The 2005 Vibe Rocks!

[MBS]

Well, I may be of a relative minority on this opinion, but I like the 2005's design more than the 2004 (was willing to pay a bit more for the '05 actually). Plus there's other features available in the '05 that aren't in the '04 (safety features, subwoofer). The front end of the '05 seems more sporty, like the upcoming "Solstice" model. What sayeth others?

[debi5475]

Well you won't get any flak from me, Hehe.

[vibemoon]

I agree. I like the look of the 05 but really like the options improvements, especially the subwoofer.

[Mavrik]

Well glad the new appearance isn't turning away enthusiests (sp) though I'm more into the tougher looking 04 appearance personally. But forced lets say into having to get another Vibe? I'd live with the new look.

[Frosty05Vibe]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »Well glad the new appearance isn't turning away enthusiests (sp) though I'm more into the tougher looking 04 appearance personally. But forced lets say into having to get another Vibe? I'd live with the new look.We just bought our new 05 the other day, and I have to agree. The look of the 04's front end is "tougher" and the 05's front end is "smoother". Although the interior is the same from what I noticed,obviously we liked the smoother look of the 05 a little better.

[SGT]

I agree with Mavrik. I prefer the look of the 2003/2004 but wouldn't hesitate to buy a 2005 if I were in the market today. It looks better now that I have seen a few on the road than I thought it did when the pics first came out.

[GMJAP]

I read a review of the 2005 Vibe where the reviewer stated the front end had been redone to make it more "aggressive."I like the new styling, but I sure as heck wouldn't call it more agressive. I'd probably prefer a hybrid of the two - mostly keep the 2005 but still have the hood line at the top of the grill openings.

[jmf2]

I like the new front, it's a cleaner look, but i wish they had left the instrument gauges all red. I do like how much quieter the passenger compartment is in the 05's.

[nismo]

The 2005 is startin to grow on me. Not my favorite, but it's startin to grow on me.Inder

[GMJAP]

Quote, originally posted by jmf2 »i wish they had left the instrument gauges all red. Totally disagree on that one. I hate those gauges! And I love the new ones. It's one of the reasons I got a Vibe instead of a Matrix!

[bjlarson]

When I was shopping for a new vibe I liked the more aggressive look of the '04 but the new options in the '05 led me to purchase it.I thought the front end look on the '05 was ok.But, the more I see it the more I like the smooth sleek quality over the front end of the '04.

[Mavrik]

well to each your own, as long as you love your Vibe, who cares what it looks like right?

[kostby]

Quote, originally posted by MBS »Well, I may be of a relative minority on this opinion, but I like the 2005's design more than the 2004...Exactly what Pontiac was hoping, I'm sure.Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Vibe, by the way!

[ColonelPanic]

I've always thought the new nose wasn't that bad... Pontiac seems to be trying to take the Vibe in the same direction as the rest of their line. Although it has been softened, it's still a Vibe. If I had the money, they wouldn't have to twist my arm too much to get me behind the wheel of an '05... I'd really like to have one with stability control and all the various other goodies not available on the first two model years (only option that doesn't interest me is the leather.). Of course, I would have to wait until the 2-tones come out, and get a Neptune like I have now.

[MBS]

Quote, originally posted by ColonelPanic »If I had the money, they wouldn't have to twist my arm too much to get me behind the wheel of an '05... I'd really like to have one with stability control and all the various other goodies not available on the first two model years (only option that doesn't interest me is the leather.)Interesting replies to this thread so far. From reading messages posted earlier in the year that were rather emphatic about preferring the ("aggressive") pre-'05 styling, I find it noteworthy that there seems to be a warming trend to the '05. I did opt for the various safety features in the monotone Moonstone '05 I took delivery on in early September (Stabilitrak, side air bags, ABS brakes) even though it added a signficant amount to the price. I love the XM radio! And the subwoofer with the Moon/Tunes does help balance out the audio. I also like that one picks up the tire pressure monitoring when ABS is installed. I did have to order the car because nothing was showing up with the features I wanted (which was most everything except the leather seats and theft-deterrance system). I was curious about the turbo-charger, but couldn't find enough information to convince me that the benefits outweighed the cost. The dealer didn't have any experience on this. Anyone on this thread have experience with an '05 with turbo in a front-wheel base model?I'm glad to have found this web forum! Lots of useful info.

[Z600]

Ummmm........ aaahhhhh....... nah. I want to like it, but I just can't. The Solstice looks good with that grille, but I just don't like it on anything else. I think it makes their entire product line look "soft" (where in the world did they get the idea that that was an aggressive look? ).If I had to purchase a new vehicle now, I'm afraid I'd have to look outside the Pontiac brand. Probably pick up a Mazda 3 wagon... they still look like they mean business.~~Z600

[Mavrik]

oh I really like the Mazda 3 look as well. But I love my Vibe so I see no need to test drive one of those... But I also really like the Pontiac G6... they are NICE

[GMJAP]

Quote, originally posted by Z600 »If I had to purchase a new vehicle now, I'm afraid I'd have to look outside the Pontiac brand. Probably pick up a Mazda 3 wagon... they still look like they mean business.Supposedly they drive like they mean business too. Seriously considered it, but having just been in an accident I wanted the Vibe's better crash test ratings.

