The VIBE kicks A$$ in the mountains

[4azdmunky]

So Jen and I went snowboarding today at Copper Mountain. This was the first time we took the Vibe to the mountains since we got it. I was VERY happy with the way it handled the curves, steep grades and (removed)-hat drivers. Especially considering it is a 4 banger. When I took my satty I spent most of the time rowing the gears just to keep up with traffic, but not with the Vibe, it was great, passing BMW's, Hummers, Audi's etc.. It was nice to be able to accelerate while going up hill for once.Sure wish I had a "You just got passed by a wagon" sticker.

[mcgusto82]

so i'm geussing you have a AWD????i wish they had a AWD stick shift. i would've sure gotten that one.

[4azdmunky]

Nope, it is a base 05 vibe w/auto.

[pianomansam]

weird, my 05 base auto sucks even on dinky eastern ohio hills

[4azdmunky]

Really?!?!the only thing I've done is a Cosmo CAI. I doubt that had that much of an improvment. Hmm, I'm also running 87 octaine, at 5280+ feet (runs like 91 at bar 1 1/2). I did notice that after I unhooked the battery for 3 hrs (reset PCM) that I had a lot more 'power', and it kept the 'power' too. The car was originally from California (bought used).I am also using a K&N filter for a catapiller, I am sure that is helping a little but I wouldnt say that is what is doing it.

[pianomansam]

i'm completely stock...

[mac99d]

My buddy Cory works at Copper MT Lucky SOB. We used to go every weekend to Breckenridge, Key Stone, and A basin. Hope to go to TN/NC to go snow boarding when I get back from this place.

[JustinVGT]

Yeah, I love how the Vibe handles mountain roads. The twists and turns, it just grips the road. The past two years when my brothers and I go skiing in WV we had taken my Vibe. It was fun for me being the driver, but one of my brothers got car sick and threw up in the back seat (not fun). This year we took my older brother's Dodge Ram since all 5 of us went and it has more space. As I was riding shot gun, I was just thinking how much I wish I was driving my GT through those mountain roads . I remember reading reviews on the Vibes saying they don't handle hills well. I rarely ever slow down going up hills and usually pass all the cars and huge SUVs that have a hard time carrying their weight up.

[joholste]

Yes i love the way the car handles in the mountains, i was passing the crap out of people with my car, just wait till you get it lowered, you can go even faster and still have the same control

[Mavrik]

awsome to hear your having fun. I drove across canada, so BC and the Yukon into Alaska was pretty winding and hills. Car was loaded to the roof and handled just fine.

[jmf2]

Quote, originally posted by pianomansam »weird, my 05 base auto sucks even on dinky eastern ohio hills That is weird, my vibe cruises up and down the mountains, even the ones in Montana, where you can find some real good grades.

[pianomansam]

I took it through some nice updaste hills and the same eastern ohio hills over the holidays... it does ok going on them, you have to really floor the pedal... sometimes it shifts it down to 2nd!! idk, i'm just used to a five speed v6 sedan...

[tobermoryvibe]

I don't really agree. We drove our vibe to Florida over the Christmas holidays. We took I-75 straight down. We did have 3 people and lugage, but the car really needed another 30 hp or so going thru the mountains. I was able to cruise right along, but kept losing a lot of speed going uphill. Other than that is was a decent car for a 5000km roundtrip road trip.

[brbo]

Yeah I can't wait,, I'm driving from Vancouver to Ottawa leaving this Saturday - I can't wait to see how the Vibe AWD does with Mich X-ice and loaded right up across Canada it will do,,, I'll have to take it through a weigh station to get it's total weight,,I'll post opinion / fuel economy when I get back,,,Cheers,B -'06AWD