Need advice on moving from Orlando to Ottawa

[Mo4iu]

Yes...hahaha....I'll be moving in Feb or so and have some questions I hope somone will answer with regard to my 2005 AWD Vibe. ;-)1) Do I need snow tires in Ottawa? I have the 16" oem steelies and have been thinking about getting some aluminum rims at the local Discount Tire store and then ordering (not many snow tires on hand in Florida!) snow tires to put on the steelies....if snow tires are necessary?2) Are the block heater and battery warmer needed? If so, are the GM parts recommended or are there others that are better?3) I'd like to get cruise control installed. Any recommendation on what to get where? Should I even consider having the GM cruise installed by the dealer or is there an aftermarket cruise that is good?Any installer ideas?Thanks for any advice you can provide.Regards,Mo

[PhillyVibeGT]

Good luck with the move MO, don't forget to buy a jacket

[Mavrik]

Ottawa Ont? Yes you'll want winter tires, on steels is a good idea so you don't damage the aluminum ones if you hit a curb. Block heater? It gets cold there but your Vibe should have a stock factory block heater already. So no worries about getting that installed.Not sure about cruise control installations in ottawa though.

[Sputnik]

I think the block heater is only standard on Canadian Vibes, but I'm not positive. We've never used the block heater (and I'm in Ottawa!).

[Atomb]

I see that 'jacket required' comment and raise it to a 'good parka with a toque'!

[drunkenmaxx]

prepare to freeze your ever loving (removed) off!!!

[Mo4iu]

Yes, it must just be standard on the northern Vibes...I don't see any block heater on mine. When you say you don't use it, I presume that implies that your Vibe isn't just parked inside all the time?

[GMJAP]

Quote, originally posted by Sputnik »I think the block heater is only standard on Canadian Vibes, but I'm not positive. We've never used the block heater (and I'm in Ottawa!). Was an option when I got mine here in the States.

[vibe-04]

Welcome to the great white north. As mentioned by Mavrik, snows as a must. Turpin pontiac in Ottawa had the best deal on Mich X-Ice. You can keep the 16" or drop to 15" 195/65 (many posts about this switch). I would get a block heater installed. It'll help get the Vibe nice and warm, inside and out, a lot faster. You won't need a battery heater because you have the 550 CCA, being an 05 model year. Ottawa is great. cold, yes verrry cold. My Vibe is handling well in the snow and I've had no problems when it was -32 C. IM if you have any other questions.Oh, a down filled jacket with a hood will come in handy A

[Sputnik]

Quote, originally posted by vibe-04 »IM if you have any other questions.Oh, a down filled jacket with a hood will come in handy Especially today!

[rAERRK]

Why are you moving?

[Mavrik]

The block heater was standard on mine... must be an option now lol since so few people I know actually use them.Was Ottawa cold today? was only a mild -2 today in Woodstock.

[rAERRK]

Yeah I believe the block heater is optional.

[Sputnik]

Isn't the block heater standard in Canada and optional in the US. Thats how it was when I got mine in 2002.Ottawa was cold and snowy. Today supposed to be much warmer (still below zero though) - good for the canal I suppose!

[vibe-04]

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/....html

[Mo4iu]

Hahahaha....thanks for the article post. It was an interesting read....also the other weather related articles linked. Ok, I'm convinced. I ordered some Enkei rims today for my "summer" tires and will use the oem steelies for snow tires. And I will either have the local dealer install the engine block heater or will wait until I arrive and have Turpin do it. Also, I understand that getting the car rustproofed is a good idea to fight the salt on the streets. Is that something I should get done at Turpin's also or somewhere else?Regards, Mo

[sensfanrk]

I've never gotten my vehicles under-coated. It's really up to you whether you do it or not. I'm probably wrong, but I think the underside of most new vehicles are mostly made of stainless steel, or something close? I live about 1 and a half hours west of Ottawa, and it's about 20F here today... I'd definitely suggest the block heater, I've been using mine everytime the temperature drops below -12C which is approx. 10F I believe. We had some days where the temp was -40C, so my poor weak Vibe battery wouldn't have been able to turn over the engine without the block heater! Other than that, feel free to IM me, or email me with any questions about the area, and be sure to join the Ontario-Ottawa forum!

[Mavrik]

I would get it rust proofed. Here in Ontario its that or watch your car fall apart in a few years. At the dealership I work at, had a customer move here from Ottawa with a 2000 grandam. Never been rust proofed, we had to replace the fuel tank, was rusted out and seeping gas. For the cost, its good to get done and prevent any rust from forming. My Vibe is rust proofed.

[Stang2Vibe]

Doesn't the factory recommend against rustproofing? It's a common thing for people around here to do (even though I never have because I usually don't keep my cars long enough to have to worry about this).And as for block heaters, when I bought my '03 Vibe in September of '02, they were optional here for me, but I thought that they were standard for the Canadian ones also. Mine doesn't have one and around me, usually only diesel engines need a block heater during the coldest months.

[Vibe Rater]

Well, by February, I wouldn't bother putting on snows till next year. Youy definitely will need them before december next winter.As for rust proofing, DO NOT waste your time or money on anything but KROWN rust control. No, I don't own the company, but I have a 10 year old Nissan pickup that has been regularly KROWNed , and it still looks brand new. KROWN is the ONLY rust preventative that is recommended by CAA. It is applied annually for about a hundred bucks. http://www.krown.com/Every GM vehicle sold in Canada has a block heater as standard equipment.

[Mo4iu]

Ohh, is the snow pretty much done by the end of Feb? Lol, I thought the snow would keep coming in Feb, Mar, and even April. I traded the Goodyear oem Eagles for their Assurance Triple Tread which is supposed to have lot better traction so if I don't have to worry about much more snow after moving I might be able to get along with them? Thanks for your Krown link. I looked it over and will keep it in mind when I get up there. This week's Car Talk broadcast mentioned that cars no longer need to be rustproofed but it seems like it's inexpensive enough to do just in case. It seems like 10 years of salt would have done in your Nissan otherwise. I suppose maybe it depends on how long someone is planning on keeping the vehicle as to whether or not it is worth spending the money. I like to treat my cars like I'm keeping them forever whether actually do or not. Regards, Mo

[Sputnik]

Yeah you're right - the snow does keep coming even in April sometimes. We are Ottawa after all...

[vibe-04]

And yeah the City of Ottawa is nuts for salt. I'd swear they slashed the budget for snow removal but trippled the salt they lay on the roads. Thick, tons and tons of it. I'm not over exaggerating. At any typical intersection you will find a thick layer of salt spread everywhere. I wash the Vibe last week and in one day is was coated. Shadow to White!Undercoat if you can afford it and Krown is highly reccomended.And don't get me going on the taxes here!!!!