Vibes in the news

[SeattleJeremy]

Chrome door handles. That would be a Muletrix.

Good catch on the door handles.
Muletrix, perfect.

[AZgl1800]

Most news, is bad news. That's how the news works, unfortunately.

True,
good news does not bring in Advertising dollars.

our 2007 Vibe drove like a dream for 110,000 miles, and then it was pressed into Rural Mail Delivery when my daughter took a job with the Post Office....

it has been mutilated by brick mail box supports, the paint on the right side has more scars than paint now.
Brakes are a constant problem, and the local repair shop is the poorest piece of work I ever witnessed, at 80 years of age, I have been forced to do all the maintenance on that car myself, there just are no trustworthy shops left around here.

at 128,000 miles, it is now drinking oil, and going through CVC joint boots like they are candy.
and Flats?? Roofing Nails gravitate to the edge of the Berm and stay right in the middle track where the Rural Mail carriers have to drive all day. That car is lucky to get more than 18 months out of a tire, and I buy the best premium tires for it, the el cheapo tires won't last more than 3 months.

right now, the transmission has developed a bad 1-2 upshift.
start in 1st like normal, then it acts like, it went into Neutral, then Wham!!! it hits 2nd hard.

I am trying to find out what is causing that problem..... I can't afford a new tranny for that old of a car, that sees bad roads every day.

[tpollauf]

Sounds like your a good parent ... even at age 80 Anyways, doesn't she get a mileage reimbursement fee as part of her employment agreement? Delivering the mail, urban or rural, will be hard on a cars tranny as you'll likely never get up through all gears regularly and thus the first few will get overused the most. Assuming she does get some sort of reimbursement for wear & tear on the vehicle, she absolutely MUST stash that extra $$$ away for repairs & maintenance when it needs it. It sounds like a tranny replacement may be in the cards for her somewhere down the road real soon. Have a reputable tranny shop do the work WITH a warranty. Yeah this will likely set you back $2K or so BUT it's the cost of doing business OR in her case, being employed. Brakes, tires & other normal consumables will go sooner also which is not unlikely. Torn CV boots though seems odd. Unless there is so much (removed) out here on her travels to where it's puncturing them then I can't explain that one. What part of the USA does she deliver at? Update profile for us. Hilly terrain & extreme cold climates will make things worse BUT we have no idea where this Vibe is being driven. Thanks for reaching out to us

[SlammedNiss]

https://hutchpost.com/posts/c224f9c9-f5 ... b3503bbb94

Kansas shooting suspect captured after chase, crash

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting on Wednesday that sent a man to the hospital have a suspect in custody.

Just after 6:30p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a parking lot in the 1100 Block of Johnson Drive to check the welfare of a man, according to a media release.

The man had a gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Just after 12:30p.m. Thursday, members of the Kansas Highway Patrol, Shawnee Police, Johnson County Sheriff's office and Olathe police were involved in a pursuit of a suspect in connection with the shooting, according to a media release.

The pursuit ended in the 11800 Block of Black Bob Road in Olathe when officers arrested the suspect.

The victim hospitalized Wednesday night remains in critical condition, according to police. The name of the victim and suspect have not been released.

[joatmon]

https://hutchpost.com/posts/c224f9c9-f5 ... b3503bbb94

well, according to https://www.kctv5.com/2022/12/01/suspec ... g-pursuit/ that's a Toyota Yaris, which is remarkably vibelike.

But who was Black Bob, and why did he get a road named after him?

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There's a detailed account of an extended police chase in Minnesota of a likely deranged man driving a Vibe at https://www.southernminn.com/st_peter_h ... 3d3f6.html
but no pictures

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Sometimes Vibe related things show up as short notes in police blotters, such as Midland MIchigan's https://www.ourmidland.com/news/police_ ... 621089.php where a Vibe was abandoned ( Inconceivable! (in Wallace Shawn voice)) and towed, but the headline for the article is about squirrels and Christmas lights

[SlammedNiss]

But who was Black Bob, and why did he get a road named after him?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source - https://www.olatheks.gov/visitors/histo ... reet-names

Black Bob Road was named after the chief of a band of Shawnee Indians.

Black Bob assisted in negotiating land for the group's reservation with the United States Government in 1854.

