Hey new Vibe owner here...with ?'s

[shogun121]

Hi everyone! New -used Vibe owner here. Just bought the wifey an 03 Salsa monotone Base Vibe with just over 100k. Was my sister-in-law- in-laws lol and they got it new but used it to travel between their winter home in AZ to their summer home in WI so all highway miles, so we got it dirt cheap, $2k to be exact. Pretty nice car, has sunroof and a decent cd player, so Im starting to see what you guys have found in this car, Now my questions are what are the major differences between this car and the Matrix? Is it just sheetmetal and all mechanics are the the same/interchangeable? I seem to find more parts marketed toward the Matrix and less toward the Vibe but I dont know if they're model specific. And also what are the common/easy upgrades made to this car? Though Id love to get the supercharger, it will be primarily the wifes and dont want to leave the driveability questionable. Rims,tint and drop springs are on my list but also looking at exhaust/headers/intake and anything else you might suggest to free up some "hidden" hp! Well thanks in advance for your responses and hope to contribute to your great site!Eddie

[bull77]

Welcome to the club! -- sheet metal is the biggest difference. There's more aftermarket support for the Matrix but you should find parts are interchangeable.Here's some links to get you started:http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id ... d?id=24144

[ramenboy...]

hey eddiewelcome to the family from another chicagoanyeah what bull said. if you look under the hood, you'll see alot of stuff with the toyota stamp on it. its identical under the hood.i usually get stuff from faisal and tatiana at landspeed auto accessories up on the north side. nice folks. and they know their stuffhave fun with the car

[rareorange1]

k and n intake and magnaflow exhaust are some easy upgrades to give an extra 12-15 hp. Costly though, they'll be about $250, and $600, respectively. Not only do they add power, but they dress up the whip nicely. Lowering it is a good idea, i find these cars don't have the best handling in the corners. Good luck to you and your wife, and welcome to the Club!!

[5speed4]

First, let me say I love my Vibe, but if you want a fast car, the Vibe is not the way to go. Maybe the new 2009's with the 2.4L has a little oomph, but the 1.8L is among the most gutless engines made by any car maker ever. That's not a put down, just that the cars are made for convenience and economy, not quickness.