GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Ok New guy here just purchased a 09 2.4 AWD for the wife, nice little car, haven’t picked it up yet. What are the common issues with these that I should look out for? Does the warranty cover what it should? I still have to sit down with the Pontiac finance person to discuss financing (I have my own won’t be using them) and extended warranty plus rust protection and all that. My initial response is no to all of this, is there any reason I should reconsider? I read the “advice for a new owner” thread but that’s 5 years old.

Quote, originally posted by gabe »Ok New guy here just purchased a 09 2.4 AWD for the wife, nice little car, haven’t picked it up yet. What are the common issues with these that I should look out for? Does the warranty cover what it should? I still have to sit down with the Pontiac finance person to discuss financing (I have my own won’t be using them) and extended warranty plus rust protection and all that. My initial response is no to all of this, is there any reason I should reconsider? I read the “advice for a new owner” thread but that’s 5 years old.Just my 2 cents - I am not an expert on this but everything I have read in the past 10 years says rust protection is unnecessary and grossly over priced. Also can cause more problems than it prevents.These new cars - especially AWD - are so complicated that an extended warranty might be worth the peace of mind. But maybe you should at least wait until just before the 3 yr 36 mo factory warranty runs out, though it will cost a little more then.

IMO, rust protection is bs. I live in a state where we have a ton of salt in the snow, and also thrown on the roads in the winter. I usually wash my car at least once a week in the winter. As long as you wash the salt off, there usually isn't much of a need for it.

These new cars - especially AWD - are so complicated that an extended warranty might be worth the peace of mind. But maybe you should at least wait until just before the 3 yr 36 mo factory warranty runs out, though it will cost a little more then. good logic in this. How about known issues, is there anything with Paint or I thought I saw something about center caps??

the paint i believe is still an issue with the new vibes just as the old ones: IT SUCKS!!! Really nothing else to say about that. the center caps you shouldn't need to worry about either bc IIRC there is a TSB os something for them. So if by chance your's do come off, just contact your GM dealership and they should take care of them for you.

OK, what options do I have to help with the paint issue, is there a clear coat product or do I just wax the heack out of it?

rust protection i lol'd

Quote, originally posted by gabe »OK, what options do I have to help with the paint issue, is there a clear coat product or do I just wax the heack out of it? As far as I know, there is only wax, car bra or the clear urethane film product.I did the latter to my car recently. So far it's looking great. It is expensive - cost me $550. It also doesn't cover everything. The front of the mirrors get a "cover" but I already got some scratches right on top of the mirror - how it happened I can't figure out. If I had a few extra bucks I'd have seen if they would have covered the entire hood - then it would be truly invisible.

do you have a product name?

Everything I read when deciding on a new car said never get an extended warranty from the dealer. There are national outfits that provide the same coverage for less. Rust protection = No. I read the same "Advice for New Owner". Maybe a 2009/2010 version is in order?

If you want a GM Warranty buy from a dealer that discounts them. Do a google search to find.

Page 23 in the Canadian Limited warranty, Maintenance and Owner Assistance information booklet: After Manufacture "Rustproofing" - line 4 - General Motors of Canada Limited makes no recomendation concerning the usefulness or value of such products.Is my vehicle covered from rust, too? http://www.gmc.com/100kwarranty/faq.jsp#faq6

Quote, originally posted by gabe »do you have a product name? VentureShield. They used to compete with 3M and claimed to have a tougher product. Now 3M has bought them out but the vendor I got it from said it was still the original formulation.

Well we finally got it home last night, the paperwork for the CARS program took awhile. The wife loves it, now if i can get her to keep it clean and not scratch the door with her fingernails when she gets in we will be all set.