A History of Johnson County Kansas, a book written by Ed Blair in 1915, states the 200,000-acre Black Bob reservation was in the southeastern part of the county at the sources of Blue and Tomahawk creeks and covered four townships, including Olathe. Blair wrote that the Black Bob group did not divide the land into individual tracts, as was the American's custom. 

Outside of Olathe, Black Bob Road is known as Lackman Road.

Published by The Olathe News - Sarah St. John, columnist.

Additional info here --> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Bob_(Shawnee_chief)

[SeattleJeremy]

well, according to https://www.kctv5.com/2022/12/01/suspec ... g-pursuit/ that's a Toyota Yaris, which is remarkably vibelike.

That, a Matrix.

[joatmon]

That, a Matrix.

You are right. Clearly, KCTV5 and I are wrong. Thanks for the correction

[joatmon]

This lady was a real Pontiac Vibe enthusiast, for it to be mentioned in her obituary at https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/ob ... =37355559

She was not a fan of Vermont winters, but she was able to get almost anywhere in her red Pontiac Vibe.

[SlammedNiss]

This lady was a real Pontiac Vibe enthusiast, for it to be mentioned in her obituary at https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/ob ... =37355559

She was not a fan of Vermont winters, but she was able to get almost anywhere in her red Pontiac Vibe.

RIP Doran Gene Anderson. You had good taste in cars.

[tpollauf]

How do you guys even find this stuff Sounded like a strong independent woman who lived a pretty good life. And for the Vibe to make it in her obituary ... simply amazing

[joatmon]

Waverly OH Police vehicle auction April 22, 2023

List includes #9, a 2007 Pontiac Vibe

https://www.sciotopost.com/waverly-poli ... -vehicles/

The PD's website is useless, and their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WaverlyPoliceDepartment/ doesn't offer any info not in the news article

but if you're a bit south of Columbus and looking for a Vibe, might be worth stopping in

[joatmon]

and if you're near Dubuque Iowa

https://www.facebook.com/beidler.towing/ is having an impound auction on March 11, 2023 that includes
2009 Pontiac Vibe
Keys: Yes
Vin #: 5Y2SP67839Z469644

auctionvibe.jpg (64.21 KiB) Viewed 50708 times

[joatmon]

Alabama
https://www.waff.com/2023/03/14/somervi ... cle-wreck/

...
Morgan Kent, age 28, was fatally injured when her 2003 Pontiac Vibe left the roadway and struck a tree. Officials say Kent was not wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash and was ejected from the car.
...

Colorado
https://alamosanews.com/article/fatal-c ... om-alamosa

...
At approximately 11 a.m. on March 11, a red Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling northbound when it slid on wet pavement and traveled across the center line into the southbound line and struck a red Pontiac Vibe killing both Shacklett and his son, CSP reported.
...

[SlammedNiss]

Wasn't sure where to put this. But, if you've ever seen the annual Alaskan 4th of July car launch, it's about as 'Merica as one can get.

Anyways, was watching 1320's vid of this years event, and spotted what I'm fairly certain is a 1st gen Matrix. If you don't want to watch the full 22 minute video, just fast forward to 14:35.

clicking image below will open video in Youtube, because the [Youtube] BBCode is broken.

[tpollauf]

That takes entertainment to a whole different level The things people come up with Thanks for sharing!

[SlammedNiss]

Was watching the CBS Evening News and they were covering the wildfires in Maui, Hawaii. Saw this burned out carcass of a 1st gen Matrix.

[joatmon]

good eye

that Maui wildfire is a nightmare

[tpollauf]

Ouch that's hard to look at. The interesting thing when looking at some pics of the burned vehicle in clusters, is that a few have literally nothing left at all! Meaning that their body panels and other structure were NOT steel.

[lynthow2009]

Wasn't sure where to put this. But, if you've ever seen the annual Alaskan 4th of July car launch, it's about as 'Merica as one can get.

