GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Does anyone know if they are going to offer the supercharger for the GT's engine? Yeah, one for the base engine is great but I would think the people looking for performance would purchase the higher out-put engine anyway.

As of right now, there is no kind of upgrade like this available for the GT. No turbos or superchargers. The compression ratio in the GT (11.5:1) is higher than most other engines. We will have to wait and see if anything comes available.

As the more professional tuner people in other forums on this site have noted, the compression of the GT engine would have to be dropped (typically with special pistons) before turbos and SC's could be safely used on the GT's engine. Some other internal engine work would probably have to be done as well. You would probably be better off finding a naturally aspirated smaller V6 engine and equipping it with a turbo/SC and finding a way to fit it into the Vibe if you are looking for those kind of HP gains for a Vibe GT.

There may be a couple small boost kits coming out that will use a intercooler with a sprayer. Honestly, if you want extra power, get a WRX/WRX hatch for about the same price as a VibeGT with any type of FI mod. Example WRX (227 HP + AWD) can be had for $22,000 (Invoice) which a Vibe GT cost $19,000 + $~4,000 + install (~220hp + FWD). The GT is a great car, but once you start adding stuff you get into a different category of car.

I just priced out a new WRX on that site to be equipped as similarly as possible to my Vibe GT.Suggested Retail of my Vibe GT (from the window sticker)--$22,090Suggested Retail of the WRX Sedan on the Subaru website--$27,906Not even close, but they are certainly not the same car. The added power and AWD of the Subaru give it a vast advantage. However, I would have to drive this thing everyday, and for that, the Vibe with some mods would be much better for me in that respect. The interior of the WRX, with the exception of VERY few differences, is virtually the same as the Impreza, and it doesn't "Impreza" me very much at all. In fact, I think that it looks exceptionlally cheap. Stark contrast to my Vibe's chrome and leather accents that are standard GT equipment.

Holy crap!!! $34,000 for an economy car on steriods? No thanks. With that much cash difference, I could probably mod my Vibe to fly me to the moon and back.

Those trucks were sweeeeeet! The Harley-Davidson edition was great looking too. Both were expensive, though.

Whatever happened with the kit that Blitz was supposed to be developing for the Matrix (should fit Vibe)? I believe that they are selling one for the 2zz Celica GT-S, but the Matrix/Vibe has different intake piping.

quote:I just priced out a new WRX on that site to be equipped as similarly as possible to my Vibe GT.Suggested Retail of my Vibe GT (from the window sticker)--$22,090Suggested Retail of the WRX Sedan on the Subaru website--$27,906Not even close, but they are certainly not the same car. The added power and AWD of the Subaru give it a vast advantage. However, I would have to drive this thing everyday, and for that, the Vibe with some mods would be much better for me in that respect. The interior of the WRX, with the exception of VERY few differences, is virtually the same as the Impreza, and it doesn't "Impreza" me very much at all. In fact, I think that it looks exceptionlally cheap. Stark contrast to my Vibe's chrome and leather accents that are standard GT equipment.I'm not sure what you where adding to get the price of the WRX so high. I just built one and it came to $24,690 and was similar to my GT which was $22,000 MSRP. Then if you talk what you can buy them for, my GT was $19,500(GM plan) and the WRX can be had for $~22,000 if you bargin. Plus the interiors are not that far off considering how many people are complaining about the rattles on the Vibe. Out of the 2, the Vibe is the only one with a service bulletin. Now if it's better for you, that your choice, but I'm still baffled how you saw the car costing $27,000.

quote:Whatever happened with the kit that Blitz was supposed to be developing for the Matrix (should fit Vibe)? I believe that they are selling one for the 2zz Celica GT-S, but the Matrix/Vibe has different intake piping.I was holding my breathe for it, but my head began to hurt.

