Spit On!!!

[GT_03]

I have made a few enemies with my Vibe GT because kids always try to race me in Sunfire's, Cavalier's, and Neon's and all get beat bad. Well, i left my window open when i went into Walmart, and when i returned someone spit in my driver's seat. I find it funny no one likes it when someone else gets what they want, because they can't afford it.

[Geo]

Wow, that sucks. I honestly truely hate people sometimes, jealous little &#^$*&#^$ and *#&$ ... #I&*^$O#^$#^$&#^!!!!!Vibe envy is not a pretty thing.

[GT_03]

Trust me, i've had this happen before with other vehicles. My last vehicle was a 98 Dakota show truck, it had a $5000 flame paint job. Some idiot ripped my Dodge symbol off with a screwdriver. Cost about $50.00 to get fixed.

[FCser]

hahhai always laugh when i see caveliers and sunfires and neons riced up with a dumb kid driving thinking he's driving something really fast. there are kids like that around my town, caveliers with an exhaust tip 'and some lame decorations 'that help it go faster' kids always rev it up its lame heh. and another kid with a gay sunfire, ugliest color of sunfire possilbe the blue/green cyan color with ugly rims, not lowered so its all jacked up looking and sweet "Noz" seat covers that has gotta be fast. i always think if people really want to race then why not get a car that will really go not some low budget commuter heh

[mfreed]

I'm going to have to burst your bubble on this one. A Vibe GT is far from a speed machine. I currently own a Jetta 1.8T and I am considering a Vibe because its a cheap car. My 1.8T would give any Vibe GT a noise bleed, on the straights and through the curves.The Vibe was designed to be a affordable, practical, general purpose vehicle. It truely is a great car; however, it excels at nothing.FYI: I owned a 95 Cavalier Z24 /w a Quad4 engine. More torque, less HP than the GT, but it would still kill the Vibe. Sorry....Still, the Vibe is a great product, and speed isn't everything, just don't pretend your car is something it's not.You could put a spoiler on your GT, just don't ever expect it to be one.my $.02

[mfreed]

Yes, no doubt the car does move.It's average until 6K RPM; however, most people don't do much driving in that range. I prefer low-end torque driveability over high-reving HP of the Vibe. Not to mention the poor sound proofing material makes that sweet spot, well, less sweet.

[rasermon]

quote:I'm going to have to burst your bubble on this one. A Vibe GT is far from a speed machine. I currently own a Jetta 1.8T and I am considering a Vibe because its a cheap car. My 1.8T would give any Vibe GT a noise bleed, on the straights and through the curves.According to Volkswagens' published performance figures, the 2002 Jetta 1.8T with a five-speed manual transmission accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds. The Vibe GT can do it in 7.2 seconds.

[GT_03]

quote:Still, the Vibe is a great product, and speed isn't everything, just don't pretend your car is something it's not.Since you do not know most of the people in my town, you wouldn't understand that all those cars i mentioned have only giant wings, Folgers can muffler tips, crazy Japanese stickers. In other words, my town is full of posers. Only a couple people have sweet cars, the rest are just "auto part store customs"

[mfreed]

quote:According to Volkswagens' published performance figures, the 2002 Jetta 1.8T with a five-speed manual transmission accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds. The Vibe GT can do it in 7.2 seconds.On a flat road those numbers may be true. In "real world" driving the Toyota based engine produces max torque at an unusable rpm range, while the Audi based 1.8T generates peak torque under 3K. Go drive a 1.8T and tell me which one would out-perform.In addition, I was not only talking about acceleration but also handling. The Vibe has a fair amount of body roll.Don't get me wrong, I love the Vibe. Just trying to keep GT owners grounded. When I was 17 and had my Z24; I thought it was a "fast" car. Truth is, for $16K it was.

[Kissfan79]

One thing I might interject to this discussion is the fact that I think most of the time if a couple of guys are going to race, it is going to be from a stoplight or while they are cruising down the highway when one wants to pass the other. Wouldn't this constitiue real world driving?

[ngilbert]

quote:On a flat road those numbers may be true. In "real world" driving the Toyota based engine produces max torque at an unusable rpm range, while the Audi based 1.8T generates peak torque under 3K. Go drive a 1.8T and tell me which one would out-perform.In addition, I was not only talking about acceleration but also handling. The Vibe has a fair amount of body roll.Don't get me wrong, I love the Vibe. Just trying to keep GT owners grounded. When I was 17 and had my Z24; I thought it was a "fast" car. Truth is, for $16K it was.I too previously owned a Z24, so I know how it performed. If a Vibe GT and a Z24 (or Jetta/Audi 1.8T for that matter) were putterring around and then decided to punch it to the next light, no question, the Vibe's beat. However, in a real drag race, from a dead stop, with a proper lauch technique, the Vibe GT would come out on top. However, I don't think many GT owners are going to abuse their babies like this. We're too busy hauling (as in stuff) stuff the Jetta can't even dream to carry!

