GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

quote:What is a remote level for the liftgate mean? You mean a motorized liftgate?BTW, it would be nice if there was an option for a power liftgate like the navigator...but I think we all know that's unlikely. Remote level for liftgate, not motorized but "wired" just like the gazdoor that you can open from that small arm (left of driver's seat)I've got the same on my old Mazda to open gazdoor AND liftgate.IF it's "powered" you'll need to take "power package" may be, but if it's "wired"... no need to take "power package"!!! Just like so many cars I owned (Accord'84 Mazda'88...) with no power pkg.

I have 1100 miles on my Vibe, purchased from Jim Causley.ImprovementThe GT model has enough power for me and I like to power band as it allows for me to drive like a grandma for mileage and rev it when I want to zoom. But it might appeal to more people with a broader power rangeSince I like the peaky power plant, the gearing is a bit of for my tastes. 1-4 is fine, fifth should be a bit higher (numerically lower) and 6th should be around .45-1.If I could have any GM powerplant (within cost reason) I would like the Grand AM GT engine along with all wheel drive and 6-speed...Thanks!

quote:Remote level for liftgate, not motorized but "wired" just like the gazdoor that you can open from that small arm (left of driver's seat)gotcha!

I would like to see OnStar available...I noticed it's in all the Pontiac models this year -- even low-end Sunfire...that would be awesome if we could have that...I never had it, but the whole concept of them dispatching help if they detect the airbags go off is very reassuring...I'd be willing to pay for that each year just to have that peace of mind. Hell, I pay for AAA and NEVER USE IT!!! I'd change my own tires before I called and waited hours for AAA...so I'd nix that and go with OnStar....'and also driver personalization. You can set the radio presets differently, depending on which Remote is used to open the car...it was great!

Hey GM here's a thought:Don't make my dealer toil to replace my entire gauge cluster because the stupid plastic lens broke. Make the lens available as a replacement part! My dealer says it will take days in the shop because they have to reset the odo on the new gauge set...I can't believe this mess just for some plastic!!!

My opinion is that the lens is junk - I have noticed a few scratches on mine and have started cleaning it with the lens cleaners for my glasses. It is cheap plastic and scratches easy - good thing you can not really notice it until your nose is up against the steering wheel.

Don't let it break dude, it'll be a $500 replacement if you opt to do so! Thankfully, my dealer is gonna help me as much as he can...

Too much trouble. If the dealer can't get me a freebie, then I'll check junkyards...

1). larger sunvisors w/mirror cover2). longer armrest for the center console3). cloth on back doors4). telescopic steering wheel5). all window/lock controls lit up at nite6). better hatch storage cover (more rigid)7). bigger fuel tank for awd8). more torque on bottom enddont change the personality of this liitle car or the exterior basic design

I would definately want the chirp when I hit the remote, to let me know car is locked and alarm is active!

Change the chimes back to GM chimes, not Toyota chimes. The capability is already built into the radio -- I used an old trick from my snfire to check. While in accessory mode, and the radio is off, hold down the number 6 preset. it will say "high" and do a chime test. do it again, it goes back to normal. In my sunfire, the chime was through the radio, and in the vibe, they use a similar radio, so they should just ditch the toyota chime and move back to the old one, which was softer and more friendly. The toyota one says "hey ***hole, you left your lights on you worthless junkie" while the gm one says "hey now, don't forget to turn off them lights buddy!"And I agree - ALL controls should be lit up at night, not just dash and comfort systems. I always love the look of a car at night with all the lights all over place: the window controls, the lock controls, the dash, the radio, the hvac controls, the 115 outlet (hint hint, needs a light)...kida makes me feel like i'm flying an airplane. dunno why. it's soothing though. now, it's so dark, i can't find anything. oh, and i said it before, i'll say it again. the courtesy lighting isn't very courteous. need more interior lighting, some floor lighting, some door lights, and use the stinkin overhead light in the front. it's there!

