2004 Changes

[MA-VIBE-FAN]

Stopped by the dealer on the way home from church tonight. Most of what has been posted is correct. Asked a couple questions and here is the summary.Appearance. With a quick once over the only differences we could see were the rocker extensions and the position of the passenger wiper (Good eyes, who ever got that one). The arm looks a little shorter fron the piviot to the hinge and at a different angle.Battery. 310 CCA.Horn. Still one.Sun Visors. Extensions are suppose to be a new feature for 2004. The car we looked over had no extensions, but was a sunroof car. Perhaps extensions are only for non-roof cars. Didn't the Grand Ams do it that way several years ago?Cloth & Interior looked the same.New Gages.The run down protection is extendd to the Map Lights now. So any interior light will shut off after 20 minutes.XM is an option. Told the antenna goes in the back next to the radio antenna.The 17" tires become "H" rated All-Season and can be ordered with the Moon & Tunes.ONE new color, #56 Fusion Orange Metallic, only available in the Monotone.Incentives: $1,000 or 1.9%/2.9%/3.9% or $500 and 5.9% (Northeast, unsure if rest of US)Pretty much all stuff we knew.

[Sputnik]

Thanks for the confirmation! I could have used the battery run down protection on the map lights this winter.

[cohocarl]

Anyone have a pic of the new gauges? I don't mind mine in the dark, but in the sun they suck.

[VibeSalsa]

quote:Anyone have a pic of the new gauges? I don't mind mine in the dark, but in the sun they suck.Check this page: http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=4178&page=4

[VibeSalsa]

Very nice work MA-VIBE-FAN!!! Thanks a lot for the info!

[ragingfish]

We already have rundown protection on the map light. Just last night I forgot to turn it off, and tonight, when I went out and started the car, the map light came on, and I realized I had left it on for almost 24 hours...and the light was NOT on when I got in the car, and didnt' come on until the engine was on...

[MJN2]

quote:The 17" tires become "H" rated All-Season Guess they got enough complaints about the Dunlop SP9000'sI'm running mine until this winter...then they are going away heh.

[Flip-Side]

I think these look much better. The all red guages are a "Pontiac Thing", but they get tiresome after several hours in the car.

[ragingfish]

quote:The all red guages are a "Pontiac Thing", but they get tiresome after several hours in the car. Actually, most Pontiacs do NOT have all red gauges...most have some mix of green, red, and orange in them...

[Sputnik]

quote:We already have rundown protection on the map light. Just last night I forgot to turn it off, and tonight, when I went out and started the car, the map light came on, and I realized I had left it on for almost 24 hours...and the light was NOT on when I got in the car, and didnt' come on until the engine was on...No we don't. Left mine on and my battery died.

[Triton]

Thanks for the info! Great post on all the changes.

[KSNeptune]

quote:No we don't. Left mine on and my battery died.You don't by chance have an EARLY '03, do you? It's possible that the rundown with the map lights was a mid-year improvement. Just a thought.KSNeptune

[slinkston]

Sheesh, I totally dislike the new gauges.At Matrixowners.com, a handful of us have been putting our manufactured dates in our signatures in order to help with some misc questions regarding different problems with different dated Matrixes.-Slink

[Sub-Vibe-R]

quote:Battery. 310 CCA.310 CCA a change???

[Cubanpete]

I personally have No complains at all with the dunlops and I like them very much!, They are pretty good!

[esjones]

Does anyone know for sure if the nav system is still an option for 2004?

[jfcou21]

The truth about the rundown protection is that it's available on all canadian 2003 models.

[VibeSalsa]

quote:The truth about the rundown protection is that it's available on all canadian 2003 models. But Sputnik had her battery died when she left the map light on and she have a Canadian Vibe... Or she have a problem with that on her car.I know we have the rundown preotection on the dome lights in 2003. I'll check my Vibe to see if I have this feature on the map lights.

[Flip-Side]

quote:Actually, most Pontiacs do NOT have all red gauges...most have some mix of green, red, and orange in them...http://www.edmunds.com/news/autoshows/a ... ge005.html It features a four-cylinder 130-horsepower engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission and an available all-wheel-drive system (a more powerful, manual version is set for introduction in Detroit next week). The interior features chrome-rimmed gauges and traditional Pontiac red backlighting Red Gauges, traditionally, are a trademark Pontiac touch. Firebird, Trans Am, Grand Am, Gand Prix, Sunfire, Bonneville, Aztek, ect. All have red gauges. If you dont believe me, check the pontiac website.Granted, some may have a different needle, or warning light color, but the theme stays the same.