[mfreed]

quote:I too previously owned a Z24, so I know how it performed. If a Vibe GT and a Z24 (or Jetta/Audi 1.8T for that matter) were putterring around and then decided to punch it to the next light, no question, the Vibe's beat. However, in a real drag race, from a dead stop, with a proper lauch technique, the Vibe GT would come out on top. However, I don't think many GT owners are going to abuse their babies like this. We're too busy hauling (as in stuff) stuff the Jetta can't even dream to carry! Obviously by the numbers the Vibe GT is a contender from a dead stop, winding the engine to red, and abusing the gearbox; however, I doubt anyone would prefer to drive like that on a continuos basis.No, that is not "real world" driving. If it is for you, enjoy your car now; you won't have it for long. An example of real world driving is cruising at 70 and hitting the gas to get to 80 to pass on a highway.I know by now my point is lost. So I'll revert to the numbers and leave it at that.Jetta 1.8T180 HP @ 5500174 lb-fp @ 1950 (yes, 1950)Vibe GT180 HP @ 7600 - How long to get to 7.6K?130 lb-fp @ 6800Still love the Vibe for what it is. And I'm not going to buy it for speed. Leave it at that.

[ngilbert]

quote:No, that is not "real world" driving. If it is for you, enjoy your car now; you won't have it for long. An example of real world driving is cruising at 70 and hitting the gas to get to 80 to pass on a highway.I agree 100% that most people do not (and cannot) drive to extract maximum performance at all times. Your point is not lost, however, the Vibe can definately perform admirably in your example of "real world" driving - a downshift from 6th to 4th (or even 3rd) is all it takes.

[mfreed]

Agreed, but /w my 1.8T I can stay in 5th. In fact, downshifting produces little gains as peak performance is between 2-4K RPM.Now you have me defending the very car I want to get rid of! Bottom line, VW/Audi powertrain is superior while the Vibe wins all other comparisons. Fair?

[Stang2Vibe]

I'm not sure that I'm with you on this one, mfreed. My g/f's sister just bought a 2003 Audi A4 with the 1.8T engine a few months ago. So far, the dealer has been exceptionally rude at almost all times and the car has been back to the dealer at least 3 times that I know of for different things. It mainly suffers from the typical VW electrical problems. On a car that cost $30K, this should not be acceptable. And I would bet good money that my Vibe GT can spank it every time from a dead stop. My g/f has driven it, and so has their mom. They both complain that their 2000 Civic pulls up hills better than the new Audi. Granted, the A4 is based on the Passat platform and the Jetta is lighter, but I don't think that the difference it that terribly great. I know that the performance of the 1.8T in the A4 is anything but spectacular. Sure, it will handle better than a stock Vibe GT, but straight line acceleration, no way. The performance specs you put up show something that I can't believe that nobody else has picked up on. The VW 1.8T's HP and torque curves peak at opposite ends of the curves. Peak torque is made down low and peak HP is made near redline. It has always been my understanding that better performing and driving engines have the HP and torque curves peak close to each other. Like the Vibe GT. Optimally, the curves would be as flat as possible, but neither of the 2 engines you are comparing seem to have rather flat curves. And what do you mean that the peak torque on the GT engine is not in a "usable" range? I use it almost every day. If you know how to shift this car and which gear to use at what time, it is quite usable. Passing a car from 70-80 mph is no problem for me. It redlines at about 88 MPH in second gear for me. So the 70-80 MPH range falls right into the lift range of second gear. Passing would be no problem.In short, the GT in stock form is certainly no race car, I doubt any GT owner on here would argue that. But its capabilities are often underestimated. I just raced my friend last week in his 1995 Eagle Talon AWD Turbo. We had a rolling start at about 20 MPH. He pulled ahead about 1/2 a car length on me at first, but once my lift kicked in, I quickly caught up and got a little ahead. We got up to about 70 MPH until we ran into traffic ahead and had to slow down. I know I would have beat him, but it would have been pretty close. Granted, his turbo isn't working as well as it used to, but my engine wasn't fully warmed up either. It was warm enough to engage the lift, but I know I wasn't running at peak power, either. Needless to say, he was more than a bit surprised. In drag race between a Vibe GT and the Jetta 1.8T 5-speed with both drivers of equal skill, I think the GT would win by a little bit. Lower the GT to the same ride height as the Jetta and add a CAI, and the gap would widen a bit.I think that the point that GT_03 was making was that some lame punk kids in his town stick stupid looking crap all over their cars and go out trying to race people thinking that they are sooooo cool with their little wannabe ricers. He has appearantly called a few of their bluffs and sent them home with a good spanking. That is a hard pill for them to swallow and they got real upset because reality hit them and now they are not so cool anymore.VW's are expensive anymore, I would even go so far as to say that they are overpriced, IMO. My GT stickered just over $22K. A comparably equipped Jetta should sticker at least $3K-$4K more than my Vibe. It handles better and that is about all. I can get my Vibe to outhandle the Jetta for less than that difference in sticker price, I'm sure. And the Jetta can't match the Vibe's cargo carrying abilities for any price (well, any realistic price, anyway). Given the fact that VW (and particularly the Jetta from my research) is notorious for electrical problems and Toyota is well known for the highest initial quality and reliability ratings, particularly for small cars, this decision is really a no-brainer before you even factor in the price difference. The deals on the cost of the Vibe only sweeten the pot. I don't think that VW will be offering 0% financing or large rebates any time soon. Pontiac already does.Bottom line is that the GT is one hell of a car in it's price range. Nobody is on here claiming to be racing and handily beating Ferrari's or Porsche's and cars like that, that is obviously foolish. But compared to many other "sport" editions of cars in its' price range, the GT is certainly a strong contender as far as performance is concerned. With a few mods, it would really be a great car to drive.

