hi, new here. Is the AWD version really worth the extra coin vs. FWD only?

[flex94]

Hi!I'm a pontiac enthusiast. I really like the vibe. I'm just curious to the AWD vs the base FWD vibe.1) how much different is the gas mileage? city? highway?2) does the AWD offer that much better traction because fwd is pretty good to begin with, especially on a small(er) car.3) overall, is the AWD option worth the extra (I think 2 grand) ...wouldn't you rather have the vibe GT or navigation or smaller payment?>Any help or comments greatly appreciated.Mike

[NovaResource]

1. about 2-3 mpg2. in snow, yes.3. that depends on your preference. If you get alot of snow where you live (Buffalo, Minnesota, New England, Canada, etc), I'd get it. For me, I get only about 5 or 6 really bad snow days and even then it's not real bad. So the AWD was not worth it to me.

[Vibe Rater]

I was originally mistaken when I thought the VIBE AWD was full time all wheel drive. In fact, it is only part time, and kicks in only when traction slips at a wheel. It shouldn't effect mileage too much because of that, except for the extra weight and were you aware that the AWD VIBE actually has LESS horsepower that the Base VIBE? I believe Base is 130 hp and the AWD is about 123 hp. I was really gun ho about getting an AWD VIBE, but now I'm not so sure it's worth the extra cash. Maybe if I lived in Colorado or Alaska but here in Ontario, we don't really get a lot of 'snow days' any more (although yesterday we got hammered by a snow storm and people forgot how to drive again). Not certain how resale value would be affected by AWD. You may recoup some of the extra cash at resale time.

[Frosty]

quote:Hi!Welcome!quote:I'm a pontiac enthusiast. Based on your current ride I think you would be disapointed with the power of the AWD, in today's terms it is adequate, not enthusiastic. 1) how much different is the gas mileage? city? highway? See http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=1447 and http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id ... id=332#332 for user testimonials. 2 or 3 mpg more for FWD gives you 26 or 39 free miles. 2) does the AWD offer that much better traction because fwd is pretty good to begin with, especially on a small(er) car. Agreed. In 23 Canadian winters I have never need a tow truck due to being stuck, and have needed a push or a dig out only a few times. 3) overall, is the AWD option worth the extra (I think 2 grand) ...wouldn't you rather have the vibe GT or navigation or smaller payment?> In my humble opinion, no. The money is better spent on 4 good snow tires and ABS.

[Stang2Vibe]

I generally agree with the others' replies except that, obviously, I would prefer to spend the money on the GT. But then I am a performance nut. Again, the snow tires are a good investment for snowy climates and for the most part, our neighbors to the north are a little more used to the winter weather driving. Here in Pittsburgh snow tires are generally a must for most people, not that we have that many snow days either, but when we do, to drive around up and down the hills and on narrow streets they are needed.I think I noticed that you are from Michigan. My stepdad spent a few winters working in Kalamazoo and he said that there were several mornings when he would have to shovel out snow away from the front door just to be able to get outside. So you should probably make your decision based on how much snow you generally get and how badly you need to drive in bad weather. If it would be worth your while to get AWD and you are willing to make the sacrifice in power than go for it. If winter driving isn't that bad for you then you might be better off with the base Vibe with some good snow tires or if you want the performance and are willing to spend a little more, the GT with some good snow tires for winter is the probably the way to go.

[ngilbert]

Hey, welcome dude. Glad you're into Pontiac, this too is my first one, and I'm enjoying it. As for your questions, I agree with most of the others who replied, the difference in MPG won't be that noticable since it's a part-time setup, being front drive most of the time and the rears kicking in as needed. So it's more geared for heavy snow days and the like, not a off roader buy any stretch. (Of course, that applies for most of the "SUVs" coming out now, but that's another story. RAV3.5? Honda Pilot? Pleeze...)If traction in slippery conditions is your biggest need, then sure, the part-time AWD is worth it. However, for me, I spent the extra and went for the GT. It's whatever important to you!

