2005 Vibe visual impressions

[Vibewatcher]

Had an opportunity to check out some 2005 Vibes. Didn't have a chance to drive any, as we were on our way home from a funeral. But I don't recall reading of any changes that would effect how they drive. All three were solid paint. Two front wheel and one all wheel drive.Exterior:Ran hand along from bumper cover. It really looks like it is all one piece unlike the other years. As someone mentioned, the lower inside part of the headlamps is not black, all chrome. Looks a lot cleaner with out the two cross bars on the roof rack. Mirrors are body colored, not black. Tuff to judge the overall look with the new grille, but with it and in solid paint car looks "bigger" then the two tone 2004 they had on the lot. Same tire choices. Rear washer nozzle does have two angled outlets that let out a pretty good stream of fluid (didn't compare to the 2004 for exact differences).InteriorNew seat cloth with different patterns for the seating areas vs the edge sections. Same cloth is on the door panel insert. One car had Leather seats, and had a softer plainer material on the door inserts. Also the seat bottom seamed firmer on the Leather seat. The seat height adjuster knob has been replaced by a long lever. Pull up to raise the seat, push down to lower the seat. On the doors, the silver vertical band by the switches has been replaced by a black vinyl strip with small perforated holes (Like the kind of things you can buy to cover your steering wheels). The armrest is now just a door to the storage, not the two piece with extra small storage the others had. The power outlet inside the console is gone. The storage compartment below the shift lever has a new latch unit. You push down to open the door, also feels like it is in a lot tighter. The Passenger seat belt light now says Passenger Air Bag On or Off. Guess they changed the passenger air bag so it will not come out if no one is there ( can't turn it off your self must use a sensor in the seat). Two of the cars had the head curtain air bags, no difference in appearance other then them being labeled.Two of the cars had OnStar. Way cool to play with. Guess this is the newest version. When using it to call someone, you just say the whole phone number. You don't have to go one number at a time like the old system. Also took a quick demo, where the car tells you where it is and unlooks the doors.The subwoofer panel looks neat and clean inside the car. Keep an eye on whoever already ordered it, to see if it can be added to the older cars.One of the blank panels near the hatch release, is now the tire pressure reset button.MechanicalNoticed a tag in the car that talks about a test the car does to check the evaporative system. Can do it 5 hours after shuting the car down. I know I have seen posted about so issues with this system so 2005 must be improved. Neither of the cars had the stabilitrack system.The other big change is the window sticker. The Leather car was over $23000, the all wheel drive was over $24000.

[Sputnik]

I saw my first 2005 Vibe in person on the way home from Red Lobster tonight. It was the silver colour (whats its new name??), monotone. It was facing at us at an intersection that's on a slight hill. It took me several seconds to realize that it was a Vibe. I thought it was a Mitsu at first. I pointed it out to my boyfriend and he said "thats not a vibe!" But sure enough it was. It looks better from the side than the front.

[Jahntassa]

Hm..some features they changed that's not really good..- The armrest. I like having the two-part storage- The outlet in the armrest. Actually comes in handy sometimes...Cool stuff:- The tire pressure thing- The seat height adjustment- Storage compartment below shifterOnStar...eh. Don't know if i'd pay for it..but hey..

[SGT]

Why is it that GM always decontents their cars after they have been out for a while? The new features are great, but why take away the multifunction armrest and the lighter socket inside the console? I use both of those myself. Oh well, two more reasons I am glad I didn't wait for the 2005. Thanks for the info Vibewatcher.

[ragingfish]

I'm almost postive you can swap an 03/04 front end with an 05 model...looks like it's a 2-parter...as for the outlet, i'm sure also you can swap out an 03/04 console and just do a little custom wiring...I agree, those features should've been left alone...but if someone gets "stuck" with an 05, they can definitely retrofit!

[MrRich]

Guys!Am I wrong or there is no two tone for 2005?I saw a window sticker on two 2005 at my dealer(both mono),and there is no charge for the monotone paint.O and you can order the sunroof separate.It is $1100.00 Can.

[SGT]

Quote, originally posted by MrRich »Guys!Am I wrong or there is no two tone for 2005?I saw a window sticker on two 2005 at my dealer(both mono),and there is no charge for the monotone paint.O and you can order the sunroof separate.It is $1100.00 Can. From what I have seen is that the two tone will not be available on the 2005 until November. Maybe they won't even introduce it here. On the websites I have looked at the monotone paint option is still costs money, but is currently a mandatory option. It would be nice if Pontiac would update their website sometime.