A friend of mine has a WRX and it will smoke any vibe any day of the week. Trust me on this one. A few mods on the WRX and it is very very fast.

i think alpines supercharger is still in the works they use a decompression plate to lower it down to a boost friendly level. so you wont have changed pistons and it can still be called a bolt on kit .patience my friend. but if your in a hurry and have 6000 dollars a blitz supercharger can be yours today and if you want 220 hp natrually aspirated trials 3zz is out and if you....rant,rant,rant.......but the way im tired a people telling other people to just buy a faster car. i'd never trade my vibe for anything(except a skyline...drools)it may not be a fast car. it may never beat a wrx but with a little guts and a little more cash. it will be one of if not THE fastest vibe out there.speed counts but so does originality.everyone has a force inducted wrx very few will have a forced inducted vibe

Thanks to everyone who responded. Clearly the WRX is a faster car; however, in Canada (my home) the WRX retails at about $10000 more than the Matrix Xrs or Vibe GT. So that rules out the WRX.I think this question may also be more to the point than my first. If the GT or Xrs kicks out 180 hp, why in the hell would I buy a 130hp motor and supercharge it? To me the extra hp on the GT and Xrs, plus the ton of options included is a way better buy. Am I correct in assuming this or am I way out to lunch

180 horses yes, but only 130lbs of torque whereas a supercharged base vibe would put out close to 170lbs of torque. you also have to consider where the 180hp kicks is (6000rpm +)...so overall I think the performance with the supercharger would be better that a GT but then you also have to consider your point about other options (4 wheel discs, 6 speed and so on)

quote:i think alpines supercharger is still in the works they use a decompression plate to lower it down to a boost friendly level. so you wont have changed pistons and it can still be called a bolt on kit .Is this plate like a shim?The other thing I'm wondering if the engine is non interference or not. If it isn't and one is considering turbo, couldn't dishes be cut into the pistons serve a dual purpose? Lowering compression and allowing for valve clearance incase of timing chain failure.

quote:i think alpines supercharger is still in the works they use a decompression plate to lower it down to a boost friendly level. so you wont have changed pistons and it can still be called a bolt on kit .Decompression plate? Sounds like a extra thick head gasket to me.quote:The other thing I'm wondering if the engine is non interference or not. If it isn't and one is considering turbo, couldn't dishes be cut into the pistons serve a dual purpose? Lowering compression and allowing for valve clearance incase of timing chain failure.I don't know if it's an interference motor or not but if it were as easy as cutting valve releifs in the pistons, I think the factory would have done that. They may not have due to the amount of clearance needed versus the thickness of the piston.But don't take my word for it. My car knowledge is merely adequate.

Don't feel too bad if you can't get a supercharger for a GT. They promissed a supercharger for Base vibes in "early 2003", but there is still no sign of one available. It's middle of April, and quite a stretch for the definition of "early". I feel lied to.KSNeptune

there is a super charger for the gt engine to my knowledge blitz makes a super charger for the gt engine but it costs about 7 thousand dollars what a rip so that is out of the question.

quote:.....but the way im tired a people telling other people to just buy a faster car. i'd never trade my vibe for anything(except a skyline...drools)it may not be a fast car. it may never beat a wrx but with a little guts and a little more cash. it will be one of if not THE fastest vibe out there.speed counts but so does originality.everyone has a force inducted wrx very few will have a forced inducted vibeThere are times when buying a faster car would make more sense from an economic point of view. But it may not make sense at all to someone like yourself who wants to exercise creative expression, or someone like myself, who enjoys the hobby aspect of performance tuning. Right now, I'm still in the phase of bolting on pre-engineered off-the-shelf performance parts. As I move through the project, I think audio / interior offers some of the greatest opportunities for individual creativity and expression. Then, there's wheels, tires, custom paint... it just goes on and on!If one were to merely upgrade to a "faster car", in many case the budget will be gone, and with it, the opportunity for expression and creativity.

speaking of bolt on performance im watching hi rev tuners now and they got a turbo mr2 big deal you say it was a 2zz swap with xs engineering supposed bolt on turbo kit. (built internals) theres stuff out there for 2zz owners its just not cheap(unless you get nos).

the guy who turboed my vibe, then did a matrix....then a celica gt..which is the wrong gt lol ,but anyways the rumor is that a matrx xrs is going in next....if so ...i will let you know how it goes , because the 2zz is a bit tricky.....but I know this shopp will be less $$ thn the xs kit.. the vibe kit is 3500.00, unless there is a group buy..or something... if a gt kit /xrs kit comes out , it might be the same....