6 Speed shifter...uncomfortable to use?

[CaCathy13]

I read a review of the Vibe and the writer said that the shifter was far away and he was strained using it...anyone else have this problem??I am going to buy a Vibe in the next month or 2 and there's no way I'd get the base model...I have never driven stick before and am not afraid to learn and I'm sure I can catch on (my bf is gonna teach me)...but I don't wanna to be uncomfortable when I drive...anyone have problems? I'm 5'6" and don't have chimpanzee arms...

[NovaResource]

quote:I read a review of the Vibe and the writer said that the shifter was far away and he was strained using it...anyone else have this problem??The shifters are slightly farther away than I would like but it's nothing that is a problem or make me uncomfortable.quote:I am going to buy a Vibe in the next month or 2 and there's no way I'd get the base model.Why? I think you'll find the base has more low-end torque and makes a better daily driver (in my opinion). The GT motor has to spin the above 6,400-rpm to take advantage of the extra power.

[CaCathy13]

I would keep my current car, a 98 Hyundai Accent and use it mostly as a beater and when it's unpleasant out especially in the winter...and my boyfriend has grand Am, so if I got tired of the manual I can drive something else. And fuel economy is a factor as well...I like the higher HP in the GT...and I like the monochrome look better than the grey wraparound. I will definetly be testing out both the base and GT to get a feel for them both...after I learn manual. I hope I can find a car rental place that has manuals for rental...lol

[NovaResource]

quote:And fuel economy is a factor as well...The base with 5-speed manual gets the best economy. The GT gets the 2 worst only after the AWD automatic.quote:and I like the monochrome look better than the grey wraparound.The monotone package is not part of the GT package. It's optional on both the base and the GT. In other words you can get a monotone base or a GT with grey cladding. The only external difference between the base and the GT is the "GT" badges on the doors. You can order a base Vibe with the exact same options as a GT. The only parts that are "GT-only" are the engine, the 6-speed and the rear disc brakes.

[esjones]

Like Scott said, there is NO extra HP in the GT until you spin it faster than 6400 RPM. Consider how rarely that happens in normal driving.Also, the monotone option is just that -- an option -- on both the base and GT versions.Finally, the GT is US$3,000 more expensive, will likely cost you more for insurance and requires premium gas.After considering all of these factors, I went with the base. - Earl

[esjones]

quote:The only parts that are "GT-only" are the engine, the 6-speed and the rear disc brakes.Almost.. what about the leather wheel and shift knob? I know a new shift knob is an easy aftermarket knob, but I would have liked to have been able to order a leather wheel for my base Vibe. - ESJ

[NovaResource]

quote:Finally, the GT is US$3,000 more expensive, will likely cost you more for insurance and requires premium gas.Yeah, I forgot about those facts. The GT requires premium 91-octane minimum where the base runs on 87-octane. Insurance is also something that should be considered.quote:Almost.. what about the leather wheel and shift knob?True. I consider the shift knob part of the 6-speed but you're correct about the leather wheel. Personally, neither interest me but both are easily installed aftermarket. Now that the Vibe has been out a while, the GT's leather wheel and shift knob should be easy to get from a salvage yard.

[Shadow Realm]

There are two basic differences between the 5 and the 6 speed. 1 is the price of the GT and that you have to rev up into the high6000-8000 range to feel a major difference in power.2 is the gas mileage. I bought the 5 speed because I felt it was much easier to drive. I liked the GT and i liked its 6 speed but I couldn't see enough of a difference to justify the 3000+ price change. I will probably be trading mine in for the GXP anyway when it comes out.)

[CaCathy13]

Thanks for the input guys...after reading the threads about the Superchargers I'm more undecided than I was before...Mods for me right off the bat would be a Borla and a CAI, which as people have said, would put my HP over 200 if I got a GT. And GM says they're not coming out with a SC for the GT engine, so maybe a Vibe+SC in the Sports Package would rock the house...But I'm so green when it comes to automotive whatnot that I gotta read and read some more to understand stuff...all the while my bf is here to help too...no matter what I do he'll end up trickin it out I'm sure...But I do know I'm getting a Neptune Vibe!! Just exactly what kind is up in the air now... All this talk about it has actually made up my mind to wait a little bit until Feb/march of next year...I should have a good grasp on things then and give me time to do more research. And maybe learn how to drive stick...