[kostby]

I read on the OnStar website that in its current (analog) form may no longer be usable after 2/16/2008."3. Hardware. Your vehicle manufacturer has equipped your Vehicle with Hardware programmed to receive OnStar Services. It must comply with Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") regulations, be compatible with our Services and your service plan and will not interfere with our services. Your Hardware uses either analog or digital telephone signals. If the underlying wireless carriers terminate or restrict analog or digital service, OnStar services will not be available. Effective February 16, 2008, the FCC no longer requires wireless carriers to support analog service. Thus, some wireless carriers may cease providing service to analog Hardware at that time.(My emphasis)

[Vibewatcher]

Quote, originally posted by kostby »I read on the OnStar website that in its current (analog) form may no longer be usable after 2/16/2008.That is not the newest versaion of OnStar. The 2005 Vibe was listed as "analog/digital" on a window label.

[ColonelPanic]

I got my first look at the 2005 today, the dealer had one Abyss and a Lava. (If that's what they are still calling those colors.) Both had moon&tunes, power package, and alloy wheels. The Lava had Continentals, the Abyss had Goodyears.After the dealer tacked on undercoating, the sticker was $20,900. Ouch. That's $1,000 more than what my '03 stickered for after the dealer add-on's.Overall, outside doesn't look that bad. Those two sat next to 2004 Satellite and Fusion Vibes, so I got a good comparison of the changes. The snout really isn't that bad looking, although I will admit that it seems a tad more pudgy than the 2003-2004. I do like the painted mirrors very much, I guess GM took the money they saved by removing the cross bars and took a couple bucks of that to add paint to the mirrors. I like the chrome headlights, it appears to me they may fit the older models perfectly. I can't tell any difference in the two, even the numbers stamped into the lenses match between the '04-'05 models. Not 100% sure here, but the hood also looks identical between the two.Inside, I like the sub in the back, very clean looking indeed. If it can be done, I'd like to have one for my '03. The new fabric looks ok, but I'd still like to see them put cloth inserts on the rear door panels like the Matrix. I don't like the perforated material in lieu of the chrome accents on the door panels one bit, to me that just looks tacky. It looks fine on the center pad of the steering wheel, but not the door panel, IMHO. Cutting costs indeed, but probably also because some have had the chrome wear off, so one less thing for the customer to complain about. I don't really like the new console, the armrest in my '03 seems to be too low as it is - and with the lack of the upper storage compartment, it looks like the armrest has sunk even lower than it was before. Both '05's had the cigarette lighter socket with the lighted ring and no cover just like the '03s, compared to the flip-up cover and no light I noted on the '04s. Lacking the center console 12V outlet is a real bummer, too.Overall, I like the 2005, I'd buy one if I could keep the chrome off my 03's door panels and the center console. I would like it more if GM wouldn't have eliminated some useful features while jacking up the price, but that's GM for ya.

[ragingfish]

Quote, originally posted by Sputnik »It was the silver colour (whats its new name??), For 2005, Satellite has been renamed Platinum.Shadow has been renamed Moonstone.

[ragingfish]

2005 Sightings:Platinum: Moonstone:This one was just recently delivered: It still has plastic on the wheels! Just as an aside, the mono abyss closest to you in this picture is a GT. I came VERY, I mean VERY, close, to driving it off the lot.

[VibeChick]

So is Platinum the same color as the Satellite? I mean, did they just change the name, or is it slightly different?

[AKLGT]

i think i want that lower front fascia instead of the busted one i've got now. and i don't see too much of a diff b/w the satellite and platinum color really. anyone seen them up close, can you tell me what the difference is?

[VibeChick]

LOL - jinx Hope!

[ragingfish]

Quote, originally posted by VibeChick »So is Platinum the same color as the Satellite? I mean, did they just change the name, or is it slightly different?Platinum is the same, merely a name change.The Moonstone did remind me of the gray you tend to see in Pontiac posters, ads, and at the auto shows. But AFAIK, it coulda been the same as shadow has been all along.

[Atomb]

since i was a kid i'd associate the front of a car to a face...the 04 and older look like they've got their eyebrows furled and they're leaning into a strong headwind....the 05's look 'happy'.my 'expert' review!

[ragingfish]

I do the same thing: Look at some front ends as facial expressions. I felt the 05 looked high.

[ragingfish]

UPDATE:Aside from Platinum and Moonstone, no other color changes will occurr in 05.

[ColonelPanic]

Another thing I noticed about the 2005 today... Gone are the three-jet washer nozzles on the hood. They have been replaced with nozzles with one small, rectangular opening per side.