GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I do believe our vibe isn't very good in riding though snow~Today, I attempted to drive to Tim Horton (is Canadian version of Krispy Kreme) for lunch, but only to get stuck in my back alley~ We got like 5cm of fresh snow...A dude with his F150 4x4 pull me out effortlessly to the front of our house~ Still not sure if I can drive it to work tomorrow...Here is a shoot of my car after it got pull out by a truck... Here is a shoot of another car, same back alley where I got stuck... this civic has move like 10 feets since this morning (that's like 5 hrs later)! LoL... Than this cop came along and join the fun as they both get stuck... haha...

you just need snow tires

Quote, originally posted by northvibe »you just need snow tires x2there are many discussions on here about which ones to get, makes a MAJOR difference!!!!dave

Quote, originally posted by djkeev »x2x3.... do it, do it now

+4 on the snow tiresYou need these, You'll never get stuck!!!!! You're from REGINA, you should know by now what winter's are like and that these should be a requirement!

You guys think so? I find the ground clearance is too low and snow basically lifted my car....

And those hockey pucks for tires do nothing to help! Get ANY winter tire and you'll be amazed at the diffrence!!!

Snow tires make a huge difference. Just like everyone says, it's night and day. I have the Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60 on steel 16" wheels and I have never gotten stuck in the snow. Just make sure that you get the tires as narrow (width) as possible.

Quote, originally posted by Vibe2009 »You guys think so? I find the ground clearance is too low and snow basically lifted my car....Do what you want, you asked, you got multiples of the same answer. Just remember that TV show, Who wants to be a Millionaire and polling the audience. You still get to decide what to do.Keep in mind, that there are limitations with depth for sure, there are limitations on a CJ5 and on a huge State owned snow plow truck also. The bigger and higher the vehicle, the deeper unplowed snow you can drive through.Dave

p/s tim hortons doesnt compare to krispy cremes

Quote, originally posted by hskater26 »p/s tim hortons doesnt compare to krispy cremes Krispy cream's good, but let's not get carried away!

Quote, originally posted by hskater26 »p/s tim hortons doesnt compare to krispy cremesApples and oranges really. Krispy Kreme doughnuts are more of a confectionery to me.

Quote, originally posted by Vibe2009 »You guys think so? I find the ground clearance is too low and snow basically lifted my car....i doubt the snow will lift the car... were talking a car that weighs more than one ton.I've seen people who are lowered drive threw a few inches of snow. plowing the entire time lol

even with our Firestone Fuzion HRI's, I can manage move down the street ok with drifts scraping the floorpan.

I recently got stuck in a similar situation. Funny story actually:I ended up buried in this snow drift that I was forced to try and plow through to avoid a head-on collision with an '86 Celica that had nothing to lose. This is in a sketchyarea of town, right by my college campus. I tried rocking it a bit (forward, reverse, forward, reverse). When that failed, I got out to see if I could dig out the wheels. As I'm inspecting the situation, a NASTY looking prostitute asks "you want me to drive while you push?" Let's just say she didn't exactly strike me as the Hooker With a Heart of Gold.So I'm thinking "YEAH RIGHT!" I could just see her waving farewell as I push her out and she takes off. Try explaining that story to your wife - "yeah, this hooker took my car when she helped me get out of a snow drift". Sure. Anyways, I got in the car, more determined than ever, and got to work. I eventually rocked it out, but what I had to do was turn off the traction control and work the clutch and gas to perfection. The TC was just killing all the power to the wheels and it wouldn't even let me get started on rocking it. Once I was able to get the car out of the rut and creeping forward, I engaged the TC again and it was able to pull me out a few sputtering feet at a time.Next season... Winter Tires! I don't want to make a habit of being at the mercy of a toothless prostitute EVER AGAIN.

I agree, you need to get a good set of snow tires. My vibe plows through more snow then that with no trouble at all.

Quote, originally posted by goochsmooch »I don't want to make a habit of being at the mercy of a toothless prostitute EVER AGAIN.ROFL!

I live in Duluth, MN and had snow tires on my Vibe and MS3 never got stuck once even in blizzards LOVE snow tires...and actually I just got an ford escape 4x4 and bought winter tires for that too!

