
Location: SMC MD

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by joatmon »

Blanco_Diablo wrote: Sat Nov 30, 2019 8:39 am Hey Joatmon, I’ve also been looking to replace my vibe (in the next 6 mos or so), curious if you have had any noticeable windshield glass cracking/breaking issues on your Forester? From my research, it’s a great vehicle but windshield replacement paired with need to recalibrate the eye-sight system when it happens is preventing the new Forester from making my final test drive list. Also, how do you feel about the auto start/stop feature?

Appreciate any insight you can share!
I have seen reports online about susceptible windshields, but as I only have about 4500 miles on mine, I haven't had any chips/cracks. I think I only caught two chips on my Vibes, not counting the time a hurricane thrown branch impaled the windshield, so I guess stones and road debris aren't as common where I tend to drive as other folks might encounter. That and being its a new car, I tend to leave a good space between me and the car in front.

The auto start/stop was something that caught me off guard. For those that don't know, the car will automatically stop the engine when you stop while in drive, as long as it doesn't otherwise need the engine running, say for high AC on a hot day, or some other things. It Automatically restarts the engine when you move the brake pedal, either to push harder or let it up some. This is to save gas while stopped. I didn't pick up on the feature during my research or test drives, so after I bought one and had it happen, I wasn't sure what was going on.

On mine, you can feel it inside when the engine restarts, shakes the car slightly. It adds a trivial amount of time between when you let off the brake and step on the gas. You can let off the brake a little bit or jiggle the steering wheel to still hold position to get the engine to restart, if you anticipate moving soon.

There is a button you can push to disable the feature, and it will stay disabled until you push the button again. Every time you start the car, it will come up with the feature enabled, so if you don't like it, you have to push the button every time you drive.

The car keeps a running total of the amount of time and estimated gas saved due to auto stop/start since the trip meter was reset. There's two trip meters, one I reset each fill up, the other I haven't reset yet, so in my 4500 miles, so far the auto stop has had the engine off for 1 hour 50 minutes, it estimates that its saved 0.7 gallons of gas by doing so. It does not count the number of times it has auto started the engine. I wonder what the effect will be on started life, but have made a deliberate decision to not worry about that until the starter fails.

When I first got the car, I wasn't sure how I felt about it. Now I am used to it, and expect it to happen, and its not inconvenient. Now I seem to be bothered more when I stop and the car decides to not auto stop/start than when it does.

I'm very pleased with the car. So far I only have one gripe, and its really a token thing. On a Vibe, you've got a big mechanical know to turn to select where the HVAC air blows out, and it doesn't take long to be able to hit the desired setting without looking at it. On the Forester, you've got a "Mode" button, pressing it toggles between the various air flow selections, and you have to look at either the radio or the display on the top center of the dash to see what position you have selected. I figure if that's all I have to complain about, I'm pretty lucky.

I found Vibes very easy to get in and out of. A week ago I was in Denver, had a 2018 Outback rental, and banged my head every time I got in. I think the Forester is easier to get in and out of than the Vibe, something I appreciate more after renting the outback.

Reminds me of when Vibes were new, we found neat little things about the cars. So far the neat thing I found I didn't know about is that it has a rear view camera, and when you use the rear window washer, it sprays some on the rear view camera to clean it off too.
Image
User avatar
Blanco_Diablo
Posts: 1089
Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2007 1:03 am

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by Blanco_Diablo »

Thanks Joatmon, appreciate the in-depth response. Do you have that driver distraction camera that focuses on your face to see if you are paying attention to the road? It sounds like if you have it, you haven’t noticed it being invasive or setting off too many odd alert sounds.

Thanks for all of your insight over the years and congrats on the new ride!
User avatar
joatmon
Posts: 10018
Joined: Fri Mar 21, 2003 5:19 am
Location: SMC MD

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by joatmon »

Foresters come in four trim levels. The enlightened one (one with everything) is Touring, I got the next one down, a Limited. It doesn't have that feature that watches you. Sounds cool, supposedly it recognizes different drivers and automatically adjust things for each registered driver. There were a couple of other options the Touring offered, but I wasn't interested in them, they weren't worth the couple extra $K to me. Mine came with a couple options that aren't standard in the Limited.

Under the limited, there's a Sport level, with fewer options but unique orange trim accents (which I don't prefer) and I'm not sure what they call the base trim level, but knowing marketers, they probably call it something like ultimate or elite.