[red]

i agree with mfreed ! the vibe gt is not that fast when compared to others around its price range...its not slow, but its not a road burner either (yes i have ridden/driven one )...what the vw offers is torque at lower ranges which greatly assists in acceleration and passing..that's why v-8's are so great, 'cause of their torque, and that is what both the gt and base vib lack is torque....remeber that the neon srt-4 is priced close to it and is the fastest lil' car in its class! but the vib is more flexible in what it does with what its got and is a better all around performance/family car ...i'd rather have my vib (or any vib) over a neon srt-4 for everyday use just because of the comfort and carrying capacity....i would rather have a vib than a vw turbo (exept diesel vw, i my diesels) because of the overall reliability in the long haul...anything naturally aspirated is going to be less expensive to fix than the forced induction ones, and in colder climates, less prone to failure... the vib gt is a fast car for its engine size but its not a super car poke'car, yet

[LocDog]

HAHA i wish more people would spit on/in my car.... Try getting keyed 3 times

[ngilbert]

quote:Now you have me defending the very car I want to get rid of! Bottom line, VW/Audi powertrain is superior while the Vibe wins all other comparisons. Fair?LOL! That wasn't my intent! Honest, I was just curious on how you saw the powertrains matched up.Yup, I agree, that's fair. Happy driving!

[mfreed]

Thank you for the long, well thought out reply; however, I still disagree. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion even if their wrong.Is the Audi a Quattro? A friend has the 1.8T /w Quattro and it's a complete dog. My camparison is between a GT and a Jetta 1.8T. Without checking the specs I would assume the Jetta is at least 200lbs lighter than standard Passat/A4 w/o Quattro.For the record, I picked up my Jetta 1.8T GLS for $21K. That price includes 2 forms of traction control (Not offered on GT). ABS, 8 Airbags (2 dash, 2 seat, 4 side head), 6-Dish changer, sunroof, 300 watt 8 speaker stereo, alarm. Price out a GT /w all of those options, if you can even find one on the lot equipped as such. VWs are expensive and reliability is not what is should be, but for the money you get alot.I have 16" not 17"s like to GT - (To be fair)The engine is more advanced as well (Jetta) 20valve, DOHC, /w VWs "VTECH" (Not advertised or branded) and a Turbo (Not very high tech), throttle-by-wire. Ok, I guess I won't be getting rid of the Jetta. It's small, but its safe, and pretty fast.

[NovaResource]

I also believe the A4 1.8T uses a CVT transmission versus a regular automatic or manual. That will also slow the car.

[mfreed]

One more thing I forgot to bring to your attention. My comp. was between a Jetta 1.8T, not a Audi A4 1.8T. The VW versions puts out 10 more horses than Audi.

[canadavibegt]

I just had some kid in a riced base sunfire try to race me....... I laughed at him .... Had a potato launcher for a tail pipe and 17" rims.. Thing sounded like a weed whacker.