Ok, it took me a long time to come up with this list (in no particular order of importance):1. I want to lock the doors with the remote, and have every orifice of that car wide open.2. Put in more interior lighting. I want to be able to (removed) a chicken in there (a lot of light is required for sexing chickens).3. Cruise control is way too touchy. If you go up or down a hill (which in these parts is rare, so when it happens, it scares the crap out of you), the car accels or decels a lot.4. The handle to open the cubby under the shifter is in exactly the spot I want to push on to close it. So, it takes me 3 or 4 tries to close the darn thing. Maybe a pinch type lock would be better?5. Put in rear power plugs, accessory & AC.6. Fix the tilt! I want to feel trapped by that steering wheel, and need to tilt it up to get out. Maybe telescoping would help this, but I like being far from the wheel.7. Bigger gas tank.8. Manual tranny on AWD.9. Fog light indicator on dash. Blue light is the standard for fog lights, I want one.10. Headlight sentinel is way too sensitive.11. Backlight everything. If I might want to touch it, I want it lit up!12. The red dash lighting is hard to read, especially with sunglasses on. Give me the option of changing the backlight colour.13. How about training the Pontiac service staff on how to fix a Toyota?14. Everyone should be able to see the outside temp display, that is a good idea!15. Speaking of the temp gauge, I want to be able to toggle back & forth between F & C. And miles and kilometers.16. Lumbar support, please.17. More height adjustment for the drivers seat. I'm short in the torso & long in the leg. I wanna see for miles & miles.18. I want to be able to turn the AWD on & off.19. If you can't do 18, at least give me an idiot light that tells me when I'm getting AWD. I rented an Olds Alero once & had it hydroplane on the highway. I got a little light that said "Traction". I like that.20. Bigger sunvisors. I don't want to see what's in front of me, I just don't want the sun in my eyes.21. Bigger cupholders spaced further apart. I want to put in 2 travel mugs & not have the handles collide. I bet the back cupholders suck, but I've never personally used them.22. Power the accesory outlets ALL THE TIME. Why do I need to hide my cell phone in the centre console while I'm driving? I want to hide it while it's charging, when I'm away from the car!!!23. Parts availability. I waited 3 months for a computer module. Sad.24. How about introducing the Toyota & Pontiac dealers to one another, so they can share troubleshooting data? Out here in the sticks, there aren't very many Toyota dealers, so when my rural Pontiac dealer phones the Toyota dealer in the city, they're like, "Who the hell are you?"Most of these have been listed already, but I've learned that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. So, I don't intend to stop squawking until I'm all lubed up

My comment on the power outlets would be, it would be nice to have one on the outside of the center console or at the least a small porthole to put my car charger through for my cell phone. It's not always convenient to have the phone sitting in the console and using the one on the dash results in me smacking it when I shift or snagging the cord. Not to mention I hate having cords strung about my car. The alternative of course is running the charger cord out of the console and closing it. This to me is non ideal since I tend to rest my elbow on the armrest while driving and this puts undue stress on the cable of a rather pricey car charger. That's really my only complaint and it's really rather petty. It's certainly not what I would consider a major issue.

I agree.... they got a dummy light for the headlamps. (like I can't tell there on) but nothing for the fog lamps.........

Would like the following many are the same as everyone else:1. A turbo or supercharger option for the 2ZZ engine.2. A freaking indicator for the fog lamps. (by the way blue is standard for high beams)3. softer arm rests.....4. Accessory plugs in rear.5. HID lamps.6. covers and light in vanity mirror.7. Lower ride hight.8. throatier exhaust. It may be Toyota engine but it says Pontiac so it should sound like an American car.9. Roof rack should be an option. ( I like it but some people do not)10. More stereo options (more power, more speakers)11. more adjustable drivers seat with lumbar.12. back lite window controls etc.

I would like to see GM offer the leather wrapped steering wheel, shifter, and possibly even leather interior as a whole on all versions. And for those who don't know how to drive a stick but find the extra hp nice on the GT, why not offer an automatic on it? And even a manual on the AWD version. I believe these are all things that GM should be able to accomplish in the years to come. I would also like to see the two tone vanquished for ever. Just stick with the monotone as a standard feature for all models, and all packages.

I think the option of two tone or monotne is a good idea. They're both nice, and they give people the opportunity to cater to their tastes. I wouldn't object to the monotone being the same price though...

quote: (by the way blue is standard for high beams)Oops, you're right ... I stand corrected.

quote: (by the way blue is standard for high beams)Oops, you're right ... Good call. I don't think there's a universal standard for fogs...my old Grand Am had a button for the fogs with an itty bitty red light next to it that lit when they were on. My sunfire had a green light to show when the DRL's were on (which is oddly similar to the green light that shows the reg lights are on in this one).

