New to Gen Vibe!! and New Vibe Owner

[erick44]

Hello Gen vibe Members! Glad to be part of an auto Group/forum. Been reading some topics and posts from other members and it looks like everybody here gets along really well! I am turning 22 in July so i ended up getting myself an early birthday gift. I was in market for a Hot hatch since I live on my own I wanted and really needed something practical, I came across the Gti but I am not a big fan of german engineering, Then came across a Subaru Impreza, Which are pigs on gas for a 4 cyn motor. Right as I was going to start looking at bigger sedans like G8 (sexiest and very under rated) I came across a Pontiac vibe GT, It completely caught me off guard with all its features, comfort, looks and even fun to drive attitude! Best of all my insurance didn't ask for a first born son or a body limb lol. Looking forward to posting up topics and posts! So far I have only ordered a K&n Filter for it. Looking to install a Typhoon intake, Muffler, HIDS and maybe even a turbo next year! Thanks for reading!

-Erick44

[journeyforce]

Welcome aboard. Nice Vibe. I understand about the "German Engineering" thing. GE seems to have disappeared in the 21st century and most German cars can pass everything except a service center nowadays. It used to be if you wanted a reliable rock solid luxury car you bought a BMW or Benz but now if you want a luxury car that is reliable, you buy a Lexus or Acura.

While the gas mpgs on the Vibe GT are not exactly setting the world on fire. It still is a goodly amount. I have a friend with a WRX and she drives a Cavalier as a daily driver because the WRX is a huge gas pig

You can get all your engine and trans repair parts from Toyota as it is a Toyota in Pontiac skin so parts should be cheaper. You will find many years of good driving with this Vibe. However you might want to go to GM and buy a few radio knobs to stock up on before they get discontinued. This car eats radio knobs because of a cheap design.

Good luck with your car

[erick44]

thanks for the reply^^ and agree with what you mentioned, and thanks for the heads up lol I hope my knobs don't fall off lol!!!

[trb]

Welcome! Very nice Vibe, and you got the right color! We've had a lot of red vibes joining recently. And you are lucky, you got a manual trans to boot!

[erick44]

^^ yea I got super lucky with the manual tranny, Because I live in a big city nobody wanted manual so the price on it dropped quite a bit and got myself a too good to pass up offer!

[OmniDimensional]

That's a great looking ride! Can't wait to see what you do to it. I do hope a turbo is up and coming, want to see some numbers.

I love this forum, everyone here is really friendly and very helpful.

[erick44]

^^ thanks! And don't worry I will keep everyone updated, if it were up to me It would have wings right now lol but I have other expenses to attend to. Thanks for the postive post guys!

[MrHatchWagon]

Nice Vibe! Bonus points for the manual, and those wheels look really good. You've come to the right place if you plan on modifying it, we've got a ton of how-to's and a very ingenous community. Welcome!

[vibenvy]

Welcome to GenVibe! It's always nice to see another 2nd gen GT owner join, although you got your Vibe in the wrong color . It seems like you already have a decent future mods list put together. I look forward to seeing pictures as you progress on it.

[erick44]

^ well if you would like we can trade haha, seeing as how my last car was silver, and yep slowly but surely, for now my motor is too quiet, which is why I got my filter, can't wait to put a decent muffler on, Already bought one just need to install it

[vibenvy]

^ well if you would like we can trade haha, seeing as how my last car was silver, and yep slowly but surely, for now my motor is too quiet, which is why I got my filter, can't wait to put a decent muffler on, Already bought one just need to install it

LOL! No way! My baby's not going anywhere!

Forget the muffler! Do the K&N CAI first! It will give the 2.4L a very nice sound all by itself .

[erick44]

^^I Really want too you have no idea lol but I can't afford one just yet! and you mean MY red Baby isnt going anywhere lol , do you have one on your vibe? if you do post a video on the tube or here I've been searching for a video so I can hear what it sounds like

[vibenvy]

^^I Really want too you have no idea lol but I can't afford one just yet! and you mean MY red Baby isnt going anywhere lol , do you have one on your vibe? if you do post a video on the tube or here I've been searching for a video so I can hear what it sounds like

Yep. I've had the K&N CAI on my Vibe since July of 2009 and I absolutely love it! IMO, it's a must have for any 2009-2010 2.4L Matrix/Vibe owner.