Anyways, was watching 1320's vid of this years event, and spotted what I'm fairly certain is a 1st gen Matrix. If you don't want to watch the full 22 minute video, just fast forward to 14:35. (I can't get the YT tag to work, so click the link)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8MsMHGVR1U

@SlammedNiss!!! from @lynthow2009
HOTTT DANGGGIT! Thanks for that type of car smash ENTERTAINMENT!!
Even tho I didn’t see not one black person there (MY TYPE OF PARTY)....NOW I (being black) wanna go!! Everybody can Just call me TOOTIE! Haa
Anywho...allll jokes aside THAT WAS sooo AMAZING! My fav was dans drywall van!, JURASSIC PARK, that slowww mobile aka WOOPS that hit the trees, and the last car that hit the pond!!
I’ve always wanted to Visit ALASKA... mental note: bring tool box foodies cooler tent/chair drinks and an amazing camera Haaa

[joatmon]

https://www.theautopian.com/i-risked-tw ... that-went/

This article is misleading titled "I Risked Two Relationships By Driving A 350,000 Mile Pontiac Vibe To A Wedding Instead Of A Rental Car. Here’s How That Went"

because the end of the article says "The answer is “no.” The truth is, the headline of this article is a lie; I risked nothing, as the Pontiac Vibe’s reliability is a sure thing. A loyal and reliable best man needs a loyal and reliable car, and the Vibe is just that."

[joatmon]

Pontiac Vibes usually only show up in news articles when they're about accidents, and this one's no different, but usually in the US or sometimes Canada, this one's in Ghana

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/ ... nt-1880123

four dead after tire burst in speeding Vibe

ghanavibe.jpg (87.13 KiB) Viewed 49787 times

[Rolexdev]

Pontiac Vibes usually only show up in news articles when they're about accidents, and this one's no different, but usually in the US or sometimes Canada, this one's in Ghana

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/ ... nt-1880123

four dead after tire burst in speeding Vibe

ghanavibe.jpg

It's interesting to see a Pontiac Vibe making headlines in Ghana. Accidents sadly tend to dominate news coverage, yet the occurrence in a different country adds a unique perspective to the narrative.

[SlammedNiss]

Not necessarily "in the news" (perhaps change the thread name to "Vibes/Matrix in the wild), but did see this 05-08 Matrix in a YT vid from a channel I watch. I believe the guy who made the vid is from Bradenton, FL, who happened to park next to the car while it was sitting in the parking lot of a Toyota dealership.

Anybody recognize this "Why So Serious" Matrix?

[SlammedNiss]

Partial crane collapse kills 1, injures others, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A worker was killed Thursday afternoon when a crane collapsed onto a [Pontiac Vibe] in Fort Lauderdale, according to a report.

WTVJ reported that a portion of a crane fell onto a [Pontiac Vibe] on the Southeast 3rd Avenue Bridge near Southeast 4th Street.
The worker had fallen from the construction site, fire officials said.
Video from WTVJ shows part of the crane with a crushed [Pontiac Vibe] underneath it.
Two people were taken to a hospital and a third person was treated at the scene, according to WTVJ. Both people hospitalized are expected to be OK.
The station reported that buildings nearby were evacuated, but were deemed safe.
“It was really shocking,” a woman who lives nearby told WTVJ. “It was very traumatizing…to hear the ‘boom.’ I was terrified and shocked.”
The bridge is expected to remain closed during the investigation.

source --> https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/worke ... s-injured/

[joatmon]

Partial crane collapse kills 1, injures others, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

late, but I found this page has video of the crane hitting the VIbe

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2024/07/cr ... ibe-video/

[SlammedNiss]

A #Florida suspect claims the #CIA is following her, flashes a gun, and sparks a chase with a dramatic ending — kicking off our first #OPL3Play of the weekend. #OPLive #OPNation #REELZ #OPLTriplePlay

Click the pic for the FB video.

[tpollauf]

Interesting video. She's lucky to be alive. No reason to drag out a situation like this where it puts everyone at risk. Kudos to the law enforcement for following protocol. If I were there, she'd be dead. No place on our roads for mentally disrespectful drivers like that!

[joatmon]

A #Florida suspect claims the #CIA is following her, flashes a gun, and sparks a chase with a dramatic ending — kicking off our first #OPL3Play of the weekend. #OPLive #OPNation #REELZ #OPLTriplePlay

Click the pic for the FB video.

That lady wasn't right in the head. Would be interesting to know if she recovered from the gunshot wounds, and if there was some reason why she behaved that way

[joatmon]

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2025/04/ne ... ibe-vibes/
April 9, 2025

New GM Trademark Filing Has Pontiac Vibe… Vibes
General Motors has filed to trademark Vibe and Vibe Edition, GM Authority has learned. The trademarks will be used in conjunction with new vehicles, but probably not a new Pontiac Vibe.

The trademarks were filed on March 18th, 2025 with the Instituto Mexicano de la Propiedad Industrial (IMPI), an organization that could be considered the Mexican equivalent of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

...