That's kind of odd - you got two tone and now you wish they'd get rid of the option. I know you're not planning on your car becoming a collectible... I don't know why GM would give two tone to everybody for free if there's smucks like me that would pay for it. I agree with raginfish - it gives the car more of a small SUV flavor than monotone - which gives it a large hatchback personality. Since more people prefer the monotone and it cost more to paint the panels, it only makes sense to make the monotoners pay for their option themselves. You all seem to forget what a good deal the vibe is. Making them all monotone would just jack up the price for everybody. Just like giving them all a sunroof or adding ABS to everrything. As far as quote:...And for those who don't know how to drive a stick but find the extra hp nice on the GT, why not offer an automatic on it? And even a manual on the AWD version..., this sounds like a good idea, but I'd like to see what kind of performance numbers toyota is getting with the auto XRS. I can't believe that they would compare to Novaresource's times in his base auto vibe. If you want an auto, you'd want the new supercharger package with an automatic on a base vibe. I did agree with your manual AWD comment, but again with the base engine and supercharger. I hear that the transfer case is from RAV4 and I'd be worried about how much torque/rpm it could handle. By the time toyota got done redesigning the manual to have a PTO (for AWD), the vibe would probably be dangerously close to Subaru WRX wagon territory...

I couldn't find it now to save my life, and I don't think it's the same exact case, but I read it early on in autoweek or car&driver/motortrend/road&track. The article was trying to explain why the AWD vibe wasn't likely to see a bump in hp anytime soon. The line said that the transfer case was adapted from the RAV4... Now you've got me wondering - I found some data that shows that matrix vibe use a VCU just like the rav4, but other than that - I can't find any data...Kindof a pity too - I remember when toyota made Celica all-trac's and were very proud of their rally reputation.

dont know if anyone mentioned this yet, but i am not a big fan of the front end, it reminds me of the aztek. i also wish the dome light would com eone when the car turns off, the radio stay on for a bit when the car is off(like my 2000 grand prix had), and one more thing: it would be nice for the hidden power source to work while the car is not running. other than that i think the vibe is great.

quote:the radio stay on for a bit when the car is off(like my 2000 grand prix had), I believe the feature you are referring to is known as RAP, Retained Accessory Power. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

yeah, sounds about right, i miss that alot

1. LEATHER????????? HELLO????????????2. The lame sounding horn3. Make the GT with an Automatic4. The plastic in the hatch has to GO!5. Price. (I didn't understand why the Toyota Matrix was cheaper?)

quote:5. Price. (I didn't understand why the Toyota Matrix was cheaper?) You raise an interesting point. Ever since I've owned Pontiacs, they've always seemed overpriced. Yet in return, their quality has always been fair, but I always felt I was overpaying, when I see ads for other cars of similar caliber for thousands less. I wouldn't care if the quality was off the charts -- but it's far from in general. Granted, the heart of the vibe is a toyota, so in terms of quality, i'd like to think this will outperform other Pontiacs -- but their overall pricing policy seems screwy to me.

quote:5. Price. (I didn't understand why the Toyota Matrix was cheaper?) Vibe come with more standard feature then the Matrix. All Vibes have A/C and fod light standard, on Matrixes they are optional.Plus GM give lower interest rate then Toyota

quote:Vibe come with more standard feature then the Matrix. All Vibes have A/C and fod light standard, on Matrixes they are optional.A/C is still just an option on some cars? Wow. Strange. I was shocked to learn that a cd player is an option, not standard, on some cars still (Kia and Suzuki)

yeah, i agree, a GT with auto would be nice for us simple minded people.

Most Definitely!!!!!! Hey, people that like automatics like to drive fast too!!!!!!!!! A/C an option? I thought it would HAVE to come standard these days! Hello everybody? CD also. I didn't know they still made cars with cassette decks!

And don't forget the roof racks...

Small turbocharged diesel. Imagine the torque and fuel economy of a chipped VW 1.9 TDI in one of these!

quote:Small turbocharged diesel. Imagine the torque and fuel economy of a chipped VW 1.9 TDI in one of these!ooh, ooh!! I'd buy one!! I was gonna buy a VW, but they didn't wanna take my death trap (explorer) on trade, and I couldn't get anything with AWD in my price range. A diesel Vibe AWD would be SWEET!

