Release date for supercharger could be in April(?)

[cohocarl]

Thought I'd pass along a note I received from GM regarding an update on the supercharger for the Vibe. "The program has met with engineering delays. The original forecast was RFS by January, but now April is more appropriate. The drive system is being changed from an independent belt to integral with the accessory drive. Also, housing interference issues are being overcome."So, it looks like we will have more time to save $ for it. It's too cold out to work on my car right now anyways.Later,Carl

[KSNeptune]

Since there is already a supercharger (admitedly custom) on the SEMA show car, perhaps they should contact whomever did that one for some advice.Personally, if it takes that long, I'll have probably traded for something with a little more low RPM oomph by then. My Vibe just isn't as fun as my imagination with a supercharger on it wants it to be. I disliked having to wait til january for the supercharger, but had grown to expect that delay. Buy I'm totally angry at them for taking any longer than that. Grrrrrrr!KSNeptune

[d_m_kolb]

Well I can understand the frustration for having to wait but I'd rather wait and have it done right then have it now and screw up later. I think they are just tweaking the supercharger they had at SEMA.

[slbpsi63]

Rather it be perfected before they start to sell it. Remember it has a warranty and they need to make sure the supercharger will outlive the warranty on a consistent basis.

[Shadow Realm]

I agree that we will have more time to save and that I wouldn't want one unless it was perfected. That's a good time-frame for me since I probably wouldn't have the money till then.

[cohocarl]

I'd just like to know what the cost will be. I have an 85 Vette that I could make VERY quick for $2-3K, but I don't drive the vette every day like I would the Vibe. Decisions...Decisions.....

[jeremyk]

I'm not on this board very much, so forgive me if I'm asking questions that have already been answered elsewhere.What will be included with the supercharger kit? Will it require larger injectors, upgraded fuel pump, ECU upgrade to control additional fuel?Will the kit be available as something that can only be installed by the dealer, or can we save some money and install it ourselves? If we do it ourselves, will that void any warrenty?I really like the practicality of having my little base Vibe that gets good MPG...but I just can't resist the urge to put some boost to it.

[NY Pete]

I'm sure your answers are in a post here somewhere, but to reply...There is a 5th injector that is tied into the fuel rail, I believe the factory pump can handle the extra load, the ECU needs to be updated (flashed) at the dealer, yes you can install it yourself, but the warrantee will be significantly less

[jeremyk]

Thanks. Very concise answer.

[abe98gt]

Could somebody please elaborate on the warranty being significantly less? I'm thinking along the lines of, if it's a DIY install, the warranty will be on the supercharger only, but if you let the dealer do it (God forbid), they will still warranty the whole engine/transaxle? I know the dealers are just waiting to rip us off on labor charges.

[KSNeptune]

Ya know, I bought my base Vibe "knowing" that it wouldn't please me as much as the ride I had in a GT. I "knew" that a supercharger would be available, and with the Base's Automatic instead of the annoying GT's 6 speed and need for high RPMs I'd have the best of both worlds. In other words, an Auto base Vibe with a supercharger would be the perfect car for my needs.But the longer I play with my Base Vibe, the more I like it. And I'm almost positive they've underrated it's power. This morning I needed to accelerate fast to get in front of a crawler (GM car driven by a very senior citizen) in a short block long distance before a stop light. Foot down, Vibe downshifts, pushed back in my seat, and before I notice it I'm zipping past the crawler with 3/4 a block to spare. I'm thinking "This Vibe doesn't NEED a supercharger."So if the SC had been available in january, or even February, I probably would have gotten one. But I predict they'll sell fewer of them than they would have. I'm out of the market now, since I know what my Vibe can really do, and that's enough.KSNeptune

[abe98gt]

I dunno man, I feel like the Vibe could use a lot more torque. But then again, I feel that way about my Grand Prix too, and it's faster than the Vibe.

[satur9]

the first time you get smoked by a ford focus, youll be back on the supercharger boat.i wish they would hurry up with it though. this red mist is getting to me. must kill... must ...kill, must kill civic si's and focus svt's.