[Yoda]

Don't underestimate the importance of having an independent rear suspension. Properly tuned, it can be a real plus - not that I was very impressed with the ride on the awd. You should test drive an awd and a fwd back to back to see if you notice the difference. This suspension will not come free even after you buy the AWD. You'll give up 2 gallons of fuel capacity. This in itself would have driven me nuts - having to refill the tank in less than 300 miles.

[cds22]

My Vibe is the first AWD vehicle I have owned and I'm very happy with it. We've only had a few bad snow days so far this winter but already I notice a big difference over my old FWD Accord. I had/have snow tires on both vehicles and the FWD was pretty good on snow & ice but the AWD is noticably better. I live out on an acreage where it can sometimes be several days before our road gets plowed after a major snow so having AWD hopefully will mean I can still get home (got stuck a few times in my FWD Accord thanks to near zero ground clearance). Plus, I spend a lot of time driving alone on the highway so I feel better knowing I can get to my destination even if I have to drive slow and plow snow. I agree with most of the other posts, it really depends on your needs. For me, AWD was definitely worth the money. The added safety and mobility are more important to me than high end performance or a navigation system.

[MadBill]

Lots of answers here re the pros and cons of AWD, so let me ask one about that Silver Bullet of yours:What have you got under the hood beyond a smaller blower pulley to get that kind of HP? It must be ~320+ at the crank! (a 3.4" pulley and a K & N filter were all I could get away with on the family Park Avenue Ultra without the wife getting suspicious.)

[ChadofJCG]

I'm going to bring this thread back from the dead because I feel that I am one of the best people to answer this. I own both an AWD Vibe and a Base Auto Vibe. I know most would say that the AWD system is not worth it, but if I had to buy again, I would get the AWD. This is a comparison between automatic Base and AWD Vibes. If you are a power hungry lead foot, neither of these cars are for you.My reasons are:1) Superior suspension. The AWD Vibe feels better in every way. The ride is softer and the handling is much better. I have much more confidence and feel more stable at the limits, it's a huge difference. I think that in an emergency situation, it could be crucial.2) AWD advantages a) It's AWD! On the way to go skiing I love driving by the masses of people getting muddy putting on chains. I just wave at the officers and point to the AWD badge and I'm on my way. Puts a smile on my face every time. b) You don't need to live in an area where it snows to enjoy AWD. Even in the rain, I can be confident that I can pull out into traffic without slippage. There have been numerous times in the FWD where I'm trying to pull out and lose traction. c) Reduced tire wear. Especially for "spirited" drivers, AWD will save tire wear because nothing eats tires faster than spinning wheels. Here are the general reasons I have heard to not get AWD:1) Bad gas mileage- It is a 5 mpg difference ( 25 AWD vs 30 Base) YMMV on this one, but if good gas mileage is what you want, get a base 5 speed.2) Smaller gas tank- supposedly 1 gallon smaller, 12.5 gallon tank or something? Oddly enough, I've filled up over that amount on several occasions. Usually we can get around 300 miles between fillups (50/50 city-highway)3) Power- Base Vibe is definately peppier on the hills, but again, if power is your main concern, then the GT or a S/C base 5 speed should be what you are looking at. Overall, I am very happy with both of the Vibes we own right now. Between the two and a combined 35k mileage, the only problems encountered are a burnt map light, a stripped fresh air/recirc motor, and some squeaky struts. Both are excellent versatile vehicles, but for the reasons I mentioned the AWD has the edge in my opinion if you prefer safety, comfort, and convenience over power and gas mileage.

[Lancer]

Quote [You also get rear floor heating vents on the AWD, which you can not even get with another other model Vibe.]Not true, I have them in my Base Vibe.

[NSimkins]

I thought the rear passenger floor of the AWD was different than the Base and GT due to the added AWD drivetrain hence the reason for the modified mats.A couple base Vibe's have them as mentioned here:http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id ... #20544EDIT: Added link.