GT fuel...premium yes or no

Dan-O · Post by **Dan-O** » Tue May 17, 2005 11:10 am

Need a little advice. Looking at buying a used '03 Vibe GT. Does it have to have premium fuel? Also looking at Vibe 5spd. It's a little slower, but quieter and appears to be a little better at the gas pump.

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Tue May 17, 2005 11:20 am

And Sideshow Bob mumbles, " rrrrrrrr octane again".

iinan · Post by **iinan** » Tue May 17, 2005 11:37 am

Get the GT you'll be glad you did

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Tue May 17, 2005 11:39 am

most base owners wish they bought the GT. go with the GT. it still gets pretty good gas mileage. i got 26-28 mpg and that's a lot of city driving and well.... my driving style (lots of pedal to the metal )

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Tue May 17, 2005 11:41 am

If I could drive a manual, I might wish I'd bought the GT. I'd tear the transmission out of it in a week though!Anyway, there have been many, many threads about this, and the short answer is "yes."

GMJAP · Post by **GMJAP** » Tue May 17, 2005 12:27 pm

I'm a base owner who's very happy with the base, and glad I didn't get the GT.However, I place more importance on mileage than performance. Still, I've never felt the car lacking when I needed it. So ya gotta decide what your priorities are.PS - if quiet is what you're looking for, the GT may not be for you. In order to get the extra performance by hitting "lift", you have to (in the words of one reviewer) "drive it like you hate it" and the engine noise gets really loud in that range.

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Tue May 17, 2005 12:30 pm

i dunno... i just got rid of my vibe gt and traded in for a 250 hp awd sedan... but i miss that fuel consumption big time, especially w/ gas prices so high right now! but yes, go with what you want and what will make you happy. GT= Premium fuel, Base= regular unleaded

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Tue May 17, 2005 12:53 pm

Quote, originally posted by trdvibe Â»most base owners wish they bought the GT. I am not most base owners then. I've averaged 36 mpg over the 80,000 miles I've put on the car so far, and am grateful everytime I fill it up that I don't have to pay an extra dime a galllon for gas. Also, I almost never wind up the RPMs to 6K, can't imagine needing to run it up over that in order to hit lift to take advantage of the lower mpgs on more expensive fuel. But over more typical yearly mileage, the extra cost and lower mpgs of the GT don't really add up to that much more money, the GT owners that want all the power and more are willing to pay for it. Just don't buy a GT and then go cheap by running 87 octane in it

ColonelPanic · Post by **ColonelPanic** » Tue May 17, 2005 1:03 pm

Quote, originally posted by trdvibe Â»most base owners wish they bought the GT.I'm not most base owners either. I've been reasonably content with my base and its slushbox... With the GT, having to keep the revs into the stratosphere all day and constantly having to shift ain't my cup of tea. I'm too lazy for that anyway, and I put more emphasis on economy than performance. But to each his/her own.

iinan · Post by **iinan** » Tue May 17, 2005 1:16 pm

I dunno, I really like the 6 speed, and I dont rev my engine all day. As for quiet, my GT was really very quiet IMHO. Then I slapped on my CAI and magnaflow and now it hummmms nicely

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Tue May 17, 2005 1:36 pm

well, there you have it. perhaps i mispoke. it's not that MOST all base MT owners prefer the GT, mainly my hubby complains all the time, but almost ALL GT owners are glad they got the GT opposed to the base.

03VibeGT6Spd · Post by **03VibeGT6Spd** » Tue May 17, 2005 1:49 pm

I wouldn't take the base, GT is the only way!and the 03 GT is rated at 180hp.There is nothing like down shifting from 6th gear at 50 mph into 2nd gear.Most V8's wont be able to touch that little 4 cylinder in that range.Besides there aren't that many car's on the road with a top speed over a Vibe GT.as far as the shifting the 6 gears. Under normal condition I drive it as a 3 or 4 speed.1st, 2nd then 6th or 1st, 2nd, 4th then 6th.and the highway I usally get around 31-32 mpg..

Wimperdink · Post by **Wimperdink** » Tue May 17, 2005 3:12 pm

as soon as they make an awd GT i'll be all over it .. until then I'm happy I dont have to shift in stop and go traffic with the amount I travel for work. Oh and I put premium in my awd even if it doesnt require it. My experiance with my past cars is mileage is always better with premium and has proved itself time and time again with my awd as well. So there ya have it. An awd owner who (wastes?) his dimes on the expensive stuff.

esjones · Post by **esjones** » Tue May 17, 2005 11:49 pm

Quote, originally posted by GMJAP Â»I'm a base owner who's very happy with the base, and glad I didn't get the GT.Same here. I love my 5-speed manual, and the base model is plenty quick enough for most driving situations. I didn't want to pay the higher sticker price for the GT, and I really don't want to pay for premium grade fuel!!!Mileage? Always in the 30's (MPG - I'm in the US). Low 30's in mixed driving, high 30's on the highway.I only wish that they had offered rear disc brakes on the base model.

iinan · Post by **iinan** » Wed May 18, 2005 3:09 am

I really am confused, why would you settle for less? I went for the GT with all the options, so 6 months down the road I wouldn't be wishing that I had the rear disc, or any other added feature that a GT has that a base doesn't. I have purchased base cars before, only to regret it. If you are going to invest in a car, why not get all the options so that you can fully enjoy it? And of course increase the resale value. As for the not wanting to pay prem. fuel prices. Prem. fuel will allow you to get better gas mileage then a lesser grade. The over all cost difference would be minimal.

