GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

My daughter has this car and I notice when I drive it it seems to have a delay when accelerating. Its a noticeable hesitation then it accelerates. Maybe it's just me or has something to do with the variable timing engine. Ace...

I have the base with the 2.4L and 5 speed automatic... mine does the same thing... When you first get on it, there is a bit of hesitation then a surge of power....It has to be the way the transmission is programmed, as the hesitation goes away if you put the shifter in manual mode. My understanding is that manual mode is not really manual, it just lets you have some control over the top gear the tranny will shift into as well as downshifting on demand, and holds the shifts a little longer in the powerband. When I start off in manual mode set to 4 or 5, the shifting/power is smooth.Of course, when playing with that mode I lost 2 mpg... (Overall, I'm not sure the 5 speed auto is ready for prime time)

Thanks!It's great little car and well featured for the money. It gets her around in Birmingham quite well. She never said anything about it. I just noticed since she is home from BSC this Summer.Ace...

rule of thumb with a four banger is you have to really get on it and get those rpms up to get the full power out of it

It's probably the drive by wire system isn't it?My understanding is that somewhere along the line they changed mechanical throttle cable out for a "drive by wire" system that is electrical and uses sensors to figure out how much the pedal is depressed, then it calculates current speed and gear and rpm and uses all that to figure out how far to open the butterfly in the throttle body. I think they changed to this system in like 2005 or 06. I've heard this system will cause the lag you are describing.

Also, if you're trying to lug the engine up from 2000, it's going to take a while.... but you have the box of slush, so yes, this is normal! Shift it yourself!!!

I wouldn't say it's all on the automatic or the low RPM. My 03 GT lags when the RPM is high and I let out on the clutch quickly.... though it also screeches and smells like rubber while it's lagging. heh.

I have an old 3.8 Lumina LTZ, a Redline Sky and an Avalanche that don't have the lag. It's not bad or scary. I just noticed it. It's a great car. I would reccomend the GT package. I really like the looks and the options for the price. I hadn't planned on buying her a new car to go to school. If it was for me, power seats and a few other things but it drives and handles great. I just thought that little (almost turbo lag) was obvious. Oh yes it's an automatic.Ace...