[lovemytrx]

Getting smoked by a ford focus not likely unless you're driving the base vibe, gt will eat focus lunch and come back for dessert!

[abe98gt]

It'd be a close race. Probably driver dependent?

[bellwilliam]

hate to say this, but Vibe Base would get creamed by (this issue in Car and Drivers comparo):0-60 timehonda pilot - 7.6 secondsmitsubishi Endeavor - 7.7 secondsnissan murano - 7.5 secondsToyota highlander - 8.1 secondsthese are all automatics, cars that grandma drives. also the new Toyota Sienna, 8.5 secondsnext time you get blown away by soccer mom, you will rethink about SC

[Faultline]

If you are happy with the vibe w/o the SC ... then save $$...With the 5spd, I was having losts of fun,...W/ a turbo It just got more fun...If I had to go back,..I really believe that I would just adjust.. the Vibe is a fun car to drive...the FI seems to accentuate the fun...the big Q is................when is the sc going to be available?????????????????????

[NY Pete]

quote:the big Q is................when is the sc going to be available????????????????????? Exactly... here we are in April... anybody heard anything?!?

[Impetus]

I was at my dealer on April 28th and they said the cost was $3500US. Don't know if it was actually available yet, because I forgot to ask after hearing the price...

[macrosonic]

Ow! I hate it when my jaw hits the floor that hard.I was trying to decide if it was worth it to spend $2000 for the SC, but $3500? I guess I don't have to waste time thinking about it anymore.

[KSNeptune]

"at my dealer" are the key words here. If the item is desired heavily, and the dealer "knows" you really want one bad, then they'll try to make as much profit off you as they possibly can. The MSRP may even be $2500, but a dealership can mark it up as much as they want if they think they can get that price for it.So my advice is to wait and see what Pontiac's MSRP on the supercharger is (if it ever actually comes up with one). Then if you're only willing to pay $2500 for it, offer that much. If they don't sell one to you for your price, THEN do without it.KSNeptune

[MA-VIBE-FAN]

quote:I was at my dealer on April 28th and they said the cost was $3500US. Don't know if it was actually available yet, because I forgot to ask after hearing the price...They can't price something that isn't available, all they did was give you a wag price. Although, that is about waht the Sunfire S/C costs, and what the expected price of the Vibe package to be.

[Impetus]

You could be right, but he did assure me it was the Vibe SC that he was looking at. And now that I think about it, he asked me if I wanted him to order it and he acted as if it was available. I didn't get a look at the computer screen though, so I can't say for sure.Also, the $3500 may have included installation. But I don't know.

[bellwilliam]

I am suprised that no one talked about the article is this issue of Autoweek:during a show (I believe it was SEMA of Los Angeles), TRD showed a supercharger in a Matrix. horsepower is to be 175.

[KSNeptune]

Showing one at a car show is one thing. Having one for sale is another. I'm beginning to think that Pontiac is playing a game. The trick they are playing is "Promise a base Vibe supercharger to those who don't want a GT with no automatic, and they'll sell Base Vibes instead of losing the sale to another dealer/brand.", and "Don't ever actually release the promised supercharger because that will steal sales of the more profitable GT."We've all been lied to about SC availability. I'll bet that if one is ever made available, it's cost added to a Base Vibe's cost will make it cost more than a GT.KSNeptune

[ragingfish]

Doesn't Pontiac have to wait on TRD to release the SC before they can release it to us? So isn't the wait TRDs fault?

[satur9]

i seriously doubt that, the base vibe IS the most profitable car ,the gt may cost more but they produce and sell waayyyyy more base vibes beside i bet only less than 25 % of vibe owners know or even care about the supercharger.just go to your local dealer or dealers and ask how many sunfire/cavalier superchargers have they sold and that been out a while now . if you find just a couple id be suprisedsame for the grand am. if it didnt come with it when they bought it most people wont buy it. only people like us who obsess over our cars so much that we have online disscusions about it care enough. on a side note first time today i saw a grand prix gtx not a gtp . the gtx had a ram air hood like novas slp hood. makes me wonder if pontiac will actually produce a hood before i save up for the slp one.... ..?????(i need money)

[NovaResource]

quote:on a side note first time today i saw a grand prix gtx not a gtp . the gtx had a ram air hood like novas slp hood.That's because the GTX is an SLP built car:http://www.slpeng.com/vehicles/grandprix/index.shtml

[ragingfish]

Wouldn't putting a nose wind deflector on defeat the benefit of having the Ram Air by pushing air up and over the vents?