As is, the Limited has lots of things it monitors and automatically reacts. Just last week, the collision avoidance alarm went off to tell me about stopped traffic ahead sooner than I would have noticed with out it (I admit I wasn't paying as much attention as I should have been), so that's cool. Mine also came with something called rear assisted braking, which will alert you and then if you don't react it will apply brakes if you're backing out in a parking lot and don't see imminent cross traffic.

The only one of these things that has been a bit more critical than I normally am is the lane keeping advisor. I drive a lot of two lane roads that aren't in the best shape, and my other local drivers aren't the best, so sometimes I get closer to the shoulder than it likes when avoiding potholes or oncoming cars that crowd the center line. Sometimes it seems that thing beeps at me telling me it thinks I am a lousy driver. Who knows, maybe its right. Like the auto start/stop, there are buttons you can press to disable these things, but that only lasts until you turn the car off, they come back up enabled the next time you start it. I haven't felt the need to disable any of them yet.

The other day an odd icon lit up in the cluster, sort of like /*\ Took me a while to figure out that it was telling me it thought it was cold enough that the roads might be icy. (It wasn't)

A lot of the tech in it isn't unique to Subaru, similar features seem to be in a lot of new cars now. The last time I bought I new car was about 17 years ago, so for me it's a giant leap, like it would be getting a current smartphone after only having a flip phone. Hard to stop playing with it. There's still buttons I don't know what they do.
Image
Bookworm
Posts: 764
Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Houston, TX

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by Bookworm »

joatmon wrote: Sun Dec 01, 2019 4:49 pm A lot of the tech in it isn't unique to Subaru, similar features seem to be in a lot of new cars now. The last time I bought I new car was about 17 years ago, so for me it's a giant leap, like it would be getting a current smartphone after only having a flip phone. Hard to stop playing with it. There's still buttons I don't know what they do.
Whatever you do, DON'T push the ATR button.
User avatar
joatmon
Posts: 10018
Joined: Fri Mar 21, 2003 5:19 am
Location: SMC MD

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by joatmon »

Bookworm wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2019 8:11 pm
Whatever you do, DON'T push the ATR button.
I read online about that and disabling that "feature" was my first and only mod
Image
User avatar
joatmon
Posts: 10018
Joined: Fri Mar 21, 2003 5:19 am
Location: SMC MD

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by joatmon »

I''ve had the forester for a year now
There's so much techno wizardry in this car that I am paranoid about the warranty. Today I did the 12K mile service, even though the odometer is only a little over 8K, but the book does say every 6 months/6K miles, "whichever comes first" Seems excessive, the car requires synthetic oil (0w20), but still asks for 6K mile oil changes. I thought the glory of synthetic was extended oil changes. This was my second oil change, the last one was 6 months ago, but only a little under 3K miles ago. Did I really need to change the oil? I don't think so, but I did it anyway. It was kinda nice to turn a wrench again, haven't done hardly any mechanical work since I got the car.

It's still odd for me to leave the toolbox in the garage, it used to live in the back of the Vibe.

When i bought this car I envisioned many long scenic road trips, and that goal lasted until spring. Now it usually only gets the infrequent store runs. Lots of places I want to drive it to, but that will wait on our unwelcome guest Corona. This is the first new vehicle I've bought since the mid 80's where adherence to the service manual was driven by months instead of miles. For comparison, I used up the 36K mile warranty on my first vibe in about 14 months

Changing oil is mostly easy on this car. The oil filter sits on the top of the engine, I guess the oil drains out of it when the engines not running. doesn't spill a drop when changing. There's a plastic air shield under the entire engine, but there's a door held by some reusable plastic rivets to access the drain plug. There's enough ground clearance that I don't need to jack the car up or use ramps, but the small aperture of the drain plug access door means I get a wash of oil on my hand/forearm when the plug comes out all the way. Haven't solved that yet.

Accessing the cabin air filter is pretty much the same as in the Vibe. One difference is that the actual "door" is integral to the filter, gets replaced when you replace the filter, and the manual correctly describes how to remove it. Not like our early vibes where bad info in the manual led many of us to break the filter door.

EPA rates the '19 Forester at 26 city/33 highway/29 combined. My overall average so far is 30.9 mpg. Had a couple of >33 tanks, worst so far was 28.1. The car displays an average mpg since the trip meter was last reset, and I reset at each fill up. The car consistently shows an average mpg about 10% higher than I calculate based on gallons used at fillup.

I have not yet encountered a situation where I needed the car's AWD.