[Stang2Vibe]

The tranny is a 5-speed automatic with Tiptronic. Not a CVT, although they are available with a CVT if I remember correctly.As for the comparison being with a Jetta, I understand this. I was just trying to relate the performance to something I was familiar with (the Audi, as I have not driven or ridden in a Jetta). And yes, the Audi is a quattro and, for the money, I personally think it sucks. The dash is horribly laid out and all the dash controls are hard to understand, especially at night. The glowing orange lighting scheme VW chose to use in the Audi looks terrible, too. It hurts my eyes to look at it. The only nice thing about the car is the heated leather seats. And the leather quality seems pretty decent as well.As for my opinion being wrong, I can only say that I wish you lived close to me so we could take our cars down to Keystone Raceway and see who is right. I'd have no fear of lining it up with your Jetta a time or two. Also, my Vibe GT is similarly equipped to your Jetta.-1.8L VVTL-i (180 HP stock)-Power package (windows, door locks, etc.)-Power moonroof, slide and tilt with sunshade-Premium monotone appearance package-16" aluminum wheels (not 17" like yours---yet!)-4 airbags (2 front, 2 side--in the seat)-200 watt premium sound system w/6 speakers-6 disk in-dash CD changer-4 wheel disc brakes w/ABS-no traction control because I had it on a few different cars before and hated itThe final sticker was $22,060, I believe. I actually got it for around $19,500, not counting my trade-in and the value of the money saved by the 0% financing (which is about $4,000). So the 2 cars are similarly equipped at a similar price (within about $1000 it seems). Assuming that the $21K you quoted was sticker price and not the final price you agreed to with the dealer. If you paid the $21K for the car as compared to the $19.5K I paid for mine, I surely think that I got the better deal. The cargo versatility and Toyota reputation alone are worth more than the price difference to me, and are in my favor in this case.I will be taking my car to the raceway to see what it runs before and after my mods are added on. A good friend of mine goes there regularly (the one with the AWD Turbo Talon that I was beating the other day) and we want to see the numbers that my car puts up. I'll post timeslips when I get them.I don't question that your Jetta can put up similar times or possibly even beat the Vibe in the quarter mile by a little bit. My discrepency is with you stating that most GT owners on this site think that their cars aren't quick or sporty while you compare them to your Jetta, which supposedly, is quick and sporty yet it puts up similar performance. The pot calling the kettle black??? Like I said before, I don't think that there are any GT owners on here with stock equipped cars that think they can keep up with exotics or have a super race car. That is foolish. But the GT IS a relatively quick car. It may not be able to beat every car in its' price range, but it can certainly hold its' own with them. The Celica GT-S has earned some respect for its' performance capabilities. The Vibe GT has the same powertrain with the same output figures, so why do you disrespect the Vibe so much? I can understand the the Vibe doesn't handle nearly as well as the Celica and the performance may lag that of the Celica also, but they aren't that different when traveling in a straight line. I can improve the handling of a Vibe to probably match or exceed that of a stock Celica, but no matter what you do to a Celica, it can't match the cargo capabilities of a Vibe. I can have the best of both worlds with a Vibe, where I can't with a Celica or many other cars in the price range.

[Kissfan79]

Very nicely said! Jim

[Stang2Vibe]

Thanks, Jim. I'm glad to see someone understands the point I was trying to make.

[Celtic_Curse]

Ha anyone picked up the current issue (in my counrty) of car and driver where it compares the base vibe and matrix gt against the pt cruiser, mazda protege 5, suzuki aerio, and the focus zx5? The performance numbers are quite good for both the base and gt, and since it compares everything from acura rsx's to bmw's you can compare specs really quickly. It's a good read...Not to spoil the read though our base vibe came in at 0-60 in 8.5 sec's beating all the other cars and tieing the aerio. the matrix came in at 7.5 and well literally blew away all of them. granted the launches were around the 3000 mark but pretty impressive. to put it in perspective though unfortunately the hyundai tiburon posted 7.1 in the v6 and vw beetle wich they were comparing with turbo came in at 6.7. However the weight of our car the base vibe they tested was 2778 and guess what the acura rsx type s was 2780 now what is the difference in price tags? Our car out of the box is competive if we spend the difference between price tags on some extra performance parts I think our vibes will clober the other cars. one last thing the 300ft skidpad came in at .83g for the gt and .76 for the vibe granted front sways and meater tires will bring that number up. the .83 matched the acura rsx type s,beet the eclipse and tiburon and tied the beetle. German engineering is not always best though they make great cars, the vibe and matrix were developed in part for the tuner market..I think once we all start really tuning our domestic vibes the vw world will be far from gruven.. Pick up the edition it's really handy.

[Celtic_Curse]

forgot to post quarter mile times here they are:Base Vibe16.8@ 83mphmatrix gt 16.1 @ 89mphpt cruiser 16.9@ 80mphmazda protoge 5 17.2 @82mphhonda civic lx 17.2 @81 mph mitsubishi lancer 0-z racing 17.1 at 80mphacura rsx 15.0 @94mphtoyota celica gt-s 15.6 @89mphvw beetle turbo 15.0 @90mphjust fyi for everyone tune away.

[Stang2Vibe]

Thanks for the info, Celtic. Some interesting numbers in there and that article should make for a good, quick comparison of our cars against the competition. Now if I can get my GT to beat out an RSX type-S after some mods, I'll be happy. Unfortunately, it will probably take more than I'm able to spend right now to do it.