Quote, originally posted by goochsmooch »I recently got stuck in a similar situation. Funny story actually:I ended up buried in this snow drift that I was forced to try and plow through to avoid a head-on collision with an '86 Celica that had nothing to lose. This is in a sketchyarea of town, right by my college campus. I tried rocking it a bit (forward, reverse, forward, reverse). When that failed, I got out to see if I could dig out the wheels. As I'm inspecting the situation, a NASTY looking prostitute asks "you want me to drive while you push?" Let's just say she didn't exactly strike me as the Hooker With a Heart of Gold.So I'm thinking "YEAH RIGHT!" I could just see her waving farewell as I push her out and she takes off. Try explaining that story to your wife - "yeah, this hooker took my car when she helped me get out of a snow drift". Sure. Anyways, I got in the car, more determined than ever, and got to work. I eventually rocked it out, but what I had to do was turn off the traction control and work the clutch and gas to perfection. The TC was just killing all the power to the wheels and it wouldn't even let me get started on rocking it. Once I was able to get the car out of the rut and creeping forward, I engaged the TC again and it was able to pull me out a few sputtering feet at a time.Next season... Winter Tires! I don't want to make a habit of being at the mercy of a toothless prostitute EVER AGAIN.That's pretty funny!

Quote, originally posted by Vibe2009 »That's pretty funny!No doubt, that's one story I've enjoyed sharing lately. I'm not even sure how she figured she was going to work the clutch and gas with her 6 inch stilettos. And even if she didn't drive off, I'd still have to disinfect the interior and take it to an STD clinic for testing.

Quote, originally posted by keithvibe »i doubt the snow will lift the car... were talking a car that weighs more than one ton.I've seen people who are lowered drive threw a few inches of snow. plowing the entire time lolSnow can lift a vehicle. I had a CJ3A that I was plowing snow with and somehow ended up on a pillar of snow with all four wheels lifted off and unable to get any bite. Had to have my buddy pull me off of it. I was young and stupid (17), I'm sure that played into the situation arising!Dave

Quote, originally posted by djkeev »Snow can lift a vehicle. I had a CJ3A that I was plowing snow with and somehow ended up on a pillar of snow with all four wheels lifted off and unable to get any bite. Had to have my buddy pull me off of it. I was young and stupid (17), I'm sure that played into the situation arising!DaveDid the CJ3 have open differentials or locker? You did not carry a shovel?

Quote, originally posted by keithvibe »i doubt the snow will lift the car... were talking a car that weighs more than one ton...My 09 Vibe has done well so far but I haven't been in any deep snow yet. Years ago I had a Pontiac 6000LE which was heavier than the Vibe and it was lifted off the ground in deep snow. It is not like it is up in the air, it only packs under the chassis and lifts the car enough that you no longer have any traction.

one question.. is the vibe AWD?

Quote, originally posted by Airmack »one question.. is the vibe AWD?It can be if you went for the AWD option.Although in all fairness Toyota's AWD system used in the Matrix/Vibe/Rav4/Highlander is far from the best... Honda's ain't that good either.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooQRxlChvMw The video is a publicity for SUbaru so of course it's a little biased but it still shows the weakness of Toyota and Honda's urban AWD systems. (Toyota's trucks are a whole different story). The video doesn't test Mistubishi's system for obvious reason... They have a good thing going as well.

lol do you guys plow roads up there?

kowell, what do you mean it can be if you want it to be. No switch to kick the vibe into AWD unless its an AWD model.I win the prize.

Quote, originally posted by keithvibe »lol do you guys plow roads up there?Our city just got hit with a Blizzard storm and the city is working 24/7 to clean the street.As of today, our street is still cover with like ~20cm of snow! I have been taking the bus to work... I will try to get my car out later today...What I am really worry about is having my car in the cold without any plugin to warm the car up~ I do use syn oil, so that's better than nothing... everything else is frozen up~ The car has been sitting in the lot since early Sunday~

just go start it every day, let it run for 4 mins or so. rev it up.

Quote, originally posted by ou.grizzly »Did the CJ3 have open differentials or locker? You did not carry a shovel?Not sure what you mean by "locker". The front and rear were not protected by a skid plate of any kind.The shovel, did you miss that I was 17?? I knew everything and could DO everything PERFECTLY!! I was much more talented back then! Dave

Don't keep us in suspense. Did you make it to Tim Horton's that day and what ya get. A large double double and an apple fritter?

Hey there! I live in Colorado snow country and just bought an '09 and it has rocked in the snow...good tires FWD not AWD. Wanted the better mileage and lower cost of the car up front. My old AWD subie would have gone belly up in that deep wet mush too. I had it happen here in Colorado. I am getting studded snow tires next winter,(too late this winter) which are street legal in in CO. The traction control also rocks for slippery ptaches!

get some X-ice tires they will blow your mind and be asome on the vibe

I vouch my life for snow tires. I will never drive through another winter without them! Except in my work car. LOL