[NovaResource]

Yeah, wait a little while. You will soon be able to purchase a new Vibe from the dealer with the supercharger and sports package already installed. That way you won't really be making the mods, you'll be buying it already done and you'll be financing the whole thing. Me, I'll have to pay for the supercharger all at once and wait for them to install it.

[andrewmva]

The shifter is actually really comfortable if you sit properly..(upright)

[Ryan]

Actually, the shifter placement is excellent. The best I have driven... it's just a liitle notchy which means you might have some trouble putting it into gear if you are not straight into the gear. This is only when you are downshifting more than a gear. Like when you go from 6th gear to 4 th for example. It's funny how everybody says the 130 hp engine has more low torque. It's the same engine up until 6000 rpm. I have a GT and I rev it up to 8400 everyday when I need that extra power. The base Vibe is just that... basic.Ryan

[NovaResource]

quote:It's funny how everybody says the 130 hp engine has more low torque. It's the same engine up until 6000 rpm.While the 1ZZ (130-hp) engine and the 2ZZ (180-hp) engine are both 1.8L they are different. The 1ZZ engine has a longer stroke and a smaller bore than the 2ZZ. The longer stroke gives it more low-end torque. The shorter stroke of the 2ZZ help the engine rev quicker and take advantage of the higher rpms (above 6400).

[d_m_kolb]

quote:It's funny how everybody says the 130 hp engine has more low torque. It's the same engine up until 6000 rpm.Like Nova said the 1ZZ-FE and 2ZZ-GE are two totally different engines. Nothing is the same when it comes to the engines themselfs. The only thing that is really the same is they both have ZZ in their name.

[TGebiV]

I would get the gt i think it is way more fun to drive and it is crazy the rpms you get out of it and like all the reviews i have seen say it is like having a turbo it takes off from 6grand to 7 grand. and it will gain more power easier with mods than a base the 6 speed is placed fine it will be better for you any way being shorter you will be closer to the dash I am 5'7 and it fits great the guy in the article must have beenginormos

[Stang2Vibe]

