LUVROK - 2005 Vibe GT Neptune

[LUVROK]

Picked up this 05 GT this week out of the "blue". I was looking at mid-90s Land Rovers, found out how unreliable they were and began looking at Vibes online. This one happened to be for sale at the Pontiac dealership my brother works at. It had 270 miles on it and was supposedly a GM demo car that was on tour at car shows to show the new body style. The only option it has is the monotone appearance package...no power windows or locks. Other than this GT I only found a couple of 06 models in MA.A little about me: I'm new to sport compacts. I've been into Jeeps, not for name's sake but more for ease of building for off-roading, since 2000. Prior to that I was into GM G-bodies and had an 87 Grand Prix and 84 Monte SS. I haven't driven much faster than 65 MPH over the past 6 years.I'm ready to buy upgrades any day...just don't want to void the warranty. I purchased a 72 month / 60k mile extended warranty so it will be some time. I'll be searching first and then asking questions later.

[scherry2]

Welcome to the world of Vibe

[denvette78]

Welcome to genvibe and you made a good choice buying a vibe. Good on gas and fun to drive. I bought mine in december and my brother in law wanted to trade his montana so i gave him a ride in my vibe.He was so impressed that last week he came home with his new vibe. A good compromise for someone who use to drive minivan.

[Mrizzle05]

welcome to genvibe.Love the car! and its an 05 like mine... woo hoo!!!

[ArcsVibe]

Welcome to the family! Which mods are you planning on doing?

[LUVROK]

Thanks all for the warm welcome -Shorter springs...I'm used to lifting things, not dropping them.-Strut bar-Sway bars-Wheels &Tires...I like the Gram Light wheels-Cold Air Intake-Catback exhaust, unless the header is also worth replacing.-Stereo / Speakers-Spoiler...maybe-Roofrack for kayaks...I saw a Thule version with the GM label at the dealership that has the square cross bars and locks and a wide footprint. I have similar Thule setups for my other vehicles but they don't wrap around the factory side bars with as much surface area and tend to twist.-Lambo doors...heheh...not.What am I missing? What is best to do first? It is already very capable on the street from the factory.I have my own opinion of what items should be added in a particular order when turning a street vehicle into an offroad machine but have never made changes to a vehicle to improve it's street handling/performance, only enough to make it pass MA state inspection after removing the swaybars and other things that make it handle better on the street.

[NascarXprt]

hey is that a dealer pin stripe or custom? and welcome to the Genvibe family.

[LUVROK]

Dealer. It wasn't in the photos I saw of the vehicle online. My brother, who is a GM mechanic at the dealer I made the purchase, told me a guy comes in every few weeks and adds pinstripes to whatever cars on the lot. I never knew such a thing happened, always thought pinstripes were factory. I didn't really like the stripe when I first noticed it, which was after I bought it but I'm actually liking it more with the stripe now. Good eyes for noticing with all the glare in the pics.Any tricks to removing the dealer badge on the hatch? Propane torch and goo-gone?

[POLO]

Very sharp o good Vibe you have there Welcome on board

[Psychobroker]

Nice GT, welcome aboard

[LUVROK]

The GT has undergone a bit of surgery in the past 5 months...Items added since birth:Audio:Polk Audio db6500 Component speakers in front (woofers mounted behind stock grilles, tweeters placed on door panel behind manual door locks, crossovers placed behind door panels)Polk Audio db650 2 way speakers in rear (mounted behind stock grilles)Sirius Starmate Replay (mounted on windshield below visor)Engine:Injen Cold Air Intake (2004 Toyota XRS model)Magnaflow cat back exhaustExterior:Mr Grille billet grilleTransmission:TWM short shifter w/ Type-R weighted shift knobHandling:Eibach Sportline lowering springsDC Sports Strut Tower Bar (100% Grade A Steel Beef)Progress rear swaybarLatest exterior pics:Under hood pics:Interior pics: Ordered a pair of rear spoilers and trying to decide what color to paint them. Neptune blue or gloss black to match my future 18" wheel purchase.

[BlueCrush]

Lookin' good! Keep up the nice work!

[Mrizzle05]

hey LUVROK... where did you get that metal thing under the shift knob. i have the same set up and i just try and keeep the boot stuffed inside the shift knob to keep it looking decent?

[LUVROK]

The piece the leather is attached to? The chrome ring? That's factory, I didn't add anything.

[Mrizzle05]

Hmmm.... i dont have one of those... Ok then guess ima have to go with a shift boot and ebrake boot then. thanks

[808 Vibes]

Congrats on the sweet Neptune!!!

[SuperSpeedWagon]

thats a sweet looking vibe there man keep it up looking forward to seeing more mods and pix

[melders]

that thing is awesome....keep up with the good work, nic pictures