[jake75]

Left mine on for several hours- no run down protection but fortunately the car still started.

[Sputnik]

Mine was on for days! Left on, on a Sunday and I wasn't back at the car until Thursday... it was good and dead. As soon as the tow truck came, the map lights came on immediately when it was boosted.

[Sputnik]

quote:The truth about the rundown protection is that it's available on all canadian 2003 models. Really? Guess they missed it on mine. Where did you get this information? And why would it be different between Canadian and US?

[Sputnik]

quote:Is there run down protection on the headlights or just the interior dome lights.. That is my question...My guess would be both, but I'm not sure. And the car lets you know if you leave your headlights on.

[Vibe]

A Very Remote Possibility--Maybe the interior dome lights could be wired to the rundown circuit but the single map light could be independant. I really am afraid to test it BUT I have read my owners manual and I don't see any mention of it.Any Experts--------LET US HEAR FROM YOU!!!

[Sputnik]

quote:Oh yeah ofcourse with that bzzzzzzz noise. Someone posted that all Canadian Vibes have that system. If that is true, why did yours go down then... If you're talking about the headlights, thats not why my battery died. Its the map light which doesn't have any audible indicator.

[Sputnik]

Well MA VIBE FAN says the run down protection on the map lights is new for 2004, so I doubt the 2003s have it. I don't see why that would be different between US and Canadian cars.

[Sputnik]

I just checked in the owners manual I have it says to make sure you turn off your reading (aka map) lights to avoid draining the battery. Page 2-46.

[im0rtalz]

do you or anyone know if they are going to offer the metal finish gauge bezels from the "GXP" model as an option in 04?

[ragingfish]

Rundown protection does NOT apply to headlights.If you leave 'em on, plan on calling for a boost.

[ragingfish]

True -- but many of us have disabled the sentinel, or don't rely on it and still manually work the lights...

[ColonelPanic]

Saw my first and only '04 up close the other evening... Yes, it was an orange one - monotone base, automatic.Did have the moonroof and 17" wheels, plus in-dash changer, side air bags, alarm, abs, yada yada... Well over $22,000.Looking at the window sticker, I noticed something: The fuel economy estimates have increased by 1 mpg city and highway... 29/34 for the auto, whereas an '03 with similar powertrain was estimated at 28/33. Wonder what they did there? Can't remember what it was geared at, perhaps they changed something there... Not real significant of a change, but interesting nonetheless. Perhaps the m/t models will get 37 on the highway now?

[Jethro]

quote:Saw my first and only '04 up close the other evening...Looking at the window sticker, I noticed something: The fuel economy estimates have increased by 1 mpg city and highway... 29/34 for the auto, whereas an '03 with similar powertrain was estimated at 28/33. Wonder what they did there? My guess is they figured that since they got away with artificially high MPG numbers for the '03's then, hey, more is better, right? Shame on them.

[grumpyx]

ColonelPanic What dealership did you see the vibe? Sounds like one I'm interested in.Thanks,Grumpy

[ragingfish]

quote:My guess is they figured that since they got away with artificially high MPG numbers for the '03's then, hey, more is better, right? Shame on them.Just because you haven't achieved those numbers does not mean they're artificial. I have achieved MPG ratings that well exceed those on the sticker -- I got 38 on a trip once, with an auto...they're simply averages...How you equip your car, aftermarket parts or accessories, cargo weight, all can contribute to your MPG rating...

[ColonelPanic]

...And they are EPA estimates - not necessarily exact.I've seen anywhere from 19 last winter to 35... While a friend consistently gets ~34 out of his base/auto (but does much more highway driving.)

[ragingfish]

quote:We already have rundown protection on the map light. Just last night I forgot to turn it off, and tonight, when I went out and started the car, the map light came on, and I realized I had left it on for almost 24 hours...and the light was NOT on when I got in the car, and didn't come on until the engine was on...No we don't. Left mine on and my battery died.Must be Canadian vibes then. I accidentally forgot to turn it off again last night. This morning, i went up to turn it on (I was up before dark) and noticed the switch was on, but the light wasn't. Put the key in, started the engine, bingo, light came on. We DEFINITELY have rundown on the map light. At least I do. LOL!

[jfcou21]

The rundown protrection seems to be available only with the POWER PACKAGE.

[ragingfish]

quote:The rundown protrection seems to be available only with the POWER PACKAGE.That's an interesting theory...may just be true! Thanks for that insight jfcou21...