I'd have them do a better job with the interior. I like the styling but after 6K miles the interior squeaks and rattles are driving me NUTS!! I am more than happy with everything else.

Seems like a good time to ask, that's right, another car question! Hehe. I'm sure y'all are getting to love my excessive questions.Anyway...what are the advantages/disadvantages of diesel engines over standard gas engines...I was always under the impression that diesel was more expensive, had less pickup, and was overall, not as good as a gasoline engine...Based on responses here, I sense I'm wrong?

Yep, you'll get lots of torque at very low RPM's with a diesel. So if you ever wanted to pull a tree stump out of the ground with the Vibe, that's the engine to have!

Re diesel advantages:* Lots of torque, which means you don't need to scream to 6k RPMs to get haulin'. Personally, I'm all about the low-end grunt and stoplight to stoplight vs the highend powerband* Much better fuel economy - I read an article recently, and I forget where it was, but b/co f the way diesels operate they are more efficient in general than a gas engine. They are even more efficient at idle, so if you live in metro areas and sit in traffic a lot, diesels are even better.* Modern car diesels burn clea, no more of the odors and super loud noises that most people associate with them. * Less maintenace - no plugs, plug wires, distributors, etc to change. Europe has a lot of diesels, even the Japanese car mfg's offer diesel options of their cars in Europe. Hell, BMW even has diesel 3 series cars! However, to my knowledge, the only car diesel you can get in America is the TDI from VW. If you're curious about this motor you can find out a lot at http://www.tdiclub.com/.On a side note, take a look at truck specs...the GM diesel motor is an absolute monster, producting ~300hp.500+ lb/ft of torque, and still pulling off ~20mpg! Try that w/a 454 or other big block.I've been doing a lot of research and reading lately and am learning quite a bit, and the more I read the more I'd like a diesel car. But, unfortunately, the optins just aren't there right now (basically, you're stuck w/VW if you want a car). Oh, and yes in some cases the diesels cost more up front - but they will also run 300k+ miles before they need a rebuild. So, chances are your car will actually fall apart before the motor. Plus, if you plan on selling the car, the diesel should have a higher resale value, so you recoup some of your upfront costs. Just my $.02 on this, I suggest you actually do some reading though and don't take my word on any of it. -Brian

quote:I agree but HP is also fun to have. But also diesel engine can be slow, I have seen diesel engines that take for ever to get to 60 mph!True, but I should have stated earlier that the diesel would be turbocharged and not normally aspired. The chipped TDIs are getting 150hp+ (IIRC I tink some people are pushing up 200-250). That, along w/the low end grunt, could be some good fun.quote:Yes and no, it depends, in the first few years that's true but when wear and tear gets in the equation, the smell and sound are more present. Also this reduction in noise and smell is due to the fact that diesel engine with the addition of turbos are today smaller than they were for the same output!This may be true, but I think the new turbo diesels have come a long way WRT overall quality...at least I'm hoping.quote:Also on other aspects, remember that diesel engines actually cost alot more than gas engines at purchase. And that for colder climates you have to plug the engines no matter what and be careful when you start them in the morning.Actually, the smaller diesel engines aren't too much more (a few thousand) and if you drive a lot of miles you'll get that back in gas savings. I also think the higher resale helps offset the cost. But, having to plug the block in and add fuel additives during the winter is a definite drawback.quote:Great Post my friend!Hee, you too! -Brian

Yeah, the only diesels I was every familiar with was the few mercedes i saw on the roads that had 'em...and i could never understand why someone would go with a diesel...but i hear ya now. so wait, there's no spark plugs in a diesel? how does it ignite the fuel? and why does it have to be pre-heated in the winter? thanks.

Part of the reason for the sky-high compression ratio of a diesel is to create enough heat of compression to ignite the fuel. In the winter, with all that cold fuel and cold metal, and maybe cranking a bit slow, they often need glow plugs to get things lit off.

Howabout having the AWD engine with some more power and a bigger gas tank. Also I would like an outlet in the rear of the car. Bigger cup holders that can hold those bigger Snapple bottles. Lets see what else can I wish for.... MORE POWER IN THE AWD ENGINE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not sure if i ever said this one...but for safety reasons, it would be nice if full exterior lights (head, tail, etc) came on whenever the wipers are on (excluding windshield washes, of course). i dunno bout other states, but it's law in jersey you have lights on when wipers are on, and people who don't have their lights on are damn hard to see in a rain storm...

