A Comparison Question

[Houston]

How does the ride in the 2003 Base Vibe compare with that of the 2009 Vibe GT? How about quietness (soundproofing)?

[keithvibe]

the 2003 has more HP.. the 2009 has more tq. but in driving both the old version and test driving the new version the new version i would have to say is a TINY bit more quite.the 2003 has a solid rear axle the 2009 now has independent rear susp. but ONLY on the GT and AWD version the base still has a solid rear.

[scooter]

Quote, originally posted by Houston »How does the ride in the 2003 Base Vibe compare with that of the 2009 Vibe GT? How about quietness (soundproofing)?Quote, originally posted by keithvibe »the 2003 has more HP.. the 2009 has more tq. but in driving both the old version and test driving the new version the new version i would have to say is a TINY bit more quite.the 2003 has a solid rear axle the 2009 now has independent rear susp. but ONLY on the GT and AWD version the base still has a solid rear.He is comparing an 03 BASE to an 09 GT. So no, it does NOT have more HP.

[keithvibe]

Quote, originally posted by scooter »He is comparing an 03 BASE to an 09 GT. So no, it does NOT have more HP. ah.. yes.. good catch.. lol though he was comparing apples to apples not apples to oranges... yes the 09gt has more get up and go than the 03 base.

[northvibe]

I think the new ones are quieter too... the 2.4l I4 should have much more pep to it than that 1zz.

[Houston]

Thanks, guys, but is the ride in the new one better? I originally thought the new Vibes looked different but not necessarily better. After returning to a parking lot today and finding a new Vibe parked next to my 2003, I have to admit the new ones - to me, anyway - definitely look better.

[lowincash]

you should go test drive one. i test drove the GT and the ride was surprisingly smooth even with the 18" rims. it was quiet but didn't get to go on the fwy to see if there's any wind/road noise. but from what i've read online, it should be pretty quiet since it has more soundproofing and stuff. all you hear is a slight growl or moan from the engine when driving.

[farles]

I must comment as I drove a 2005 for 3 years and now have an '09 GT. My mother drives an '07, so I can still directly compare them.The '09 is much quieter, especially on the highway. They have made many changes/improvements to soundproofing and refinement. Case in point is the windshield. If you look closely at both cars, you will see that the new windshield is more flush with the surrounding bodywork. Also, the stock wipers are more streamlined. When you open the front door, you can see a bunch of soundproofing in the quarter panel area. The engine is quieter, I sometimes leave it in third gear doing 80kmh because I dont realize the engine is doing 5grand. I am still surprised at the ride with the 18's

[lowincash]

holy cow those are soundproofing stuffs? on my old car i had those too and i was scraping them out o_O i always thought soundproofing was only done to the inside of the doors and under the carpet or something lol but cool stuff!

[Houston]

Looks like you have the exact GT I'm thinking about getting, farles. Was your original Vibe (or is your Mom's) a Base? How would you compare the ride and comfort level of the Base versus the GT?

[dianebrat]

Quote, originally posted by keithvibe »the 2003 has a solid rear axle the 2009 now has independent rear susp. but ONLY on the GT and AWD version the base still has a solid rear.I thought it was always that way? AWD and GT had the independent rear suspension in the 2003-2006, with the 2003-2008 base models having a solid rear axle?diane

[farles]

Hey Houston. Thats a tough one to answer as there is such a different feel from the old one to the new one. My old one and my mom's were (are) base models. I never drove an old GT and I have not driven a new base.I have made several observations in other threads, but in a nutshell the new one is more refined than the old one. The new GT has better handling than it seems at first. Feels soft, especially the steering, but really performs when pushed On a side note, since getting the car I cut down the shifter about 3 inches and installed a Momo shifter...,makes a huge difference in shifter feel. Also, as the car is breaking in I can feel things tighten up (or maybe I am just adjusting).. Who really knows

[jerryn]

The 2009 GT gives a nice stiff sports car like ride. And it's not slow. I "drove it like I stole it" when I took it for a test drive and really liked it.I can't say for the 2003 since I havent' tried one yet. I've heard they get good MPG.