Lost house power for a little while when TS Isaiaisias came up the coast. Missed the inverter in the Vibe. I had an old one around, plugged it into the cig lighter of the forester and blew the fuse when I turned it on, with no load. Learned that Foresters take yet another new kind of fuse, at least new to me, a "low profile" fuse, kinda like the tiny blade fuses without the blades. Unlike the vibe, the interior fuses can be changed without the help of a trained circus contortionist. Have since bought a new inverter, given that its only mid August and we've already got the "K" storm" out there.

The car came with 4 month Sirius XM trial. As that ran out, I bought into one of their 6 months $5/month promos. Before that ran out when they would convert me over to recurring full price billing, I called them to cancel, and they offered me a 3 month $1/month extension, which I took. Before that runs out next month, I'll call up to cancel again, maybe they'll offer me another deal. If not, I'll drop it. I took one long road trip in the fall and used the XM a lot, but I don't need it for short store hopping, and their full monthly rate is much more than its worth to me.

I haven't invested in a forester forum. Foresters have been around for a long time, and I'm much less adventurous with this car than I was with the Vibe. There was something infectious about the vibe enthusiasm when this site started, made me want to take apart and figure out/mod everything. I don't seem to have that curiosity about the forester. I still really like the forester a lot though, just more as a tool, and less of an adventure.

And I still want to wave when I see a Vibe, but I don't because the other driver wouldn't understand
Image
Caretaker

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by Caretaker »

I am amazed how XM continue to offer these lowball rates and then keeps giving them again and again. You are correct, that their normal everyday rate is totally unacceptable. For me as a lifetime XM subscriber, it just irks me that as a thank you to those of us who dared to buy their lifetime plan when their stock was at 12 cents a share and ready for extinction, XM still refuses to give a small block of us owners the right to a one time move to another vehicle. It is a very small window of subscribers who got the shaft, despite us bailing the company out in their time of need and signing up for the lifetime package.
tpollauf
Posts: 4025
Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 11:37 am
Location: Toledo/Oregon, Port Clinton Ohio
Contact:

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by tpollauf »

joatmon wrote: Sat Aug 15, 2020 1:10 pm
The car came with 4 month Sirius XM trial. As that ran out, I bought into one of their 6 months $5/month promos. Before that ran out when they would convert me over to recurring full price billing, I called them to cancel, and they offered me a 3 month $1/month extension, which I took. Before that runs out next month, I'll call up to cancel again, maybe they'll offer me another deal.
Yes they will continue to offer you a deal. I have three lifetime subscriptions. First one was in 2005 (home docked unit), then 2007 (boom box unit) and the last in 2009 on my Vibe. Fifteen years ago I took that chance that it would be around into the future long enough to get my money's worth out of it. So far I'm beating the odds BIG TIME :D We always have music on playing somewhere which is why it was very appealing to us when it first came out.

Anyways my son's Vibe, the wife's G8GT, a separate unit at my shop, and my 2014 Silverado, get the $5/month deals continuously which requires me to call up the Dominican Republic and request the renewals. I've never got declined yet. You should be just as fortunate!
Image
2009 Vibe GT (manual), 2009 G8Gt, 2009 Vibe GT (auto)
2014 Silverado, 2004 Vibe GT

"everything is modifiable"
KITT222
Posts: 2257
Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2010 1:45 pm
Location: Flint, Michigan

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by KITT222 »

My mother has had the worst time trying to cancel the XM for her Traverse. She just begrudgingly buys into the stupid-low offers and deals with it every once in a while. That must be how XM keeps going... Once you're in, you're in. They'll get a dollar out of you one way or another.

I'm glad the Forestor is working out for you. My sister likes hers (older model), and Subaru seems to be doing well with their cars. Though after test driving a top-spec Outback, encountering a rattle, then snapping a panel into the dash only to discover that isn't the rattle... I'm a little dubious. I have enough fun rattle-hunting in my Vibe.

Special shout-out to start-stop. The Equinoxes I've driven with it just feel like they're slow off the line. Nope, they're not, but it takes a blink for the engine to fire back up. It's an interesting idea that should be standard on manuals.
Jammin81
Posts: 36
Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2020 7:34 pm

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by Jammin81 »

The vibe and the Impreza have a similar styling. My friend has a nice Impreza in black! Pretty nippy for a small car also!
She had a face like a box of frogs!
User avatar
joatmon
Posts: 10018
Joined: Fri Mar 21, 2003 5:19 am
Location: SMC MD

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by joatmon »

Rolled the odo past 20K miles last week. Car had 7 when new 28 months ago. The car keeps track of what it thinks the MPGs are since the trip meter was last reset, and I've been recording that and fuel/mileage each fill up. Ran some numbers and the car's MPG number is always higher than what I calculate based on odometer and gallons per fill up.