Good idea! Around here, there are no laws that i know of that mandate use of headlights when raining. DRL's have actually made it worse to a point - it seems that people think they don't need to turn on their lights, since they are already on... But I don't think they realize that just the headlights lights are on - when it's pouring down rain and visibility is limited, you have a hard time seeing the back of the car in front of you.

Not only do they think they don't need to turn on their lites, but many wouldn't if they were told to. Several of my friends are like that -- "why do they put drl's in if they're not good enough"It's extremely unsafe. And stupid. And arrogant. IMHO. And I am not referring to those who merely forget. Heck, we all do. Rather, I refer to those who blatantly don't turn on their lights when clearly they're needed, cause they think they're too good for it or something.

Here's another thought. My old Sunfire, you could press the trip odo button when the engie was off to get a reading, say, when you take it in for service. This car, you have to turn it to acc to get a reading. Kind of a nuisance. Would like to see it the other way in the future. Hardly a major flaw though.

quote:Here's another thought. My old Sunfire, you could press the trip odo button when the engie was off to get a reading, say, when you take it in for service.Good idea! I thought about this today when I had to turn the ignition back on to put the odometer reading into the Palm when I was fueling. I've got a couple of suggestions for the gauges as well. First, add an english/metric switch. So if you wanted (which I do for some reason) you could switch the odometer and temperature display to metric. Another idea to do with that E/M switch: Give the speedometer one scale, ending at 240 for instance, instead of the seperate scales for MPH and km/h. With the push of the button, you could be viewing your speed in english or metric. Something like the Vette and various other higher-end GM vehicles have had on their analog speedometers for a while now... Wow, you're doin' 100? Uh, yeah... Another idea... Years ago, Mom owned an Olds Ninety Eight with digital gauges. It had a feature I think the Vibe needs. To the right of the gauges was a photocell which controlled the brightness of the gauges. If it was light outside and the headlights were on, the gauges would stay at full brightness. If it sensed darkness, the brightness of the gauges could be controlled manually using the dimmer for the interior lights. I keep my gauges set to the super bright position at all times, even at night, so I don't have the problem with being able to read the gauges when the ALC decides to kick the lights on at noon. For those who don't keep them turned all the way up, this would be perfect. If they can't get the ALC issue resolved, they could add a simple circuit to keep the Vibe's gauges at their brightest setting whenever light is detected. But they need to make sure the photocell is placed in a good location this time. That's what got us where we are now in the first place. Hey Pontiac... Gimme a heads up display, too.

How about changeing the gearing in the base car(5spd)47mpg is nice but 40 mpg is ok to.1 and 2 are ok but there is to much drop off in 3,4,5 it would make the base engine feel more powerful and make up for the short fall in touqe.

Great idea! How 'bout putting the 6 speed in the base. First 5 gears would be close ratio and 6th would be your highway cruising gear. This may let us 'base' vibe owners use all our horsepower a little better.

Had mine for about 4 months now, and my gripe list is mostly minor issues:- The clutch to start switch is not adjustable. (I had to put a spacer on the back of the clutch pedal arm)- The power inverter rating of 100 Watts is weak.- The second 12V power in the console should be hot all the time, not just when the ignition is on- There should be a switch to disable the DRL and auto headlights.- The AUX on the CD AUX button on the standard stereo should be there for a reason- The horn is too wimpy.- The door armrest could use even some minimal padding.- The back window is misleading. It looks a lot bigger from the outside, but you lose a lot on each side for the hatch frame and the blacked out edges on the glass.- It is way too easy to scratch the plastic used for the top of the dashboard - The fuse box under the dash is a real pain to get to. Definitely need a puller or a pair of needle nose pliers to change a fuse there.- Too many people have had problems with rattles associated with the dash.

I'm sure that it has been mentioned, but I don't feel like reading through 9 pages to see if it is here....but the future Vibe's better come with better quality paint.I washed my car yesterday (I mean really washed and polished it)....and quite frankly, I got more nicks and scratches after one winter with the Vibe than I had after 4 years owning a Civic (my civic being dark green). Nicks on the door, I can handle, since you can't stop people from banging recklessly into your door, but the scratches on the hood are unnecessary. Even with touch up paint it won't look the same anymore. I will get my car detailed in a month or so, and hope that they can buff some of them out.