I've grown to hate my roof rack.

[935684]

I never realized how much of a pain in the rear a roof rack could be. I live in a snow belt, and when I try to clean snow off the car with my push broom, the roof rack becomes a major obstacle. I should have thought of this prior to buying my Vibe, so it's my own fault. I can hardly wait until April.

[NovaResource]

You could do this:http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id ... =9498#9498

[Flip-Side]

I like how the rack looks without the cross-braces. They really arent hard to remove at all.

[Vibe]

Scott-On thing I noticed right away is how much lower you wiper sit.. I read how you repositioned them and can't wait to reposition mine. That right wiper looks like hell sticking up over the windshield. I noticed that the day I picked up my Vibe. And you have given me another idea ---those roof cross bars have got to go. But how did you remove the antenna? Did you just unscrew the mast or did the base have to come off?One more thing---What percent tint have you put on your rear windows? Thanks in advance for your response. James Stewart

[NovaResource]

quote:Scott-On thing I noticed right away is how much lower you wiper sit.. I read how you repositioned them and can't wait to reposition mine. That right wiper looks like hell sticking up over the windshield.Yeah, I didn't like it either. It's real easy. There is a plastic cap that comes off the wiper arm at the pivot point. Remove the nut under the cap and pull the wiper arm off the splined stud. Reposition it where you want it and replace the nut and cap. As an extra piece of precaution I added a small bit of thread lock to the splined stud to hold the wiper and nut in place.quote:And you have given me another idea ---those roof cross bars have got to go. But how did you remove the antenna? Did you just unscrew the mast or did the base have to come off?I just unscrewed the mast. The base is close but there is enough flex in the roof panel to have it clear the cross bars.quote:One more thing---What percent tint have you put on your rear windows?20% on the rear hatch, rear doors and rear quarter windows. Nothing on the front doors or windshield.

[935684]

Yes, that will be a partial solution. I should be able to stand at the back, and pull the snow toward me. Not quite as convenient as pushing it off, but it will be a lot easier than it is now. Thanks for the idea. Do the plastic covers at the rear of the rack just lift off, or are tools needed?

[NovaResource]

quote:Yes, that will be a partial solution. I should be able to stand at the back, and pull the snow toward me. Not quite as convenient as pushing it off, but it will be a lot easier than it is now.See, here's another reason you should have bought a Matrix. Smooth tail lights and no roof rack. I guess you didn't do your homework.Sorry to be a pain about this but you are the one complaining about 2 features that make the Vibe unique from the Matrix. It's not personal. Sarcasm just doesn't carry well on bulletin boards.Yes, the rear plastic covers do just pull off. Bacically just grab them and pull up and back. There is a small plastic tab in the center that holds it on with a few smaller ones around the outside. The main center tab is similar to the plastic tabs that hold the door panels on.

[935684]

Thanks for the information.

[935684]

Salsa, the history of my life, is a long list of making one mistake after another. Take care.By the way, am I ever glad I went for those 4 (narrower) snow tires! The car behaves beautifully on a mixture of packed snow and ice. It also climbs hills with ease in deep snow.I had to drive down to Toronto one morning, during a storm, before the plows, salt and sand had a chance to clear the highway. I had no problems at all, other than trying to figure out where the edges of the highway lanes were located. The performance was much better than that of my old RAV4 with all season tires, under similar conditions.

[ngilbert]

quote:See, here's another reason you should have bought a Matrix. Smooth tail lights and no roof rack. I guess you didn't do your homework.Sorry to be a pain about this but you are the one complaining about 2 features that make the Vibe unique from the Matrix. It's not personal. Sarcasm just doesn't carry well on bulletin boards.Geez man, I suppose you love every last little bit about your Vibe. Congrats, I'm glad for you. However, some folks, while loving their vehicles, do find little things here and there that either bugs them or would like to change/improve. If that wasn't the case, there wouldn't be an aftermarket. SEMA? See-ya.Although it may be hard to do, it would be nice to pose a question without being slammed with sarcasm. BTW, aren't you salivating over a SC? Removed the cross bars from the roof rack? Slapped in some window tint? Not satisfied with your Vibe, or did you not do enough research?Oh, and on the topic of roof racks (935684), yeah, the snow clearing issue is a bit of a pain. But I put up with it, I have a long brush so it's doesn't hurt too much. I like my roof rack.