Aww...don't let them talk you out of the GT if you really like it.I have no trouble with the position of the shifter, myself, but I am roughly 6ft tall. Remember, the seat is adjustable front and back, seatback tilts, and the seat height can be raised or lowered to help you fit better. (I may be wrong, but I think that the seat height adjustment is only available in the GT, correct me if I'm wrong here guys.) Although I haven't driven one, the 5 speed is probably easier to drive than the 6 speed. However, give the GT a few weeks of daily or almost daily driving and mastering the feel for the 6 speed becomes natural. People writing reviews often drive the car only once, for 20-30 minutes at most. If they drove it consistantly, they would get used to it too.As far as the base being a better daily driver, that will be up to you. Nobody is there forcing your foot on the gas to drive the GT into the higher rpm range where the extra power is felt. If you want to save gas and get the feeling of driving the base engine, just shift before the rpms get high enough to send you into the "boost" range. I drive my GT frequently around in downtown traffic congestion, and I like having the extra kick of the GT engine for passing idiots that are hell-bent on holding up traffic when I get into a clearing. I would think that the two engines perform similarly except for the GT's extra power in the high rpm's. As for fuel economy, there was not THAT great of a difference between the base and the GT that I was deterred from the GT.The guys here were mentioning the few differences between the base and GT. I would have to add that the GT comes with a sportier handling suspension that is only availible on the GT, if I am remembering correctly. And as far as the premium gas goes, I asked my dealer about this before I bought the car. They made some calls to check into it, and they assured me that all their sources told them that running regular (87 octane) gas in the GT will cause it NO harm at all, the only difference is that the increase in power at the high rpms would not be as great. They also told me that they had been using strictly 87 octane gas in all Vibes, GT or base, on their lot and have never been told to do otherwise. They are by far the largest dealer in my tri-state area, so I would tend to trust them on this one. I've ran with 87 octane in my GT and had no ill effects.The great price debate over the base vs. GT. If you are looking at the base Vibe and adding the dealer offered supercharger (costing an estimated $3000 extra for the SC) you are basically at the same price for the GT and still talking roughly the same horsepower. I'm not seeing any advantage here other than the bragging rights of having the supercharger). And the chances of seeing a base Vibe sitting on the lot ready to go with a supercharger already installed in the near future, in my opinion, are quite low. I don't see a dealer sinking that kind of money into a mod for a car sitting on the lot that isn't sold yet. It doesn't seem like a good financial move on their part.As far as insurance goes, the best I can say is to get a VIN number off of a car on the dealer's lot that you are interested in or one very similar and call your insurance company. With the VIN number, they can tell you exactly how much insuance will be for you on that car before you buy it. I know that insuring my GT is costing me about HALF of what it cost me to insure my 3 year old V6 Mustang, carrying the same amount of coverage. The engine and transmission in the Vibe GT is the same as that in the Toyota Celica GTS. The Celica is Toyota's sports car and carries insurance premiums in the same range as my Mustang did, I am told. So with a Vibe GT, you are getting the performance of the sports car at about half of the insurance cost. This one was a no-brainer for me.In any case, good luck finding the perfect Vibe for you, and I'm sure I speak for us all saying that we hope to see you behind the wheel of that Vibe soon! And I like your choice of color and exterior trim Oh, one last bit of advice that I might offer is to look at http://www.pontiac.com if you are searching for the right car near you. You can look up most dealer's inventories to see what they have and ask them to send you a price quote online for any particular Vibe they have on the lot. They usually have a special internet price that they will offer you. I saved about $2200 off of the sticker price on my Vibe by using that feature. Any rebates, GM card rewards, and discounts you may be elegible for would still bring the price down even farther. Good Luck!

[DopeVibeGT]

As Stang said, don't let them talk you out of the GT if you want the extra performance. The shifter is very comfortable to me, and I'm a short, 5'7" guy. It's possitioned just where it should be.If you want more horsepower when needed, the GT's extra $ is well worth it. Since there seems to be some 'GT' bashing going on (since I was accused of base bashing, when I actually wasnt. LoL ), for the base Vibe to get the power of the GT, they have to spend 3G's to get it to what the GT does factory. As for using the potential of the 6K+ power, it comes on very fast and feels like a turbo kicking in, which is needed to get onto the packed highway.As for torque, there's a five ft. lbs different, which means, you wont even notice it. But, the 50 more HP you will. Now, the extra HP comes with one hitch. It doesnt bother me, in fact, I love the sound of it, but some people it does. Thats when the valves change over to give you that extra power. It sounds like you release a hive of angry killer bee's. Stang pretty much sumed everything else up. The choice is yours, and only yours. Any Vibe you do get, have fun driving it! All models are a blast to drive.

[NovaResource]

quote:The guys here were mentioning the few differences between the base and GT. I would have to add that the GT comes with a sportier handling suspension that is only availible on the GT, if I am remembering correctly.You remember incorrectly. The base and the GT have the exact same suspension (springs, shocks, sway bars, etc).quote:The great price debate over the base vs. GT. If you are looking at the base Vibe and adding the dealer offered supercharger (costing an estimated $3000 extra for the SC) you are basically at the same price for the GT and still talking roughly the same horsepower. I'm not seeing any advantage here other than the bragging rights of having the supercharger).Yes, the base+SC will have about the same HP as the GT but it will also have a ton more torque and torque is what wins races. A base+SC Vibe will easily beat a stock GT in the stoplight grand prix.

