old Vibe totaled :( looking at 2009 AWD - mileage, etc?

[Mazzy21]

I had a 2005 Base model Vibe. I absolutely loved my car EXCEPT for winter driving. It was horrible on these Michigan roads. Truth be told, it was horrible even in light rain!! After 3 new sets of tires I decided it was the car and not the tires. However, I still loved how utilitarian my Vibe was (that plastic hatch and back seat backs are just perfect for someone like me who wants a car but sometimes needs a truck) and so I just grunted and bared it for the winters.

I hit a deer over the weekend and the Vibe is totaled, but I see there is a 2009 AWD Vibe for sale close to me. I always wished I'd had the AWD for (hopefully) improved winter driving and then my car would've been "perfect" and it looks like I have the opportunity to make the switch to the AWD version now.

My questions for you all are:
1. for those who have the AWD - how's it handle in winter conditions? and even better if you've driven the FWD models too and can compare.
2. I read a multiple articles on the AWD Vibe over the last two days and they are all over the place on gas mileage. Some say the AWD option makes the Vibe's great gas mileage plummet and others say it stays relatively on point so again, for AWD owners, any idea about your average gas mileage?

I have no idea what my actual mpg was in my 2005 but I do know, making my annual trek to Vero Beach, Florida every Thanksgiving, my gas mileage *seemed* fantastic. One tank gets me from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Lexington, KY. Next fill up is just this side of Atlanta, then the Georgia/Florida line, then when I get to Vero. It costs me about $150 each way in gas. I'm wondering if I buy this AWD, will I be completely shocked and disappointed, like 'not even make it through Ohio' before I'm filling up over and over again or can I expect the same great fuel efficiency I've come to know and love even from an AWD?

Anyway, any insight into significant differences I might notice between the Base and AWD would be appreciated. I would hope not to get a lot of big surprises if I decide to replace my Vibe with a Vibe.

[nightmistwalker]

hey,,mine is a 2005 awd vibe 1,8 automatic ,and we bought it in upstate ny with the stock 16 inch alloys rims on it ,,with a decent set of all season tires the vibe was actually really good in bad driving conditions ,ice and heavy snow with a little common sense used and it would go anyplace you wanted to go,rain never bothered it and stil does not even with the much wider 18 inch rims and tires i have on it now.i would have to say though gas milieage did suffer with the bigger rim and tire size even though by circumfrance size they looked the same. the awd is much faster off the line from a dead stop than a fwd vibe is but suffers in the serious power department,,it cruises all day at 75 but when you need to pass in a hurry dont try it..lol..i have enjoyed mine for the almost 80,000 miles i have put on it ,also if you are parting out your 05 base let me know ,thanks kevin

[Mazzy21]

I won't be parting the 05 out. The insurance company has it and will be keeping it. They told me to go clean it out today and they'd pick it up on Friday. I have no idea what they even do with a totaled car ?? You need me to pop off a button or switch or something though and I'm sure I could smuggle that out before they take it away. LOL

[tpollauf]

What part of Michigan are you from? An 09 Vibe AWD I think has the bigger 2.4L engine so your mileage will definitely suffer compared to the 1.8L you are parting with. If it is truly a 2009 AWD with all factory options then you'll have the nice CHROME 17" wheels which it came with Get it

[Caretaker]

I had a 2003 AWD and currently have a 2009 FWD. Our AWD got about 25 mpg in all suburban driving. I get 33 with my FWD. I think there is a big difference between the two cars. I also believe the AWD went through tires a lot faster. As for snow and rain, I never had trouble with either car. I highly recommend Michelin MXV4 or Pilot Exalto tires. I have done my best to find something better than Michelin, but have not to date. I have Hankook H727s on one of my cars now and like them, but they still do not measure up to the MXV4s. I think you are smart to stick with the Vibe, and if you get a '09-'10 model, I think you will see, hear, and feel how much better a car it is than the first generation. I personally would not get the AWD version only because I think it has only ONE relatively minor advantage over the FWD Vibe: rear independent suspension instead of the single torsion bar. The rear passengers will certainly feel the difference, even though the driver may not.

[Mazzy21]

I'm originally from Adrian. And this does have the 2.4L engine. I would prefer the 1.8L (for gas mileage) - I'd even prefer a first gen as I'm partial to that body style - but I'm driving a rental, and need a car now, so I don't really have the luxury of waiting. Vibes aren't very easy to come across as it is, espeically the AWDs - for some reason people just don't want to let them go - so when I saw this one online Sunday morning (black, next gen, AWD) my first thought was "sucker! you should have never parted with that; it's mine now" and I applied for the loan that day. I'm waiting on Captial One to deliver my check, which will hopefully come today, and I'll be headed to the dealership.

What was really shocking, to me, was that the insurance company estimated my old Vibe - 05 base model with 120,000miles - at $6200! That's half what I paid for it 6 years ago! Gonna miss that car, but glad I have the option to buy another one.

[Mazzy21]

Thanks for the advice, caretaker. I really appreciate the comparison between the FWD and AWD. I do hope I won't give up gas mileage just to find out that this car handles no differently in the snow. Part of the issue is probably that Ann Arbor doesn't plow in the winter. Almost all the land here is owned by the University so the city itself has no money (there's almost no land for them to charge property taxes to) so when I moved up here the policy was "anything over 4" we plow" but now, after three years, apparently even that's not doable. My old Vibe slid all over the place every day during winters. Maybe there was some issue with it that I never knew about (I did buy it used) that caused the amazingly poor 'control', but I have lived in Michigan my whole life and so am a seasoned winter driver; I really hope this AWD does a better job for me (because I think I'm normally a pretty adept driver in snowy conditions). Still, I'll consider your advice and do an internet search for FWD Vibes too just to see what might be out there right now worth checking out.

[vibenvy]

Welcome to GenVibe! Sorry to hear about your first Vibe getting totaled, but glad to hear you're wanting another one as a replacement. The 2009-2010 AWD is only available with the 2.4L engine and 4-speed automatic transmission. It will more than likely have either 17" chrome clad wheels or 16" steel wheels and wheel covers. As someone else said, the 2009-2010 AWD also has IRS (Independent Rear Suspension) over the torsion beam rear of the 2009-2010 1.8L and 2.4L Bases. I can't comment on the exact mileage of an AWD, but my mom and I average 26-28 MPG with 50/50 driving on our 2009 GTs which share the same 2.4L engine. A lot of it comes down to your driving style too and not just the vehicle. Keep your RPMs under 3000 when accelerating, keep your tires properly inflated, keep up on routine maintenance (oil changes, clean/replace the air filter, etc.) and keep unnecessary weight out of the vehicle and you should see pretty respectable numbers even with an AWD.

Post some pictures of your first Vibe and be sure to keep us updated on whether you do indeed end up with another Vibe or not .