[NovaResource]

quote:Geez man, I suppose you love every last little bit about your Vibe.No, but you don't hear me bitching about it. No car is perfect.quote:However, some folks, while loving their vehicles, do find little things here and there that either bugs them or would like to change/improve. If that wasn't the case, there wouldn't be an aftermarket. SEMA?No $#!+ Really? Thanks for telling me. I didn't realize that!quote:Although it may be hard to do, it would be nice to pose a question without being slammed with sarcasm.When someone likes the car but complains about 2 things that make it unique from its sister car, I'm gonna slam them. Let's see, he had a choice between a Vibe (roof rack and tail lights with bumps) or the Matrix (no roof rack and smooth tail lights) and then he bitches about the roof rack and tail lights. To me, that's a stupid choice and I'm gonna say it because it's true. Sorry if the truth doesn't make you feel all warm and fuzzy.quote:BTW, aren't you salivating over a SC?Yes, that's why I bought the base, because I did research before I bought it and knew it was coming out.quote:Removed the cross bars from the roof rack?Yep, but I didn't say I hated my roof rack, I just said I wanted to know how to remove (and reinstall) the bars. When I want the cross bars, I install them and when I don't need them, I remove them. It's just like winter tires. Those who have them remove the summer tires and install winter tires in the winter and vice versa in the summer.quote:Slapped in some window tint?Again, yes, but that's because it wasn't an option. If there was an option for tinted windows and I didn't buy them and then turned around and compained that my Vibe didn't have tinted windows I'd deserve to get flamed. He had the opportunity to buy a Matrix with no roof rack and smooth tail lights but he chose the Vibe with the roof rack and bumps in the tail lights and then proceeds to complain about them. Like the knight who was guarding the Holy Grail in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade said, "He chose, poorly."quote:Not satisfied with your Vibe, or did you not do enough research?Nobody is totally satisfied because no car is perfect, but I don't complain over things I had a choice over.Get a clue.From now on, I'll no longer give my real opinion and speak the truth. I'll just says whatever you want to hear so not to offend anyone. Won't that make this board useful.

[Sub-Vibe-R]

After Salsa! become King of controversy , we can give Nova the name of King of Sarcasm

[slbpsi63]

See, here's another reason you should have bought a Matrix. Smooth tail lights and no roof rack. I guess you didn't do your homework.LOL!!!!!!

[d_m_kolb]

If your using something to push the snow off the top of your car I can tell you your putting swirl marks all over your clear coat. Why would you even care if snow was on the top of your car anyway as long as your windows were clear?

[NovaResource]

Driving with snow on your roof is dangerous for other drivers. When the snow is fresh and not packed, it flies off and blinds the people behind you like a snow storm. When the snow get's packed, the heat from the interior warms the roof melts the snow touching the roof. This can do two things: - cause the show on your roof to slide back in one piece and cover the rear window - it causes large chunks of packed snow (or ice) to fly off and hit other cars.In some states, it's illegal for trucks to drive with the top of the truck coved in snow.

[Sub-Vibe-R]

quote:If your using something to push the snow off the top of your car I can tell you your putting swirl marks all over your clear coat. Why would you even care if snow was on the top of your car anyway as long as your windows were clear?To add to Nova reply:With show on the top, if you have an emergency braking, al the snow will fall down you windshield and you'll become totally blind. Plus, it will make scratch anyways on the top while the snow slidding.