[CaCathy13]

Well, I did it everyone...I am now a VIBE OWNER. Woo!I bought the Vibe GT today, Neptune w/monotone trim and the power package and moon and tunes and cargo net and all the jazz...after my GM supplier discount and rebates/cash incentives, the price was $20,864 out the door, tax, title the whole schebang including the 6 yr/60,000 miles extended warranty. Too good a deal for me to pass up...and once I saw it on the lot and sat in it during the test drive, I knew I wanted it BAD. Now I still don't know exactly how to operate the 6 speed, I had a mini lesson today and will have a complete lesson tomorrow, curtoesy of my boyfriend...and yep, he got to drive my Vibe home. ( But hopefully it will come to me in time and meanwhile I have my old car to get me through. It also came with that huge extra exhaust tip on it, the big ricer fart pipe...once I get my Borla that will be gone, but I spose I'll leave it on there for now. DUnno just how much I like the look of it though.As for shifter position, I came to the conclusion that the reviewer of the Vibe in that article is a crack smoker because it really couldn't be placed anymore perfectly. I just wish I didn't have to wait till warmer weather for tint, because I think it will look completely badass with the tint...and some 18"'s and springs....Anyway, I'm now an official member of the club.

[rasermon]

Hi Cathy, congrats on your new GT. If I had to do it all over again, I would buy another GT. I have nothing against the base with the SC, just my .02 cents

[DopeVibeGT]

Glad to see no one changed your mind on the GT! The 6 speed is a little tricky at first to master because of the short shift, but once you get the feel, you'll be shifting fast.As for window tint, I'm waiting too. They could probably do it now, but when it's warmer, it will set better. And hell yeah on the 18's and some nice Ground Control coil overs!! My plans, too. Welcome to the forums! Ok, as for the Base/SC VS Vibe GT. I'll say it again. There will be a turbo out for GT. Even without the turbo, you put an CAI and good exhaust on it, you'll counter the SC on a base. Put the turbo on the GT, and all you'll see is the GT's tails. The Matrix SCC put the turbo on could spin its tires in 3rd gear. If thats not good torque. Torque wins races, but without the HP, you dont have anything but pulling power. My GA has a V6 pushing out more torque than a base with a SC could ever dream of, but my Vibe GT with intake and exhaust would give it a run for the money. Point being, not only torque and HP win races, but the tranny gearing, too. I would put my GT with my current mods up against a base with a SC anyday.Anyway, how much Torque does the SC give the base?

[NovaResource]

quote:My GA has a V6 pushing out more torque than a base with a SC could ever dream of, but my Vibe GT with intake and exhaust would give it a run for the money.GT Grand Am makes 205-tq, a base Vibe with SC will be about 175 to 180-tq. However, the GA is heavier than a Vibe (base or GT). Vibes are under 3000; Grand Am GT's are over 3100.

[DopeVibeGT]

Yeah, GA's weigh more, and depending on the year, too. My 93 weighs 2800 and came with 185-tq, but I have it over 200 now. Vibes weigh like 2750, the AWD may weigh a little more.

[NovaResource]

Yes, the older 3.1L engine had 185-tq (my '93 Sunbird did too), the newer GA's have the 3.4L engine with 205-tq. Also, the older GA's were lighter than the newer ones (again, so was my '93 Sunbird at 2680-lbs). My Sunbird ran 15.5 and would easily stay with or beat a Vibe GT.

[ngilbert]

Congrats on the new wheels! Glad you went with your heart and went for the GT! I know what you mean about drooling over the Neptune mono, it's a damn sharp looking colour. So get those lessons in, and start really enjoying your Vibe GT!!

[QUIKAG]

My 2001 Corvette six-speed makes 351lb/ft of torque at the wheels with just a few breathing mods. Now, that's some torque. Anyway, I love the revability of the GT, the freaking thing loves to be in the 6000 to 8200ish rpm range. I hit 120mph today on a toll road, er, test track and I wound out third to fuel cutoff, went to 4th gear wound that out to fuel cutoff and then went into 5th gear until about 7600ish rpm before shutting down due to approaching traffic on the 'test track.' The motor sounds sweet winding out when it's on the high lift cam and it seems oh so happy.If you're going to put a blower on the base Vibe, why not just get a torquey car to begin with????