Averaged out, the car thinks I get 5% better gas mileage. My numbers give me an average of 30.9. This is less than I was getting in my 03 Vibes, but I am pushing more car, and with the rona thing going on, more of my miles are short trips in/around home.

Using the car's tracker I can see the MPGs tank when on a big interstate. Speed limit 70, if I cruise at 77, the MPGs drop off. Waze is pretty good for keeping track of the police. If I roll any distance at 55-65, I can get better than the rated 33 highway. I can't convince myself to go 65 in a 70

Did a 2K road trip for XMas, this is the first time since I've owned the car that i need to change the oil based on mileage instead of months, to keep the factory warranty. At one point we did a 12 hour run, with 3 stops, felt fine for the next leg the following day. By contrast, if I drive my 03 Tacoma for 2 hours, I'm sore for 2 days. Also, seems as if nobody outside of Maryland wears a mask anymore.


Its a token thing, but I miss the two lid center console armrest in the 03-04 Vibes. Not enough to fabricate that into the forester, but that was a nice feature I didn't appreciate until it was gone.
Image
Caretaker

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by Caretaker »

went to TX to drive my Fit. The car now has some minor sway to it at highway speed over undulations. I told the kid that at 199,000 miles, I think it is time for some new shocks and struts. I think a 15 year old car, even the greatest ever built, has earned some struts and shocks. I bought it at 6 years old and 94,000 abused miles; that hunt and 4 hour drive way-back-when certainly paid off. The kid is looking at the '23 Crosstrek having seen this week's spy video. Apparently there is an anniversary special Crosstrek (for Japan only) coming out that shows the intrusive emergency brake handle finally gone. I can only hope that Subaru does the same with the US '23. I'm pretty confident that our Fit, with all original parts sans a remanufactured starter, batteries, and tires, will make it another 50,000 miles. As electric cars fill the lots, there will never be another car like the first and second generation Fit. For me, I won't become an ex-Viber until a car comes out that really wows me. While there are tons of better cars for sale than the Vibe at this point, only the prospects of 42 mpg hybrid vehicles like pickups (Ford Maverick) and small crossovers (Kia Niro) seem worthy of my money as we wait the to usher in the fully electric era. Replacing the Vibe with just another 28 mpg vehicle just doesn't move me.
SeattleJeremy
Posts: 1170
Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 4:02 pm
Location: Tacoma, WA

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by SeattleJeremy »

I'll admit it, I confess. I sold my '06 Vibe in 2018. It had about 265k miles on it.
Caretaker wrote: Tue Dec 28, 2021 4:22 pm Replacing the Vibe with just another 28 mpg vehicle just doesn't move me.
My Vibe got 29 mpg, and so does the new car. However, the new car has twice the power, much nicer place to be, and RWD.

My "new" car is a Black 2015 BWM 328i. Split 5 spoke wheels, black leather interior with red piping, 2.0L turbo with 8speed auto, heated seats, the "good" nav, sport suspension. The MSRP of the car was around $50k, and I purchased it for $20k (plus Tax/Title/Reg). It had less than 40k miles when I purchase it in the spring of 2018, and now has about 95k miles. The maintenance costs are double the Vibe ($100 oil changes, $900 for good tires) but the seats are so much better to sit in for my 60 mile round trip commute to work.

It wasn't the obvious choice from a Vibe, but my car purchases have not been linier.
Pontiac Grand Am > Subaru Impreza WRX > Pontiac Vibe > BMW 328i
*Sold* 06' Vibe Base - Mono Platinum - Manual
Turo'ing 15' BMW 328i Sport - Jet Black - Auto
Daily 19' Toyota Camry SE Hybrid - Galactic Aqua Mica - eCVT
Mark
Posts: 640
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2008 7:26 am
Location: Cheyenne, WY

Re: Confession of an ex-Viber

Post by Mark »

joatmon wrote: Tue Dec 28, 2021 12:21 pm Its a token thing, but I miss the two lid center console armrest in the 03-04 Vibes. Not enough to fabricate that into the forester, but that was a nice feature I didn't appreciate until it was gone.
One of the first things I did when I bought my 08 was to go and find a center console from an 04 in a junkyard, complete with double lid and power outlet. When it got crashed and I bought the 05 I moved that over to it. Then I got he 08 fixed and went online and found another 04 center console with double lid and power outlet. Once you get used to it it's pretty hard to do without.
'08 Base Stealth, '05 Base Satellite
Post Reply