GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Here is a question that I want to throw out to you all who already bought a Vibe. I have an AWD Vibe, and I'm getting so far on average of 24 MPG over two tanks of gas so far (50% city, 50% highway). This is a far cry from the 26/31 that the sticker advertises. I also posted this on the Matrix forum, and it looks like quite a few are getting sub-par mileage-AWDs base models and XRS. I'm hoping that the MPG will increase with the mileage on the car, but I just wanted some other opinions. Anyone else logging the mileage? With the smaller AWD gas tank, and lower MPG, I have a cruising range that's less than 300 mi!

I'm not sure how long it takes this engine 'break in' but I know on the other cars I have had it takes at least 1000 miles to start getting the best mileage.- Mike

I've been totally babying it for the break-in period, so I'm fairly sure that isn't the problem. I hope that it is the break-in period, or else this puts a damper on the idea of this being my road-trip car. 300 mi cruising range is an awful lot of fill-ups!

I'm logging my mileage, but I have a Base FWD Vibe with a manual transmission, so I'm not sure this information means anything for you. I'm averaging around 30 mpg for mostly city driving. That basically equals the EPA estimate on the sticker so I'm happy about it.

The problem with those EPA figures is they don't always translate well into real world figures. There are too many factors to take into consideration... air temperature and pressure, driving habits, actual traffic etc. I have never owned a car that would get its average MPG as high as the ciy epa figure in around town driving. On all highway driving, they have all been within 1-2 MPG.After 1K miles, it should improve 1-2 MPG too (maybe more). Give it a little time and a few more tanks and see what you get.

I have a base Vibe with auto. I got about 28 mpg on my first tank and about 35 on the next 2 tanks (65% highway/35% city). I'm up to 1500 miles now.

Driving a Vibe GT with an average of 28mpg... after about 12 refuels. I mainly drive about 75% city and 25% hwy.just my $0.02...

Hey there, I have a vibe AWD too. I am doing all city driving at this time and I am averaging around 24-25 mpg. When I first got the car I was lower then that. One thing I did find out after some research is that the car is set to drive in overdrive all the time. If you hit the little button on the automatic shifter a light will show up on dash and say O/D off. The manual says that this will improve mileage. The bad thing is you have to do it each time you start up the car because it resets to O/D each time car starts up. Another bad thing about turning off O/D is that acceleration will also suffer a little bit. I hope this helps.

Actually if you will look on basically any of the information about the Vibe, you will notice that those are GM "over"estimates, not official EPA estimates. They have not rated the vehicle yet for mileage.

With my GT I've been initially got 24 mpg and today I pulled over 28 mpg. I would say 29 but I'm giving a half gallon variance. I think this is very good considering that I have a very heavy lead foot and use the A/C on the way to work. I do about 75/25% highway/city and have about 1300 miles on the engine.

I have 10k on my Vibe GT I drive about 80mi a day round trip to/from work. 65 of those miles on the Interstate. I am logging my mileage and getting right at 30mpg. I am using 92 octane only. I believe running lower octane may have a negative affect on the fuel economy
[Modified by btbrewer, 3:17 PM 8/13/2002]

quote:If you hit the little button on the automatic shifter a light will show up on dash and say O/D off. The manual says that this will improve mileage. The bad thing is you have to do it each time you start up the car because it resets to O/D each time car starts up. Another bad thing about turning off O/D is that acceleration will also suffer a little bit. I hope this helps. Are you sure you don't have this bit mixed up? I thought the overdrive gear improves gas mileage, and hurts acceleration.

quote:Actually if you will look on basically any of the information about the Vibe, you will notice that those are GM "over"estimates, not official EPA estimates. They have not rated the vehicle yet for mileage.I was looking at the window sticker from my vibe and it's completey different than the estimates from GM. It has an actual DOE/EPA rating of 25 city/30 highway. I was a little suprised because everything I read pointed to 21 city/30 highway.

Yes, Overdrive is any drive ratio that is less than 1:1. Such as 0.78 or something. Overdrive improves gas mileage. The only time you would want to "lock out" overdrive is if you were pulling a trailer or climing a long steep hill. That's it.Acceleration will not change, because the drive ratios of the first three gears are exactly the same whether overdrive is engaged or not. It's just another gear. Simple as that.FYI-4th, 5th, and 6th gear are all overdrive gears in my Stealth. That's the only way it's able to get 25mpg on the freeway. Yes, 25mpg and 450hp However, you can't have both at the same time.
[Modified by jeremyk, 5:58 PM 8/30/2002]

I Get about 315 miles before i have to fill again... does antone else get more???

Been averaging 32 mpg with the base and automatic tranny in mixed driving.

quote:I Get about 315 miles before i have to fill again... does antone else get more???I just got 360 miles out of my tank on my Vibe GT.

quote:I Get about 315 miles before i have to fill again... does antone else get more???I just got 360 miles out of my tank on my Vibe GT. Woah Do you use the ac??? alot??

I have a GT and drive without consideration for the Kyoto Protocol. But for the purpose of this topic I filled my tank with and drove 468km(290.8 miles) then the low fuel light went on. I put in 45 liters of fuel (9.90 imp. gallons or 11.90 us gallons) This resulted in fuel consumptions of 10.4l for 100km, 29.37 miles per imp gallon, and 24.46 miles per us gallon.

WOW! I drove to Chicago yesterday, and got 38.9 MPG! Base, 5-speed, A/C off for most of the trip... it was in the cooler hours of the morning! Cruise set near 70 MPH.

i had a fiero formula too, an '88, i it but it hated alaska! lolmy gas mileage is actually declining..i have a awd and was getting 19-22mpg in the winter and was getting 24-25 about a month ago, then it started going south...my last was 21mpg at 4800 mi w/o using a/c and i think this last tank will be even lower.

Are your driving habits any different? In winter time, people typically are easier on the engine, less agressive, and more delicate about speed and care...Come summer, without the threat of slick ice-covered roads, people tend to be a bit more agressive...Though I don't know how it is in Alaska...do you guys have a summer? LOL!

yeah, short and brief, with days that never end until june 21st, then we start slowly retreating back into darkness until dec 21st after which we start slowly getting sun again, lol. driving habits are about the same. gas mileage took a hit when i did a 300mi roundtrip one day. my gas fillup indicated the upper 20's when i left and after i topped it off half way thru my jouney it registered the lower 20's and has been dropping about a 1 mpg ever since....i think she's dealer bound...wonder if something electronically tripped up...there are no cel's..i wonder if disconnecting the juice and letting the computers empty info will help any?