Hello all fellow Vibe peeps. Just bought a new 05 lava gt. WOW, fun car to drive for sure!! Power pak, 17's, moon and tunes pak. I do have ONE HUGE question? Anyone have a lava gt with the monotone package? If so my question is.....are the bumpers glossy finish like the paint? Mine are dull and the dealer says that is normal? What do you think? Let me know, and thanks in advance!Jim Beachley
Jim Beachley05 Lava GtMoons and Tunes PakPower Pak17'sLeather
Welcome and congrats on the Vibe! Enjoy it!On the paint issue; the monotone package should be uniform color and finish over the whole car. I don't have (EDIT) lava, though, so I can't comment directly on it.
2005 Platinum Base ManualSide & Curtain AirbagsABSPower PackageTinted Windows"Mods": 'old-style' center armrest, center +12v, wheelskins leather steering wheel, AC/Recirc blue backlight, beeps on keyless entry, dome light switch, AC insulation, PCD10 10-disc CD/MP3 changer, AAI-GM12 AUX audio input, K&N filter, "shark fin" antenna.
I have a base 05 Vibe in Lava also with the monotone pkg. The rear bumper, lower side cladding and lower portion of the front bumper has a texture in it. GM just paints over the grey plastic which has a grain to it. It gives the paint a satin look to it. I also noticed this on the Aztek's at the dealership.
Welcome. I have an '05 lava AWD Vibe with monotone and the paint is pretty consistent from the metal to the bumpers. I sure wouldn't call it "dull." Go around to some dealers and look at other lava-colored pontiacs to see if yours is really an odd-ball.
'05 Lava monotone, AWD, 3/5ths debadged, Weathertech mats and ventvisors, homemade cargo mat
The difference in the paint is that the lower cladding is plastic and the rest of the car is metal. The two surfaces take the paint in thier own way. My Neptune has a different look on the two sufaces but the collor is the same. So to answer your question, Yes there is a little bit of difference and it is normal. The difference is not in the color but the reflective properties of the different materials.
Monotone Neptune, pow pac, 17" stock rims, K&N air filter, bumper guard, custom pedels, brake light cover, billet oil cap
Yep, you hit the nail right on the head. If that paint is dull and nasty looking, there is a problem. If it is glossy but textured, that is normal. Just from my observation, I've noticed quite a variation from color to color, and sometimes from Vibe to Vibe of the same color in regards to how smooth of an appearance the cladding has. At any rate, just remember that the monotone cladding is nothing more than the same plastic stuff us 2-toners have on ours with some paint slapped on top, so it's not going to look like metal...
03 Vibe base. Born 10/14/2002 06:07 AM
Auto, Moon & Tunes, power package. 143k
Neptune/dying clearcoat/primer grey.
Thank you to all of you! I have an appointment at the dealership tonight. I am going to bring the bumper issue up to them. It bothers me that they might be hosing me!! Thanks again.
Jim Beachley05 Lava GtMoons and Tunes PakPower Pak17'sLeather