ShadowRuleZ · Post by **ShadowRuleZ** » Wed May 18, 2005 4:01 am

Quote, originally posted by desert_dweller Â»I test drove both, the GT did nothing for me...if I was looking for a sports car believe me i would not have gotten a Vibe even a GT.Exactly. I'd have bought a mazda3 if I wanted it to go, or supercharged a base focus. 180 horse isn't even that great, I wouldn't say it's anything to brag about. Then again, I have a small block chevy 383 that's going in one of my other cars, so I'm slightly spoiled.

MJN2 · Post by **MJN2** » Wed May 18, 2005 4:41 am

Quote, originally posted by ShadowRuleZ Â» Then again, I have a small block chevy 383 that's going in one of my other cars, so I'm slightly spoiled.No replacement for displacement I should find that bumper sticker for my '69 Ford (351 Windsor) heh.

OrangeGT · Post by **OrangeGT** » Wed May 18, 2005 7:44 am

Ive had my GT for about 2 months. I do mostly highway and have not averaged under 30 mpg yet. I don't put my foot into it much though so depends on your driving style. Besides whats the difference in cost for preimium .15-.20 on ten to twelve gallons? Even if you drive a tank a week thats under 250 dollars over a year. Seems SO worth it to me. That's over 15k a year on that figure a little over the ave. GET THE GT

theangrydwarf1 · Post by **theangrydwarf1** » Thu May 19, 2005 1:49 am

While a Vibe GT is not a sports car, it is a compromise on cost for sports car like performance. I have had mine for 2 years now and wouldn't trade it for anything. For normal daily driving it gets better gas mileage than my 94 ranger and has the ability to perform like a 2.2 liter when I want the extra power or when I just want to hot rod a little. Not to mention the insurance for this car is compareable to what my ranger was. IMHO, if you are going to buy a car you should get one with the options you want. After all, you will be driving it for a while. Just my two cents

mu_ohio · Post by **mu_ohio** » Mon May 23, 2005 8:04 pm

The only downside to the GT is that the 6spd is a notchy trany and the clutch is horrible. I've owned and driven many other manual cars since the GT and it's the worst by far.

goodvibe · Post by **goodvibe** » Mon May 23, 2005 8:51 pm

Not my first clutch either and I would have to agree that the clutch is wanting but the shifter's actually better that some others I've had. A bit notchier than some but that's not uncommon for sporty cars and makes that bump noise when you shift but it's quick enough not too vague and I don't miss shift. Fluid choice helps the tranny quite a bit.

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Mon May 23, 2005 9:03 pm

The stock clutch sucks. Simple as that.. when mine went and they wouldn't replace it under warranty I resurfaced the flywheel and put in a $110 clutch kit from AutoZone.. I've slipped it once or twice, but nowhere near as bad as the stock one.. And the brass bushings in the shifter help enormously..

ToolGuy · Post by **ToolGuy** » Wed May 25, 2005 4:08 am

If I wanted the GT I wold have gotten one. Happy and like our loaded base!!My PT recommends Premium but it states it can also run on Regular. The engine has enough knock sensors to compensate, you do lose a bit of power though running Regular. After only two tanks of Premium in 2003, been running Regular ever since!!!!

Pick · Post by **Pick** » Wed May 25, 2005 7:21 am

It's funny when people say many base owners wish they bought a GT. If i wanted a fast car i sure enough wouldn't have traded my Mustang in for a Vibe lol. I got a base because of gas mileage plain and simple, no way do i want to pay $20 cents more per gallon for Premium and get fewer mpg with it while still driving a SLOW GT Vibe.

johnsoax · Post by **johnsoax** » Thu May 26, 2005 11:34 am

I have a GT and love it. Check my signature, I get GOOD gas milage. How many base vibes average over 30? Of course, I don't really hammer it that often, but I at least hit redline three times a week . I drove a friends vibe AWD to florida last year, and I was really happy after the week was over to get back to my GT.

21Rouge · Post by **21Rouge** » Thu May 26, 2005 11:51 am

Quote, originally posted by Pick Â»It's funny when people say many base owners wish they bought a GT.I have had the manual base Vibe for only 2 weeks and I am already a GT wannabee . The base is so 'pokey'. The car doesnt feel right ie kinda whiney, until I get to 4th gear...which seems close to the equivalent of 3rd gear in other manual cars I have driven. At least I have the 5 speed rather than the auto

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Fri May 27, 2005 2:07 am

Quote, originally posted by Boxgrover Â»I have had the manual base Vibe for only 2 weeks and I am already a GT wannabee tough luck, I guess that's why people stress the importance of taking an adequate test drive.

21Rouge · Post by **21Rouge** » Fri May 27, 2005 2:30 am

Quote, originally posted by joatmon Â»I guess that's why people stress the importance of taking an adequate test drive.Thats a good point. I did do a test drive of an auto and manual Vibe. But I never even considered the GT as we thought the car was going to be driven by my much more conservative better half and the bottom line of money always overshadows.

GT fuel...premium yes or no

GT fuel...premium yes or no

Re: GT fuel...premium yes or no (silverawd26)

Re: GT fuel...premium yes or no (Dan-O)

Re: (trdvibe)

Re: GT fuel...premium yes or no (Dan-O)

Re: (trdvibe)

Re: (trdvibe)

Re: GT fuel...premium yes or no (Dan-O)

Re: GT fuel...premium yes or no (GMJAP)

Re: GT fuel...premium yes or no (Dan-O)

Re: GT fuel...premium yes or no (desert_dweller)

Re: GT fuel...premium yes or no (ShadowRuleZ)

Re: GT fuel...premium yes or no (Dan-O)

Re: GT fuel...premium yes or no (ShadowRuleZ)

Re: GT fuel...premium yes or no (Dan-O)

Re: GT fuel...premium yes or no (Dan-O)

Re: (ColonelPanic)

Re: (Pick)

Re: (Boxgrover)

Re: (joatmon)