[ragingfish]

no, not a ba...but a plastic deflector...wouldn't it throw the wind up and over them where they wouldn't get much of any airflow?

[cohocarl]

quote:"The program has met with engineering delays. The original forecast was RFS by January, but now April is more appropriate.I guess they didn't say what year did they...

[ragingfish]

quote:"The program has met with engineering delays. The original forecast was RFS by January, but now April is more appropriate.I guess they didn't say what year did they... LOL! Good one dude...

[Nervous_Dog]

quote:I'm beginning to think that Pontiac is playing a game. The trick they are playing is "Promise a base Vibe supercharger to those who don't want a GT with no automatic, and they'll sell Base Vibes instead of losing the sale to another dealer/brand.", and "Don't ever actually release the promised supercharger because that will steal sales of the more profitable GT."We've all been lied to about SC availability. I'll bet that if one is ever made available, it's cost added to a Base Vibe's cost will make it cost more than a GT.KSNeptune I hope I don't sound like a jerk but...Some people on this board got a little peeved when I said something similar 2 months ago. It took GM 4 years to release the Cavalier/Sunfire supercharger. People told me "The Vibe has a different engine." Well, they use the same charger, Eaton 45 roots-type s/c. Different ECU is all.Go to http://www.j-body.org and search the registry for GM supercharger. Use the advanced search. You'll find 19 people with the GM s/c. 19 out of 13,000 members. That's .0014615%. GM knows the majority of their customers don't care about modifying thier cars, but by promising superchargers and other things they get sales that would be lost to other companies. Then they drag their feet and wonder why sport compact enthusiests buy Fords, Dodges, and imports.The Cav/SF s/c was also supposed to come with installation and a GM warranty. However, no dealers will install it because they don't want to work on it if it breaks. They don't charge any less for it though. $3200 was the best price I got.I'm not trying to be mean, but this is reality. GM doesn't care about small car performance and they'll never convince me otherwise.

[satur9]

kinda like i said ...anyway i believe theyve come to far in the game to not release it seeing as how its already public but that doesnt mean they cant drag thier feet on it forever. i personally dont mind ... it bad business practice for them but if i came out tommorroww or later this year i still couldnt afford it. i mean i want it now but probably wont get it till early next year anyway(unless they take monthly payments lol.)im not quite sure about your dealer statement. ive heard the same thing about them not wanting to install them because they didnt know how. but they have certified techs the installs are actually not that hard...if you buy something from the dealer they should be REQUIRED to install it, you just need to be persistant and be willing to have your car be the guinea pig for that dealer im going to install mine myself and i dont do cars for a living

[Faultline]

I would have to agree that it is not thathard to put on an SC....at the shop where the put my turbo on...they had a couple of cars with the eaton roots S/c on them...One was the m60 model and the other was a huge m90...(I think It has an "m"befor the #)..the vibe has the 45 model...anyways, the big trick with these things, and what makes the kit so valueable is the fuel calibration, for the given aplication...the dealerships should not have much problem putting on the kits...and they will already be tuned for our cars..You just bolt it on and go..no fuel worries...its already been ssolved...and to be honest...all this tlk about a few bugs to be worked out befor the kit relaease?..I believe this is simply BS...It is likely good to go and only with held because of buerocratic marketing messes, like how will this affect GT sales and the like...and will the prommise of an SC boost mor care sales?,.....gm only knows...

[KSNeptune]

Hmm... Guess they didn't say which April, did they? Cause they missed this past one.KSNeptune