Handling you say?

[ragingfish]

Is it just me, or does the base Vibe SUCK in the snow?! We just got a nice thick blanket here in Jersey, and even on PLOWED roads my vibe is ALWAYS losing traction! I have to say, I am very disappointed with the snow handling of this car...please fill me in, tell me if I'm the only one experiencing this.

[NovaResource]

I'm in Philly and I got the same snow. I've had no problem.

[ragingfish]

any thoughts as to what i may be doing wrong?

[NSimkins]

I'm with Nova, no problems here.As for what you may be doing wrong, to put it simple, don't drive like you do when it's dry/wet. You have to be gentle on the accelerator on a full stop to prevent front wheel slippage.Go below the posted speed limit...If you are going on a relatively straight level street and are having problems, then there has to be ice on the surface in order for you to lose traction.All I can say is be cautious, take your time (rushing gets you to the same place and usually no faster) and baby the accelerating and braking giving yourself enough room to stop.How's that?

[PBFlash]

We got 6 inches by me. Car was horrible driving. I expected that with my wheels though. Need to get some smaller rims and winter tires.

[ragingfish]

My concern was that I was actually going 10-15mph on a straight road and losing traction -- but everyone else seemed to be fine. Just makes me wish I had the ETS system from my sunfire on here...

[MrMke]

My GT didn't handle too bad considering I traded in my Toyota 4Runner for my Vibe.It was a little tricky pulling out at lights and stop signs but tracked rather well once in motion. And the ABS worked very well also.

[Flip-Side]

What type of cars have you drivin to make you think the vibe handles crappy in the snow!? I've driven countless cars in horrid conditions, and the Vibe rates the top of my list for Front-Wheel drive cars in the snow.Considering the size of its tires, I think it handles admirably. If you want more traction, spring for the 15" rims and snow tires. They really do help a lot on any car, but I love my Conti's so no need in my case.

[ragingfish]

Prior to the vibe, I drove a Bonneville and a Sunfire. I just felt more "in control" in the prior 2. I always felt like I was losing control in the vibe...or just skidding along, not actually gripping the road. The bonneville was so heavy it never lost traction, and the sunfire had ETS and compensated for lost traction, so i never felt like i was losing control. but must be me since everyone else is having such luck. i'll have to re-read the snow driving section in the manual i s'pose.

[KSNeptune]

If you're used to ETC, then you're gonna have to re-learn how to drive a small car without it in slippery conditions. My guess is you were giving the car too much gas for the traction it had. Assuming you have the 5-speed, try everything in one higher gear. Start in 2nd. If you cruise in town normally in 3rd, then use 4th. Higher gears have less torque and are less likely to loose traction.Lastly, check the air pressure in your tires. Vibes are shipped with 40lbs in each tire. The dealer should have set the pressure back to 32 or so, but many don't. If you're running with 40lbs in your tires, less tire is gripping the road.KSNeptune

[ragingfish]

Why would they let out air? Isn't it shipped at the recommended PSI rating?

[Stang2Vibe]

When new tires are mounted, they often recommend over-inflating the tires a little bit to help seat the bead of the tire to the rim. The pressure should have been returned to its normal service spec before being delivered to you. This reminds me, I should check the pressure in my tires.I also have been quite impressed with the snow performance of my Vibe. I thought that I might need to get snow tires at least for the front wheels. After the snow storm here in Pittsburgh last week that brought us 4-5 inches I decided that they wouldn't be necessary. My Conti's also performed admirably down side streets and narrow alleys that were not yet salted or plowed. Wheelspin was not excessive and generally controllable. Much better than in the 2000 Mustang I traded for my Vibe that couldn't climb a 2% grade without studded snow tires. The traction control system in that car and my mom's old 1996 saturn SL2 were both useless in the snow. I always had to shut them off to get the cars to climb hills in the snow. On the mustang, I shut it off every time I started the car.

[baltimore17]

Thanks for the tire pressure suggestion. That also could explain why the ride feels a little harsh on pavement irregularities. Time to fetch the pressure gauge!

[JayAyeEm]

quote:My GT didn't handle too bad considering I traded in my Toyota 4Runner for my Vibe.It was a little tricky pulling out at lights and stop signs but tracked rather well once in motion. And the ABS worked very well also.That's what I've noticed too. My GT drives well in the snow, but does get sloppy when accelerating and turning at the same time. Previous car was a 91 Geo Prizm with a 5 speed. Awesome in the snow. Used to drive past a lot of spun out and stuck Ford Explorers. Funny how people buy a 4 wheel drive SUV then immediately forget how to drive in the snow.

[ragingfish]

After this past storm, there was a story on the news, there were about 100 accidents on the NJ Turnpike in one day, over 90% of them were SUV's, cause these people think they're invincible or immortal or whatever and drive dangerously despite the conditions. I laughed. About damn time those people got what they deserved.

[baltimore17]

Many SUVs have four wheel drive. Everybody on the road has four wheel brakes. This distinction is lost on SUV drivers who find themselves in the ditch.Regarding tire pressure, I checked mine last night and sure enough, the dealer didn't bleed them down to 32 PSI. One 34, two 35, and one 36. They're all at 32 now, the ride seems somewhat better, and I'm waiting for more snow to see if the Vibe behaves better than last week. Sorry, Canadian friends, but 6" in Maryland is off the roads (if not the fields) in just a few days.

[ragingfish]

I'm gonna check my tires, but if they're over, what's the most accurate way to lower the pressure without punching the pin myself and checking the pressure ever few seconds?

[baltimore17]

quote:...punching the pin myself and checking the pressure ever few seconds?That's what I did. Overall, two or three blats&checks per tire. Probably took 3 minutes and 27 seconds out of my young life. Only as accurate as my tire gauge, though. Tire gauge does have a nifty prong on the end for pushing the pin and squirting the air.BTW, I did double check with a second gauge on the first tire, figuring that two cheap gauges wouldn't err exactly alike if they were, indeed, off. They matched. I carried forth.

[ragingfish]

After all that, I found out my dealer had properly lowered the PSI in the tires...but I DID learn what that little nub on my gauge is for! Thanks guys!