Anybody have two Vibes in their driveway?

[Caretaker]

I have been a bit disconcerted about the volume of complaints on the NHTSA website regarding the Malibu Maxx. The most recent one concerns the electric steering. While I certainly expected some growing pains with this first year car, I am beginning to get cold feet. The car easily fits me and my lifestyle the best, but I simply cannot throw my money away on something which may not hold up. I still plan on waiting to see how much the Accord hybrid will cost, but I have decided to add both the '05 Vibe and a used Vibe to my short list. While the Vibe is not my ideal car, it would be nice to have two Toyotas in my driveway. Like the rest of you, I am not a big fan of the restyled fascia on the '05, but would welcome the restyled cloth. I can only assume that the twilight sensor will also be moved over to the center of the dash? I could only hope that they will at least double up on the paint thickness as well. These are just my thoughts as I torture myself on making these financial decisions. I was also wondering if anyone else had two Vibe's in their driveway already? Hope everyone is having a nice Easter.

[Jahntassa]

Only have one Vibe, but I can vouch for the power steering issue in the Malibu. It does exist. My father-in-law has the 2004 Malibu V6, and he had to bring it in twice for power steering failure. Total time without the car - 1.5 weeks. The first time he was on the highway and the steering cut out. The car was nice enough to "tell" him it was the power steering via the radio display.They replaced something in the front end of the car, then when it went out again, they replaced something in the steering column. He was told that the steering system in the Malibu isn't a "power assisted" but rather a full-on electric power steering system, with no direct mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the wheels themselves..

[ragingfish]

So does that mean if the power steering goes out, you can't control the car?

[Mavrik]

I'll have to ask about that on monday at work cause we don't service the malibu at the side I work at in the dealership. But lack of powersteering means pretty stiff steering otherwise.I would probably buy a Matrix if I needed a second car... just for the fact that its the same car only with a few exterior differences. Might as well have the same, yet slightly different vehicle if your already loving the one you got?

[Caretaker]

there has not been any accidents or deaths from the steering problem. When it does cut out, the steering is very stiff, but usable. Although one of the NHTSA postings claims that they lost steering altogether and were lucky they were able to pull into a center grass median strip.The other complaints I have seen revolved around replacing rotors after 30k, and oil consumption. I have heard about rotor issues with GM products in the past. I'm not sure what the oil consumption is about.

[ragingfish]

Well I understand if you have power-assisted steering that the steering is possible, but difficult, when it goes out.My question, however, was iin a situation with full electric steering, where there is no physical linkage between the steering wheel and the tires, how does one control the car if it goes out?

[ColonelPanic]

YOW! Fourty-five TSB's for the first model year........ I sifted through the complaints as well, most of them seem to be duplicates entries, but seeing the amount of similar complaints, particularly the steering, is quite alarming. There's nothing like making someone pay $20,000-something to be a BETA TESTER... The Toyota seems almost ancient in comparison, we don't have anywhere near the electronics that car has. And, I think it's a good thing, just look what happens when you control 85% of the car through the radio. I'd say, if you're considering another Vibe, go for it! I still feel it is going to be the most reliable car you'll find on the GM lot. Although the Vibe is pretty complex, there are still less things to break in the first place.But definitely have a good look at all of your options, and get what you feel will be the best car for ya.I'd love to have a second Vibe, but it wouldn't make much sense, since I'm the only one here.

[NSimkins]

Quote, originally posted by maxx4me »I can only assume that the twilight sensor will also be moved over to the center of the dash?Its location hasn't changed, but the module that controls the sensitivity has been fixed. The sensor itself is the same, but the DRL/sensor relay module (computer) has been tweaked. I've replaced my '03 relay with the '04 relay and it functions alot better and like it should have from the beginning - only lights when the conditions call for it and the 15 sec. delay when starting up the vehicle to when the automatic headlamps would be activated has also been removed. (I'll check on part number and/or TSB availability)Quote »I could only hope that they will at least double up on the paint thickness as well. The paint quality standards used on the Vibe are taken directly from Toyota. The Matrix has equally the same problems with weak paint as the Vibe as well as other Toyota vehicles (Corolla and Camry). We're really at the mercy of Toyota to address these issues. From what I can tell, nothing major has been done yet.Overall, I'd still take an extra Vibe (or two) in the driveway.