Unfortunately, I don't have any way of getting a video of it, but it definitely does give the 2.4L a more aggressive sound, especially when accelerating. Also, once you get over the initial thrill of the new sound of the engine and start to drive more conservatively, you will see a slight increase in gas mileage. Click on my signature picture to see pictures of it installed on my Vibe.

For the best prices on the K&N CAI, check out eBay.

[journeyforce]

thanks for the reply^^ and agree with what you mentioned, and thanks for the heads up lol I hope my knobs don't fall off lol!!!

That is part of the problem, the knob will break and not fall off because GM decided to put a lip around the knob so it cannot be removed without removing the radio face. If you have the steering wheel radio controls use them most of the time

[zyzyix]

Hi and welcome. Nice Vibe.

[tpollauf]

Welcome to this great site By the way, you DID find the Vibe Gt in the best color (unlike a comment by some Silver owner ) And if it weren't for the absence of your sunroof, we'd be twins! Gotta love that manual tranny in the Vibe GT! Also I agree with your comment on the Pontiac G8. That's the wife's car in the middle. Get involved here & visit often

[CAMOGIRL]

WELCOME!!!

Your vibe is very pretty

[journeyforce]

Welcome to this great site By the way, you DID find the Vibe Gt in the best color (unlike a comment by some Silver owner ) And if it weren't for the absence of your sunroof, we'd be twins! Gotta love that manual tranny in the Vibe GT! Also I agree with your comment on the Pontiac G8. That's the wife's car in the middle. Get involved here & visit often

By the way tpollauf, is your G8 a V8? I thought all G8's were sold with a 6.0l or 6.2l V8 but a local dealership has a G8 on the lot with a 3.6l v6

More research by me shows a V6 option but why?

[MrHatchWagon]

Base G8's had the 6, the GT and GXP models had 8-cyls, and only the GXP was available with a manual trans. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong.)

[star_deceiver]

Welcome to GenVibe!!!

[tpollauf]

Base G8's had the 6, the GT and GXP models had 8-cyls, and only the GXP was available with a manual trans. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong.)

No corrections needed here ................ You are correct. Hers is the GT so it has the 6.0 litre and 6-speed auto She also has the summer 19" tires & sunroof. Thus it doesn't see winter driving. Tali lights are "clear lens" on the GT & GXP trim , and solid RED on the V6 base model. They probably offered the 6 cylinder option for those who wanted fuel economy. Hell we get 25-26 actual mpg on the highway thanks the Active Fuel Management where it unloads four of the eight cylinders. She loves it.

[erick44]

Thanks for the postive comments everyone it all means alot , haven't had a chance to swing by here in a week due to work injuries but got my k&n filter as ill post up pictures later, along with the muffle I will be installing.

[Wingnut]

Welcome aboard. Nice Vibe. I understand about the "German Engineering" thing. GE seems to have disappeared in the 21st century and most German cars can pass everything except a service center nowadays. It used to be if you wanted a reliable rock solid luxury car you bought a BMW or Benz but now if you want a luxury car that is reliable, you buy a Lexus or Acura.

While the gas mpgs on the Vibe GT are not exactly setting the world on fire. It still is a goodly amount. I have a friend with a WRX and she drives a Cavalier as a daily driver because the WRX is a huge gas pig

You can get all your engine and trans repair parts from Toyota as it is a Toyota in Pontiac skin so parts should be cheaper. You will find many years of good driving with this Vibe. However you might want to go to GM and buy a few radio knobs to stock up on before they get discontinued. This car eats radio knobs because of a cheap design.

Good luck with your car

The reason it eats knobs is because in 2010 they decided to start putting Toyota radios and wiring harnesses in them instead of Pontiac. KEEP IN MIND IF YOU ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE RADIO OUT YOU WILL NEED A "TOYOTA" WIRING HARNESS.

[DennisLee]

So, is it just the 2010 that eats the radio knobs? Or do I need to worry about that with my 2009 as well?

[tpollauf]

So, is it just the 2010 that eats the radio knobs? Or do I need to worry about that with my 2009 as well?

A bit late on a response here. YES the 09 & 10 models are identical when it comes to the radio knobs. Use your steering wheel controls (if you have them) as much as possible and you'll buy a lot of time before you need to service the radio