[ngilbert]

Hey man, nobody said I (or anybody) was looking for a warm and fuzzy feeling, that we should all just sit around in a big circle singing Kumbaya (sp?) holding hands and sipping cider while talking about our Vibes. All I was getting at was that it would be nice not be slammed with sarcasm when getting responses to an issue or question about their car. Of course, if that makes you feel better about the choices you've made, fine. And who the hell is asking for lies? Share what you know, offer an opinion, correct where wrong, but lay off the attitude. If that's even possible for you.

[NovaResource]

quote:Share what you know, offer an opinion, correct where wrong, but lay off the attitude. If that's even possible for you.Sorry, I can't. Live with it.

[935684]

I appreciate your comments. Thanks. However, please let it lie, as it's just not worth a flame war. Nick has given me a good idea to solve my tail light problem, and, as for the roof rack snow problem, as soon as we get some decent weather, I'll remove the cross bars. That should ease the second problem. Other than that, I'm just not going to reply to further messages on these 2 topics. My apologies to all for triggering controversy and bad feelings. It was unintentional. I guess I should have worded my original critical observations (That's what they were meant to be - not requests for sympathy) of the Vibe more diplomatically.

[NovaResource]

I appreciate the apologies but it's not really necessary. I take nothing personal and have no bad feeling towards anyone. I know my comments may not come across that way but it's true.Peace.

[slbpsi63]

NOOOOOO, don't give up. I was just getting ready to referee. Nova two wins in one day. The Chief instigator has struck again.935684- don't worry about how you phrase things Nova and I hate sugarcoating even more than your real thoughts. Don't feel sorry. Enjoy your Vibe you have a good car. Nova's pics for the troof rack removal should come in handy until the dress down kit is made (hopefully).

[NSimkins]

quote:NOOOOOO, don't give up. I was just getting ready to referee. Although humorous, please don't instigate members to an off-topic agenda. Thanks.

[slbpsi63]

Sorry guys. I was just being silly. I hope I gave some people a good chuckle.

[MadBill]

At the risk of getting caught in the crossfire here Scott, there's a multitude of other differences between the Matrix and the Vibe that might influence one's choice, e.g.: Front and rear fascias, tail lights, hatch glass, ground effects, wheels, EVERY panel except maybe the roof, dealer organization, Visa points availability, etc., etc. Hell even the wheel torque spec is different! (76 lb ft for Vibe vs. 77 for Matrix) So if overall one prefers the Vibe but likes some Matrix standard equipment better, buying a Vibe shouldn't be construed as a mistake...(OOPS! Have I waded in too late with this perspective?)

[Jethro]

This post started innocently enough and was politely answered by Scott but then quickly went sour.Scott proudly signs that he is "King of Sarcasm" - he hasn't claimed to be "Mr. Obvious".Yes, nearly anybody can see there are a multitude of differences between the Vibe and the Matrix; and from that and other factors (including the dealer as MadBill stated) each of us have made our choice between the two. There is nothing wrong with that and complaining, yes complaining Scott, about one or two features of the car doesn't mean that the person didn't have a good reason for choosing as they did. Research is great but you hopefully don't make your decision based on only the TWO external features of roofrack and tailight design! Maybe you prefered the easy-going Pontiac dealer over the hard-sell Toyota dealer. Or maybe it's that Pontiac inspired red dash lighting - Toyota could've used something else in the Matrix but apparently they liked it too. Maybe it's the classic Pontiac dual grille design - apparently Toyota liked it too since that's the style they choose to sell in Japan. I've been lurking here a while and just recently "joined up" to actually participate and I certainly appreciate the good exchange of information - yes, even yours Scott (I was even considering removing my crossbars based on your post)! Just the same, the heavy dose of what you keep calling sarcasm is beginning to come across as something much different. I've seen enough BBS's, newsgroups, email lists, and forums similar to this die as people got tired of having "sarcasm" heaped on them day after day - please don't ANY of you let that happen here.My "research" notes that Scott also signs that he's "just your basic A-hole" - I'm pretty sure THAT is sarcasm; only Scott can prove one way or the other.