[Fformula88]

The steering isn't actuated by electronic control, its still a physical link between the steering wheel and the front wheels. Its an electric power assist, as opposed to the more common hydraulic power assist. GM began developing the electric assist for the Pontiac Fiero in the 1980's. Since the engine was in the back of the car, they couldn't do hyrdraulic power steering on the car. So they sent their high paid engineers on a mission to make this electric assist. It was supposed to be an option on the car in 1988, but when they decided to cancel the car then never offered the electric assist and instead put the technology on a shelf. All Fieros were sold with manual steering.Now, with the Saturn Vue and Ion, and the recent Matrix, they have decided to go back to the electric steering. It places less of a load on the motor than a hydraulic power steering pump, and therefore is supposed to save gas mileage. But the system has a lot of bugs in it, and has been criticized a lot in the Saturns for how it boosts the steering and its general feel. I don't remember seeing problems of failures in the Saturns, but obviously the Malibu is having its share.The biggest problem is that its a technology that is new to the market, and GM has not worked the bugs out of it yet. I'd be cautious about getting a car with it, but also try to find out if GM has made any running changes to prevent the failure in newer models. New cars on lots may be fine, where as people who bought them 6 months or more ago without any changes are now experiencing problems.

[Pablo1669]

I don't know about anyone owning 2 vibes themselves, but I'm pretty sure that both Toasted7 and his mom own one. They were both at the Ohio meet, and I'm pretty sure they both signed up for the Michigan meet.

[robodog61]

Yes, I have two Vibes. Both 2003's. Both have Moons and Tunes and Power package but one is auto and one is manual. The stick gets about 33 to 34 mpg and the auto about 5 mpg less. Excellent cars so far. Any updates on the plastic cladding issue? One of the cars's cladding looks like someone took sandpaper to it just over the rear wheelwells. I took it to the dealer and he will find out if it is covered. Does anyone have the TSB number for it?

[OutLaW]

Mazda 6 , 5 door will be my next car..

[Fformula88]

Quote, originally posted by silverawd26 »Do you think this TSB about Toyota Paint applies to the Vibe? I really have a feeling it doesn't. Even though NUMMI is Toyota, I doubt they use Toyota Paint on the Vibe. http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=9562My guess is that GM is using paint from their own supplier. Maybe I am wrong here, but isn't Nummi only producing Vibe's, with the Matrix coming out of Canada? I would assume GM has their own paint supplier and colors at Nummi, but that is just a guess.

[NSimkins]

Quote, originally posted by Fformula88 »Maybe I am wrong here, but isn't Nummi only producing Vibe's, with the Matrix coming out of Canada?http://www.nummi.com/vehicles.htmlNUMMI uses Toyota paint standards, including on the Vibe. They may, as you state, use their own paint but the process of application is based on Toyota standards.

[ragingfish]

Quote, originally posted by Fformula88 »My guess is that GM is using paint from their own supplier. Maybe I am wrong here, but isn't Nummi only producing Vibe's, with the Matrix coming out of Canada? I would assume GM has their own paint supplier and colors at Nummi, but that is just a guess.In addition to what Nick said, don't forget the Corolla and Tacoma both come from the NUMMI plant as well, so it essentially is a Toyota plant...

[Herb]

Well I don't keep either one of my two Neptune Vibe GT's parked in my driveway.I park one of them in my garage, and the other one in my bedroom. OK, the second one is 1:24 scale, but the one in my garage is 1:1 scale, I swear!

[noginsk]

My wife and I will be looking into a Matrix after our chevy lumina dies.

[cobra55]

i just traded my new 2004 malibu for my 2004 vibe,of course i took a lose trading so fast,but i'll take the $ lose for a bettercar anyday.i had more problems with the malibu in 1 week then i have had with the vibe in a month (none)