[ColonelPanic]

Quote, originally posted by MBS »Interesting replies to this thread so far. From reading messages posted earlier in the year that were rather emphatic about preferring the ("aggressive") pre-'05 styling, I find it noteworthy that there seems to be a warming trend to the '05.I'm seeing the same thing... It seemed like the end of the world when the first '05 pics were posted here, but I do think that a few are beginning to warm up to it. I've always liked it though. lolHow's stabilitrak working out? I was reading about it in the '05 owner's manual, seemed pretty neat.

[MBS]

Quote, originally posted by ColonelPanic »How's stabilitrak working out? I was reading about it in the '05 owner's manual, seemed pretty neat.It seems to work. There were a couple of times when I went through a quick, curving manuever and the car smoothly held its ground and stayed on course more than I would have expected, as compared to other vehicles I've driven. It felt like the rear end of the car was *not* fishtailing. Overall, the effect was slightly more than subtle -- meaning I noticed "something" by way of trajectory correction, but it was jarring. I haven't put the Vibe through a major swerving situation, though. Maybe I should head out to a NASCAR track and give it a whirl?

[MBS]

[QUOTE=MBS] ... Overall, the effect was slightly more than subtle -- meaning I noticed "something" by way of trajectory correction, but it was jarring. QUOTE] ... [should be:] ...but it *wasn't* jarring.

[ColonelPanic]

Got ya. That sounds pretty cool!

[debi5475]

Golly, I forgot about the stabilatrack stuff. I know I have it. I have an AWD. We have a slightly twisty street here, that people have been using as a race track lately. Maybe I should go out today and use it to check out the Vibe. It is closer than Nascar. The police are no longer blocking it off at the end of my driveway.We have lost 2 telephone poles in 3 months. totally cut off. By drunk drivers on Friday nights. I heard the one this time, go by my house at 1 AM, before it hit. The truck sounded funny as went by. And then slamming sound. And no power. I ran out in stocking feet with a flashlight. Actually, I was worried about my Vibe. Oops bad Debi. It was fine, so I went to check on the accident. I stepped over 5 potentially live wires on the sidewalk to get to the scene, were a nice shinny red dodge truck has upside down on it's cab, in the center of the steet. All the lights blinking, etc. Good thing, since there was no other light available, except my flashlight. There was about 15 inches of space at the back of the cab that was not squished down. The driver had crawled out that space and was sitting on someone's front step. He had a scatch on his arm. He was drunk beyond belief.I am an EMT, though I don't ride, which is why I went down there. I was so pissed. I risked my life and this drunk had a scratch? The Truck was totalled. And he was arrested, when the cops got there. DUI. I stayed until the ambulence came, kept an eye on him. Then the police walked me back. They were worried about the powerlines. Duh. At least the Vibey was ok. We had parked on the street, we were resurfacing the driveway this weekend. Looked like it used to be a really nice shiney red truck. Not no more. Two telephone poles from the last time. *Debi goes out to see if she can drive the test course in her Vibe*

[MBS]

Quote, originally posted by debi5475 »Golly, *Debi goes out to see if she can drive the test course in her Vibe*Looking forward to your impressions about Stabilitrak.

[debi5475]

What make this street interesting is that it is flat. They are taking out telephone poles in a flat street. Not a hilly street. It has a few bends. They are not bending. You are only a 30 minute drive away, you could come try it yourself. I am kind of hesitant to scare the neighbors right now. They are all sort of shell shocked. This is a 25mph area. We do not usually lose power or poles. 2 in 3 months, because the drivers are too drunk to negotiate the curve is getting very strange. Especially hard enough to sever the poles at the base. And to totally turn over a large pickup? And flatten the cab. So I will wait to test my car, a few days anyway. At least until the kids are back in school.

[debi5475]

The car didn't even wobble. Didn't jerk. Didn't rock! I tried rocking the steering wheel from side to side also, as I went down the center line, nothing. Solid as a rock, so to speak. And I did not feel a jerk as anything kicked in. And I didn't even take out a telephone pole.

[5lbsofswisscheese]

The look of the '05 Vibe is starting to grow on me now that I've seen it in more flattering pictures. The first pictures of it made it look like bland city. For some reason, the 05's front end now reminds me of flesh stretched back tightly over a skull ... weird, I know.

[MBS]

Quote, originally posted by debi5475 »The car didn't even wobble. Didn't jerk. Didn't rock! I tried rocking the steering wheel from side to side also, as I went down the center line, nothing. Solid as a rock, so to speak. And I did not feel a jerk as anything kicked in. And I didn't even take out a telephone pole. This is good news for the telephone poles of the world. The Vibe and telephone poles are eco-compatible.

[MBS]

Quote, originally posted by 5lbsofswisscheese »The look of the '05 Vibe is starting to grow on me now that I've seen it in more flattering pictures. The first pictures of it made it look like bland city. For some reason, the 05's front end now reminds me of flesh stretched back tightly over a skull ... weird, I know.Well, Halloween is coming up soon!